EYFS

EYFS at St John and St Francis Church School

EYFS Lead – Mr Lee Butt

St John and St Francis Church School – EYFS Curriculum Intent

At St John and St Francis Church School Early Years, we are passionate about giving every child the best possible start to their education. We are committed to ensuring equity of access for all children, regardless of background, starting point or prior experience, and we take pride in celebrating each child’s individual developmental journey. 

Rooted in our Christian values, we aim to nurture confident, happy, independent and reflective learners who demonstrate kindness, respect and responsibility, and who grow into caring members of their community. 

We place communication and language at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that strong oracy and vocabulary development underpin all future learning, and we are committed to developing children’s ability to listen, express themselves and communicate effectively. Informed by approaches such as Voice 21, we ensure children are immersed in high-quality interactions and purposeful talk across all areas of learning. 

Our curriculum is carefully designed and coherently sequenced so that children build knowledge, skills and understanding progressively over time. Learning is revisited and embedded to ensure children can recall, apply and extend what they know with increasing independence. 

We believe children learn best through a balance of purposeful play, direct teaching and rich continuous provision. Our indoor and outdoor environments are thoughtfully planned to spark curiosity, encourage problem-solving and promote creativity, resilience and sustained engagement. 

We are committed to providing ambitious and meaningful learning experiences that broaden children’s horizons, build cultural capital and help them develop a strong sense of belonging within their community and the wider world. 

Through this carefully considered curriculum, we support children’s personal development, wellbeing and independence, ensuring they leave the Early Years confident, motivated and ready for the next stage of their education. 

EYFS Policy

EYFS Curriculum 

Development Matters – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

What to expect in the EYFS

 “The ladder of education can never be secure unless the first rung is firmly in place” – Rosemary Peacocke