At St Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School, we want you to feel confident that your child is known, valued and cared for from the moment they walk through our doors. We understand that starting school is a big moment for both children and their families, and our Early Years team takes the time to build warm, trusting relationships with every child. We get to know their lovely personality, interests, strengths and individual needs, ensuring that every child feels special and supported. We want our children to come into school each day with a smile, feeling happy, safe and excited to learn, explore and make new discoveries.

Our Nursery and Reception children enjoy a rich, engaging and language-led curriculum, carefully planned to support every child to thrive. Through a balance of purposeful adult-led teaching and exciting play-based learning, we develop children’s knowledge, skills, confidence and independence across the seven areas of learning.

Communication and Language – We develop children’s listening, attention, understanding and speaking skills. Through our Super 6 stories, songs and rhymes, conversations and purposeful play, we build children’s vocabulary and give them the language they need to communicate their ideas, feelings and experiences.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development – We support children to develop confidence, independence and positive relationships. Children learn to understand and manage their emotions and develop self-regulation through our Zones of Regulation approach. We support children to build friendships, develop resilience, solve problems and become confident members of our school community.

Physical Development – Children develop their gross and fine motor skills through active play, outdoor learning and carefully planned physical experiences. We build strength, coordination and control while developing important self-care skills and preparing children for writing and other physical tasks. We particularly love exploring our school woods, where children have opportunities to develop their physical skills through seasonal walks, den building, climbing, balancing and exploring the natural environment. These experiences encourage children to take appropriate risks, develop confidence and independence, and enjoy being active outdoors.

Literacy – We develop a love of books, stories, rhymes and reading from the very beginning. Children enjoy high-quality texts, develop their phonological awareness and learn to recognise and use sounds, words and print. We follow the Read Write Inc. programme, which begins in nursery and continues through Key Stage 1, providing a consistent approach to developing early reading and phonics skills. Through Drawing Club, children are encouraged to develop their imagination and express their ideas through drawing, mark-making and writing. We also provide meaningful opportunities for writing throughout our provision, enabling children to use their developing skills for real purposes.

Mathematics – We build strong foundations in number, numerical patterns, shape, space and measure. Through practical experiences, songs, games, stories and everyday opportunities, children develop their understanding of numbers, including counting, subitising, comparing quantities and exploring mathematical patterns. We provide opportunities for children to use and apply their mathematical knowledge in both adult-led learning and their independent play.

Understanding the World – Children are encouraged to be curious about the world around them. They explore nature, people, communities, cultures, the past and present, and the world in which we live. Through first-hand experiences, investigation and discussion, children develop the knowledge, vocabulary and understanding they need to make sense of the world around them.

Expressive Arts and Design – We encourage children to be creative, imaginative and expressive, giving them the freedom to explore their own ideas and discover their individual ways of expressing themselves. Through art, music, singing, dance, drama, role play, construction and imaginative play, children have opportunities to experiment with different materials and develop their creativity. Children develop practical skills such as using paintbrushes, pencils, crayons, scissors, glue and a range of tools and materials, learning how to use these safely and with increasing control. We encourage children to explore colour, texture, sound and movement and provide opportunities to create, perform, imagine and explore, both independently and alongside others. 

Our curriculum is carefully sequenced so that children build on what they already know and can do as they move from nursery into Reception and beyond. We place a particular emphasis on language and vocabulary, recognising that strong communication skills underpin children’s learning across all seven areas. Through carefully chosen stories, rich conversations, purposeful play and high-quality interactions, we help children develop the language they need to think, communicate, understand and learn.

Above all, we want our children to develop confidence, curiosity, independence and a genuine love of learning, ensuring they have the strongest possible foundations as they begin their school journey.