Our purpose is to provide a nurturing and caring learning environment with high standards and expectations, where children grow into responsible, resilient, and independent learners.

Our school ethos is firmly rooted in our Christian values, in line with our school vision at Layston of believing in the reality of God in our lives and the Christian values that guide and inspire us. We are bold in our application of Christianity to transform relationships and take the Gospel intent of “Love one another” as a blueprint for making active choices in our day-to-day lives together. We foster awe and wonder through a creative curriculum that underpins and promotes our love for learning. We are inclusive and nurture each person as a child of God with every chance to shine.

Curriculum overview

Our curriculum intent
Our curriculum implementation

Our curriculum impact

The Government framework for key stages one to four intends to introduce the essential knowledge that children need to be educated citizens. It aims to introduce pupils to the best that has been thought and said, and to help engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement.

Please follow this link for further details of the programmes of study for the National Curriculum.

At Layston, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), as set out in Early Years Statutory Framework 2021. EYFS is recognised as a separate stage of learning that sets the foundations for when children begin more formal education. There is an emphasis on learning through active play, where the children are encouraged to build on their individual needs and interests. It is broken down into seven areas of learning. The prime areas are the fundamental parts of development which children need to develop fully in all the other specific areas of learning.

Prime areas

  • Personal, social, and emotional development
  • Physical development
  • Communication and language

Specific areas of learning

  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding of the world
  • Expressive arts and design

At Layston, our curriculum encourages the children to be independent learners. At the end of the year, we assess children against the early learning goals and create the EYFS profile.

Children are taught how to use our engaging and well-organised environment and develop their skills and interests through lots of time to play and create in it over the year. We enhance the environment over the year.  We also have periods of direct teaching every day. Children learn phonics through the Read Write Inc programme and maths through the White Rose programme in line with the rest of the school. Children also take part in a morning of forest school every week, and music and P.E. sessions with specialist teachers.

Progression of skills document v1
Curriculum rationale per subject