Our Early Years Curriculum

At Riverside Pre-School Services, we are committed to delivering a high-quality, child-centred early years education that nurtures every child’s development and builds strong foundations for their future learning. Our curriculum is carefully guided by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, ensuring a rich and well-rounded experience for children aged 9 months to 4 years.

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We take a holistic approach to learning, recognising that a child’s well-being is at the heart of their development.

 

Our aim is to support every aspect of your child’s growth—emotionally, socially, physically, and cognitively—within a calm, welcoming environment where they feel safe, respected, and encouraged to thrive.

 

At Riverside, we focus on:

• Emotional well-being – Helping children build resilience, confidence, and a positive sense of self.

• Social development – Supporting the development of friendships, empathy, and strong communication skills.

• Physical health – Encouraging movement, outdoor play, and independence in self-care.

• Cognitive development – Inspiring curiosity, imagination, and a love for learning through hands-on, engaging experiences.

 

The EYFS Framework supports learning across seven key areas, divided into three prime areas and four specific areas:

 

Prime Areas (forming the foundation for all other learning):

• Communication and Language – Listening, understanding, and speaking with confidence.

• Physical Development – Developing coordination, control, and self-care skills.

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development – Forming secure relationships, managing emotions, and developing independence.

 

Specific Areas (expanding knowledge and understanding):

• Literacy – Fostering early reading and writing through storytelling, mark-making, and phonics.

• Mathematics – Exploring numbers, shapes, patterns, and problem-solving through play.

• Understanding the World – Encouraging exploration of people, communities, and the environment.

• Expressive Arts and Design – Nurturing creativity through music, art, movement, and imaginative play.

 

Learning at Riverside is largely play-based, with a balance of child-led exploration and adult-guided activities. We encourage children to follow their interests while introducing new concepts through sensory play, messy activities, songs, stories, role play, and outdoor experiences.

 

We are proud of our free-flow access to the garden, which allows children to move between indoor and outdoor spaces throughout the day. This promotes physical development, exploration of the natural world, and learning through real-life experiences. We believe that daily outdoor play is essential in helping children develop healthy routines and positive attitudes toward being active and connected to nature.

 

Each child is supported by a Key Person, who builds a strong, trusting relationship with them and their family. The Key Person carefully observes, plans, and reflects on the child’s learning and development, ensuring they feel secure and supported during their time with us. We use ongoing observations and assessments to tailor activities to each child’s individual needs, and we work closely with parents to share progress, celebrate milestones, and support learning at home.

 

As children prepare to move on to school, we place particular emphasis on school readiness. This includes helping them develop independence with dressing and toileting, improving concentration, encouraging turn-taking and listening skills, and introducing structured routines to help ease the transition to reception. Where possible, we liaise with local primary schools to support a smooth and confident move into the next stage of their education.

 

At Riverside Pre-School Services, we believe every child deserves a joyful and inspiring start to their educational journey. Our experienced and caring team is dedicated to helping each child grow into a curious, confident, and capable learner who is ready for all that lies ahead.

 

If you'd like to know more about our curriculum or how we support your child’s development, please don’t hesitate to get in touch or download our prospectus.