EYFS & Key Stage 1 | Cann Bridge School

Early Years Foundation Stage

At Cann Bridge, we offer an inclusive and aspirational EYFS curriculum that provides high-quality, learner-focused teaching, preparing children for the next stage of their education.

Guided by the four EYFS principles and promoting the Characteristics of Effective Learning, our curriculum acknowledges and builds upon children’s own experiences and individual needs. We combine interest-led and themed teaching approaches to enhance their knowledge and skills development.

Our curriculum covers all seven areas of learning:

Communication and Language
Physical Development
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Literacy
Maths
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design

The curriculum places particular emphasis on the prime areas: Communication and Language, Physical Development, and Personal, Social and Emotional Development.

Communication skills and vocabulary development are woven into all aspects of our teaching, alongside nurturing personal, social, and emotional growth. Our priority is to foster children’s communication abilities and independence, ensuring they leave the early years provision as confident, communicative, and independent learners, fully prepared for Key Stage 1.

We provide children with a nurturing and stimulating environment that fosters key relationships and supports a positive transition from home and nursery to full-time schooling. By collaborating closely with families and multi-agency professionals, we ensure children receive the necessary support to succeed and reach their full potential.

To learn more about the Early Years Foundation Stage, please see our EYFS Policy and our EYFS Curriculum Booklet.

EYFS Long Term Programme

Early Year Policies

Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Booklet
Early Years Foundation Stage Policy

Key Stage 1

The Key Stage 1 curriculum builds on the strong foundations established within the Early Years department. Continuing our use of the continuous provision model, we ensure that learning is ongoing and closely aligned with our long-term curriculum planning. Learning spaces are consistent, well-resourced, clearly defined or enclosed, and designed to offer a wide range of experiences. These spaces promote engagement, independence, collaboration, self-confidence, resilience, and curiosity, while also being adaptable to reflect
and reinforce specific planned knowledge and skills.

Our continuous provision includes areas such as a welcoming and comfortable reading corner, role play and small world play zones, messy play, a construction area, and designated spaces to support both gross and fine motor development. A loose parts play area invites learners to engage in exploratory, imaginative play using everyday items rather than fixed toys, encouraging creativity and curiosity.

At Key Stage 1, adult-directed learning introduces semi-formal and formal learners to key concepts and essential knowledge, preparing them for more structured, subject-based learning as they become developmentally ready. This is delivered through short, focused sessions in subjects including English, Phonics, Maths, PSHE, Humanities, Science, Art, Music, and PE.

Our informal learners are observed and assessed using the Engagement Model, while all learners continue to be assessed using the B² Early Steps framework.

We are committed to developing learners' independence and self-help skills, using techniques such as backward chaining and breaking down long-term EHCP outcomes into personalised, achievable targets. These are captured in each learner’s Personalised Learning Goals. Learners are encouraged to freely explore a range of motivating and engaging learning opportunities, carefully facilitated by staff who are attuned to the intended learning outcomes and each learner’s next steps.

Taught knowledge is applied through both play-based and real-life contexts, ensuring that learning is flexible, transferable, and deeply embedded.

Key Stage 1 Long Term Programme