Heather Ridge Infant School

Curriculum

Curriculum Statement

At Heather Ridge we aim to provide a curriculum to develop inquisitive, independent thinkers with a huge love of learning. We understand that the curriculum, both within taught lessons and beyond them, should create an environment where questioning, risk-taking, creative thinking and the freedom to learn from mistakes are all encouraged. Learning is a lifelong journey and we at Heather Ridge ensure that our curriculum inspires in all our children the qualities of responsibility, resilience, independence and a sense that learning can excite and invigorate throughout life.   By providing purposeful learning experiences which motivate and challenge our children we have the privilege to guide and shape them to become lifelong learners.

At Heather Ridge we believe the curriculum should help all pupils to develop:

  • Lively, enquiring minds and a love of learning, the ability to question and to discuss rationally and to think for themselves.

  • The ability to work hard, to succeed at tasks and to work independently and with other people.

  • An appreciation of human achievement and endeavour.

  • Qualities of enthusiasm, feeling and imagination, and a sense of beauty and wonder.

  • A sense of self-esteem, self-confidence and self-reliance, and an awareness of, and sensitivity to, the needs of others.

  • The knowledge and skills they will need through their lives, at work and play in an ever changing world.

  • A reasoned set of personal attitudes, values and beliefs, an understanding of the world and their place in it, and a respect for the religions and customs of others.

  • Good personal relationships with other children and with adults in a framework of equal opportunities.

  • An awareness and understanding of what is right and what is wrong.

 

Our curriculum is based upon learning through topic based themes. The themes are chosen to be relevant and stimulating and are evaluated regularly by teachers.  Each theme has an exciting title and hook to get the children interested and ensure that we have high levels of engagement with their learning. The topics allow for cross-curricular links to also be developed.  Our planning ensures continuity and progression, and is specifically linked to the teaching and learning outcomes of our pupils.  During the course of a day each child may experience a variety of teaching styles including individual, group, class and team teaching as deemed appropriate by the teacher.  The activities provided encourage active learning commensurate with the overall needs and development of individual pupils.  We have high expectations for all our learners at Heather Ridge and encourage all children to strive to reach their full potential, whatever their ability.

At Heather Ridge we follow the National curriculum for Key Stage 1 and in the foundation stage, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

A real emphasis is placed upon the children actively taking part in their learning, by first-hand experience, by group work, by making decisions and taking responsibility and especially, by encouraging and enjoyment of school as a place of learning and excitement.

In Reception, we follow the Early Years Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation

Stage.  This Framework specifies the requirement for learning and development in the Early Years and provides specific areas of learning we must cover in our curriculum. These areas are:

·         Personal, Social and Emotional Development

·         Physical Development

·         Communication and Language development

·         Literacy

·         Mathematics

·         Understanding the World

·         Expressive Arts and Design

 

‘Free Flow’ learning through play is an important part of the weekly timetable. The amount of time allocated to this will reduce as we progress through the academic year.

The National Curriculum programmes of study for KS1 include:

·         Mathematics

·         English – speaking, listening, reading and writing

·         Phonics – the teaching of the relationship between letters and sounds for reading and writing

·         Religious Education

·         Science

·         Computing

·         History

·         Geography

·         Art

·         Music

·         PE

·         Design and Technology

·         PHSE/Citizenship

 

We also teach children about modern British Values such as the democratic law and the right for fairness and a right to vote, personal liberty and the rule of law and how to respect and tolerate other faiths and beliefs. There are also lots of opportunities for the children to have a voice, such as school council.

Children are taught not just about what they are learning but also about why it is important for them to learn such knowledge and to have such an understanding of their world.

At Heather Ridge we believe that the education we provide allows children to become:

·         Successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve their potential;

·         Confident individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives;

·         Responsible citizens who can make a positive contribution to society.

 

Curriculum plans

 

 

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