Curriculum Statement

At Leigham Primary School, we offer an exciting curriculum which is broad and balanced. This builds upon the knowledge, understanding and skills of all children, whatever their starting points, as they progress through our school.

Aim

Academic success, creativity, problem solving, responsibility, resilience, physical development, well-being and mental health are all vital parts of the high-quality education provided at Leigham Primary School and are all key elements that support the development of the whole child and promote a positive attitude to learning.

The aim of our curriculum is for all pupils to have the requisite skills to be successful, independent and motivated learners in readiness for their next stage of education. We aim to give them the best chance in life, equipping them with the skills to make positive choices for their futures.

Intent

The intent of our curriculum is to promote the following:

• Ambition
• Independence
• Well- being

Our curriculum is designed with the intent that children:

-are ambitious to achieve academic success, experience a wide range of opportunities, develop their unique talents and strengths and are aspirational about their futures.

- develop the skills needed to become curious, independent, life-long learners with the ability to think things through for themselves, solve problems and communicate effectively.

- understand the importance of well-being so that they can have positive social interactions and relationships, make healthy lifestyle choices, develop values and morals, know how to keep themselves and others safe and have positive mental health.

Implementation

The curriculum incorporates the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum 2014 and other stimulating experiences and opportunities which best meet the learning and developmental needs of the pupils in our school.

For those pupils who are still working on the Early Learning Goals as they enter Year 1, there is a period in the Autumn Term when the majority of children progress to the National Curriculum. Throughout this time and beyond, all children continue to develop their phonic knowledge through the Letters and Sounds Programme.

The National Curriculum is delivered though six termly themes in each year group and learning in foundation subjects is driven by engaging enquiry questions. 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. The children’s own community, its heritage and traditions are frequently used as starting points for engaging interest. The curriculum themes also ensure a wide range of cultures and communities are explored.

The more able pupils are challenged further in their learning and those who find aspects of their learning more difficult are appropriately supported so that they too are enabled to experience success and progress. Our SEND Policy can be viewed by clicking on this link. The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our pupils, as well as their understanding of the core values of living in a modern British society, are woven throughout the curriculum.

Specialist teachers and instructors support music and physical education. All subject leaders are given ongoing training and opportunities to keep developing their own subject knowledge, skills and understanding so they can best support curriculum development and their colleagues throughout the school. Theme weeks, whole school activities and opportunities within and outside school all enrich and develop the children’s learning. After school clubs and events extend these opportunities further.

The outdoor environment and the local community are considered as key opportunities for active learning for all our pupils. The extensive school grounds have been developed so they can enrich all curriculum areas. Our outdoor classroom and covered outdoor areas ensure that outdoor learning can take place, regardless of the weather conditions.

English and Mathematics are taught using thoughtfully selected learning partners. In all year groups, there are small (flexible) interventions in order to support pupils in gaining the key skills to become successful readers, writers and mathematicians. Pre- and post-teaching is used to successfully support and facilitate pupil progress. Oracy skills are taught and embedded in all year groups and children develop into confident communicators with well- developed language and oracy skills as they progress through the school.

Impact

Our engaging curriculum ensures that the needs of all of our pupils are met through Quality First Teaching, supplemented by effective proven interventions if appropriate. Children enjoy learning at Leigham Primary School and this is evident in their learning outcomes, confidence and positive behaviour. They are proud to be Leigham learners!

Children have regular opportunities to share their learning with their peers, parents and carers and the local community. Regular assemblies, performances and ‘Learning Together’ sessions give the children a sense of pride and achievement as well as involving all stakeholders in the children’s learning.