Curriculum and Pedagogy

Our Curriculum and Pedagogy for Developing Curious, Thoughtful Learners

Our Early Years pedagogy is evidence-informed and rooted in the belief that children learn best through meaningful interactions, rich experiences and purposeful play. Using the EEF Pedagogical Continuum, we carefully balance child-led play, adult-guided play and short adult-directed sessions to ensure children develop both independence and strong foundational knowledge.

Our practice is influenced by Anna Ephgrave’s In the Moment Planning approach and the Reggio Emilia philosophy, using invitations to play to create engagement and curiosity, alongside current research and guidance from trusted sources such as the EEF and Early Excellence. Teachers observe, listen and respond in the moment — supporting, challenging and extending children’s thinking through high-quality interactions and responsive teaching.

We want our children to become curious, confident learners who love to explore, ask questions and discover things for themselves. At the same time, we recognise the importance of developing secure foundational knowledge so children can make connections, solve problems and think critically about their learning.

Our indoor and outdoor environments, including our much-loved Nursery and Reception garden areas, are open daily and provide inspiring opportunities for children to learn, wonder and grow. Play experiences are carefully planned and skilfully supported by knowledgeable and experienced Early Years educators, ensuring learning is never left to chance.

We place a high value on developing communication and language skills. We use the ShREC approach and strategies such as contingent talk to create language-rich interactions that help children develop the confidence and vocabulary they need to thrive. Alongside this, structured programmes such as Read Write Inc. and NCETM support the development of early reading, writing and mathematical understanding.

The Characteristics of Effective Learning — Playing and Exploring, Active Learning, and Creating and Thinking Critically — are at the heart of everything we do. These principles guide our teaching and shape the way children approach new experiences. They help children to:

Play and explore with confidence, curiosity, and imagination.
Be active learners who keep trying, take pride in their efforts, and enjoy achieving what they set out to do.
Think creatively and critically by making choices, testing ideas, and finding their own solutions.

Through this ethos, we create an environment where every moment is a learning opportunity — helping children to develop not only knowledge and skills, but also a lifelong love of learning.

We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity in all aspects of school life, based on the understanding that all people have different needs but equal entitlement to rich experiences and opportunities. It is important that children are given a solid foundation in these vital early years on which to build their future learning.

Here at St Anne Line Catholic Nursery, our aim is to work together with you to meet your child’s development and learning needs in a welcoming, safe, caring, stimulating and fun environment. We hope that this will be an experience that you and your child enjoy together and that you feel that this is as much your Nursery as it is your child’s. We can only do our best work when staff and parents are true partners. If you have any questions or concerns about your child—big or small—please speak with our nursery staff at any time. We’re here to listen, share updates, and work together.

A Place to Explore, Create, and Grow

Our Nursery Classes

Class Name	Age Group	Room Leader
Cygnets Cygnets are baby swans – gentle, still growing, and finding their way in the world.	2-3 Year Olds	Mrs Ager - Level 3 Diploma in Pre-school Practice
Ducklings Ducklings are sociable and love to follow – reflecting on our children learning routines and social skills.	3–4 Year Olds	Miss Bruce - Level 6 Early Years Teaching & Learning
Wagtails Wagtails are small, lively birds, always on the move – like our curious, active preschoolers.	3–4 Year Olds	Mrs Scorey - QTS

Class Name

Age Group

Room Leader

Cygnets

Cygnets are baby swans – gentle, still growing, and finding their way in the world.

2-3 Year Olds

Mrs Ager - Level 3 Diploma in Pre-school Practice

Ducklings

Ducklings are sociable and love to follow – reflecting on our children learning routines and social skills.

3–4 Year Olds

Miss Bruce - Level 6 Early Years Teaching & Learning

Wagtails

Wagtails are small, lively birds, always on the move – like our curious, active preschoolers.

3–4 Year Olds

Mrs Scorey - QTS

Children in our Nursery are supported by highly skilled and experienced Level 2 and Level 3 Early Years Educators, who are dedicated to providing high-quality care and learning opportunities for every child.

Skills Progression

Our Skills Progression Grids for children aged 2–3 years, 3–4 years and Reception children have been carefully designed to support development across all areas of the EYFS curriculum. These help practitioners to understand each child’s individual learning journey, identify next steps, and provide meaningful experiences that build confidence, independence, and a love of learning. Through play-based opportunities, children are supported to develop key skills at their own pace, ensuring strong foundations for future learning and school readiness.