OUR CURRICULUM DESIGN
‘Sowing Seeds – Bearing Fruit – Harvesting Potential’
As a Federation, we have considered all our children, their experiences, interests and needs. We have developed a broad, balanced, active curriculum model that is engaging, ambitious and develops curious, independent learners.
At the heart of our curriculum design is our Federation vision and we strive to ignite and give every child a love of learning.
Our curriculum is delivered through a sequential and progressive two year rolling programme that aims to inspire and excite children with a range of rich and memorable learning experiences, celebrating our rural setting with outdoor learning being at the heart of it. To support this, we regularly take part in educational visits and have visitors into school to provide pupils with exciting enrichment activities and first-hand experience. Each half term we run curriculum enrichment days with a specific area of focus such as: Life Skills, Faith Celebration, Sport, Health and Wellbeing or The Performing Arts.
In addition to the acquisition of knowledge and skills, the delivery of our curriculum supports and develops our Christian and British values such as Respect, Challenge, Friendship, Democracy and Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs; so our pupils become confident and independent learners, well prepared for the 21st century.
We inform parents half termly through a Class Parent Information Letter what their children will be learning across the curriculum.
Intent – What are the aims of our curriculum?
- To prioritise reading to ensure that children can read to learn
- To at least meet the expectations of the National Curriculum and go beyond wherever possible
- To be ambitious for all of our pupils, including our SEND and disadvantaged pupils so that no pupil will have a narrowed curriculum
- To set out clear composites (end goals) and identify key components (small steps of skills and knowledge) to ensure staff know how to ensure children reach the end goal.
- To provide ample opportunities for children to practice and overlearn key components over time to achieve automaticity
- To ensure that CPD provides staff with the confidence, skills and knowledge for each subject
- To instil and equip children to uphold our school values and the British Modern Values of rule of law, respect and tolerance, democracy and individual liberty.
Implementation – How is our curriculum to be delivered?
- Accurate assessment informs planning
- Reading books are accurately matched to children’s phonic knowledge and fidelity is shown to our SSP Little Wandle
- Lessons are driven by learning more and remembering more
- To enable children to build on and link their learning over time within and across subjects
- Pupils are not cognitively overloaded in lessons in terms of content and the learning environment
- There is a clear understanding of what challenge looks like and a mastery approach is applied across the curriculum
- Lesson planning, preparation and assessment takes into account teacher workload and aims to minimise this wherever possible
- Learning is skillfully adapted so that all children can access it, whatever stage their learning is at
- Trips, visitors and residentials in lower and upper KS2 are carefully planned to ensure that learning is explicit
- Independence and resilience are well developed
Impact – What will our children achieve?
- Our children will be fluent readers who have a love of reading and can read to learn
- Our children will be resilient learners who have a variety of strategies to use when things are challenging
- Our children will be academically and socially ready for the next stage each time they reach one
- Our children will be prepared for life in a modern British society and have tolerance and respect for all members of society
- Our children will be at least in line with national outcomes at the end of each key stage and the phonics screening check
- Our children will have a lifelong love of learning beyond the classroom
- Our children will know how to keep themselves safe including when online and know how to look after their physical and mental health
- Our children will know the importance of community and have the skills and desire to become responsible and caring citizens
Our Curriculum
Expand the topic for more information
British Values / SMSC
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Maths
At the Husthwaite and Sessay Primary Federation we believe a high-quality Mathematics education not only develops fluency but gives opportunities for reasoning and problem solving. We aspire for all children to reach the expected level for their year group, providing children with additional high-quality interventions to maintain this, if required.
Maths is taught at the Husthwaite and Sessay Primary Federation using the ‘Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract’ (CPA) approach.
CONCRETE:
Pupils have the opportunity to handle physical objects to help them understand what they are doing – the ‘doing’ stage.
PICTORIAL:
Pupils will then build on this concrete approach by using pictorial representations. These can then be used to reason and solve problems, through looking at and drawing pictures to represent the problem – the ‘seeing’ stage.
ABSTRACT:
With the foundations firmly laid, pupils should be able to move to an abstract approach using numbers and key concepts with confidence. For examples of this approach please see our calculations policy – the ‘symbolic’ stage.
For more information about the teaching and learning of Maths, please contact our Maths Leaders, Mr Chapman (Husthwaite) / Mrs Sowray (Sessay), via the School Office.
