Curriculum

Our Approach to Learning Through Play

At Thornton Heath Nursery School, we believe that play is the foundation of lifelong learning. Through a play-based approach, children become inquisitive, resilient, and enthusiastic learners, setting them up for success throughout their educational journey.

Play-based learning is central to everything we do. It supports children’s social and emotional development, builds their confidence and motivation, and strengthens vital skills like language, early maths, and problem-solving. Through play, children learn to take initiative, stay focused, and explore the world around them with curiosity and joy.

We combine rich, child-led play with carefully planned focused learning sessions to ensure every child receives a balanced and high-quality early education. This approach allows us to support each child holistically, helping them to grow not just academically, but emotionally and socially too.

We value and celebrate the uniqueness of every child. Each child arrives with their own interests, strengths, and personality. Our experienced staff observe closely and thoughtfully plan opportunities that build on what each child already knows and can do, moving their learning forward in meaningful ways.

We follow the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which sets the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to age five. The EYFS outlines seven areas of learning, all equally important, and further broken down into specific aspects (listed below).

The Seven Areas of Learning in the EYFS

At Thornton Heath Nursery School, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, which guides us in providing high-quality care and learning opportunities for children from birth to five. The EYFS is built around seven areas of learning and development, all of which are equally important and interconnected.

These are divided into two main categories:

1. Prime Areas

These are the fundamental building blocks for children’s development and are especially important in the early years:

• Communication and Language (listening, attention, understanding, and speaking)
• Physical Development (gross and fine motor skills, health, and self-care)
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development (self-confidence, relationships, and managing feelings)

2. Specific Areas

These areas grow out of the prime areas and help children develop skills and knowledge for lifelong learning:

• Literacy (enjoying books, early reading and writing)
• Mathematics (developing number sense, shapes, space, and measures)
• Understanding the World (exploring people, places, technology, and the natural world)
• Expressive Arts and Design (creativity through art, music, movement, and imaginative play)

Through a well-balanced mix of child-led play and adult-guided experiences, we support children’s development across all these areas in a way that is meaningful, joyful, and suited to their individual needs.

How Children Learn: The Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning

At Thornton Heath Nursery School, we understand that how children learn is just as important as what they learn. The Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning, as outlined in the EYFS, help us support children in becoming confident, curious, and independent learners.

Every child learns in their own unique way, and these characteristics help us recognise and nurture positive learning behaviours:

• Playing and Exploring (Engagement): Children investigate, experiment, and are willing to ‘have a go’.
• Active Learning (Motivation): Children stay focused, keep trying when things are tricky, and take pride in their achievements.
• Creating and Thinking Critically (Thinking): Children come up with their own ideas, make connections, and figure out how to solve problems.

These characteristics are like a “golden thread” running through all areas of learning. They shape the way children approach new experiences and help build the foundations for lifelong learning.

Planning for Play and Progress

Our skilled staff thoughtfully plan activities and experiences across all seven areas of learning, both indoors and outdoors. Planning is flexible and often guided by the children’s own interests, allowing learning to stay meaningful, exciting, and relevant. As children’s interests evolve, our plans do too.

While much of the learning is child-led through play, we also provide small group sessions each day—usually twice per session—often led by each child’s key person. These focused times support early skills in communication, literacy, maths, and more.

Our Curriculum Goals

We’ve carefully considered what we hope each child will achieve during their time with us. Our curriculum goals are designed to give children the key skills and confidence they need for the next step in their learning journey. Each goal links closely to the EYFS areas of learning and supports their all-round development.

You can see our curriculum goals displayed in the main entrance or explore them further here, where we also explain why each goal was chosen.

Click here to see a copy of the latest framework document.

Click here for more information about the Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning