We teach a broad and balanced curriculum which conforms to the National Curriculum based on a thematic approach.
Core Subjects
English – Covers a wide range of genres using a variety of media this incorporates reading, writing, spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPAG). Handwriting is taught using the Pen Pals scheme. We use “I am a Clever Writer” as a system to support writing.
Mathematics – Using ‘White Rose’ resources
Computing— Using ‘Teach Computing’ from NCCE
Music—Using Oak Academy Music Curriculum
Foundation Subjects
Art & Design; Design Technology; History; Geography; using Kapow Curriculum which is thematic and covers all subjects through topics such as One Planet, Our World, Prehistoric Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age.
Modern Foreign Languages is currently French which is taught through the internet based Language Angels.
Physical Education is currently taught for at least 1 hour per week and the curriculum is based around The PE Hub scheme of work
Personal, Social, Health, Economic Education is taught using the Jigsaw Scheme which cover a range of topics including British Values along with social, moral, spiritual and cultural values. This also covers age appropriate lessons on Relationships, Sex Education, Health Education.
Religious Education is delivered using the Discovery RE Scheme. This is broadly Christian based but covers aspects of the other main world religions.
More Able
The needs of our more able children are met through challenging curriculum planning. This provides suitable opportunities for enrichment and extension through differentiation and targeting appropriate work for these children. We are also able to receive advice, support and resources from Plantsbrook School.
Swimming
Swimming lessons now form a compulsory part of the PE National Curriculum as children are expected to be able to swim 25 metres competently by the end of KS2. As we have many children who are confident in the water and can swim further than this we do not organise swimming lessons in school for them. We have recently had a “pop up” swimming pool on site which has allowed all Year 5 & Year 6 to have daily swimming lessons for 4 weeks. We will evaluate this and make a decision about how we provide swimming lessons next year.
Personal, Social, Health, Economic Education
(PSHE) is taught using a spiral curriculum designed by Jigsaw.
There are six Puzzles in Jigsaw that are designed to progress in sequence from September to July:
Autumn 1: Being Me in My World / Autumn 2: Celebrating Difference (including anti-bullying) / Spring 1: Dreams and Goals
Spring 2: Healthy Me / Summer 1: Relationships
Summer 2: Changing Me (including Sex Education) RSHE.
Each Puzzle has six Pieces (lessons) which work towards an ‘end product’, for example, The School Learning Charter or The Garden of Dreams and Goals. Each Piece has two Learning Intentions: one is based on specific PSHE learning (covering the non-statutory national framework for PSHE Education but enhanced to address children’s needs today); and one is based on emotional literacy and social skills (covering the SEAL learning intentions but also enhanced). The enhancements mean that Jigsaw is relevant to children living in today’s world as it helps them understand and be equipped to cope with issues like body image, cyber and homophobic bullying, and internet safety.
Relationships, Sex Education, Health Education
The specific RSHE content is taught through the Changing Me Puzzle of learning and provides new resources; picture cards, resource sheets and animations that are used to enhance teaching and learning. The animations; the female reproductive system and the male reproductive system provide a visual resource to enable children to understand how the body changes and develops in puberty. Whilst the core RSHE content is delivered through the Changing Me Puzzle, essential work is done in previous puzzles to build children’s self-esteem, to enhance their own sense of self in regard to their body image, how to develop caring and healthy relationships and how to develop assertiveness skills in keeping themselves valued, safe and respected. This work underpins the explicit RSHE content and is part of the holistic approach to RSHE
teaching and learning.
Parents are reminded about the content of the ‘Changing Me’ unit of work each year. At this point, parents have the right to withdraw their children from the specific puberty lessons. Staff will be available to support with this decision.