The Cambridge Early Years Curriculum provides a structured learning pathway for young children, generally covering ages 3 to 6. It’s designed to foster curiosity, creativity, and foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, and physical and social development. Here’s an outline of the curriculum areas, skills, and development goals:
1. Personal, Social, and Emotional Development
· Focus Areas: Building self-confidence, managing feelings, developing positive relationships.
· Skills Developed: Social interactions, emotional regulation, teamwork, independence.
· Key Activities: Group play, cooperative tasks, role-playing, sharing activities.
2. Communication, Language, and Literacy
· Focus Areas: Developing listening and speaking skills, introducing reading and writing.
· Skills Developed: Vocabulary building, phonics, comprehension, storytelling.
· Key Activities: Storytelling sessions, phonics games, circle time discussions, early writing exercises.
3. Physical Development
· Focus Areas: Fine and gross motor skills, health awareness.
· Skills Developed: Hand-eye coordination, balance, spatial awareness, self-care.
· Key Activities: Outdoor play, simple sports, drawing, cutting, self-care routines like dressing and washing hands.
4. Mathematics
· Focus Areas: Basic numeracy, understanding shapes and measurements.
· Skills Developed: Counting, recognizing numbers, understanding quantities, spatial awareness.
· Key Activities: Counting games, shape sorting, measuring activities with sand/water, simple addition and subtraction.
5. Understanding the World
· Focus Areas: Awareness of the environment, people, and technology.
· Skills Developed: Curiosity, observation, basic understanding of cause and effect.
· Key Activities: Nature walks, basic experiments, exploring family and cultural traditions, learning to use simple digital devices.
6. Expressive Arts and Design
· Focus Areas: Creativity through art, music, movement, and role play.
· Skills Developed: Imagination, self-expression, aesthetic appreciation.
· Key Activities: Painting, singing, dancing, pretend play, crafts using various textures and materials.
Teaching Approach
The curriculum is delivered through play-based and inquiry-led learning, encouraging children to learn through discovery, play, and active engagement. Emphasis is placed on positive reinforcement, nurturing a love for learning, and promoting self-directed activities.
Assessment in Cambridge Early Years
Continuous observation and recording of individual progress through portfolios. Non-intrusive, formative assessments to guide further learning. Parental involvement is encouraged to support learning at home and strengthen the child’s development journey.
The Cambridge Early Years Curriculum provides a broad and balanced foundation for children, preparing them with the social, cognitive, and motor skills needed for later learning stages. This holistic approach ensures children gain confidence, curiosity, and the ability to thrive in future academic settings.