Curriculum Intent
Our bespoke, individualised curriculum...
At Kirkland & Catterall St. Helen's Church of England Primary School, we strive to provide high quality education that meets the needs of all children throughout their whole school life. We believe that every child is a gift from God, and as such brings with them unique talents and characteristics which are to be nurtured and celebrated. Within our educational family each action made and decision taken is underpinned with Christian values which play a significant part in the life of our school.
We aim to prepare children for success in the 21st century by inspiring a love of learning which continues throughout their lives. We strive to equip them with life-skills which they can adapt to the world of work, community and global citizenship, and we work hard to ensure that each individual child reaches their full potential whilst instilling in them a strong understanding of British values.
Our curriculum is designed to provide breadth and balance of experience, knowledge, skills and understanding in all areas of the national curriculum and beyond, and is carefully structured to ensure progression for each child. We take account of each child’s individual skills and interests and develop these through a curriculum which is enriched by a wide range of exciting opportunities.
As teachers we agree to provide a curriculum which
- offers opportunities for child-initiated learning
- provides opportunities for skills to be developed independently, collaboratively and socially
- fosters perseverance, enthusiasm, independence, curiosity and the sharing of personal experience
- develops a balance of knowledge, skills and understanding
- promotes positive attitudes and approaches to learning
- develops the child’s unique identity in a supportive, personalised environment
- meets the requirements of the national curriculum for England
- enriches each child’s experience at school through visits, visitors and outdoor learning opportunities
- celebrates and promotes individual talents, interests and achievements
- promotes understanding of diversity and global awareness
- develops resilience, independence, responsibility and emotional intelligence
The Taught Curriculum:
EYFS (Year R)
Our school bases its main work on the Early Years Foundation Stage for the children in Reception. There is a strong emphasis on the three prime areas which are most essential for children’s healthy development. These areas are: communication and language, physical development and personal, social and emotional development. Learning in the specific areas of literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and expressive arts and design build upon learning in the prime areas.
Key stage 1 phonics & reading schemes used in school:
please click on the links below for more information
Key Stages 1 and 2 (Years 1 to 6)
Children in Years 1 to 6 follow the National Curriculum. The National Curriculum provides pupils with an introduction to the essential knowledge that they need to be educated citizens. It introduces pupils to the best that has been thought and said; and helps engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement.
At Kirkland & Catterall St. Helen's Church of England Primary School, there is an emphasis on the core subjects of English and Mathematics being taught daily, Science, Religious Education and Computing are the other subjects to which much time is dedicated. The foundation subjects of Art, Design Technology, Physical Education, History, Geography, Music and Foreign Languages are taught explicitly linked together under the umbrella of our stimulating themed approach.
As a church school, Christian Values play a key part in our children’s education. We are committed to being a welcoming school with a strong Christian ethos where all children can flourish – physically, spiritually, socially and morally. We place the highest importance on being a safe and secure school where everyone feels happy and valued, as well as being a nurturing school which enables growth in self-confidence, resilience and personal responsibility. In our aim to achieve all this, each half term we focus on a different Christian Value. As a whole school we think about what that value means to us and how we can incorporate it into our lives; at home, in school and in the community.
Enriching the Curriculum
The Curriculum at Kirkland & Catterall St. Helen's curriculum encompasses a wide range of learning experiences for the children. Children learn effectively through direct experience. We therefore offer opportunities for pupils, from the earliest stage, to enhance their learning experiences by bringing the curriculum alive and making their learning more relevant.
We achieve this through the use of well-chosen educational visits, workshops (both on and off site) and topic related costume and role play days. Visitors are also invited into school to enhance the curriculum and regularly include actors, visitors from other faiths and denominations, parents and other members of our local community.
The Curriculum is also enriched through a wide range of extra-curricular activities which are available for all children as well as enhancing provision for our gifted and talented children. The activities give children the opportunity to learn and apply new skills in groups across different age ranges with teachers other than their own class teacher. The activities on offer change regularly.
We also offer a forest school curriculum to our younger years, delivered onsite in our fantastic grounds. We are blessed to have 2 forest school practitioners on the staff team who work together to provide an exciting and enriching element to our varied and inclusive curriculum.