Intent
The curriculum at Churchdown Village Infant School is designed to provide a broad and balanced education that meets the needs of all children. It provides opportunities for children to develop as independent, confident and successful learners. We want them to develop high aspirations and to know how to make a positive contribution to their community and the wider society. The key elements in our curriculum that support the development of the whole child and promote a positive attitude to learning as well as academic success are: creativity and problem solving, reliability, responsibility and resilience, as well as physical development, well-being and mental health. The curriculum celebrates the diversity and utilises the skills, knowledge and cultural wealth of the community while supporting the children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, ensuring that children are well prepared for life in modern Britain.
At Churchdown Village Infant School we understand the long-term impact COVID-19 has had on pupils both emotionally and academically. Any gaps will be identified and addressed through adapting the ‘normal’ curriculum and additional interventions where needed. Where necessary, we will also continue to deliver our curriculum via the remote learning platform ‘Seesaw’ where absences are due to isolating.
Implementation
The curriculum incorporates the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum 2014 and other experiences and opportunities which best meet the learning and developmental needs of the children in our school. We teach discrete English and Maths four mornings a week to ensure children have a sound grasp of these important life skills. We also teach them at additional times throughout the week using a cross-curricular approach. A blocked curriculum has been implemented at the school to ensure coverage and progression in other areas of the curriculum. This approach enables project based learning, fostering each child’s curiosity and interest throughout each topic and also enabling the achievement of depth in knowledge and skills. Opportunities for pupil voice are planned at the beginning of each new topic and this is used to inform the learning for each topic to ensure relevance. The curriculum provides children with memorable experiences, in addition to diverse and rich opportunities from which children can learn and develop a range of transferable skills.
The children’s own community, its heritage and traditions are used to establish a strong sense of their own identities. The outdoor environment and the local community are considered an opportunity for active learning for all our children. The school grounds have been developed so they can enrich different curriculum areas and promote physical and mental well-being. We have four Forest School Leaders who offer a timetable of lessons twice a term to all pupils.
The school’s curriculum is broad and balanced. The development of the international dimension of the curriculum is recognised by the achievement of our fourth British Council’s ‘International School Award’. Children benefit from the knowledge and cultural experiences shared with us by our international partners. All pupils in school are taught Frenc weekly by a specialist language teacher.
The arts have a high profile in our school. The work we do in this area has earned us an Arts Mark. Art is taught as part of our Enrichment Program. We have specilised dance teachers to help enrich the children's experiences during healthy living week and also celebrate the children's drama and singing skills through assemblies and termly performances. The children also have the opportunity to take park in Young Voices to celebrate singing with other schools across the UK.
Our program of physical education lessons promote not only the physical well-being of our children but also their mental health. We have also implemented Active 30:30 to help reduce sedentary behaviour and increase physical activity outside of timetabled curriculum PE. Each year we demonstrate our commitment to this agenda by celebrating with two weeks of healthy living and sports workshops.
Technology is used to reinforce and enrich lessons and not as a replacement tool. Using laptops, iPads and interactive screens children are able to communicate with others, research information, explore programs and be creative using various tools.
A varied timetable for extra-curricular activities is offered by the school, with clubs that support the core curriculum offer, also extending the range of children’s experiences. A primary focus of our curriculum is to raise aspirations, engender a sense of personal pride in achievement, and provide a purpose and relevance for learning.
The school takes pleasure in providing a highly inclusive environment, where learners demonstrate great levels of enjoyment in their education and most make very good progress in most subjects and areas of learning. Children at all levels are helped to achieve their potential. Those who are most able are challenged and supported through being offered tasks which provide opportunities for greater depth and those who struggle are encouraged and given targeted support to embed skills, to develop at their own pace or simply to learn in a style that best suits their individual needs.
Subject leaders play an important part in the success of the curriculum by leading a regular programme of monitoring, evaluation and review and the celebration of good practice contributes to the ongoing commitment to evolve and improve further. All subject leaders are given training and the opportunity to keep developing their own subject knowledge, skills and understanding, so they can support curriculum development and their colleagues throughout the school.
Impact
The innovative practice across the school provides a strong foundation and opportunities for children to collaborate and develop social skills both indoors and out. This curriculum design ensures that the needs of individual and small groups of children can be met within the environment of high quality first wave teaching, supported by targeted, proven interventions where appropriate. In this way it can be seen to impact in a very positive way on children’s outcomes.
Enjoyment of the curriculum promotes achievement, confidence and good behaviour. Children feel safe to try new things. High quality visits and visitors to the school enhance the curriculum and provide opportunities for writing for a purpose.
Children have opportunities to share their learning with each other, their parents and carers and other learners through school-based and external exhibitions, performances, competitions and events involving other schools. Developing their independence and motivation as learners and their sense of responsibility as future citizens is at the heart of all our teaching and learning.
For specific information on Topics and curriculum coverage for the term please see the curriculum overviews and look at the Year Group pages.