The Creating Confident Learners (CCL) curriculum is unique to our settings and has been created by our incredible curriculum co-ordinator Sam Purcell. CCL aligns with the EYFS Statutory Framework and provides a rich, play-based learning journey from birth to age five and is designed to create confident learners. It has been designed to nurture holistic development and provide all children with high-quality learning from birth, that is coherent, sequential, and builds children’s knowledge incrementally. All while promoting confidence, creativity, and curiosity in a safe and inclusive environment.
CCL is designed to be both ambitious and inclusive, setting age-appropriate goals for every stage of your child’s development and learning journey with us, whether room based, or part of our Forest School groups. Stories and nursery rhymes play a central role in helping our children explore and understand new ideas and vocabulary. Each month features a key learning topic, and each room plans weekly themes inspired by this focus. These topics have been carefully mapped and planned out depending on celebrations and seasonal festivities, so our curriculum and each child’s learning flows naturally throughout the year.
Alongside our ambitious curriculum, we offer our children a chance to take part in many daily enrichment activities such as Bucket Time, Squiggle Whilst You Wiggle, Guided Drawing, School Readiness, and weekly extra-curricular activities such as Ballet, PE with Coach Emma and All Sorts Tots. Encouraging children to reach their full potential whilst allowing them to develop at their own pace is at the centre of everything we do!
How Our “I Am” Curriculum Links to the EYFS Framework
At Oakland Lodge, we’ve created a values-led curriculum that keeps the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework at its heart, while bringing our daily affirmations — I am Strong, I am Smart, I am Loved’ to life in a meaningful and nurturing way.
Each of our “I am” statements reflect key areas of children’s development. Many areas of the EYFS naturally connect to more than one of our affirmations. Children don’t grow in just one direction — they grow in every direction at once, and our curriculum celebrates that!
Focus: Confidence • Resilience • Physical Development
This part of our curriculum supports children in becoming capable, resilient, and independent. It includes aspects of:
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED)
• Communication and Language (especially in expressing needs and making choices)
• Understanding the World (through risk-taking, independence and exploration
This area celebrates curiosity and learning — encouraging children to solve problems, ask questions and develop a love for discovering. It includes:
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Communication and Language
Focus: Thinking • Exploring • Learning Skills
Focus: Wellbeing • Relationships • Belonging
At the core of this strand is helping children feel safe, valued and part of a community. It includes:
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED)
• Expressive Arts and Design
• Communication and Language (particularly through listening, turn-taking and conversation)
Some areas of the EYFS may appear under more than one of our “I am” statements — and that’s a good thing! For example, when your child joins in a group story time, they are Smart (developing listening and language skills), Strong (building confidence to speak up), and Loved (feeling included and connected to others).
Our curriculum is designed to reflect not just what children can do, but who they are and who they are becoming. We’re still working within the full EYFS framework, but in a way that’s personal, positive, and purposeful for every child here at Butterfly Barns.
In our pre-school room, our School Readiness Officer offers extra support through small group and one-to-one activities, helping children develop in areas such as phonics, maths, fine motor skills, and emotional regulation. Our School Readiness Officer carefully tailors each activity to suit the needs and interests of every child, ensuring they receive the best possible support for their individual learning journey.
We are also incredibly proud to use the Anima Phonics and White Rose Maths programmes to support our planning and enhance children’s school readiness!