Whole School Curriculum
Click here to see the whole school curriculum maps:
Whole School Curriculum Map
Curriculum Vision
At Harestock Primary School, our curriculum is designed to inspire every child to strive for academic excellence and become a life-long lover of learning. We aim to equip our children with the skills, knowledge, and values necessary to thrive in an ever-changing world. Our motto, "Leaping towards greatness together," embodies our commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment.
Curriculum Intent
Our curriculum is built upon the values of compassion, curiosity, creativity, and resilience. We believe that every child deserves a rich and engaging educational experience that nurtures their individual strengths and interests. Our curriculum is designed to:
- Promote Academic Excellence: We provide a broad and balanced curriculum that covers the National Curriculum requirements while allowing for the exploration of diverse subjects and themes.
- Foster Lifelong Learning: We encourage children to develop a love for learning through inquiry-based approaches, enabling them to ask questions, explore ideas, and engage in critical thinking.
- Support Inclusion: We are committed to ensuring that all children, including those who are most vulnerable, and those with Special Educational Needs (SEN), have access to high-quality learning experiences that meet their individual needs.
- Encourage Personal Development: Our curriculum promotes the personal, social, and emotional development of children, equipping them with the skills to navigate challenges and build positive relationships.
Curriculum Implementation
To achieve our curriculum intent, we focus on the following key areas:
- Core Subjects: We prioritise the teaching of English and Mathematics, ensuring that children develop strong foundational skills in reading, writing, and numeracy. Our English curriculum incorporates systematic synthetic phonics, enabling early readers to decode and comprehend texts effectively. We use the Little Wandle synthetic phonics programme. Teachers ensure that there is a balance between the introduction of new ideas, skills and knowledge and the reinforcement, practise and repetition of what has previously been taught.
- Creative and Practical Subjects: We offer a range of creative subjects, including Art, Music, and Physical Education, allowing children to express themselves and develop their talents. Our curriculum also includes opportunities for hands-on learning through Science and Design Technology. Our creative, themed approach to curriculum planning aims to maximise cross-curricular links.
- Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE): We integrate PSHE across the curriculum, promoting the well-being of our children and teaching them about relationships, healthy lifestyles, and financial literacy.
- Cultural Capital: We enrich our curriculum with experiences that broaden children’s horizons, including trips, guest speakers, and community projects. This helps to instil a sense of belonging and understanding of the world around them. The Year 6 children are also offered a five-day residential to Dorset. The purpose of this is twofold: to enhance the opportunities for learning, and develop the social skills, independence and resourcefulness needed to live away from home in a larger community.
- Assessment for Learning: We employ a range of formative and summative assessment strategies to monitor progress and inform teaching. Our assessments are designed to provide feedback that supports children in achieving their personal best.
- EYFS: The children in Reception engage in their learning through the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework, with activities planned to meet each child’s educational needs. The emphasis on individual needs continues throughout the school and is reflected in the school’s policies.
Curriculum Impact
The impact of our curriculum is measured through:
- Academic Achievement: We aim for all children to achieve Age-Related Expectations (ARE) or Greater Depth (GD) in their learning. Where learners have more complex additional needs, we personalise learning targets whilst keeping them ambitious.
- Personal Development:
- o At Harestock we use the ‘Whole School Empowerment Approach’, to teach children about their brains and how in order to be at their ‘Brain Best’ they must feel comfortable, connected, in control, capable, and feel that they count. Children are taught how to ‘Prep for best’ to successfully navigate a range of situations which may prove challenging to them.
- o The Empowerment Approach is a part of our whole school ethos and impacts all conversations that adults have with children about their experiences and learning.
- o We continually assess children’s social and emotional growth through self-reflection and feedback from peers, staff and parents.
- Engagement and Enjoyment: We regularly seek feedback from children, parents, and staff to evaluate the effectiveness of our curriculum and make necessary adjustments.
Conclusion
At Harestock Primary School, we are dedicated to delivering a curriculum that not only meets educational standards but also inspires and empowers every child to reach their full potential. Together, we will leap towards greatness, fostering a community of compassionate, curious, creative, and resilient learners.
To view all of the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum (2014) subject by subject, and broken down into year groups, please use the link below to access the National Curriculum for Key Stages 1 and 2.
