Curriculum for Wales 2022
Following a comprehensive curriculum review, the Welsh Government have developed an exciting new curriculum that aims to create a successful and exciting future for all the children and young people of Wales.
The new curriculum is a continuum of learning for children from 3 to 16 years of age. There will no longer be ‘phases’ or ‘stages’, with all children learning along the continuum.
Central to the new curriculum are the four purposes. These four purposes form the basis for all future decisions about national and local educational priorities, and underpin all teaching and learning in Wales.
The new curriculum has been developed with the intention of creating students who are;
- ambitious, capable learners, ready to learn throughout their lives
- enterprising, creative contributors, ready to play a full part in life and work
- ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world
- healthy, confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society.
The New curriculum for Wales has been developed to reflect the strengths that the Foundation Phase has brought to education in Wales.
“The Foundation Phase ethos, principles and pedagogy will continue to be central to the delivery of early year’s education and have been incorporated across Curriculum for Wales 2022 to ensure it is appropriate and accessible for all practitioners and learners.” A guide to Curriculum for Wales 2022, April 2019
The final version of the new Curriculum for Wales was published on 28 January 2020. . Using the guidance published by Welsh Government, settings and schools are expected to develop a curriculum that is specific to their learners.
However, following the original consultation period, it was highlighted that additional guidance was required for the education of learners who are pre-progression step 1 (aged 5 years). Although slightly delayed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, this resulted in the planning for additional guidance to be developed by the Welsh Government.
Within The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill, the Welsh Government are required to provide a curriculum which funded non-maintained nursery settings can adopt. Settings can adopt this curriculum, design their own, or work with others to design a curriculum.
A curriculum for funded non-maintained nursery settings
The curriculum for funded non-maintained nursery settings has been developed through co-construction by practitioners, for practitioners. It is expressed from the viewpoint of the practitioner, drawing on expertise from across our non-maintained sector, and on the views of experts in the field of child development and early education. It has been developed to support the work with children at the very beginning of the 3 to 16 learning continuum of Curriculum for Wales, to ensure they have the best possible start on their journey.
From September 2022, funded settings will be required to deliver this curriculum framework or a curriculum they have designed themselves that meet the legislative requirements. As with the current Foundation Phase Framework, it is expected that non-funded settings will also be responsible for ensuring that the principles of the ‘Curriculum for funded non-maintained nursery settings’ framework are understood and applied in a way appropriate to the age, abilities and stage of development of children in their care and the nature of the provision. The Foundation Phase as it currently is will not exist from September, nor will the term be used. As it can sometimes be important to define the integral early years of a children’s learning, from September the term ‘Foundation Learning’ will be used to reflect this significant period.
Assessment framework to support the delivery of the ‘Curriculum for funded non-maintained nursery settings’
Following the publication of the ‘Curriculum for funded non-maintained nursery settings’, the Welsh Government have re-established their curriculum working group to co-construct assessment arrangements for funded non-maintained nursery settings. The working group will be focusing on the following;
- Development of guidance around progression, and what that looks like for children in non-maintained settings
- Development of appropriate assessment arrangements which support progression for children in settings (expanding on what is in the curriculum for non-maintained settings)
- Development of an appropriate on-entry assessment tool for use in settings.
The final publication of the assessment framework will take place prior to September 2022 ready for the implementation of the new curriculum from this date.
Supporting resources
Hwb training modules
Alongside the work of the non-maintained sector curriculum and assessment framework, the Welsh Government have re-developed some of the original Foundation Phase training modules to support practitioners to reflect on practice and provision in the following areas:
- Authentic and purposeful learning
- Child development
- Observation
- Outdoor learning
- Play and play-based learning
- Transitions.
The suite also contains an Introduction manual, which will need to be understood before undertaking the learning in the modules, along with infographics to support/promote the use of the modules.
The Welsh Government has created a ‘Quick links’ document to display the contents of the modules, along with estimated times for completion and links to individual sessions within the training modules. This is a great resource to review the content quickly and ‘pick and mix’ the sessions that yourself and your setting will find most useful.
Four Purposes
The Four Purposes are the shared vision and aspiration for every child and young person in Wales. All learning decisions within your setting should be in pursuit of the four purposes. Ensuring a secure understanding of the Four Purposes is crucial to a solid foundation for learning within your setting.
Effective pedagogy
Your staff will need the skills to teach the new curriculum well. Professor Donaldson describes in detail 12 Pedagogical Principles that underpin the new curriculum. Understanding the individual components will support your team to confidently embed the new curriculum and achieve high-quality learning experiences for your children.
Understanding and preparing for the New Curriculum in Wales
Don’t be scared of the change! Learning through play and child-led learning remains, and the principles and pedagogy derive from the Foundation Phase, something that the early years sector in Wales have been doing for years.
NDNA Cymru have developed an virtual training courseto highlight current effective practice and its place within the new curriculum, alongside introducing the integral components of the ‘Curriculum for funded non-maintained nursery settings’.
For further details on the course and how to book, please contact the NDNA Cymru team on 01824 707823 or wales@ndna.org.uk
Further supporting resources
NDNA Cymru continue to develop a range of factsheets to support your knowledge and understanding of the key themes that will support the delivery of the new curriculum:
Still to come:
Curriculum for Wales: Welsh language in the new curriculum
NDNA Cymru Webinars
Sustained Shared Thinking – NDNA Cymru teamed up with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David to develop and deliver a webinar on Sustained Shared Thinking and its use within the early years.
Transitions and partnership working – Together with a working group of professionals and practitioners from across the sector, NDNA Cymru have produced a bilingual toolkit to support settings, schools and families with children’s transitions and partnership working. There is a short video introducing the toolkit and its contents.
Resources from CWLWM
An online course has been developed by Gwenith Ap Roberts, Curriculum Leader for CWLWM, which offers a clear and lighthearted presentation into the methodology and development of Curriculum for Wales 2022.
Watch a presentation on the background and basic principles of Curriculum for Wales 2022 in English here and in Welsh here.
If you need more support please contact the NDNA Cymru team:
Email: wales@ndna.org.uk
Telephone: 01824 707823
NDNA Cymru members can also contact NDNA’s Early Years Education Officer, Hayley Edwards for specific queries or support through;
- Phone – 01824 707823 Ext 273
- Email – hayley.edwards@ndna.org.uk
- 1:1 Zoom support sessions – Email Hayley to book a time that best suits you.