Our Curriculum

At Grindon Infant School, we believe that the curriculum should be rich, engaging and should prepare our children for life. We aspire to our curriculum here being unique to us.

Curriculum Intent

Children learn best when experiences are first hand, linked to their interests. We aim to create lifelong learners and children are encouraged to think creatively and develop their vocabulary both indoors and outdoors.

Curriculum Implementation

We believe that the curriculum should be rich and engaging and it should be knowledge based where areas are revisited often and it should prepare our children for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life and society.

Our curriculum is text based using the Talk for Writing approach in order to allow children the opportunity to retell a range of texts and use them as a basis for their own work.

We ensure that learning is staged and builds on prior knowledge providing the children with the opportunity to revisit vital skills and knowledge regularly and embed this learning. The curriculum is structured so that key concepts and vocabulary are revisited and reinforced, making them unforgettable. Staff make explicit links within subjects, across subjects and across years, with repetition of vocabulary at the heart due to children entering school with low levels of language and communication skills.

All children receive the same curriculum but some children receive more scaffolds and/or support and others receive more challenge. SEND children are differentiated for as and when appropriate ensuring that expectations are high for all children and they are all able to reach their full potential; learning and aspirations are not capped for any child. The design of the curriculum has been carefully considered to ensure that all children study the full curriculum and that no subjects are missed.

Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum

Children are born ready, able and eager to learn. They actively reach out to interact with other people, and in the world around them. Development is not an automatic process, however. It depends on each unique child having opportunities to interact in positive relationships and enabling environments.

In Early Years, from aged two, all children access their learning both indoors and outdoors. Continuous provision is enhanced linked to children’s interests and identified areas of need.

The Launchpad for Literacy framework is used from the age of two to create firm foundations and a broad base of readiness.

KS1 Curriculum

The National Curriculum is made up of ten subjects. The core subjects are English, Mathematics, Science and Computing. Foundation subjects are Design Technology, History, Geography, Art, Music and Physical Education. In addition, every school must provide Religious Education and a daily act of collective worship. Our school also teaches PSHCE(Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship Education) SMSC Development(Spiritual, Moral, Social, Cultural development) and RSE (Relationship and Sex Education). Computing supports all areas of the curriculum. You can find out more about each curriculum topic on our website.

Curriculum Plans

EYFS

KS1

Grindon Infant School Aims are the result of whole staff and Governing Board discussion.

• All children must be valued equally whatever their stage of development and are entitled to experience the maximum sense of success.
• All children must be afforded equality of opportunity and not be discriminated against on the grounds of gender, race, ability and disability, age, religion and belief or sexuality.
• Personal development is a life-long learning process.
• The provision of education is a partnership between schools and colleges, parents and the wider community, each having contributions to make to the development of the other.

Clubs/Study Support

The school has a variety of clubs which meet weekly. Pupils can attend a Breakfast Club which runs daily from 8:15am for a small charge of £1. Admission is only between 8:15am and 8:30am; no admissions after 8:30am. There are also after school sports’ clubs which run weekly. Parents pay a small charge for some of the Clubs. PE funding has been used to support the after school provision. Our staff also organise after school activities.

Educational Visits

Educational visits are a vital part of bringing first-hand experience into many aspects of the curriculum. Every year group is offered an opportunity to take part in learning beyond the classroom which is carefully monitored and supervised. This provides opportunities to stimulate and deepen learning and for the development of spirituality and understanding of different kinds of worship.

Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship Education

This is a very important part of the curriculum. We encourage pupils to lead healthy lives, by educating them on healthy eating, exercise, decision-making, responsible citizenship and relationships with family and friends. The purpose of this curriculum is to help our pupils grow to be independent, thoughtful and caring citizens. This programme is often linked to other areas of the curriculum.

Homework

We set homework, which is work the pupils can usefully do at home. Pupils take reading books home which gives parents an opportunity to listen to their children read at home. Please see the policy section for our Homework Policy and what to expect your child to bring home in each year group.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

At Grindon Infant School we believe that inclusive education means providing all pupils with appropriate education and support alongside their peers. The Curriculum is all the planned activities that the school organises in order to promote learning, personal growth and development. Further information can be found in the SEND Information Report
If you would like to discuss your SEND requirements in detail please contact the school to arrange an appointment.