Our Vision

At Boughton Leigh Infant School, we believe every child deserves the very best start to their education. Our Early Years curriculum is ambitious, inclusive and carefully designed to develop secure foundations in communication and language, personal, social and emotional development, physical development, early reading and mathematics. We recognise that children who develop these strong foundations are best prepared for future learning and future success. Through nurturing relationships, high expectations and a language-rich environment, we foster curiosity, independence, resilience and a lifelong love of learning. We value the importance of play, exploration and outdoor learning, providing children with rich experiences through our OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) approach that support their physical, social and emotional development.

Our Curriculum

Our curriculum is based on the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage and has been carefully designed to meet the needs of our children, our community and their individual starting points. It provides a broad, balanced and ambitious foundation for future learning whilst developing the knowledge, skills and cultural capital children need to succeed in education and later life.

Learning is organised through the seven areas of learning and development:

Prime Areas

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

These areas are fundamental to children's development and are prioritised throughout Nursery and Reception. Communication and language sits at the heart of our curriculum, underpinning learning across all areas and enabling children to become confident communicators and successful learners.

Specific Areas

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

Learning is carefully sequenced to build progressively on what children already know and can do, ensuring they are well prepared for the next stage of their education.

How Children Learn

Children learn through a balance of:

• Direct teaching
• Adult-guided activities
• High-quality continuous provision
• Child-initiated play
• First-hand experiences
• Indoor and outdoor exploration

Our learning environments are carefully planned to inspire curiosity, promote independence and encourage children to think creatively, solve problems and work collaboratively.

Direct teaching of key knowledge and skills is carefully sequenced through high-quality programmes, including Read Write Inc. Phonics and a mastery approach to mathematics. These approaches ensure children develop secure foundations in early reading, writing and mathematics whilst fostering confidence and enjoyment in learning.

We place great importance on developing the Characteristics of Effective Learning by encouraging children to:

• Play and explore
• Be active learners
• Think creatively and critically

Reading, Language and Vocabulary

Developing children's language and communication skills is a priority from the moment they join us.

Children are immersed in high-quality stories, songs, rhymes, conversations and experiences that enrich their vocabulary and understanding of the world. Staff model ambitious language and provide purposeful opportunities for children to listen carefully, speak confidently, ask questions and express their ideas.

We know that strong language development is the foundation for success across the curriculum and beyond.

Early Reading and Writing

Reading is at the heart of our curriculum. We are committed to developing confident, fluent readers and fostering a lifelong love of books and storytelling.

Children learn to read through the Read Write Inc. Phonics programme, a structured and systematic approach which develops children's phonological awareness, decoding, fluency and comprehension skills. Daily phonics teaching enables children to build knowledge progressively and apply their learning in meaningful reading and writing opportunities.

Children have regular opportunities to hear, discuss and enjoy a wide range of high-quality texts, helping them to develop a love of reading alongside the skills needed to become successful readers and writers.

Mathematics

We believe all children can become successful mathematicians.

Our mathematics curriculum follows a mastery approach, enabling children to develop deep understanding of number, pattern, shape, measure and mathematical relationships. Learning is carefully sequenced to build on prior knowledge and ensure children develop confidence, fluency and mathematical reasoning skills.

Through practical experiences, mathematical talk and problem-solving opportunities, children develop secure foundations that prepare them for future mathematical learning.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Our indoor and outdoor environments are viewed as equally important learning spaces.

Children have daily opportunities to explore, investigate, create and be physically active. Learning is enhanced through visits, visitors and experiences that broaden children's understanding of the world and help build cultural capital.

As an OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) school, we recognise the significant benefits that high-quality outdoor play brings to children's learning, development and wellbeing. Through our OPAL approach, children access rich and stimulating outdoor experiences that encourage creativity, collaboration, resilience, independence and problem-solving.

Outdoor learning provides opportunities for children to take managed risks, develop physical confidence, build positive relationships and apply their learning in meaningful real-life contexts. We believe that play is fundamental to children's development and that every child deserves access to engaging and purposeful outdoor experiences throughout the school day.

Inclusion

We are committed to ensuring that every child succeeds.

Staff carefully assess children's individual needs, interests and stages of development to provide appropriate challenge and support. We work closely with families and external professionals where needed to ensure all children, including those with SEND, disadvantaged children and those learning English as an additional language, can access the curriculum and achieve their full potential.

Our curriculum is designed to be inclusive, ensuring every child feels valued, safe and successful.

Working in Partnership with Parents

We believe parents and carers are children's first and most important educators and value the strong partnerships we build with families.

Through regular communication, parent consultations, workshops, celebrations and shared learning opportunities, we work together to support every child's development, wellbeing and achievement.

Preparing for the Future

By the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage, children leave us as confident, resilient and enthusiastic learners. They are well prepared for the transition into Key Stage 1, having developed the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to continue their learning journey successfully.

They leave our Early Years provision with a strong sense of belonging, a love of learning and the foundations they need to flourish both in school and beyond.