Our EYFS Curriculum 

Children can start Patterdale CofE Primary School in Nursery after their third birthday, where we provide up to 30 hours of education per week during term time. In Reception children, after an initial induction, are in for five full days.

Nursery and Reception follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. There are four guiding principles that shape our practice at Patterdale CofE Primary School, and these are:

• Every child is a unique child
• They will learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships
• Children learn and develop well in enabling environments with teaching and support from adults
• The importance of learning and development

This is broken down into 7 areas of learning & development which are then split up into three Prime areas and four Specific areas:

Prime Areas

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Communication and Language
• Physical Development

Specific Areas

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding of the World
• Expressive Arts & Design

Underpinning these seven areas of learning and development are the characteristics of effective teaching and learning.

• Playing & exploring - children investigating and experiencing things (having a go at stuff!)
• Active learning - children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties and enjoy achievements
• Creating and thinking critically - children have their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.

We provide an exciting and challenging curriculum based on children's needs, interests and stages. We do this through play, which is crucial in enhancing children’s ability to learn. It provides children with important opportunities to socialise and talk about what they are doing. Outdoor learning is particularly important in our curriculum and children make use of our engaging and spectacular local environment. We pride ourselves on working closely with parents and carers so that we can meet every child's needs.

We use our knowledge of our pupils when they join us in EYFS alongside our school values and vision to decide upon our Key Outcomes.

We work towards all our children becoming independent lifelong learners by enabling them to develop the skills they need to become confident and successful in ‘achieving their best together’.

Our Key Outcomes for our EYFS children, alongside the Early Learning Goals are:

• I am independent in my learning and in my self-care.
• I am a curious and active learner, engaging with the natural world with awe and wonder.
• I can collaborate and co-operate with others, showing kindness and thoughtfulness.
• I can encourage and can communicate with others with confidence.
• I am resilient and rise to a range of challenges.
• I can manage risks appropriately and bravely.

Intent Statement

Learning in EYFS at Patterdale CofE School starts with the child; our curriculum changes and develops to reflect the individual needs of the children as they progress through Nursery and/or Reception.

It is our intention that the curriculum will adapt to reflect the individual needs of each cohort, through a balanced approach of child-initiated and adult-led learning, underpinned by sustained, shared thinking in addition to the seven principles of effective practice. Learning takes place in meaningful contexts across the seven areas of learning, supporting all our children to become active and curious learners and promoting a lifelong love of learning. We will work in partnership with families to support our children to grow up as individuals as well as to support transitions to Nursery, Reception and beyond.  We want to enable children to grow as individuals, develop key skills such as independence, resilience as well as their communication skills, a sense of awe and wonder and a positive attitude to growing their learning. Across EYFS at Patterdale CofE School there will be a strong focus on developing communication and language skills.  We will build on the language development of children through the promotion of conversations, linking their language skills to their skills of listening and responding appropriately to stories and rhymes, which enables them to develop a love of reading. We will also be starting to use Wellcom to promote speaking and listening skills.

Assessment

The children take part in baseline assessment on entry into Reception. Continuous assessment occurs throughout the year through observation, photos, and group/class/individual work. At the end of Reception year, the teacher and teaching assistant will have built up a profile of each child, which will then be discussed with the parents or carers, in readiness for year 1 of the National Curriculum. Please note a full policy statement on the EYFS curriculum is available on request.

The three Prime areas, Personal, Social, and Emotional development (PSED), Communication and Language (CL), and Physical Development (PD), are core foundations for all Early Years children. The Prime areas strongly influence learning in the Specific areas; Mathematics, Understanding the World, and Expressive Arts and Design, providing progression in crucial shared cultural knowledge, promoting children’s engagement as members of the society in which they live. As children progress through the EYFS we will gradually support children to know about and use these Specific areas, either informally as part of daily life or in adult guided and directed learning giving them the tools, skills, and knowledge to support them in their future learning at Patterdale CofE School and beyond.

As our EYFS pupils move on from a period of limited provision and access to wider learning opportunities beyond the school gate we will focus on the need to support them in the Prime areas through the development of healthy practices, approaches to mental health and an increased emphasis on their communication skills and self-regulation as well as other aspects.

EYFS Progression of Skills

Early Years Prospectus

Ullswater Nursery

From September 2019 Ullswater Nursery became a formal part of Patterdale CofE Primary School.  A separate prospectus and curriculum are available on request. We were rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted in 2016.

Children can come to Ullswater Nursery the term after their 3rd birthday and stay with us for up to five terms before transferring to Patterdale C of E School. Ullswater Nursery is a 12 place Nursery pleasantly situated in the Lake District National Park at the head of the Ullswater Valley. We offer up to 30 hours of nursery education.

For academic year 2025/2026 opening hours are:

Monday - Friday 9am - 3pm

For more information about the Nursery please contact us by phoning 017684 82383 or by emailing info@patterdale.cumbria.sch.uk