WHAT IS THE EYFS?
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the national framework that sets standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to 5 years old. All nurseries, preschools and childminders in England follow the EYFS to make sure children:
• are safe and well cared for
• develop important skills through play
• become confident, curious learners
• are ready for school
At Edgemoor Day Nursery, the EYFS guides how we plan activities, how we observe learning, and how we support each child as an individual.
THE 7 AREAS OF LEARNING
The EYFS is made up of 7 areas of learning, split into Prime and Specific areas.
PRIME AREAS (the foundations):
These develop first and are essential for future learning:
Communication & Language
Understanding spoken language, using words, listening to others, and building early conversation skills.
Personal, Social & Emotional Development
Confidence, independence, friendships, managing feelings, sharing, taking turns and understanding routines.
Physical Development
Gross motor skills (running, climbing) and fine motor skills (mark making, using tools), plus health and self-care.
SPECIFIC AREAS (building on the foundations):
These develop as children grow and become more confident:
Literacy
Early reading and writing, phonics, books, mark-making and storytelling.
Mathematics
Counting, number recognition, shapes, patterns, measuring, comparing and problem-solving.
Understanding the World
Exploring nature, seasons, people, cultures, technology, and how things work.
Expressive Arts & Design
Music, movement, art, role play, imaginative play, and creative problem solving.
HOW WE USE THE EYFS AT EDGEMOOR
We don’t “teach lessons” in a formal way - children learn best through play, exploration, real experiences, conversation and relationships.
Our practitioners:
• observe children naturally as they play
• plan activities based on children’s interests
• support development through hands-on experiences
• build confidence, communication and independence
• share progress with parents through informal chats, photos and updates
Every child’s journey looks different - and that’s the beauty of the EYFS.
HOW EYFS LOOKS IN OUR ROOMS
Here’s how the EYFS comes to life across our age groups:
BUTTERCUPS ROOM (9 months - 2½ years)
At this age, development focuses mainly on the Prime Areas, building secure foundations for future learning.
We support:
Communication & Language
Through songs, simple words, naming objects, gesture, eye contact, early babble and first conversations.
Personal, Social & Emotional Development
Through key person relationships, comfort, routines, learning to trust others, and building independence.
Physical Development
Through crawling, cruising, walking, climbing, sensory play, outdoor exploration, feeding, and self-care routines.
EYFS in Buttercups looks like:
Sensory trays, treasure baskets, soft play, books, songs, first words, messy play, outdoor walks, early mark-making, simple role play and lots of nurturing communication.
BLUEBELLS ROOM (2½ - 5 years)
As children grow, we continue developing the Prime Areas while introducing more of the Specific Areas, especially as children prepare for school.
We support:
Literacy & Early Phonics
Storytime, mark-making, fine motor skills development, recognising names, phonics through play, sound games, rhymes and early writing confidence.
Maths
Counting, sorting, shape hunts, cooking measures, puzzles, comparing sizes and simple problem-solving.
Understanding the World
Nature walks, trips, life cycles, seasons, celebrations, cultures, simple science experiments, experience days/nursery visitors and technology use
Expressive Arts & Design
Painting, music, dance, role play, crafting, constructing, dressing up and imaginative storytelling.
EYFS in Bluebells looks like
Circle time, group activities, outdoor learning, snack independence, turn-taking games, early phonics, number play, creative arts and developing self-help skills.
By the time children move on to school, children should be well-prepared for reception by being
• confident communicators
• ready for friendships
• curious about the world
• able to manage routines
• early readers, mark-makers & number explorers
• independent and emotionally ready for the next step
HOW WE SHARE PROGRESS WITH PARENTS
We keep things simple and supportive — not stressful or paperwork-heavy
Parents receive:
• photos & updates on our Family App
• daily chats at drop-off & collection
• shared milestones
• partnership conversations
We focus on celebrating achievements and supporting next steps!
INTENT, IMPLEMENTATION & IMPACT
INTENT – What we aim to achieve
At Edgemoor Day Nursery, our curriculum is designed to nurture confident, curious and emotionally secure children who are ready for their next steps in education and life.
Our intentions are to:
• Support every child to feel safe, valued and known
• Build strong foundations in the Prime Areas of learning
• Foster communication, independence and positive relationships
• Inspire curiosity and a love of learning through real experiences
• Develop resilience, self-regulation and emotional wellbeing
• Recognise and celebrate each child as a unique individual
Our curriculum reflects our values of nurture, respect, relationships, curiosity and community, ensuring children receive a rich early years experience that prepares them both academically and socially for school.
IMPLEMENTATION – How we deliver our curriculum
We deliver our curriculum through a balance of child-led exploration, adult-guided experiences, and real-world learning.
This includes:
• Responsive planning based on children’s interests
• Rich provision indoors and outdoors
• Daily routines that develop independence and self-help skills
• Conversation-rich environments that develop communication & language
• Practical, hands-on activities linked to the EYFS Areas of Learning
• Small group experiences such as circle time, story time and phonics
• Real-life experiences involving nature, community and culture
Practitioners use:
• Observations
• Conversations
• Photographs
• Milestones and developmental knowledge
…to tailor experiences to individual needs, ensuring children make progress at their own pace.
Strong relationships with families help us create a shared picture of the child and support consistency between home and nursery.
IMPACT – The difference our curriculum makes
The impact of our curriculum can be seen in children who are:
• Confident and secure in their relationships
• Curious and motivated to explore and learn
• Communicators, able to listen, express themselves and engage with others
• Independent, managing personal needs and daily routines
• Resilient, able to manage feelings and adapt to change
• Socially and emotionally ready for the next stage of education
• Early readers, mark-makers and number explorers through meaningful play
• Capable thinkers and problem solvers
We track impact through:
• Observations and milestones
• Professional knowledge and discussions
• Parent partnerships
• Smooth transitions into school
By the time children leave Edgemoor Day Nursery, children should be well-prepared for Reception not only academically, but emotionally, socially and physically - ready for the challenges and opportunities of school life.
CULTURAL CAPITAL
Cultural capital is about giving children the knowledge, experiences, confidence and understanding they need to succeed in life. At Edgemoor Day Nursery, we recognise that children arrive with different backgrounds, experiences and starting points. Our role is to broaden their world and build on what they already know.
We enhance cultural capital through:
• Exploring nature, wildlife and the local environment
• Celebrating festivals, seasons and cultural events
• Singing, stories, dance, music and role play
• Real-life experiences such as cooking, gardening and caring for animals
• Visits and walks in the community
• Learning about different families, beliefs and ways of life
• Exposure to rich language, books and storytelling
• Developing independence, self-care and problem-solving skills
These experiences help children to:
• Understand themselves and others
• Build confidence and curiosity about the world
• Develop respect, empathy and awareness
• Acquire skills and knowledge they can carry into school and life
We believe that every child deserves access to experiences that ignite curiosity, develop their sense of identity and belonging, and help them navigate the world with confidence.