Curriculum

At Hertford Heath we are committed to giving our youngest children the very best start to their school journey. We have carefully developed an induction process that supports children in settling into school life as smoothly and confidently as possible, always placing their wellbeing at the heart of everything we do. Building strong, positive relationships between staff and children is a priority, helping every child to feel safe, valued and happy coming to school.

We take great pride in our Early Years learning environments and continually reflect on and develop them to ensure they meet the needs and interests of our children. Our provision is shaped by children's curiosity, current curriculum approaches and effective pedagogy, enabling children to explore, investigate and develop independence in their learning.

At Hertford Heath we also actively embed the school’s core values of curiosity, resilience, respect, responsibility, communication and caring within our Early Years provision. These values are woven through daily routines, interactions and learning experiences, helping children to develop not only academically but also socially and emotionally as members of our school community.

Through these experiences we support children in developing the skills, confidence and attitudes that reflect our school ethos of Caring for All, Learning for Life, ensuring they feel valued, supported and inspired as they begin their educational journey.

Curriculum Intent

At Hertford Heath Primary School, our Early Years curriculum is designed to nurture confident, curious and happy learners who feel safe, valued and ready to explore the world around them. We recognise that every child arrives with their own experiences, interests and starting points, and we use this knowledge to shape a rich and holistic curriculum that builds strong foundations for future learning. Our aim is to provide children with the essential skills, knowledge and attitudes that will support their transition into Key Stage 1 and beyond.

We view every child as a unique individual and celebrate their strengths, interests and ideas. Our curriculum provides a careful balance of adult-led learning and child-initiated exploration, enabling children to develop independence, creativity and a love of learning. Learning experiences are meaningful, engaging and often rooted in real-life opportunities that encourage children to investigate, question and make connections with the world around them.

Our Early Years provision actively promotes the school’s core values of curiosity, resilience, respect, responsibility, communication and caring. These values are woven through daily interactions, routines and learning experiences, supporting children in developing positive relationships, confidence and a strong sense of belonging within our school community. The Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning underpin our practice, encouraging children to play and explore, think critically and remain motivated in their learning.

Curriculum Implementation 

At Hertford Heath Primary School, children learn through a carefully planned balance of child-initiated exploration and purposeful adult-led teaching. Our daily routines and weekly timetable provide opportunities for focused teaching in phonics, early reading and mathematics, alongside rich opportunities for children to explore and develop their learning through both our indoor and outdoor environments.

Our curriculum is built around the seven areas of learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage, with particular emphasis on the prime areas of communication and language, personal, social and emotional development, and physical development, as these form the foundations for all future learning. Learning opportunities are designed to support development across all areas, ensuring that children build the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to thrive.

Children engage in a range of meaningful learning experiences through broad themes and topics that provide a context for exploration while remaining flexible enough to respond to children’s interests and ideas. The topics we teach are carefully planned to ensure a clear and progressive development of skills and knowledge from Nursery through to the end of Reception, allowing children to build on prior learning and deepen their understanding over time. These experiences help to develop language, relationships, creativity, curiosity and problem-solving skills, while supporting children to make connections in their learning.

Early reading and phonics are central to our curriculum. At Hertford Heath we teach phonics through the Essential Letters and Sounds (ELS) systematic synthetic phonics programme. This structured and engaging approach supports children in developing strong foundations in decoding, fluency and comprehension. Alongside daily phonics sessions, children take part in adult supported reading and share a wide range of carefully chosen texts, stories, rhymes and songs that foster a love of reading both in school and at home.

In mathematics, we adopt a mastery approach that focuses on developing deep understanding of number and mathematical concepts. Teaching is supported through approaches aligned with NCETM Maths Mastery and White Rose Maths, ensuring consistency with the teaching of mathematics across the rest of the school. Children learn through practical, hands-on experiences using concrete resources, games and problem-solving activities which help them develop mathematical language, reasoning and confidence in applying their understanding.

Our inclusive approach ensures that all children learn together within a supportive environment. Where additional support is needed, targeted interventions are used to help children keep up and make strong progress. These may include additional phonics practice, guided reading support, handwriting development or focused mathematical support to address misconceptions and strengthen understanding.

Curriculum Impact 

The impact of our Early Years curriculum at Hertford Heath is that children leave Reception as confident, happy and capable learners who are well prepared for the transition into Year 1. They develop strong foundations in early reading, writing and mathematics, alongside the communication, social and emotional skills that enable them to succeed in the next stage of their education.

Children demonstrate curiosity, resilience and independence in their learning, reflecting the school’s core values of curiosity, resilience, respect, responsibility, communication and caring. They develop a love of stories, language, exploration and discovery, and are able to talk about their learning with growing confidence.

Through a carefully sequenced curriculum and high-quality teaching, children build the knowledge and skills needed for future learning in Key Stage 1. Most importantly, they develop positive attitudes to learning and a strong sense of belonging within our school community, reflecting our ethos of Caring for All, Learning for Life.