Our Early Years curriculum covers all areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Each topic helps children build on their knowledge and skills throughout the year, giving them a strong foundation for the future.

Prime Areas:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development – Children learn to be independent, confident, and resilient. They develop strong friendships and learn to work well with others.
• Communication and Language – We focus on developing children’s speaking, listening, and understanding. Key vocabulary is taught in every topic, and adults model clear language. We use sentence stems, Colourful Semantics, and talking partners to help children express themselves in full sentences.

• Physical Development – Children enjoy climbing, balancing, creative movement, and handling tools and equipment, indoors and outdoors. Children are immersed in activities that support the development of their Fine Motor Skills, improving their pencil control. 

Specific Areas:

• Literacy – In Nursery, children develop phonological awareness through songs, rhymes, and listening activities. In Reception, they follow the Sounds Write phonics scheme and take home carefully matched reading books.
• Mathematics – Children learn through hands-on activities, guided teaching, and play. We follow the NCETM guidance to develop an understanding of number, shape, space, measure, and problem-solving.
• Understanding the World – Children explore people, places, technology, and nature, developing curiosity and critical thinking.
• Expressive Arts and Design – Music, dance, art, and imaginative play give children the chance to be creative, take risks, and express themselves.
   

At Manor Drive, the Early Years environment is set up to support learning through a mix of directed teaching and continuous provision. This is supported through a mix of adult-led sessions, small group activities and child-initiated play, allowing children to practise and consolidate skills. 

 

Reading

Reading is at the heart of our Early Years provision. Children begin in the Nursery by listening to stories, singing songs, and playing with sounds. In Reception, they continue with daily phonics lessons and take home decodable books matched to their learning.

Our classrooms are full of inviting reading corners and story baskets, and children enjoy author focusses, story voting, daily book sharing, and the school reading hive. We aim to create readers for life who love exploring stories and sharing ideas.