✨ Early Years Curriculum Intent

At Holy Cross and All Saints RC Primary School, we believe every child is a unique and precious gift from God. Our Early Years curriculum is designed to nurture the whole child — spiritually, emotionally, socially, and academically; within a loving, inclusive, and faith-filled environment.

🌱 Our Intent

We aim to:

• Celebrate each child’s God-given potential, fostering curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning.
• Provide a safe and nurturing space where children feel secure, valued, and inspired to explore.
• Embed Catholic virtues such as kindness, compassion, and forgiveness through daily prayer, reflection, and Gospel teachings.
• Develop the Prime Areas of Learning — Communication and Language, Physical Development, and Personal, Social and Emotional Development — as the foundation for lifelong growth.
• Build strong partnerships with families, recognising them as the first educators and vital collaborators in their child’s journey.

🧠 Characteristics of Effective Learning

We place a strong emphasis on how children learn, not just what they learn. The Characteristics of Effective Learning guide our approach and include:

• Playing and Exploring – Children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’.
• Active Learning – Children concentrate, 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.

These behaviours are nurtured through meaningful play, adult interactions, and carefully planned experiences that encourage independence and resilience.

🎯 Early Learning Goals (ELGs)

By the end of the Reception year, children are assessed against 17 Early Learning Goals across the 7 Areas of Learning:

Prime Areas:

• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Specific Areas:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

These goals set out the expected level of development and help ensure children are ready for the next stage of their education.

Through a curriculum that blends EYFS best practice with the Catholic mission of love and service, we prepare children not only for school, but for life — as confident, compassionate, and capable learners.