Early Years

How do we teach our EYFS children at Collierley Nursery and Primary School?
We achieve our vision through:

A Play-Based and Active Curriculum

• Carefully planned child-initiated and adult-guided play that reflects children’s interests while ensuring progression across all seven areas of learning.
• Active learning opportunities indoors and outdoors every day, supporting physical development, wellbeing and engagement.
High-quality interactions where adults model language, thinking and social skills, extending learning through questioning, narration and challenge.

Ambitious Teaching and Learning

• A well-sequenced curriculum that builds knowledge and skills over time from 2-year-olds to Reception.
• Clear progression in communication, early literacy, mathematics and self-regulation.
• High expectations for all children, with tailored support and early intervention to close gaps quickly.

A Connected and Inclusive Approach

• Strong partnerships with parents and carers, valuing their role as children’s first educators.
• A nurturing environment where children feel safe, respected and confident to take risks. • Inclusive practice that supports SEND, EAL and vulnerable children through adaptation, scaffolding and collaboration with professionals.

Enabling Environments

• Well-organised, language-rich learning spaces that promote independence and choice. • Continuous provision that is responsive, flexible and reflective of children’s needs and interests.
• Outdoor learning used as an extension of the classroom in all weathers.

2-Year-Old Provision

Our nurturing two‑year‑old provision offers a smaller, more personal environment where children feel secure, known and valued, enabling strong relationships to flourish. Practice is deliberately language‑rich, with key vocabulary consistently modelled, revisited and woven through play so that children hear, use and build meaningful language every day. Learning is shaped by the three prime areas, ensuring communication and language, physical development and personal, social and emotional development sit at the heart of all experiences. Staff respond to the individual needs of each child, adapting routines, interactions and provision so every child can thrive. Children engage in active learning both indoors and outdoors, with the outdoor environment used purposefully to promote exploration, movement, curiosity and early communication.

Nursery

Our nursery environment builds on the secure foundations of earlier learning by nurturing growing independence and confidence, with children encouraged to make choices, solve problems and take increasing ownership of their play and learning. Continuous provision is designed so children can revisit, refine and deepen their learning over time, returning to familiar resources and experiences that strengthen understanding. Children’s interests are extended through sustained shared thinking, where adults join play purposefully, offering high‑quality interactions that model rich language and ambitious vocabulary. Provision and resources are carefully selected to spark curiosity, promote exploration and invite children to talk, question and collaborate. Vocabulary is modelled clearly and consistently so children become confident in using new words themselves. The three prime areas remain central, ensuring communication and language, physical development and personal, social and emotional development underpin every aspect of practice.

Reception

The Reception year places a growing emphasis on the specific areas of learning, while the prime areas continue to underpin every interaction, routine and experience. Children revisit prior learning through whole‑class teaching, small‑group sessions and their own independent exploration, enabling them to make meaningful links and deepen understanding. They develop their own interests and preferences within a well‑planned environment that encourages curiosity, problem‑solving and collaboration. High‑quality teaching supports key skills: Sounds‑Write provides a systematic approach to phonics, Kinetic Letters develops strong handwriting habits and stamina, and White Rose Maths builds secure early mathematical understanding. Vocabulary is deliberately planned to challenge pupils, with adults modelling ambitious language that children confidently adopt and use in their play, talk and learning.