Our curriculum:
The Early Years is child led and based on pupil need. It is focused on engaging and motivating learning through ‘real play’ and ‘deep learning’, ensuring pupils engagement levels are high and they develop the characteristics of effective learning to ensure active learners who are resilient and thrive.
In Key Stage 1 and 2 we build on this active learning to develop pupils who are focused on personal and academic development; with unlimited aspirations. Having fun in learning matters. A happy child will learn. Meeting every child’s needs matters to us and our curriculum is tailored to the needs of our pupils.
Our curriculum is bespoke to the needs of our children and context. We are fortunate enough to be based in a location which has a wealth of resources; which we harness. We have used the national curriculum objectives and expectations as the main focus for learning and enhanced these further by developing our own curriculum, which develops the children’s knowledge and understanding of their locality, country and the world. Developing Reading skills, vocabulary and mathematical understanding is a paramount so that we ensure all children can access all aspects of learning. Progression documents from a range of specialists have been used to ensure learning is built on ‘year on year’. To ‘exceed expectations and raise aspirations’. We use our curriculum to create curiosity, challenge views of beliefs over time, celebrate success and enrich children’s life.
Our aims are to provide pupils with the skills and confidence to flourish in ‘modern Britain’, adapting to an ever changing world. Tolerance and respect are promoted in everything we do, ensuring differences are valued and celebrated and that all succeed irrespective of their starting points.
‘Sometimes the smallest steps are the biggest’.
Our curriculum is contextual and supported by clear learning and progression from the early years through to year 6. The key learning in our curriculum is to ensure children’s skills and knowledge are developed and makes every opportunity for pupils to apply their learning in a range of contexts.
The Department for Education summarise the national curriculum here.
We believe education should be full of experiences that enhance our lives. Therefore enriching children’s lives is important to us. In addition to our main curriculum we embed as many enrichment opportunities as possible through; weekly planned activities, visits, visitors to school and residential trips.
Just a few of the opportunities we offer our children weekly are outdoor learning, sports, cookery, forest schools, geocaching, DT specialist workshops- these are just a small sample!
Reading
Through timetabled sessions we teach Reading skills via a DFE approved synthetic, systematic phonics programme ‘Read, Write, Inc’.
Our Approach To Teaching Phonics
Expectations Of Phonics Progression
Read Write Inc What To Teach When.
Read, Write Inc parent guide:
https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/reading/reading-schemes-oxford-levels/read-write-inc-phonics-guide/
How to help your child sound out the phonemes purely:
Reading skills are taught in both our Reading and Writing model, but explicitly through the phonics programme and in Guided Reading sessions which take place daily from Year 2 onwards
Skills Progression English Reading
We use Accelerated Reader to help children choose books within the band they are working with. This helps them to be independent readers and choose books that inspire them.
Welcome To Our Accelerated Reader Programme
Reading unlocks the key to learning – we believe that reading for pleasure is so important to inspire a love of reading. Here are just a few ways we teach reading and inspire reading for pleasure:
100 Books To Read Before You Leave Primary School
Writing
Castle View Primary follow the ‘Talk for Writing’ approach to support the teaching of writing. High quality model texts are used which illustrate the features of the different writing genres. We use this to support and scaffold writers to become more independent over time. Understanding vocabulary is at the heart of all text study. We aim to ensure all text is 98% decodable to ensure pupils develop their understanding of the text and the authors intention. Grammatical and punctuation features are studied throughout.
At Castle View Primary School and Nursery we have chosen to use the White Rose Maths curriculum to ensure our children have a secure understanding of maths concepts and become fluent mathematicians.
At Castle View Primary and Nursery School we use the Association of Science and Education scheme of learning to enable our children to gain knowledge and understanding of the methods and processes in science. Over time they will learn about the impact of science on the world
At Castle View Primary and Nursery School we use the Teaching Computing curriculum scheme of learning as this gives a structured approach to the teaching of computing, enabling children to develop and progress their knowledge and skills over time. Within each year group, online safety is taught so that children know how to keep themselves safe in the digital world.
At Castle View we use the Oddizzi scheme of learning to ensure pupils are inspired by the curiosity and fascination about the world and our people.
Geography Long Term Plan
At Castle View Primary and Nursery School we have chosen to deliver our Art using the Access Art Primary Curriculum. Please see the Access Primary Art Curriculum guide to see how this ensures we bring breadth and richness to the teaching and learning in Art
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
At Castle View our Design and Technology curriculum aims at developing children’s creative, technical and practical expertise.
At Castle View Primary and Nursery School we use the Charanga curriculum to bring music to life for our children. Our aim is for every child to learn an instrument and to have a love and appreciation of music
At Castle View Primary and Nursery School we use the Complete P.E. curriculum scheme of learning to develop children’s ability to succeed and excel. Our ultimate aim is for children to have good physical confidence to support their health and fitness
PE Curriculum Progression Overview
Why Have We Chosen Complete PE ?
For a full guide please click on the link below:
At Castle View we use the Derbyshire’s Agreed RE syllabus to enable children to learn about Christian values and beliefs, as well as those of other cultures and religions.
At Castle View Primary School we deliver both Personal, Social and Health Education alongside positive Relationships and Sex Education. Please see our overviews and content for greater clarity.
Please note that you can disapply your child from Relationship and Sex Education learning, unless this is part of other areas of the national curriculum.
We believe that an open culture of respect and understanding helps our children understand the world in which they live and how to stay safe and healthy.
At Castle View Primary School we use the Liguascope programme to teach our pupils French. Please see the teaching overview and a link to the programme.
