The CUSP Early Foundations curriculum is built on three core pillars: 

• Foundational Knowledge – this is a detailed overview of what we want pupils to know and be able to do in each area of learning
• Structured Storytime – brilliant literature is used to expose core concepts from the Foundational Knowledge overviews
• Opportunities and Experiences – these are carefully planned to give pupils a chance to interact with the taught concepts within their provision 

Foundational Knowledge is taught using Giant Knowledge Notes. These are a visual, locational cue that prompt pupils’ thinking about what has been taught. They are then placed into the provision so that pupils can build on their learning and use key language in their independent and guided activities.

Structured Storytime includes:

• Explicit teaching of rich and ambitious vocabulary
• Opportunities for children to participate in storytelling through prosodic reading strategies, drama and oracy
• Thinking Hard tasks to provoke children to think hard about what they have read

Giant story notes are put into the provision with the book to give children chance to interact with the story independently.

Our planning includes opportunities and experiences that explore all areas of learning. This includes opportunities for shared and guided writing and physical development.