Learning

Our Curriculum

At St. Saviour’s Community Primary School we use the New National Curriculum (2014) as a starting point for a broad and varied learning experience for our children.  Our curriculum is enriched through our strong ethos based on respect for ourselves and others, equality and a sense of wonder at the world in which we live in. Through our commitment to developing the whole child, our children have the opportunity to be creative, to be physically active and to be academically challenged. 

The relevant national curriculum programs of study are taught. Along with effective spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development as this helps to prepare our children for life in modern Britain.  

To find out more about how we promote spiritual, moral, social and cultural development across our curriculum, please click HERE.

We actively promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.  For further information, including examples of how our curriculum promotes these values, please click HERE.

We aim to teach children how to grow into positive, responsible people, who can work and co-operate with others while developing knowledge and skills, so that they achieve their true potential.

For further information about the curriculum for each year group, please see the class pages for a link to the current long term plan for this cycle or contact our school office for a paper copy.

Curriculum Subjects

Our curriculum is planned using a 2 year cycle. We teach the Foundation Stage Curriculum, the National Curriculum and the agreed local syllabus for R.E.

The subjects of English, Maths, Science, Computing, RE, PHSE, PE and Music are taught in specific, discrete lessons.

Art, DT, History and Geography are taught as part of a creative curriculum theme.

It may occasionally be necessary to teach elements of Art, D.T, Geography and History as discrete lessons in order to achieve subject coverage of the National Curriculum.

Letters and Sounds… We are following Government guidance with regards to 6 phases of phonics teaching. This six phase teaching programme focuses on high quality phonic work. The Intention is to “…equip children who are 5 with the phonic knowledge and skills they need to become fluent readers by the age of 7.”  You can download a copy of Letters and Sounds by clicking HERE.

Reading books… We follow the National curriculum when it comes to reading. In school we use a variety of books to help children learn to read, we don’t use one specific reading scheme but dip into many.

The Creative Curriculum

Our creative curriculum provides a wealth of opportunities for cross curricular learning and for using and applying skills such as those learnt in literacy and mathematics in a meaningful context.

Wherever appropriate, links are made between the theme being studied and other areas of the curriculum.

Teachers work hard to ensure the themes are motivating and creative for all the children and they are constantly reviewed to provide the best learning experience possible in response to children’s interests and needs, as well as aspirations.

Classes are well resourced and school trips / visitors /events are used to extend the child’s learning even further – making the whole learning experience a fun and exciting one.

Parental Involvement

We are keen to work together with all parents in supporting a child’s education. For example, workshops are held in school to explain how particular subjects are taught.

Information about what is being taught in the curriculum each half term is shared with parents and carers via class newsletters.

Inclusion

Pupils are grouped within mixed ability classes and careful consideration is given to ensuring the most able are stretched and the least able are supported sufficiently to reach their full potential.

Our school works hard to overcome barriers to learning and ensure that the needs of all vulnerable groups are met.

Staff are available to specifically support pupils who may require specific physical or learning support.

A copy of the Special Educational Needs Policy and further information on the teaching of pupils with Special Educational Needs is available on this web site.

Assessment

A child’s grasp of basic skills is regularly assessed in school to ensure the child makes appropriate progress for their age. Assessment is generally informal and on-going, and teachers use the results to help them plan what support individual pupils need next.

In line with current Government requirements, pupils at the end of Key Stage 2 took part in the Statutory National Assessments (SATs) during May 2018.

Pupils at the end of Key Stage 1 (end of Y2) are also taking part in SATs.  However, these are less formal than those for Y6 as the outcomes are used in order to help inform the teacher assessment judgements which are made. 

For further information please see the Curriculum Policy Documents.

Extra Curricular Activities

There is an extensive range of extra curricular activities at St. Saviour’s Community Primary detailed in the clubs and sports webpage on the school website. We also provide a wide range of curriculum enrichment events such as visits, visitors, theme and activity days.