At Clifford Bridge, we believe every child is an individual with their own strengths, constantly growing and capable of becoming resilient, confident, and self-assured. We understand that children develop independence and emotional security through nurturing and positive relationships, something that is prioritised by our staff team. Our pupils are naturally curious, energetic, and thoughtful, and it is our responsibility to offer an environment that is warm, safe, stimulating, and challenging. We recognise that children learn in diverse ways and progress at different speeds; they need support and challenge at different points in their learning journeys. At Clifford Bridge, we are committed to ensuring that every child is supported to achieve their full potential, surrounded by people who believe in them. 

The aims of the EYFS curriculum at Inspire are: 

• To provide engaging, challenging, and exciting play-based learning opportunities for all
• To provide a safe and secure environment, recognising that this is where children learn best
• To support all children in developing their communication skills
• To provide high quality phonics teaching to give all children the best opportunity to become confident mark makers and readers
• To give children the opportunity to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding, and using numbers as well as exploring shape, space, and measure
• To give children the opportunity to explore and foster curiosity about the world around them
• To provide an inspiring learning environment both inside and out, allowing children to to be enthusiastic risk takers who set their own challenges and follow their own interest and lines of enquiry

EYFS curriculum

The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum is organised to take care of and develop the whole child and not just their academic learning. The Foundation curriculum is split into 7 areas of learning, 3 prime areas and 4 specific areas.

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

Our EYFS curriculum also includes the Characteristics of Effective Learning. These focus not on what children know but  how children learn. 

The three characteristics are:  

• Playing and Exploring – our children investigate and experience things and events around them and ‘have a go.’ 
• Active Learning – our children concentrate and keep trying if they experience difficulties, as well as enjoying what they achieve. 
• Creating and Thinking Critically – our children have and develop their own ideas, make links between different and experiences and develop strategies for doing things

The M’s

The EYFS also includes the Characteristics of Effective Learning. 

These focus not on what children know but how children learn. 

• Playing and Exploring – children investigate and experience things and events around them and ‘have a go.’ 
• Active Learning – children concentrate and keep trying if they experience difficulties, as well as enjoying what they achieve. 
• Creating and Thinking Critically – children have and develop their own ideas, make links between different and experiences and develop strategies for doing things. 

At Clifford Bridge Academy, this is just the start. We have designed our own bespoke curriculum that encompasses the 7 areas of learning and the characteristics of learning in an engaging and exciting curriculum that we call the 5 Ms. 

We prioritise: making conversations and learning to communicate, mark making  and understanding the meaning of marks, developing secure early mathematical skills, exploring the marvellous world around them, and giving children the opportunities to use and develop their muscles and movement. 

Magic is at the heart of all we do, making sure that the children are engaged and excited in all their learning. This could be anything from coming into their classroom to find that a beanstalk has grown in their classroom over night when learning about the story of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ or finding a new role play corner stocked full of resources to explore. 

Tapestry

All the learning and experiences of the children are recorded on Tapestry our online learning journal. Tapestry builds a very special record of a child’s experiences, development and learning journey through their early years education at Walsgrave. Parents or carers can view their child’s progress, the activities provided for them, and how much fun they’re having, whilst also uploading their own comments and media.