Creative Curriculum
Intent
At Urchfont we provide a rich and broad curriculum to all pupils and ensure that it is tailored to the children of our community. We provide a flexible curriculum that responds to the needs of the children or events that occur locally or nationally.
The curriculum provides opportunities for our pupils to develop as independent, confident and successful learners, who know how to make a positive contribution to their community and the wider society. It is designed to help children develop a wide range of key and transferable skills. The curriculum aims for academic success as well as a love of learning which challenges curiosity, creativity and personal growth. Our curriculum reflects the Christian values that underpin our ethos, with a focus on perseverance, courage, hope and wisdom. The curriculum recognises the importance of physical development, well-being and mental health as key elements that support the development of the whole child. We also highly value learning outside the classroom and we take learning beyond the school through forest school experiences, educational visits, workshops and trips and encourage visitors to the school.
Implementation
The curriculum incorporates the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum 2014 and other experiences and opportunities which best meet the learning and development needs of our children. At Urchfont, we have adopted a thematic approach to the curriculum with quality texts to inspire discussion, support the development of reading and provide writing opportunities. Themes have been organised across each year group to ensure that there are a variety of curriculum drivers that cover the content of the national curriculum. We deliver core areas of the curriculum during morning time. In the afternoon, the curriculum has a focus on the foundation subjects. A variety of approaches ensure sufficient time given for coverage and progression across the curriculum. This enables themed based learning, fostering each child’s curiosity and interest and also enables a depth in knowledge and skills.
Using the outdoors as a classroom is fundamental to our values and this can be school based or with enrichment visits to other locations. Trips/activities and experts are all vital to the enhancement of the learning opportunities we offer our children. We are also passionate on our Forest School work and each class is given the opportunity to take part in a series of lessons each academic year.
In addition, the school uses curriculum focus weeks to supplement the curriculum opportunities that are offered to the children. During these weeks, the children are immersed in many activities and experiences which have been planned by curriculum leaders eg a visit by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra ensemble group.
A varied timetable for extra-curriculum activities is offered by the school, with clubs that support and/or supplement the core offer whilst extending the range of children’s experiences.
The school takes pride in providing a highly inclusive environment, where learners are challenged to work hard and achieve their best. We help all children achieve their potential through differentiated activities and relevant support and intervention when needed.
Impact
This positive practice across the school provides a strong foundation and opportunities for children to collaborate and develop social skills indoors and out. Our curriculum design ensures that the needs of individual and small groups of children can be met within the environment of high quality first wave teaching, supported by targeted interventions. – See end of Key Stage outcomes for outcomes. This has a very positive effect on the children’s outcomes. The curriculum promotes achievement, growing confidence and good behaviour through the school and again is reflected in the positive outcomes as published.
The following links shows a outline of the themes that will be studied in each of our classes to ensure that we have as full a curriculum coverage as possible.
Whole School Long Term Planning Overview
If you would like more information about the curriculum follwed at Urchfont Primary School please speak to your child's teacher, or to Mrs C Talbot, Headteacher.
Further information on the National Curriculum can be found on the Government's website: National Curriculum Information