EYFS Curriculum

EYFS curriculum

Reception children at St Paul’s Cathedral School receive a broad and balanced curriculum. Play is at the core of all of the learning that happens in Reception and provides the foundations to a happy and successful learning career at St Paul’s Cathedral School.  We follow the main principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum, using learning themes from the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC). The EYFS curriculum is divided into two main areas of learning and development which are all interconnected. The ‘Prime Areas’ are fundamental and work together to support the children’s successful learning within the ‘Specific Areas’ which provide essential knowledge for children to refine academic learning and understanding. 

International Early Years Curriculum

The IEYC provides us with rich learning themes to provide children with a broad range of experiences to consolidate their learning within. Enquiry, cooperation, resilience and fun form the basis of the teaching and learning and cross-curricular links are incorporated. We aim to give children a sound foundation of knowledge and understanding, with the ability to recognise that learning is a cohesive process.

Prime Areas of Learning

The prime areas consist of Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Physical Development and Communication & Language Development. With these areas of learning forming the basis of our learning in the first weeks of the year allows the children to gain the confidence, social and emotional skills necessary to access our busy school routine.

Specific Areas of Learning

When children have settled, more discrete skills in the specific areas can be learnt confidently.  Literacy, Maths, Expressive Arts and Design and Understanding the World skills will be taught in line with IEYC learning themes. Reception pupils will be exposed to mathematical language, concepts of shape, space and measure and problem solving skills in meaningful contexts to provide important learning opportunities. Through our Phonics scheme of Read, Write, Inc children will be introduced to individual sounds and taught how to blend and segment these to help with early reading and writing skills that can be applied across all areas of learning (see Read Write Inc section).