Home » Who we help » EYFS Settings

EYFS Settings

We offer primary schools and EYFS settings a high-quality, fully-resourced early years curriculum. Choose from 25 projects to run a two-year rolling programme for an EYFS unit or select specific projects for Nursery and Reception. Housed on our online platform, Maestro, the EYFS projects provide comprehensive coverage of the Early Years Foundation Stage Educational Programmes. The curriculum offers a sequenced progression framework across the EYFS and into KS1. With suggestions for focus group activities and a wealth of enhanced provision, each project can be fully customised to meet the diverse needs of your children and your pedagogical approach to learning.

Planning and adapting the early years projects

The early years curriculum offers a sequence of main and shorter ‘companion’ projects. All project activities are differentiated for both Nursery and Reception and provide supporting enhanced provision ideas. To help you make each lesson your own, the content is entirely editable on Maestro, our online curriculum platform. To provide a consistent pedagogical approach, every project follows Cornerstones’ unique four-stage approach to learning: Engage, Develop, Innovate and Express.

 

Here’s what that looks like in practice.

Each project begins with a memorable experience to engage the children and spark their curiosity. The Engage stage provides context for learning, and children will have time to explore the project’s themes. The Develop stage is where children acquire fundamental knowledge and skills. Each activity links to an enhanced provision idea so the children can revisit and explore their learning independently. After developing children’s skills and knowledge across all aspects of learning, the Innovate stage provides opportunities for children to apply them in new and exciting ways. It supports them in making links with their experiences, working collaboratively, and solving problems together. Finally, in the Express stage, children can reflect on their learning and share their experiences.

The early years curriculum offers a sequence of main and shorter ‘companion’ projects. All project activities are differentiated for both Nursery and Reception and provide supporting enhanced provision ideas. To help you make each lesson your own, the content is entirely editable on Maestro, our online curriculum platform. To provide a consistent pedagogical approach, every project follows Cornerstones’ unique four-stage approach to learning: Engage, Develop, Innovate and Express.

 

Here’s what that looks like in practice.

Each project begins with a memorable experience to engage the children and spark their curiosity. The Engage stage provides context for learning, and children will have time to explore the project’s themes. The Develop stage is where children acquire fundamental knowledge and skills. Each activity links to an enhanced provision idea so the children can revisit and explore their learning independently. After developing children’s skills and knowledge across all aspects of learning, the Innovate stage provides opportunities for children to apply them in new and exciting ways. It supports them in making links with their experiences, working collaboratively, and solving problems together. Finally, in the Express stage, children can reflect on their learning and share their experiences.

There are no dragons in this story, eyfs story pack

Support for early reading development

Each project contains a story pack to support early reading development. We have chosen stories with engaging illustrations and strong narratives that will extend children’s vocabulary. This collection of stories provides opportunities for children to associate with the characters or help them understand the lives, experiences and perspectives of others. Each story pack follows a structure so children can hear the story multiple times and build their understanding as they listen. We aim to provide children with a bank of quality stories they love so they can revisit and retell them independently. The story packs are fully resourced and provide teacher information to guide practitioners through each stage.

Each project contains a story pack to support early reading development. We have chosen stories with engaging illustrations and strong narratives that will extend children’s vocabulary. This collection of stories provides opportunities for children to associate with the characters or help them understand the lives, experiences and perspectives of others. Each story pack follows a structure so children can hear the story multiple times and build their understanding as they listen. We aim to provide children with a bank of quality stories they love so they can revisit and retell them independently. The story packs are fully resourced and provide teacher information to guide practitioners through each stage.

Cornerstones example of eyfs pre-literacy pack

Pre-Literacy programme

We provide termly pre-literacy packs to further support nursery and preschool children with early reading development. This fully resourced programme supports children in developing the communication, language, and literacy skills needed as they progress into the Reception year.

We provide termly pre-literacy packs to further support nursery and preschool children with early reading development. This fully resourced programme supports children in developing the communication, language, and literacy skills needed as they progress into the Reception year.

Supporting learning through play- the role of continuous and enhanced provision

The early years curriculum projects have been created with children’s physical, social and emotional development in mind. They encourage a play-based approach and offer a balance between teacher-directed and child-led learning. Each activity includes enhancements for the continuous provision and gives examples of prompts and questions to support, challenge and extend children’s thinking and learning. There are also extra enhanced provision suggestions to provide an enabling environment that allows children to revisit, consolidate and extend their learning independently.

The early years curriculum projects have been created with children’s physical, social and emotional development in mind. They encourage a play-based approach and offer a balance between teacher-directed and child-led learning. Each activity includes enhancements for the continuous provision and gives examples of prompts and questions to support, challenge and extend children’s thinking and learning. There are also extra enhanced provision suggestions to provide an enabling environment that allows children to revisit, consolidate and extend their learning independently.

Year 1 and Reception mixed-aged primary class.

Mixed-age support

To support children of all ages to meet curriculum requirements at an appropriate level, we have created a series of mixed-age planning documents available to all schools to choose to onboard the Cornerstones Curriculum. If you would like to find out more, or discover how your school could benefit from implementing a new EYFS curriculum, book a free consultation today to discuss. 

To support children of all ages to meet curriculum requirements at an appropriate level, we have created a series of mixed-age planning documents available to all schools to choose to onboard the Cornerstones Curriculum. If you would like to find out more, or discover how your school could benefit from implementing a new EYFS curriculum, book a free consultation today to discuss. 

Enquire now