Curriculum Information

Our Curriculum

At Windmill Hill Academy, we recognise the importance of supporting every child as an individual. Our in-depth knowledge of each child enables us to provide personalised opportunities to scaffold learning, develop skills, introduce new knowledge, and deepen understanding. Through this approach, we equip children with the foundations they need for a successful transition from Preschool into school, preparing them for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. In line with our school vision of "Inspiring Passionate Lifelong Learners," we strive to nurture confident, capable children who develop a love of learning from the very beginning of their educational journey.

By embedding the Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning, namely Playing and Exploring, Active Learning, and Creating and Thinking Critically, we support children to engage deeply with their learning and celebrate their achievements. Through an enabling environment and high-quality adult interactions, children are encouraged to make meaningful links between their learning, play, and exploration.

Our curriculum has been carefully designed with our children at its heart. It reflects both our local environment and the wider world, helping children to develop an understanding of their community while fostering curiosity about different places, cultures, people, and the natural world.

We provide focused teaching sessions that are carefully tailored to the needs of each cohort. These sessions lay strong foundations in early phonics, nurture a love of stories, books and rhymes, and introduce key mathematical concepts. Alongside this, children have extensive opportunities to learn through play and child-led exploration. Following their own interests and ideas enables them to develop confidence, independence, imagination, and creativity.

Adults play a vital role throughout children's learning experiences, skilfully scaffolding, modelling, and extending learning through timely interactions. Adult-led experiences are also used to introduce new concepts, broaden children's understanding, and inspire curiosity about the world around them.

We strive to create a learning environment that promotes enjoyment, awe, and fascination. Through our continuous provision, enriching experiences, educational visits, and wider curriculum opportunities, children are encouraged to explore, question, and discover.

The intent of our Early Years curriculum is to ensure that every child develops the confidence, knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to become ready and eager learners. As part of the An Daras Trust, we are committed to Igniting Curiosity, Growing Capability. Through this commitment, and through our vision of "Inspiring Passionate Lifelong Learners," we aim to nurture capable, resilient and positive children who embrace challenge, develop a lifelong love of learning, and are empowered to thrive both now and in the future.

Foundation Class Pre-Schoolers EYFS Curriculum 2025 to 2026 (1).pdf

DfE_Development_Matters_Report_Sep2023.pdf