Our Curriculum
"Children learn best when they are healthy, safe, secure, when their individual needs are met, and when they have positive relationships with the adults caring for them." — EYFS Framework
What is the EYFS?
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the statutory framework that sets the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five years old. It provides a strong foundation to help every child learn through play, build confidence, develop important life skills and prepare for school.
The seven areas of learning
It is our intention that children experience the areas of learning centred around the three prime areas:
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
We then support children's experiences within the four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
Our intent
At Nuthurst Day Care, we recognise that every child is a unique learner. We know that the first five years of life are incredibly important — during this time children's brains develop rapidly. Secure relationships, rich language experiences and purposeful play build the foundations for lifelong learning.
We continually reflect on and adapt our ambitious and inclusive curriculum and planned experiences to ensure all children benefit from a holistic approach and high-quality, meaningful opportunities. Understanding each child's starting point and individual needs is key to delivering our curriculum effectively.
We take a flexible and responsive approach, following children's interests and natural curiosity to keep learning engaging and relevant. When an activity does not fully capture their attention, we thoughtfully adjust it to better support exploration and involvement. This helps ensure that all children feel motivated, included and able to access their learning, while building their sense of self-efficacy.
How we track progress
Ongoing observations and assessments of what your child knows, can do and needs next. Half-termly reports through the Ovivio app, plus the statutory two-year-old progress check.
School readiness
We promote independence, link up with local schools and invite them in for transition meetings. A transition document and an "All About Me" go with your child to school.
SEND & EAL support
Where a need or emerging concern is identified, staff share it promptly with parents and our SENDCo. Individual support plans are put in place as needed, with open, regular communication — and timely, sensitive referrals to external professionals where appropriate.
Why nutrition matters
At Nuthurst Day Care, we believe that healthy eating is an important part of every child's growth, learning and wellbeing. We provide nutritious meals and snacks that help children develop healthy eating habits while giving them the energy they need to learn, play and explore.
We aim to offer a varied, balanced menu that includes a wide range of foods from the main food groups. Fresh fruit and vegetables are offered daily and meals are prepared with children's nutritional needs in mind. We source our ingredients from local suppliers.
Our practitioners work closely with families to ensure that dietary requirements, allergies, cultural preferences and medical needs are fully supported. We recognise that every child develops at their own pace and always consider their individual age and stage of development — and we work in partnership with families throughout each child's weaning journey, ensuring a consistent approach between home and our setting.
Fresh drinking water is available throughout the day. Milk and water are offered at snack times, and suitable milk alternatives are provided for children with dietary requirements or allergies.
This week's menu
Our menu is carefully created in line with the EYFS Nutrition Guidance — a balanced variety of nutritious foods, appropriate portion sizes and plenty of chances to build positive eating habits. A vegetarian alternative is offered at every lunch.
| Day | Breakfast | Snack | Lunch | Dessert | Tea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Porridge, banana, milk | Apple slices | Quorn sausage & veg casserole, mash | Yoghurt and berries | Crumpets and butter |
| Tuesday | Wholegrain cereal, milk, pear | Carrot sticks & houmous | Beef spaghetti bolognese (V: Quorn) | Orange segments | Baked beans on toast |
| Wednesday | Toast and milk | Banana | Chicken stir-fry, noodles (V: tofu) | Fruit salad | Veg soup & bread |
| Thursday | Yoghurt, granola, strawberries | Cucumber & cheese | Chicken curry, rice, green beans (V: chickpea curry) | Stewed apple and custard | Pitta, houmous & carrot |
| Friday | Porridge and raisins | Mixed berries | Fish pie (V: veg pie) | Yoghurt and mango | Cheese sandwiches, peppers |
Supporting learning through food
Mealtimes are valuable learning opportunities. We encourage children to:
- Develop independence by serving themselves where appropriate
- Learn good table manners and social skills
- Explore different tastes, textures, colours and cultures through food
- Talk about healthy choices and where food comes from
- Build confidence by trying new foods in a relaxed, supportive environment