Early Years curriculum principles

A definition of curriculum: What we want children to learn

The curriculum is a top-level plan of everything the early years setting wants the children to learn.
Planning to help every child develop their language is vital.
The curriculum needs to be ambitious. Careful sequencing will help children build their learning over time.
Young children's learning is often driven by their interests. Plans need to be flexible.
Babies and young children do not develop in a fixed way. Their development is like a spider's web with many strands, not a straight line.
Depth in early learning is much more important than covering lots of things in a superficial way.

An early years curriculum

Starts with children's experiences so learning is meaningful
Ensures that all children are included
Is well planned, regularly reviewed and can change in response to children’s emerging needs and interests
Provides additional rich, challenging and open-ended activities and extra help for children, so they don't fall behind
Has play as an essential part
Recognises that play, sensitively supported by adults, is a key way young children learn
Expands and deepens children's play
Maps out the component skills that children need, for example, to read and write
Outlines how children can have repeated motivating experiences which help them to develop and consolidate the skills they need.

Start with the EYFS – educational programmes (not the Early Learning Goals)
Break it down into smaller steps – What knowledge, skills and understanding do you want the children to develop?
Consider using Development Matters to support you to plan your curriculum
Watch how your children play and listen to them. Talk to parents and carers
Use children’s curiosities and interests to engage them in the curriculum through choosing the right activity or environment
Consider how these activities will be implemented so children can progress in all areas of learning
Review your curriculum to consider which children need support to access it.

Working with the revised Early Years Foundation Stage: Principles into Practice. Julian Grenier