Curriculum
Kingsley Primary School Curriculum
Intent
The aim at Kingsley Primary School is to provide opportunities for children to develop as respectful, independent, confident, successful learners with high aspirations who know how to make a positive contribution to their community and the wider society. There is a high focus on developing children’s moral, spiritual, social and cultural understanding.
Kingsley provides a highly inclusive environment where all learners are recognised as unique individuals. We celebrate and welcome differences within our school community. Our pupils have a strong sense of cultural identity and the diversity, both in terms of language and culture, means we have an extremely rich environment in which to work. The ability to learn is underpinned by the teaching of basic skills, knowledge, concepts and values. High expectations in speech, language and communication strengthen the children’s ability to learn at a deeper level, allowing them to articulate their learning; demonstrating quality thinking and application of skills and knowledge. Pupils at all levels are helped to achieve their potential. Those who are most able are challenged and encouraged to expand their skills and knowledge. Those who find learning more difficult are encouraged and given targeted support to embed skills, to develop at their own pace and to learn in a style that best suits their individual needs.
Kingsley’s focus on curriculum development is carefully designed to ensure coverage and progression. It provides pupils with memorable experiences, in addition to diverse and rich opportunities from which children can learn and develop a range of transferable skills. The practice across Kingsley Primary School provides a strong foundation and opportunities for children to work in teams and develop social skills both indoors and out. High quality visits and visitors into Kingsley are also well designed to enhance the curriculum and provide first hand learning experiences, allowing the children to develop interpersonal skills, build resilience, and become critical thinkers. Outdoor learning is an important and valuable dimension to the children's school experience at Kingsley. It enables children to connect with nature and it fosters a sense of respect and ownership with the outdoor environment. Outdoor learning and forest school activities are designed to develop self-confidence and self-esteem through hands on learning experiences using natural materials. This offers all children wider opportunities to thrive and celebrate skills that they wouldn't have the chance to share in the classroom.
A primary focus of our curriculum is to raise aspirations, engender a sense of personal pride in achievement, provide a purpose and relevance for learning and ultimately help every pupil find strengths and interests. Enjoyment of the curriculum promotes achievement, confidence and good behaviour.
Implementation
Our wider curriculum is taught through termly topics where the skills and knowledge of the National Curriculum are delivered. Our curriculum has been mapped out in such a way that meaningful cross curricular links can be made each half term, therefore allowing children to become immersed in a topic. All National Curriculum subjects are carefully planned, structured and sequenced with an awareness of the context and demographic of our school, to ensure progression across units of work and across year groups or key stages. Subject leaders have considered the knowledge and vocabulary that they want the children to learn in each subject and this is outlined on the topic cover front sheets. Progression of knowledge, skills and understanding is carefully planned, reviewed and adapted yearly to ensure that children’s learning builds effectively over time to ensure children know more and remember more. Throughout all areas of the curriculum reading is prioritised. A range of books linked to the topics being taught are available and children are encouraged to research topics independently. Where possible, learning will be supported and enriched by field study, visits, workshops, artefact boxes, role-play and practical resources.
Impact
All staff at Kingsley strive to ensure that from the children’s different starting points, they make good progress academically, emotionally, creatively, socially and physically. Ongoing teacher assessment will ensure that knowledge, understanding and skills are secured and embedded so that children attain highly and are fully prepared for secondary school. Children will take pride in all that they do, be motivated to do their best and will demonstrate emotional resilience and the ability to persevere when they encounter challenge. Our staff at Kingsley Primary School work hard to ensure all children leave Kingsley with confidence in their own abilities.