The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum guides children’s learning from 0-5 years old. At Aston Clinton School, we engage children in a creative curriculum that is tailored to their needs and reflects the context and community in which they live. At all times, we seek to inspire children with a love of learning and thirst for knowledge that will remain with them throughout their lives. There are seven areas of learning in the Foundation Stage Curriculum, within which children work in a variety of active ways - both indoors and outdoors. They comprise of:

The Characteristics of Effective Learning:

These are the ways in which the child engages with other people and their environment – playing and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically – underpin learning and development across all areas and support the child to remain an effective and motivated learner.

In Reception, children will engage in child-initiated learning within the Reception Provision. This is in line with our continuous provision which means that children continue to explore and build upon their learning with uninterrupted play. The curriculum is implemented through planned, purposeful play and through a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activities.

Exploration is a fundamental within our Reception classes. It means children are able to choose activities where they can engage with other children or adults or sometimes play alone. During these activities the children will learn by first-hand experiences; by actively ‘doing’ as well as through scaffolding and modelling by adults.