The Sidlesham Curriculum
Curriculum Intent
Our curriculum puts the child at the centre of our kind and caring school, where positive relationships, based on mutual trust and respect are at the heart of everything we do. Our ambitious curriculum has been designed to take account of the legal requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and the Primary National Curriculum. It exposes our children to enriching experiences, immersing them in progressive knowledge and skills; equipping them with personal characteristics required to succeed in life. The enrichment opportunities are pivotal to our curriculum delivery and ensure that our children are immersed in vibrant experiences, allowing each of them to express themselves as an individual.
The key principles behind the design of our curriculum are for our children to:
- be confident, independent and resilient; displaying a thirst for learning
- be kind; showing empathy and compassion whilst valuing diversity
- achieve academically across the entire curriculum, meeting at least the national expectation by the end of their primary education
- be culturally knowledgeable about our country and our world
- have aspirations for the future and know that these can be reached through hard work and determination
- be well prepared for the challenges of the secondary school curriculum.
Ultimately, we want all of our children, to be the best they can be, making a positive contribution to the world they live in.
Curriculum Implementation
Our whole school curriculum is based upon the National Curriculum, which is statutory for maintained schools. However, each subject has carefully chosen content that supports our school values and learning behaviours, and celebrates diversity. Some subjects may be taught discretely and some will be taught in conjunction with other subjects.
Our EYFS operates a one year cycle. Each of KS1 and KS2 classes operates three year cycle so that children get full coverage of our chosen topics.
We add breadth to our curriculum with a wide variety of opportunities and experiences that cater for everyone. These include clubs, trips, visitors and links with the wider community. We hold themed weeks and days where older and younger children work together and celebrate local and national events as a whole school community.
Curriculum Impact
Our subject leads monitor the progress in their subject by developing detailed skills progressions for each subject. This ensures that as children progress through the school they are continually developing their skills in a broad range of subject areas. Children who are not on track are recorded and monitored to ensure they are able to catch up. We hold staff meetings regularly with a specific focus on a given subject, so that we can monitor the subject’s content, discuss how children are progressing in their skills and ensure we are offering a broad range of experiences.