Curriculum Statement
Curriculum Design and Ambition
At Woodcroft Nursery School, our curriculum is designed with a clear intent: to provide a high-quality education that nurtures the holistic development of every child. Rooted in the principles of “being, belonging, and becoming,” our curriculum supports children to develop a strong sense of identity, connection, wellbeing, learning, and communication as they start out on their educational journey; supporting them to progress from their individual starting points and preparing them for the next stage of their education and beyond.
Our curriculum is child-centred. This means that the children’s interests are at the heart of our provision; we celebrate children as unique individuals recognising the importance of starting points and tailoring our provision to meet diverse needs, including those with SEND. Our child-centred curriculum is inclusive, ambitious and promotes equity and excellence for all; we have high expectations for all children to thrive at Woodcroft.
At Woodcroft Nursery School, our curriculum is underpinned by an absolute commitment to the prime areas of learning and development (Personal and Social, Physical and Communication and Language). We recognise that children come into our setting with varied experiences and all staff ensure that the learning opportunities provided are designed to build cultural capital by broadening children’s experiences and understanding of the world.
Our curriculum celebrates diversity and aims to foster children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, preparing them for the next stage of education and life beyond. Our curriculum is enriched by the 5 Rs which are embedded across all areas of learning and development:
Ready to learn: Children have a positive, confident attitude to learning. They are both physically and emotionally ready to learn.
Resourceful: Children show initiative, ask well thought out questions and are prepared to use a variety of strategies to learn.
Reflective: Children are curious, able and willing to learn from their mistakes and can describe their progress.
Reciprocal: Children are prepared to help each other and work as a team.
Resilient: Children are prepared to persevere and stay involved in their learning, even when the process is challenging.
Teaching Quality and Delivery
Our curriculum is implemented through a rich blend of adult-led and child-initiated learning guided by the seven areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). We use story-inspired themes alongside ‘in the moment’ planning to spark curiosity and deepen engagement, ensuring that learning is meaningful and responsive to children’s interests.
The aim of our curriculum is to develop a thirst and love for learning through:
- A highly-skilled workforce: all practitioners are qualified Early Years specialists with in-depth knowledge on the learning and development of young children; understanding ‘schemas’, curiosity approaches’ and ‘guided play’ opportunities.
- High-quality interactions: Skilled practitioners model language and behaviour, check understanding, and address misconceptions.
- Holistic environments: Indoor and outdoor spaces are designed to support independent exploration across all areas of learning.
- Observational assessment: Learning Journal and OPAL assessments inform next steps and personalise support.
- Parent partnerships: Families contribute to their child’s next step planning and celebrate learning through conferences, online platforms, and shared experiences.
- Environmental learning: Our expansive outdoor provision supports experiential learning, risk- taking and ecological awareness through outdoor learning principles.
- Language-rich experiences: We immerse children in oral storytelling, poetry, and high-quality texts to develop early literacy and communication.
- Phonics and early reading: Phase 1 Letters and Sounds and Helicopter Story techniques build foundational literacy skills.
- Mathematical fluency: as a Maths Champion School, everyday maths is embedded in routines, stories, and cooking activities, promoting real-life problem-solving and reasoning.
We ensure that our curriculum is coherently sequenced and adapted to meet the needs of all learners. Staff regularly reflect on practice and respond to children’s evolving interests, ensuring that implementation remains dynamic and inclusive.
Pupil Outcomes and Progress
The impact of our curriculum is evident in the confident, capable and curious learners who leave Woodcroft Nursery School ready for the next stage of their education. Children demonstrate the characteristics of effective learning and apply their knowledge across contexts, showing independence, creativity and resilience.
We measure impact through:
- Observation and formative assessments
- Curriculum evaluations and reflective staff discussions
- Feedback from parents, governors, external partners and receiving schools
Children make strong progress from their starting points, developing a secure sense of self and a love for learning. They embody the 5 Rs, equipping them with the dispositions and skills needed to thrive throughout school and beyond.
