Curriculum Overview
The curriculum is all the planned activities that the school organises in order to promote learning, personal growth and development.
The aim of our curriculum is to encourage pupils to become competent, self-reliant learners, with the necessary knowledge and skills of the world about them. The curriculum is matched to the needs of all pupils and differentiated according to need and ability.
‘Leaders provide rich and meaningful experiences for pupils across the curriculum.’ OFSTED 2023
‘Key ideas link new learning. Leaders have identified the precise knowledge pupils need to remember and that teachers must assess.’ OFSTED 2023
In order to achieve this, the school places great value on the traditional skills of English and Mathematics as well as expertise in the fields of Science, ICT, Humanities, Arts and Physical Education. The school curriculum includes all the elements of National Curriculum and statutory Religious Education, but also includes personal, social, health and citizenship education and other cross-curricular themes. The curriculum underpins the development of children spiritually, morally, socially and culturally (known as SMSC).
Curriculum Vision
At North Park, our curriculum is built upon our core values of Relationships, Responsibility, Resilience and Respect. We provide a curriculum rich in knowledge, language and memorable experiences that inspires children to become confident, curious and successful learners. Through nurturing relationships and high-quality teaching, we create an environment where every child feels valued, challenged and supported to achieve their full potential.
Curriculum Drivers
Our curriculum is shaped by four core values that underpin all aspects of school life and learning:
Relationships
We foster strong, positive relationships between children, staff, families and the wider community. We believe that children thrive when they feel safe, supported and connected, enabling them to develop confidence and a love of learning.
Responsibility
We encourage children to take ownership of their learning, behaviour and actions. Through meaningful opportunities to contribute to school life and the wider community, children develop the skills and understanding needed to become responsible citizens.
Resilience
We develop confident learners who embrace challenge, persevere when faced with difficulties and learn from mistakes. Children are encouraged to be independent, reflective and determined in their pursuit of success.
Respect
We promote kindness, empathy and understanding, helping children value themselves, others and the world around them. Through our curriculum, children learn to celebrate diversity, appreciate different perspectives and contribute positively to society.
Alongside these values, reading, language and vocabulary development remain at the heart of our curriculum, ensuring all children can access learning and communicate with confidence.
Rationale
We believe that strong relationships between home and school are fundamental to every child’s success. Our knowledge-rich curriculum, positive partnerships with families and high expectations for achievement and behaviour provide the foundation for children to flourish.
Children join our school with a wide range of experiences and starting points. Our curriculum is carefully designed to meet the needs of all learners and reflect the community we serve. We provide rich and meaningful learning experiences that broaden horizons, develop language and vocabulary, and bring learning to life.
Our values of Relationships, Responsibility, Resilience and Respect are woven throughout every subject and every aspect of school life. They help children develop not only the knowledge and skills they need to succeed academically, but also the character and personal qualities that will support them throughout their lives. Through ongoing investment in staff development and evidence-informed practice, we ensure that curriculum delivery is of the highest quality, enabling every child to thrive and achieve their very best.
We wish to promote these core values through all we do in school
Resilience
We foster a culture where children are encouraged to embrace challenge, persevere through difficulty and view mistakes as valuable opportunities for growth. Pupils develop resilience by taking risks in their learning, building confidence to tackle unfamiliar tasks and demonstrating determination when faced with obstacles. Through rich, meaningful and engaging learning experiences, children are encouraged to be curious, ask questions and explore new ideas. They learn to work collaboratively with others while also developing the independence, self-belief and positive mindset needed to succeed both in school and beyond.
Relationships
We believe that positive relationships are at the heart of a successful school community. Children are encouraged to develop skills of cooperation, trust, friendship and teamwork through collaborative learning. They learn to value and respect the contributions, ideas and perspectives of others, showing kindness, empathy and consideration in all they do. Through strong relationships with peers, staff and the wider community, children develop a sense of belonging, confidence and emotional well-being that supports their learning and personal development.
- Responsibility – we encourage children to develop their independence and to take on responsibility for their actions – both what they say and do. Pupil voice is strong at North Park and pupils take on key roles during their time in school. Pupils develop confidence when they represent school at events, on school council, as buddies, School Sports Council members and when they lead Star assembly in Y6. Taking responsibility for looking after the community and world in which they live is also encouraged and children are regularly involved in local and national events within the wider community.
Respect
We are committed to fostering a culture of respect where every individual is valued, supported and celebrated. Children learn to treat others with kindness, empathy and understanding, recognising and appreciating the diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives within our school community. We promote equality in all that we do, ensuring that everyone feels safe, included and respected.
Equal opportunities underpin the work done within both the explicit and implicit curriculum. Pupils are regularly taught about the diverse society we live in and our Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural guidance prepares the pupils to be effective citizens in life.
Nursery and Reception ClassIn the Early Years Foundation Stage learning is delivered through structured play. There is a balance between child-initiated learning and adult-led tasks based on the Early Years Curriculum, covering the prime areas of learning;
- Personal, Social and Emotional development;
- Physical development;
- Communication and Language;
As well as specific areas:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding of the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
Areas of learning are set up in the Foundation Unit, which operates in two adjoining rooms, along with a lovely outdoor space. Staff rotate around the unit, interacting with the children, as well as leading specific tasks. The curriculum is developed around half-termly themes over a two-year rolling programme.
| NURSERY | RECEPTION |
|---|---|
| Me and My Family | Food and Feasts |
| Colour | Pets |
| People | Feelings |
| Nursery Rhymes | The Pond |
| The Farm | Journeys |
| Animals | Creepy Crawlies |
Visit the EYFS curriculum pages for more information.
Years 1 – 6
In Key Stage 1 and 2 the curriculum is designed to cover and develop a range of skills, knowledge and understanding in all subjects. Within each term there are opportunities for meaningful links between curriculum areas. In addition some subject areas may be taught discreetly. All areas of the National Curriculum are covered comprehensively in a broad and balanced way, giving pupils the chance to develop key skills as well as in depth subject knowledge. The National Curriculum is made up of the Core Subjects and the Foundation Subjects.
| Core Subjects | Foundation Subjects |
|---|---|
| Literacy | Art and Design |
| Numeracy | Design Technology |
| Science | Geography |
| Religious Education | History |
| Computing | |
| Music | |
| Physical Education | |
| MFL - French (KS2) | |
| Additional subject - PSCHE (Learning for Life) |
Curriculum Plans
Visit our Curriculum Planning to find out what we will be learning in each subject, and Our Classes section to see our curriculum for each Year group and view how we promote British Values here at North Park Primary school.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
At North Park Primary school we believe that inclusive education means providing all pupils with appropriate education and support alongside their peers. The Curriculum is all the planned activities that the school organises in order to promote learning, personal growth and development. Our SEND Policy is located in our School Policies section. Further information can be found in the SEN Information Report. If you would like to discuss your SEND requirements in detail please contact the school to arrange an appointment.
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