The Early Years Foundation Stage at Wellington College International Pune: Nurturing Curious, Confident Learners by Ms Katherine Kelly
05 Jun 2026
At Wellington College International Pune, our Early Years provision is guided by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework, a child centred curriculum that supports children from birth to five years old. The EYFS provides a strong foundation for lifelong learning by recognising that every child is unique, capable, and develops at their own pace.
The framework is built around seven areas of learning and development: Communication and Language, Physical Development, Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, and Expressive Arts and Design.
Through purposeful play, exploration, high quality interactions, and carefully planned experiences, children develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions they need to flourish both academically and personally.
At Wellington, our EYFS curriculum is further enriched through our commitment to the Curiosity Approach. This modern educational philosophy draws inspiration from some of the world's most respected early childhood approaches, combining the best elements of the Reggio Emilia philosophy, Montessori principles, Te Wh?riki from New Zealand, and contemporary research into child development and neuroscience.
Like Reggio Emilia, we view children as competent, capable learners who are naturally curious about the world around them. Children's interests, questions, and ideas help shape our learning experiences, fostering a genuine sense of ownership and engagement. Our environments are carefully designed to act as the "third teacher," inviting exploration, creativity, and collaboration.
From Montessori, the Curiosity Approach embraces independence, active learning, and respect for the individual child. Children are encouraged to make choices, solve problems, take risks, and develop confidence in their own abilities. Authentic resources and real-life experiences help children connect their learning to the world around them.
The Curiosity Approach also encourages us to move beyond brightly coloured plastic toys and instead provide rich, open-ended materials known as "loose parts." These resources inspire imagination, critical thinking, communication, and creativity. A simple collection of natural materials, recycled objects, fabrics, or wooden resources can become anything a child imagines, allowing learning to be driven by curiosity rather than predetermined outcomes.
This philosophy aligns beautifully with the principles of the EYFS. Both approaches recognise the importance of play, relationships, wellbeing, and child initiated learning. Together, they create an environment where children feel safe, valued, and inspired to explore.
At Wellington College International Pune, we believe that education in the early years is not about rushing children towards formal learning. Instead, it is about nurturing a love of learning, fostering resilience, encouraging independence, and developing the confidence to ask questions, investigate ideas, and make sense of the world.
By combining the robust foundations of the EYFS Framework with the innovative and child centred practices of the Curiosity Approach, we nurture children's natural sense of wonder, helping them develop the confidence, independence, and curiosity to engage meaningfully with the world around them.
