Our Curriculum

Our Curriculum

At Kendal Nursery School we believe that children are curious, capable learners from birth. They learn best through play, exploration and real-life experiences, supported by strong relationships with adults who know them well.

Our curriculum is rooted in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), but it is also unique to Brantfield. It reflects our values, our community, and our belief that every child deserves to be nurtured, challenged, and celebrated for who they are.

What makes our curriculum special?

We provide a rich and inspiring environment, indoors and outdoors, where children can explore, create and discover.We have five commitments that shape everything we do:

1. Holistic Development & Wellbeing – nurturing children’s social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth.

2. A Love of Learning – encouraging curiosity, perseverance, and independence.

3. Outdoor Learning & Sustainability – making the most of our large gardens, woodland, and Forest School ethos to inspire adventure and respect for the natural world.

4. Inclusion & Diversity – ensuring all children, including those with SEND, thrive in a curriculum that meets their individual needs.

5. Respect & Empathy – supporting children to build kind, caring relationships and value the world around them.

The Seven Areas of Learning

The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum is a play based framework which we use as a tool to ensure that all our children are developing and learning to their full potential.  We plan and provide a range of play activities, which help our children to make progress in each of the areas of learning and development.

There are 7 areas of Learning. 3 Prime areas and 4 specific areas.

Prime Areas – the foundations for all learning:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development – building confidence, independence and positive relationships.

• Communication and Language – developing listening, understanding and speaking skills.

• Physical Development – growing strong, healthy and active with good coordination and control.

Specific Areas – extending and applying the prime areas:

• Literacy – enjoying stories, rhymes and early writing.

• Mathematics – exploring numbers, shape, space and measures.

• Understanding the World – discovering nature, technology, people and communities.

• Expressive Arts and Design – experimenting with art, music, movement and role play.

Our Kendal Nursery School Curriculum Goals

We have set ten aspirational goals that weave through the seven areas of learning in the EYFS. These capture the qualities we want every child to develop by the time they leave us:

• I am resilient and love to learn

• I value myself and those around me

• I can make healthy choices

• I am a confident talker and a great listener

• I am strong, active and love to move

• I am a reader and a storyteller who loves words

• I am a confident, excited writer

• I am a mathematical thinker

• I am an inquisitive explorer of the world

• I am a bold and imaginative creator

Linking the EYFS and Our Goals

Our Kendal Curriculum Goals link directly to the EYFS areas of learning:

How we teach

• Play at the heart – we know children learn best when they are deeply engaged in play, indoors and outdoors.

• Responsive planning – staff observe children closely and adapt learning to follow their interests and needs.

• Rich environments – our classrooms, gardens and woodland are carefully designed to inspire exploration, imagination and collaboration.

• Inclusive practice – we provide personalised support for children with additional needs, working in partnership with families and professionals.

• Community links – children take part in trips and visits around Kendal, helping them connect with people and places in their local area.

The impact

By the time children leave Kendal Nursery School they are:

• Confident and ready for the next stage of learning

• Curious about the world and eager to discover more

• Strong communicators, able to talk, listen and share ideas

• Resilient and independent, ready to persevere with challenges

• Equipped with the foundations of literacy, maths and creativity

• Full of joy, wonder and a real love of learning

 

Outdoor Learning and Community Experiences

At Kendal Nursery School, the outdoors is not an add-on – it is at the heart of everything we do. We believe children thrive when they have the freedom to explore, move, create and discover in the natural world. Our large garden and magical woodland area are central to our curriculum and are used in every season, whatever the weather.

Learning Outdoors

Children have daily opportunities to:

• Climb, balance, run and jump, building strength, coordination and confidence.

• Dig, plant and explore the natural world, learning about growth, change and sustainability.

• Gather around the fire to toast marshmallows, sip hot chocolate or make soup – special moments that foster community and a sense of awe and wonder.

• Use natural resources to create, imagine and problem-solve – from dens in the woods to mud pies in the kitchen.

Outdoor learning builds resilience, independence and teamwork, while supporting wellbeing and a deep respect for nature.

The Wider Community

We are proud to be part of the Kendal community and take children out regularly to explore the world beyond Brantfield. Experiences have included:

• Trips to the local library, parks and shops.

• Visits to care homes to sing, play and build intergenerational friendships.

• Journeys on buses and trains to broaden horizons.

• Walks in Serpentine Woods and the local fields to discover seasonal changes, wildlife and geography first-hand.

These experiences help children to feel connected to their community, confident in new environments and excited to share their learning with their families.

Why it Matters

We believe the outdoors and the community offer children:

• A sense of freedom and adventure.

• Opportunities to take measured risks and solve problems.

• Time to build strong relationships with peers and adults.

• A deeper understanding of the world around them.

For us, the outdoors is not a break from learning – it is learning. Together with our community links, it is what makes Kendal Nursery School such a special place to grow and thrive.