Nursery & reception Curriculum Overview - The Cornerstone Academy Trust

Nursery Curriculum Overview

At Cornerstone Academy Trust, our Early Years curriculum for Nursery and Reception is carefully designed to support each child’s unique developmental journey, laying strong foundations for lifelong learning. In Nursery, children are nurtured through a play-based, language-rich environment that encourages exploration, creativity, and social interaction. Through engaging themes such as “Who Am I?” and “What’s Outside?”, they develop confidence, communication skills, and early physical coordination, supported by high quality adult interactions and responsive teaching. As children progress into Reception, the curriculum builds on these foundations with more structured, yet still playful, learning experiences. Topics like “Once Upon a Time” and “Amazing Animals” deepen their understanding of the world while fostering early literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills. Reception children are introduced to phonics, begin to write, and take part in activities that support independence, collaboration, and self-regulation. Across both years, we prioritise strong relationships, active learning, and purposeful play, ensuring all children thrive and are well-prepared for Key Stage 1.