EYFS Curriculum

We know that young children can be easily overwhelmed by too much information and will find it difficult to pay attention to one activity for any length of time.  With this in mind, at LG Playhouse we break topics down into bite size chunks to ensure the children are empowered to understand a little bit more about the world around them each day.

We aim to make learning as organic and enticing as possible, and our starting point is always the child’s current interests, experiences and knowledge.

Of course, interests vary hugely among our children, which is why we like to keep our planning open.  To this end, we have designed our yearly plan as a mind map, which ensures we link the children’s interests to relevant concepts.

Our weekly plans are developed step by step and hand in hand with the children, and each week’s topic is chosen in response to the children’s preferences and comments.

Every day, we break our activities into simple steps, creating opportunities for the children to work effectively with all the resources and materials we have available.

The fact that each week brings with it an all-encompassing theme, presented with corresponding songs and stories, helps the children to understand, remember and process the new information they learn.

We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and plan in line with its seven areas of development.

Prime Areas

  • Physical Development
  • Personal social and emotional Development
  • Communication and Language

Secondary Areas

  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding the world
  • Expressive Art and Design

To reinforce our Playhouse projects, visitors are invited in to talk to the children. For example, each year a group of Fire fighters come to see us in their fire engine. Many other types of professionals visit the children, including doctors, policemen and chefs.

Lexham Gardens Playhouse
Lexham Gardens Playhouse

Outings are also used to support our Playhouse project work – for example, with visits to museums such as the Science or National History Museum, or even to the Supermarket, or Pet Shop.

Please note that we can only organise outings when there are limited numbers of children at the Playhouse, and that all outings are subject to weather conditions.

Water play, sand play, messy play, art and crafts, construction, role play, dressing up, story time, music and dance all take place often at the Playhouse, and the children are introduced to a variety of instruments and nursery songs on a daily basis during circle time.  It’s fair to say there’s a lot on offer for our children when it comes to sports, drama and music.

Lexham Gardens Playhouse
Outdoor Play and Activities - Lexham Gardens Playhouse

We use the EYlog electronic learning journeys which allow us to securely record media and log observations on the children. As a parent, you are given access to your child’s profile, so that you can keep up with exactly what they have been learning and experiencing. You can also share things with us via this app.