Our Curriculum

Sunshine community Nursery provides education through a framework, known as The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

The Early Years Foundation Stage

Sunshine Community Nursery provides education through a framework, known as The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Our experienced nursery practitioners use this framework to carefully plan learning and activities for each individual child. Sunshine provides children with new opportunities for hands on, open ended learning in a creative and fun environment.

Sunshine value each individual child, we nurture their unique personalities and carefully plan around their specific needs or interests. We also enhance children's experiences by implementing themes, exposing children to new opportunities and interests.

To view our nursery curriculum, please click here.

The EYFS is made up of seven different areas of learning, this is split into three Prime and four specific areas: 

The prime areas

Research suggests children develop more rapidly within the first 3 years of life. All areas of learning play an important role, the 3 prime areas are crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, developing their ability to learn, form friendships and thrive. The prime areas lay the foundations for children's success in all areas of learning and life. The prime areas later help children to develop within their specific areas.

• Communication and Language

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

• Physical Development

The specific areas

The specific areas provide a range of opportunities and experiences for children to broaden their knowledge and skills.

• Literacy

• Mathematics

• Understanding of the world

• Expressive Art and Design

At Sunshine we grow, discover and thrive in a fun, stimulating environment

Themes and principles

The Early Years Foundation Stage is made up of four specific themes: These themes underpin all the EYFS guidance.

The Unique child: 

The framework states that every child is unique, constantly learning, and that they can be resilient, capable, confident, and self-assured.

Positive Relationships:

By supporting the children and building positive relationships with them, they can learn to be strong and independent.

Enabling environments: 

Children learn and develop successfully when placed in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs, and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and carers.

Learning and development:

Children develop and learn in different ways. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Characteristics of effective learning

The characteristics of effective learning are an important aspect in the early year's foundation stage. They describe the ways in which children should be learning from their environment, experiences, and activities. Children up to the age of five should all be displaying the characteristics of effective learning every day.

Playing and exploring – Engagement 

  • Finding out and exploring

  • Playing with what they know

  • Being willing to have a go.

 Active learning – Motivation

  • Being involved and concentrating

  • Keeping trying

  • Enjoying achieving what they set out to do.

 Creating and thinking critically – Thinking 

  • Having their own ideas

  • Making links

  • Choosing to do things.


Your Child's learning journal

Your child's learning and development will be documented on our online app, famly. Parents will receive notifications directly to your phone where you can view your child's observations, assessments, videos and photos as well as keep up to date with nursery news.

Our experienced practitioners will capture your child's day at nursery from the moment they walk in, to messy play, phonics, playing with their friends and achieving specific next steps.

Download the Famly app

Famly is an easy-to-use childcare management platform designed for childcare centers, daycares, preschools and nurseries. Available on Apple App Store or Google Play.

Download now