Curriculum
Curriculum Intent Statement
EYFS: Overview of Learning
Early Years Foundation Stage at Tame Valley Academy
At Tame Valley Academy, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum where the seven areas of learning are implemented through well planned activities each day. We have overarching themes that are developed and led through the children’s interests. Each of these themes supports the children’s knowledge preparing them for the Key Stage 1 curriculum. We strive to ensure that children have the best start in their school life, both intellectually and emotional, through tailored activities to meet and challenge the needs and strengths of each child.
We recognise the importance of celebrating each child as an individual and we aim for all children to achieve their full potential through playing, exploring, thinking critically and creating. Our curriculum is designed to develop ‘The Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning’ which is threaded throughout the seven areas of learning, they show the different ways that children learn.
A main focus at Tame Valley Academy is developing young children's oral language skills, including their vocabulary and narrative skills. Oral language skills are the foundation for listening comprehension during the early years and reading comprehension in subsequent years. In EYFS at Tame Valley, oral language skills are modelled and practiced as teachers read aloud to children and engage them in rich, content related discussions. We create a ‘language rich’ environment through the use of songs, nursery rhymes, stories and quality interactions between adults and between peers. Staff ensure that interactions are positive and progressive, allowing children to flourish and gather words at pace in order to become confident communicators.
In Reception our themes are:
Autumn 1 – Ourselves and Our Families
Autumn 2 – Seasons and Changes
Spring 1 – Traditional Tales
Spring 2 – Growing and Planting
Summer 1 – People who Help Us
Summer 2 – All Around the World
In Nursery our themes are:
Autumn 1 - Marvellous Me
Autumn 2 - Once Upon a time…
Spring 1 - Up, up and away around the world
Spring 2 - Amazing Animals
Summer 1 - All creatures great and small.
Summer 2 - Land Ahoy
The seven areas of learning are centred on 3 prime areas of learning:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
Also the 4 specific areas which strengthen the prime areas:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
The three characteristics of effective teaching and learning are:
• Playing and Exploring-Children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’;
• Active Learning-Children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements;
• Creating and thinking critically- Children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.
To find out more about the Early Learning Goals please visit Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Maths
English
KS1 and KS2: Overview of Learning
KS1 and KS2 Art and DT overview
KS1 and KS2 Geography and History Overview
Class Curriculum Booklets