In September 2014, the Government introduced a new National Curriculum. Please find below a detailed statement of how we are covering the curriculum at Manadon Vale. At the bottom of the page, you will find details of the new National Curriculum for each Year group.
We follow the National Curriculum 2014 in all subjects in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. The National Curriculum 2014 aims to:
The National Curriculum provides an outline of core knowledge around which teachers at Manadon Vale Primary School develop exciting and stimulating lessons to promote the development of pupils’ knowledge, understanding and skills as part of the wider school curriculum.
We set high expectations for every pupil. We aim to stretch the most able pupils by planning suitable learning challenges for them but also plan carefully for the needs of pupils who experience difficulty in learning. We use a range of assessment strategies to ensure that the curriculum meets the needs of all learners and sets high expectations for every pupil.
For pupils who have special educational need or disabilities, lessons are planned to ensure that there are no barriers to every pupil achieving. In many cases, such planning will mean that these pupils will be able to study the full national curriculum. The SEND Information Report on our website provides information on how we will support your child if they have barriers to learning. A minority of our pupils will need access to specialist equipment and different approaches. The SEN Code of Practice outlines what needs to be done for them.
Through our exciting, stimulating and creative curriculum we aim for every child to enjoy learning and gain knowledge, skills and attributes which will ensure they are well-prepared for secondary education and enable them to lead happy, fulfilling and successful lives in the future. We take every opportunity to enrich the curriculum with outside providers, trips and visits, whole school themed weeks and extra–curricular opportunities (e.g. science club).
The Early Years curriculum is split into seven areas of learning, three prime areas and four specific areas.
The curriculum is underpinned by a play-based approach where children have access to all areas of learning within the classroom and in the outside learning area. Children will at times be directly taught a new skill and at other times discover for themselves through carefully planned play opportunities. The curriculum is based around four themes: the unique child, positive relationships, enabling environments and learning and development. Topics are planned in great detail to take account of children’s interests and skilfully link all the areas of learning. The children are continually observed and assessed by teachers and teaching assistants so that they progress rapidly towards achieving the ‘early learning goals’.
Key Stage 1
In Key Stage 1 we follow a creative curriculum where we link our work through termly topics. All children are taught Literacy skills (reading and writing) and numeracy skills daily (usually in the morning). All children have a daily phonics session, which is based on the national Letters and Sounds programme. There are a range of reading schemes used in school to appeal to a range of different interests.
Through our topics, we also teach the new national curriculum programmes of study for science, history, geography, art and design, PE, music and IT/Computing. In addition children are taught RE and SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural education). The topics are planned to take into account children’s interests but also to provide a broad knowledge base and ensure key skills are taught and learnt.
Key Stage 2
In Key Stage 2 children follow a topic led, creative curriculum based on a curriculum focus, which may be geography, history or science.
In September 2014 the topic cycle has been revised to include the new National Curriculum programmes of study. Topics are organised into Lower and Upper Key Stage 2.
All children are taught literacy and numeracy daily and written work is regularly linked to the topic. Children are also taught art and design, music, PE and IT/Computing. In addition RE is taught and SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural education).
From September 2014 all Key Stage pupils now learn French.
Details of the 2014 Programmes of Study for each year group are available at www.gov.uk.