Curriculum Intent
Our intent is to provide pupils with the foundations of knowledge for life-long learning. Through a creative and inspiring topic-based curriculum, each individual is supported to confidently achieve their best. With a love for learning and thirst for knowledge, our sequential curriculum promotes confidence through regular opportunities for knowledge retrieval and success in knowing more and remembering more.
As a small rural church school, we have designed the curriculum to promote wellbeing, independence and respect for cultures and beliefs. Our school is situated in rural Shropshire, meaning there is little diversity within our population: it is, therefore, a priority to design opportunities to broaden knowledge of cultures, beliefs and diverse cultural capital through the use of resources – valuable books, visitors and virtual, live streamed events across the internet – and through planned, valuable experiences on educational visits.
In order to achieve this vision, we have identified four key drivers that run throughout our curriculum ensuring our children are equipped with the essential knowledge and skills for their future education:
Develop trust and independence
Building on the EYFS principles of effective learning, Longnor CE Primary School promotes positive learning strategies that children can apply as lifelong learners.
As a whole school approach, we use the three characteristics of effective teaching and learning taken from the statutory EYFS framework to structure independence: playing and exploring, active learning and creating and thinking critically.
To involve children in the metacognition and provide a platform for talking about how to be an effective learner, we have adopted the Twinkl animals, modelling and reflecting upon key learning opportunities using this key vocabulary in EYFS and key stage one; in key stage two we have created our own jigsaw pieces demonstrating progress and independence across the curriculum.
Have hope for our world as respectful, global citizens
We will aim to develop the pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the world, providing opportunities for learning within and beyond the classroom. We will foster an attitude of care and respect where children understand how actions and decisions impact upon the world, both within the local and global environment.
Share joyful and memorable learning experiences
Learning must be fun and enjoyable. With a thirst for knowledge, children at Longnor CE Primary school thrive when given opportunities to shine. We plan for regular retrieval and progression, supporting all to succeed. Memorable experiences through trips, inspiring lessons and resources we adopt, create a positive learning environment.
Love for all
All at Longnor CE Primary School are committed to and promote equality and diversity. Our curriculum is driven with ‘love for all’ at its heart through the visitors welcomed into school, the books we choose and our robust PSHE curriculum. All are welcomed and all are supported with dignity and respect.
EYFS begin with the foundations of knowledge. As an early adopter school, early learning subject progression grids are already in place. Key elements of knowledge are planned for across the EYFS curriculum with specific teaching in preparation for the National Curriculum. Teaching and learning, using Alistair Bryce-Clegg’s ‘ABC Does’, promotes independence and taught learning intentions using child-centred stimulus and play.
Collaboratively, long term plans have been designed central to a topic to ensure a context is given for learning. A two-year cycle of topics are embedded in plans and designed to ensure knowledge and skill development is sequential. Please click here to see our Long Term Plans (LTPs):
From years 1-6, progression grids have been designed to progressively develop skills through the curriculum and whole school. Appointed leaders for each subject recognise the importance of a sequential curriculum that progresses according to knowledge. Using the DfE subject reviews, leaders have been reviewing the curriculum according to knowledge and opportunities for knowing more and remembering more.
The Education Act divides children’s learning into Key Stages – the Primary School taking a responsibility for the first three.
- The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is for reception children (age 4-5)
- Key Stage 1 is for children in Year 1 (age 5-6) and Year 2 (age 6-7)
- Key Stage 2 is for children in Year 3 (age 7-8), Year 4 (age 8-9), Year 5 (age 9-10) and Year 6 (age 10-11)