Good practice in settings

While the principles listed above will be evident in every good nursery, the way in which they are developed and demonstrated in practice will vary from setting to setting. The term curriculum is used to describe everything children do, see, hear or feel in their setting, both planned and unplanned.
The curriculum for the Foundation Stage underpins all their future learning by supporting, fostering, promoting and developing:

• personal, social and emotional well-being – this includes practitioners supporting the transition to and between settings, promoting an inclusive ethos and providing opportunities for each child to become a valued member of that group and community
• positive attitudes and dispositions towards their learning – in particular, an enthusiasm for knowledge and learning and a confidence in their ability to be successful learners
• social skills, when children are provided with opportunities to learn how to co-operate and work harmoniously alongside and with each other and to listen to each other
• attention skills and persistence, including being able to concentrate on their own play or on group tasks
• language and communication, when all children have opportunities to talk and communicate in a range of situations, to respond to adults and each other, to practice and extend their vocabulary and communication skills and listen carefully
• reading and writing, including opportunities to explore, enjoy, learn about and use words and text in a range of contexts and to experience a variety of books
• mathematics, when children can develop their understanding of number, measurement, pattern, shape and space within a range of contexts
• knowledge and understanding of the world, with opportunities to solve problems, make decisions, experiment, predict, plan and question, and to explore and find out about their environment, people and places
• physical development, with opportunities to practice their fine and gross motor skills and to increase their understanding of how their bodies work and what they need to do to be healthy and safe
• creative development, including opportunities to explore and share their thoughts, ideas and feelings through activities in art, design and technology, music, movement, dance and imaginative role play