At Matthew Arnold Primary School we aim high and want every child to experience success; our motto is ‘Developing True Potential’.

Every child has access to a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum which prepares them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences for now and the future. We aim to tailor our curriculum to individual need, interest and aptitude to fulfil every child’s potential.

The intent of the EYFS curriculum has taken into consideration the starting points and needs of our pupils as they join Matthew Arnold. Focus is placed upon the following

• Developing speech and language issues
• Expanding and developing vocabulary
• Creating first hand experiences to help with understanding of the world
• Reading is a priority and can be found celebrated and promoted in all classrooms. Quality reading areas are available in all settings. This includes reading books home, stay and play sessions and a whole school approach to T4W and development/promotion of quality texts to build stories and traditional tales
• Phonics is also embedded in the EYFS curriculum, creating grouped and daily opportunities to develop phonetic awareness. Building words and expanding vocabulary is a focus within the EYFS curriculum. This is achieved through continuous provision, quality texts and enhancing the learning environment (including capturing words, phrases etc on the Talk for Write  ‘washing lines’.
• Mark making books have been introduced and regular mark making opportunities are captured and assessed.
• Social and emotional development is supported through behaviour management (zones of regulation) which has been adapted for EYFS. Resources has been provided, rooms altered and practice adapted to accommodate the needs of pupils.
• Early mathematics is promoted indoors and outdoors through play, songs, rhymes and repetition. Significant investment in indoor and outdoor provision has been implemented to support this