Curriculum Provision at Warren Primary Academy

Warren Primary Academy - Early Years Curriculum Statement

We aim to give all children in our Foundation Stage Unit (Nursery and Reception) an exciting, challenging and meaningful start to their learning journey with us. We plan children’s learning experiences in accordance with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum guidance and principles. The EYFS is made up of seven areas of learning that are inter-connected.

The three prime areas are:

· Communication and Language,

· Physical Development,

· Personal, Social and Emotional Development.

There are also four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied.

These are:

· Literacy,

· Mathematics,

· Understanding of the World,

· Expressive Arts and Design.

We strive to provide a creative, discovery and play based curriculum which takes into account, and develops, the children’s existing skills, knowledge and interests. Children are encouraged and enabled to make choices about their own learning both indoors and outdoors. Through the learning opportunities we provide, our children become active and independent learners who develop strong enquiry and practical skills, as well as becoming personally and socially confident individuals who enjoy learning.

We provide a welcoming and stimulating environment. Our indoor areas are calm, homely and spacious, with different areas for the children to explore and develop their knowledge and skills. A wide range of activities are offered each day, including:

· Construction, small world, sand, water, creative arts, role play, mark making, stories and reading, dance, music, drama and technology.

The children have access to a range of age appropriate technology resources and software.

Our outdoor learning environment provides space for the children to be active, developing their co-ordination, control and movement. We plan the environment so that all the children are able to access the environment and the range of activities encourages the children to take part in physical activity. We help the children to understand the importance of physical activity and support this ethos through direct teaching and focus weeks on a healthy lifestyle. The outdoor environment provides both fixed and moveable structures to develop the children’s skills.

A fixed climbing frame challenges the children in climbing, swinging, sliding and balancing. The children also have access to other resources such as tyres, crates, tunnels and planks so that they can create their own climbing and balancing structures. We provide hoops, different sized balls, bats and bean bags to enable the children to gain control in pushing, patting, throwing, catching and kicking objects. The outdoor resources provide continuous provision through sand, water, large scale water play, a mud kitchen, messy play, chalks, mark making, construction and physical activities.

The children have opportunities to visit the wider surroundings of the school and to go out into the local community. We regularly go on seasonal walks and explore the garden and pond area in the school grounds. The children are provided with real hands on experiences through the setting providing opportunities for the children to observe chicks hatching, caterpillars changing into butterflies and having a variety of pets and animals visiting the setting over the year. We welcome visitors into the setting to enhance learning.

We are proud of the trusting relationships we have with our parents/Carers. The nursery operates an open door policy where parents are able to discuss any concerns, issues and views. We actively invite parents into the setting to take part in activities and utilise their skill. We invite parents/carers into the setting for celebration and cultural events and regular family open days. There are three Parents Evenings held over the year and Parents are given the opportunity to view their Child’s Learning Journey. At these meetings parents meet with the class teacher to discuss development, individual learning, next steps and how parents can support their child’s learning at home. It is also an opportunity for parents to share their child’s current interests and how these can support learning in the setting.

A Learning Journey is created for each child. The Learning Journey contains evidence of observations, notes, photographs, wow moments and feedback forms. Contributions from parents are sought, valued and highly respected. On leaving the setting each child is presented with their Learning Journey, a short report to reflect the Child’s achievements and their Characteristics of Learning.

Warren Curriculum from Year 1-6

Warren’s curriculum is designed and regularly updated by our staff to make sure that the children are engaged and inspired in every lesson. From Year One to Year Six, our broad, balanced curriculum covers the following subjects:

· English (speaking and listening, reading, writing and grammar)

· Mathematics

· Science

· Computing

· Religious Education

· Physical Education

· PSHE

· History

· Geography

· Art & Design

· Design Technology

· Music

· Spanish

Wherever possible, we make links between the subjects so that the skills from one can be practised and applied in another, for instance, writing instructions in Science or plotting graphs in History. Our children have chance to study subjects in practical ways and enjoy a variety of enrichment activities, including subject-related trips, inspiring visitors into school, PE tournaments, music tuition and residential visits throughout the year.

Through Warren’s stimulating curriculum, we aim to build children’s independence and resilience through giving them opportunities to research, work with partners and present their work in a variety of ways without relying on the adults. We use Phonics Bug and Bug Club to support the teaching of our phonics and reading.

Each subject covers different skills and knowledge in each year group. Please look below for the curriculum overview for each year group.

Our curriculum is underpinned by the National Curriculum (2014), we enhance this with planned opportunities that make up the wider school curriculum. Learning is always exciting and in a meaningful context for children. Where commonality exists between subjects and aspects, learning is linked and lessons taught using a cross-curricular approach. Where this is not achievable, subjects are taught discretely. The rehearsal and application of basic skills learned in the core curriculum is a driver for the entire curriculum.

We place a strong emphasis on the development of the basic skills necessary to be confident independent learners and successful adults. All children engage in a daily English skills session where they develop their reading and comprehension skills in addition to developing a command of all aspects of the English language. In addition, all children take part in a daily English and Mathematics lesson.

At Warren Primary Academy, children develop a strong sense of moral purpose in addition to a respect and understanding of people who have different characteristics to themselves, whether that be age, disability, gender, race or sexuality. A rigorous, well planned curriculum, delivered by excellent staff in an ethos of care, love and support enables our pupils to be well rounded, empathetic young people who have a thirst for learning and respect for all around them.

Religious Education is delivered through the Nottinghamshire Agreed Syllabus.

The curriculum at Warren Primary Academy aims to:

Inspire children to develop a love of learning.
Embed skills to prepare children for further learning and productive adulthood.
Take learning beyond the classroom.
Develop children to become reflective learners who have a sense of responsibility for their own learning and development.
Build confidence and motivation within our children.
Grow children who understand the importance of perseverance, resilience and tolerance.
Enable children to use their acquired skills and knowledge to observe, question and think.
Promote the fundamental British values of democracy; rule of law; individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

Curriculum Plans - Spring Term