Curriculum

Our curriculum has been updated this year in line with the new Primary National Curriculum (September 2014).

We teach English and Maths daily and in ability groupings across KS1 and KS2. The programme we follow for our phonics teaching is Read Write Inc. Our pupils make very good progress in reading, writing and spelling using this scheme and all staff are trained in its delivery (teachers and teaching assistants).

For Maths we follow White Rose plans and we develop the understanding of key number facts for all pupils using Big Maths in all year groups. Pupils are supported at home using Mathletics, with each child given their own login and homework tasks appropriate to their level of mathematical understanding. Assessments are conducted at the start and end of the year to measure progress, along with two other assessments at appropriate times based on objectives covered – usually around Christmas and Easter.

We are part of the Turing Maths Hub and work alongside a maths specialist, teaching using a mastery approach which enables a better level of progress for all.

Information about how to access resources linked to the curriculum (like Mathletics) and how to support your child at home with English and Maths is published on class newsletters each term.

We teach other areas of the curriculum using a thematic approach (topics). These provide and broad and balanced curriculum which enthuses the children and promotes independent study skills. Examples of topics covered in Y1 are ‘All creature great and small’, ‘Look at me’, ‘All around the world’ and ‘On the ocean waves’. In Y4 topics this year are ‘Earth matters’, ‘Making connections’, ‘Who are we?’, ‘Vicious Vikings’ and ‘What’s that noise?’. A detailed topic web with details of all curricular areas covered by topics is sent home in class newsletter each term and is also published on this website.

Educational visits to the local area and further afield are often linked to topic work. Guest speakers and members of our local community are routinely invited to support the pupils learning experiences.
Science, Computing, Art, Dance, Drama and Music may be taught through topic work but may also be covered as individual subjects where this is more appropriate. PE and Gymnastics teaching is being developed further (for pupils and staff) using the Government Sports funding; new areas of PE such as Lacrosse have been introduced recently.

We follow the DCC scheme of work for RE and link all PSHE discussions to a set of key questions. In our assemblies, class discussions and Enterprise work we ensure that British values of fairness, understanding and tolerance are nurtured.

In addition to the National curriculum pupils in Y4 receive class instrument tuition from Derbyshire music teachers. Pupils in Y6 all attend an annual residential course for 4 days/3 nights.

Subjects