Useful Links for Parents
Please find below helpful website links that can support Maths learning at home:
Times Tables https://www.ttrockstars.com/
Science
Science is covered through two discrete lessons each week with learning reinforced through cross-curricular activities at every opportunity.
In line with the National Curriculum, pupils will be taught to ‘work scientifically’ and given opportunities to do so through each topic.
We aim to ensure that all pupils:
- develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics.
- develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of scientific enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them.
- are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
- are encouraged to take the lead in planning their own investigations.
- To support the well-structured and progressive curriculum, the school makes use of a range of engaging resources such as those provided by Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
We are committed to outdoor learning and offer a range of practical, outdoor learning experiences including lessons at our Forest Schools.
For more information about the teaching and learning of Science, please contact our Science Leader, Mrs Bennison, via the School Office.
Useful Links for Parents
Please find below helpful website links that can support Science learning at home:
Collective Worship
Our daily assemblies include an act of Collective Worship. On Fridays we have a sharing assembly when children’s work and achievements are celebrated. We visit church on a number of occasions throughout the year, for example Christmas, Education Sunday and at Easter time. We invite the whole school community to join us in Community Services for Harvest, Easter, Summer and Leavers’ Assembly. The local vicar is usually involved in delivering a short message as part of these services.
Parents have the right to withdraw their child from Religious Education and the Collective Act of Worship. Please contact the Head Teacher if you wish to discuss this option.
This half term our Christian Value is ‘Trust’.
Foundation Subjects/Topic
The foundation subjects, topic – History, Geography, Computing, Design and Technology, Art and Design, Music, Performing Arts and MFL (French) are integrated into our curriculum through half termly themes that aim to inspire and excite children with a range of rich and memorable learning experiences.
Through the foundation subjects we aim to provide children with rich learning opportunities to develop practical skills, acquire knowledge and develop questioning to encourage curiosity through learning. Our practical, real purpose approach also develops engagement in cross-curricular writing. A high focus is placed on using quality enrichment and partnerships in school to support the teaching and learning of foundation subjects. A range of Educational Visits and Visitors enrich the children’s learning.
Our children regularly use a range of technology such as ipads and laptops which develops key technology skills and promotes independent research. We are also proud to offer our pupils specialist teaching in Physical Education and Forest School by expert teachers in their field. We work alongside North Yorkshire Music Service who offer individual and group music lessons for children in school. Performing Arts is an integral part of the curriculum: we have our very own school choir and the children are also given opportunities to showcase at key events such as Young Voices.
Religious Education
At the Husthwaite and Sessay CE Federation, Religious Education has an important and central place within our curriculum. We teach the statutory, North Yorkshire Religious Education syllabus that prepares pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life in modern Britain. As well as the study of Christianity as a livng and diverse faith, the programme also includes learning about a range of religions and worldviews, fostering respect for others. Concepts and values are explored both through discrete RE lessons and Faith Days and Curriculum Enrichment Weeks.
Through our RE curriculum and based on the strands of Believing, Expressing and Living, we aim to help children to:
- Know about and understand a range of religions and worldviews.
- Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and worldviews.
- Gain and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religions and worldviews.
In order to make RE a lively, active subject, we employ a variety of teaching methods including art; music; discussion; the development of thinking skills; drama; the use of artefacts, pictures, stories; the use of periods of stillness and reflection.
We want our pupils to have opportunities to encounter local faith communities through visitors and visits to local places of worship or enrichment.
For more information about the teaching and learning of RE, please contact our RE Leaders, Mr Chapman (Husthwaite) / Mrs Sowray (Sessay), via the School Office.
Useful Links for Parents
Please find below helpful website links that can support RE learning at home:
PE & Sport
PE and Sport is central to our school curriculum, which includes outdoor games; indoor activities and educating children about healthy lifestyles and fitness. The children receive specialist teaching for some areas of PE. Both the PE / Sport’s curriculum and Extra-Curricular Sports Programme at the Husthwaite and Sessay Federation develops children’s knowledge and skills through a wide range of sports and activities. We are active members of the local sports cluster and our children and school teams participate regularly in cluster events and tournaments.
Our aims are:
- To raise the profile of PE and Sport across the school.
- To engage all pupils in regular physical activity.
- To develop lifelong participation in healthy, active lifestyles.
- To enhance participation in competitive sport.
- To increase confidence, knowledge and skills of staff in teaching PE and Sport.
Useful Links for Parents
Please find below helpful website links that can support PE learning at home:
See more PE information here