Cultural Capital | EYFS

EYFS definition

Cultural capital describes knowledge, language, skills and cultural experiences that are recognised and valued within education and society. In EYFS discussions, the term often concerns how children draw on familiar experiences and gain access to new learning, relationships and opportunities.

What do children bring?

Children arrive with knowledge from family life, languages, places, stories, interests and community experiences. These starting points differ between children and can enrich learning for everyone. Getting to know them helps practitioners connect new ideas with something meaningful to the child.

What might it look like in practice?

  • A familiar family song becomes an invitation to explore other songs and languages.
  • Children discuss local journeys before sharing a story about travelling somewhere unfamiliar.
  • A visit to a nearby library introduces new books while building on children’s existing interests.

Is it a list of special experiences?

The term is used in different ways. It does not describe a single EYFS programme or a compulsory checklist of trips and celebrations.

Everyday conversations, play, books and local experiences can all contribute. Families’ knowledge can help adults offer a broad curriculum without assuming that a child’s home culture is lacking or that one set of experiences suits everyone.

Further Guidance | Related Documents

Explore resources connected with this term, choosing those that fit your children and setting.

Highlighted resource

Scroll sideways, focus the list and use your arrow keys, or use the buttons.

Find practical resources for your setting

Start with an age gateway

Useful routes into practice

Explore more of the site

Return to the top ↑ · Back to the EYFS glossary

In Tags