Brockmoor Primary School: Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum

A Curriculum That Nurtures, Inspires, and Builds Strong Foundations for Lifelong Learning

At Brockmoor Primary School, we believe that early childhood education is more than just preparation for school—it is the foundation for lifelong learning and well-being.

Our EYFS curriculum, underpinned by CUSP Early Foundations, ensures that children develop:

🌱 Secure foundational knowledge – Carefully sequenced learning that builds curiosity, language, and understanding.
📖 Rich language and literacy experiences – High-quality books, structured storytime, and explicit vocabulary instruction.
🧠 Opportunities for deep thinking and exploration – Encouraging play, guided discovery, and critical thinking.
🗣 Fluency in communication and social interaction – Developing oracy through structured talk and enriched interactions.
🎭 Creativity and problem-solving skills – Learning through imaginative play, music, movement, and artistic expression.

We are committed to ensuring that our EYFS provision is exceptional, and we are working closely with Julie Sherrington, an EYFS specialist, to refine and enhance our curriculum, ensuring the best outcomes for our children.

We also use Tapestry as a digital learning journal, enabling real-time reporting to parents, allowing them to see and celebrate their child's progress.

Our ambition is that every child leaves EYFS with the confidence, knowledge, and skills to thrive in Key Stage 1 and beyond.

The CUSP Early Foundations Framework

Our CUSP Early Foundations Curriculum is structured into three key elements:

1. Foundational Knowledge

🔹 Clearly defined knowledge and skills that children should acquire throughout EYFS.
🔹 Ensures children develop early literacy, numeracy, and understanding of the world.
🔹 Explicit teaching and play-based learning reinforce understanding.

2. Opportunities and Experiences

🔹 Carefully planned direct teaching, guided activities, and continuous provision.
🔹 Encourages exploration, experimentation, and active learning.
🔹 Provides real-life, hands-on experiences that deepen understanding.

3. Structured Storytime

📚 A carefully curated literature spine featuring 25 core texts.
📖 Explicit vocabulary teaching to develop comprehension, reasoning, and articulation.
🗣 Fluency, oracy, and drama – Engaging children in structured discussions, role-play, and storytelling.

This framework ensures that learning is structured, intentional, and responsive to children's needs.

The CUSP EYFS Curriculum: A Thematic and Sequential Approach

Personal, Social, and Emotional Development (PSED)

🤝 Developing self-regulation, resilience, and emotional literacy.
🗣 Encouraging positive interactions, turn-taking, and respectful communication.
🌍 Learning about friendships, diversity, and social responsibility.

Communication and Language

📖 Daily structured storytime to develop listening, comprehension, and expressive language.
🔄 Explicit vocabulary instruction, systematically revisited and interwoven across all subjects.
🎭 Drama, role-play, and enriched interactions to build confidence in speaking.
🗣 Wellcomm Language Assessment – Used to track and support early speech and communication development.

Physical Development

🏃 Gross motor skills – Strengthening core muscles through movement, outdoor play, and balance activities.
✍️ Fine motor skills – Developing early writing through mark-making, pencil control, and manipulative tasks.
🎾 Physical Literacy Interventions – Led by our PE Coaches to enhance physical development, motor skills, and coordination.
🏋️ Extra Physical Development Sessions – Targeted interventions designed to support motor skills, spatial awareness, and self-confidence in movement.

Literacy

📚 Phonics (Read Write Inc.) – Systematic, structured teaching of early reading and spelling.
📖 High-quality texts and storytelling – Introducing rich language, deep concepts, and critical thinking.
✍️ Early writing development – Encouraging mark-making, name writing, and sentence formation with purpose and meaning.

Mathematics: White Rose Maths

🔢 Our EYFS maths curriculum follows the White Rose Maths framework, ensuring:

✔ Deep conceptual understanding through small, sequenced steps.
✔ Fluency in number recognition, counting, and early problem-solving.
✔ Strong mathematical language and reasoning skills.
✔ Hands-on learning through manipulatives, songs, and real-world experiences.

🏃 Physical Maths – Using outdoor activities and movement to reinforce key mathematical concepts in an engaging way.
🔬 STEM Exploration – Encouraging problem-solving, investigation, and practical application of mathematical thinking.

This structured approach ensures that children develop confidence in mathematical thinking from an early age.

Understanding the World

🌍 Exploring local communities, seasonal changes, and simple geography.
🔬 Encouraging curiosity about nature, science, and technology.
🎭 Celebrating cultural diversity and traditions through meaningful experiences.
💡 STEM-based learning activities – Encouraging scientific enquiry, engineering thinking, and problem-solving skills through hands-on exploration.

Expressive Arts and Design

🎨 Exploring colour, texture, and artistic expression through painting and model-making.
🎼 Engaging in music, dance, and performance to develop creativity and confidence.
🎭 Using role-play and storytelling to deepen imaginative thinking and narrative development.

This thematic approach ensures broad, balanced, and interconnected learning.

The Structure of a CUSP EYFS Lesson

Every learning experience in EYFS follows a structured sequence:

Lesson Phases

1️⃣ Prior Knowledge Activation – Linking learning to previous experiences.
2️⃣ Core Literature Text / Hook – Engaging pupils through a rich, high-quality story.
3️⃣ Foundational Knowledge Instruction – Explicit teaching of key concepts.
4️⃣ Opportunities and Experiences – Embedding learning through play, discussion, and hands-on activities.
5️⃣ Structured Storytime – Reinforcing language, ideas, and comprehension.
6️⃣ Review and Reflection – Encouraging children to articulate their learning.

This structured yet flexible model ensures that learning is purposeful, engaging, and developmentally appropriate.

EYFS Learning in Action: Opportunities and Experiences

🎨 Creative Play – Children explore painting, modelling, and construction.
🌳 Outdoor Learning – Engaging with nature, movement, and sensory experiences.
📚 Wellcomm Interventions – Targeted language development to support communication skills.
🤸 Physical Maths & Physical Literacy – Active learning through movement, reinforcing numeracy and literacy skills outdoors.
🎤 Performance and Expression – Role-play, storytelling, and music-making.
📍 Local Community Exploration – Understanding where they live and how places are connected.

These experiences ensure that children develop confidence, independence, and a love for learning.

Further Information

For more details, including:
📌 CUSP Early Foundations Knowledge Documents
📌 Long-Term Planning and Opportunities for Play
📌 Parental Support for Learning at Home via Tapestry

Please contact our Curriculum Lead, Tom Amphlett, at info@brockmoor.dudley.sch.uk. 🚀