Excellence is at the heart of all of Kingfisher’s work, and the school works hard to find the best possible approaches in all aspects of its provision. This ensures that all children receive a varied, engaging and appropriate curriculum offer, developed to ensure an experience which both challenges and excites, motivates and engages and celebrates individuality and personal achievement. This developmental approach has become increasingly important as the children’s complexity of learning need increases.
Kingfisher has always advocated for the curriculum to be designed to meet the needs of the children rather than trying to make the children fit a curriculum model which is inappropriate and which does not take into account their particular strengths and diverse approaches to learning.
Engagement in learning is a fundamental aspect for children to have both quality opportunities for personal growth alongside a social quality of experience. For learning to take place, the child’s preferred learning style, level of motivation and readiness to learn are taken into account, alongside availability of appropriate resources. Creativity and fun in planning for learning is a priority to ensure learning is enjoyable, active and challenging. The Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural aspects of learning are taken into account ensuring teaching reflects and celebrates cultural diversity.
At Kingfisher, a range of teaching and learning strategies have been introduced and staff develop skills and knowledge in a variety of approaches which they can use to best effect with individuals and groups. Staff continually review and access recent research and develop rationales to underpin a wide range of teaching approaches (including strategies, environments and resources).
Kingfisher uses a thematic approach (see table) to plan for teaching and learning which advocates creativity and active engagement in learning. This thematic approach also enables children to make links across and between their learning, making use of key skills in a variety of situations to help them generalise and apply their learning.