Developing an Early Years Curriculum – Strengthening Early Years Teaching

Stronger Practice Hub Event

A high-quality Early Years curriculum is central to giving every child the Best Start in Life. This session will support practitioners and leaders to develop a curriculum that is ambitious, inclusive and responsive to the unique needs, experiences and cultural capital of the children, families and communities they serve.

Drawing on Bristol’s Early Years Curriculum Guidance, participants will explore what curriculum means in practice: everything we want children to experience, learn and be able to do. We will consider how to identify learning priorities, build on what children already know and can do, and create meaningful opportunities that help children develop the knowledge, skills and understanding they need for future learning.

The session will explore the three curriculum elements of Intent, Implementation and Impact, considering how curriculum design, pedagogy, assessment, the environment and adult-child interactions work together to support children’s progress. Participants will also reflect on how a coherently planned and sequenced curriculum helps children know more, remember more and do more over time.

Participants will:

• Develop a clear understanding of curriculum in the Early Years.
• Explore how to identify meaningful learning priorities based on the needs of their children and community.
• Consider how curriculum intent, implementation and impact are connected.
• Reflect on the role of play, the environment, routines and interactions in bringing a curriculum to life.
• Explore how assessment can be used to inform curriculum decisions and support progress.
• Develop strategies for designing an ambitious and responsive curriculum that supports all children to thrive.

This session is suitable for practitioners and leaders who want to review, refine or develop their curriculum and strengthen the coherence, progression and impact of children’s learning experiences across their setting.