Our Approach to the Curriculum

Let your Light Shine

Our Approach to the Curriculum

Our approach to the curriculum is firmly rooted in our vision: ‘Let your Light Shine’

Intent

Curriculum planning is accessible and relevant to all pupils, and covers the content of the National Curriculum. Through carefully sequenced lessons, children learn and apply a range of knowledge and concepts across all subjects. They also develop skills such as questioning, presenting, debating, making choices about their own learning and critically reflecting on their work, and that of their peers. We have five key themes which drive our curriculum: Health, Language, Community, Environment and Technology. (See our ‘Curriculum Drivers’ document for more details.) We use these 'drivers' to underpin the development work we undertake in all areas of school life and to ensure our curriculum offer is enriched and personalised to our children and their families.

Implementation

Planning starts from the subject requirements (see individual subject documents for more detail) and meaningful links are then made within that subject, and with subjects. Teaching and learning in this way allows well-organised cross-curricular links to be made, which enable children to make connections between their learning and so deepen their engagement and understanding. We plan opportunities for learning which promote problem solving, creativity and communication in a purposeful and supportive environment.

All class teachers are responsible for providing a curriculum that is suitable for all pupils in the class, including those with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) with support from the SENDCo. We have high expectations for all pupils and are committed to ensuring our curriculum complies with the Equality Act 2010, the SEND Code of Practice and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014. Our inclusion statement emphasises the importance of providing an inclusive learning environment for all pupils including those with SEND. Additional information on this can be found in our Special Education Needs Information Report and Equalities Policy.

The Extended Curriculum

We also believe that to truly flourish, children’s learning needs to go beyond the National Curriculum. We provide enrichment activities to enhance the curriculum, for example, the school organises themed days, linked to various aspects of the curriculum such as ‘positive relationships and anti-bullying week’; mental health and well-being; curriculum linked days or weeks; World Book Day; Children in Need day etc. We aim to provide a variety of extra-curricular activities for all children that will meet their needs, interests and enhance their skills and learning. These clubs are changed termly. (See PE grant document and Extra-Curricular page on our school website).

Impact

The impact of pupils’ learning will be assessed in the following ways:

• Formative assessment throughout lessons, including the use of quizzes and knowledge builders.
• Summative assessment will identify children who have reached expected standards and those working either above or below. Pupil responses – this may be evidenced in books or through children’s talk.
• Answering the overarching enquiry question at the end of a unit of work.