The early years are crucial for a child’s development, and a well-crafted curriculum can lay a strong foundation for lifelong learning. Creating your own curriculum enables early years settings to provide a high-quality, inclusive, and engaging
learning experience that is tailored to the specific needs and context of the children they serve. This approach supports the foundational principle of early years education: to foster the well-being, development, and future learning potential of every child.

Unique Child

Every group of children are unique, with different interests, needs, and developmental stages. Creating a customised curriculum allows you to cater to these individual differences, fostering a more engaging and effective learning environment.

Cultural Capital

By designing your own curriculum, you can ensure that the content is relevant to the children’s local environment, cultural background, and community values. This relevance enhances children’s understanding and appreciation of their own identity and surroundings. A bespoke curriculum allows for differentiation, ensuring that children with diverse abilities, including those with special educational needs, can access the curriculum and engage in meaningful learning experiences.

A self-designed curriculum allows for greater flexibility, enabling educators to quickly adapt to the changing needs, interests, and abilities of the children. This responsiveness ensures that the educational experience remains dynamic and pertinent throughout the year.

What are the key components of the Early Years Curriculum?

• Outline essential elements such as play-based learning, communication and vocabulary, social and emotional learning, and physical development.
•  Emphasise the importance of incorporating activities that foster creativity and curiosity.

Design your own Curriculum

Intent

Intent – Asses the unique needs and interests of the children and the values of the setting as well as your own pedagogical approaches – Set Goals and Objectives – Define clear, achievable goals for different developmental areas.

Implement

Implement – Look at Development Matters and Birth to 5 and other Early Years Curriculums. Plan your activities and outline themes – Select activities that are age appropriate and align with your goals and values. Allow room for spontaneous learning opportunities and adaptability. Include diverse cultural and linguistic elements, create an inclusive environment that respects and celebrates differences. Collaborate with Parents and Carers.

Impact

Impact – Evaluation and Assessment – Regularly assess the curriculums effectiveness and make necessary adjustments.
We have designed our own curriculum as a starting point, take a look here. Designing your own curriculum for the early years is both a challenging and rewarding endeavour. It requires creativity, patience, and a deep understanding of young learners needs. Remember, the goal is to create a nurturing and stimulating environment where children can thrive and develop a lifelong love of learning.

We have created an editable curriculum that you can use as a starting point bringing together Development Matters and Australia’s Early Years Curriculum – Belonging, Being and Becoming.