Whole School Curriculum Intent

At Burgh by Sands School the Key Stage 1 and 2 children follow the National Curriculum 2014 and it is designed across school progressively so that all children build their knowledge and understanding towards the end of Key Stage outcomes. The Foundation Stage class follow the statutory Early Years Framework (2021) and use the Birth to 5 non- statutory guidance for supporting the progress of our Nursery and Reception age pupils. Through our curriculum we aim to give the children the necessary skills to prepare them for life in Modern British Society. The curriculum enables the children to be aspirational and to reach their full potential. We follow a theme based approach to learning so children can make logical links between different aspects of learning. We enhance the curriculum through a variety of activities including educational visits, school performances and visitors to the school. The OFSTED Framework (May 2019) states that inspectors will make graded judgements on the quality of education. This includes an evaluation of your curriculum which should be "broad and balanced". In particular:

          Intent - do you have an ambitious curriculum that provides the knowledge and cultural capital learners need to succeed in life?

          Implementation - how well is the curriculum delivered?

          Impact - do learners develop detailed knowledge and skills across the curriculum and, as a result, achieve well?

If you have any questions regarding the curriculum we teach please contact school directly.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

Within the Foundation Stage there are seven different areas of learning. These are split into prime areas of learning and specific areas of learning.

The prime areas of learning are: Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language and Physical Development.

The specific areas of learning are: Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the world and Expressive arts and design.

We teach this framework through topics that excite the children and a variety of structured play and practical activities are offered to support learning in the seven areas.

Key Stages 1 and 2

The core subjects of English and Maths are given a high priority at Burgh by Sands School but in addition to English and Maths, our curriculum covers all the subjects within the National Curriculum and therefore covers the full broad range of subjects available to Primary school age children. These subjects are planned and taught around an overall topic/theme for each class. Each subject is organised through a progressive model of knowledge and skills. We have chosen to deliver French as our MFL as French is a language that is spoken in many countries of the world. This is taught across Key Stage 2 with a basic introduction started in Key Stage 1 through the use of songs. PSHE also forms an integral part of our curriculum. This helps to give pupils the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to lead confident, healthy independent lives and therefore helping them to become responsible citizens whilst promoting British Values. We use the 1 Decision scheme to ensure all areas of PHSE are taught within our curriculum. Within Key Stage 1 phonics is taught using the Little Wandle scheme of work and reading books are levelled according to this scheme also.

Within our curriculum we have included our local area as we have a historical background linked to the Romans. We also look at significant events in the local area such as the Carlisle floods. We use seasonal changes within our curriculum to encourage children to look at the world around them.

Our curriculum has a fully inclusive approach to learning and we have high expectations of all children including SEND and Disadvantaged. Where we need to we follow the pre key stage framework for individuals to support progress towards the expected outcomes for their year group. Quality first teaching is paramount and pupils are supported with this in many ways such as pre teaching. Staff are being supported with leading curriculum subjects through the PTI training for Middle leaders which we are lucky to be part of this year.

We enhance our curriculum through the use of visits and visitors including face to face visits and on line visitors. These are planned throughout the year and offer enhanced learning for our children. Key Stage 2 children will also participate in two residential activities across their time in Key Stage 2. In Year 4 they spend one night and two days in a city to explore what cities have to offer and in Year 6 they spend two nights and three days at Hawse End residential centre where they experience adventurous outdoor activities such a ghyll scrambling. We also offer a range of after school clubs ran both by school and specialist providers across the school year. We have used pupil voice to guide the decision on what clubs to offer.

Homework

Homework is used to extend school learning and also encourages children to develop the confidence and self-discipline needed to study on their own. It also gives Parents the opportunity to work with their children and share learning experiences.

Home School Links

We believe that the education of the children at Burgh by Sands School is a partnership between children, staff and parents. Support from home is vital to help children reach their full potential. Parents are welcome to discuss their children's progress with staff at a mutually convenient time and each class has two Parents evenings per year and reports are sent home at the end of the summer term.

Phonics and Early Reading 

Phonics

At Burgh-by-sands School we place a high priority on learning to read at an early age.  

Our vision is that teaching phonics and reading is accessible to all our children regardless of their background or ability including the weakest readers, so that all children leave school as fluent, proficient readers who also read for both purpose and pleasure. 

We follow the Little Wandle letters and sounds revised phonics scheme. Prior to using this scheme, we followed the DFE Letters and Sounds. Little Wandle is closely aligned to this, which has supported a smooth transition over to Little Wandle.  Little Wandle is a robust scheme which is followed rigidly and supports SEND pupils to make progress alongside their peers at all abilities. 

Further Phonics support in Key Stage 2 is given to those pupils who require 'keep up' support. This is based on assessment criteria from Little Wandle. Children who exit the Little Wandle programme, after completing the assessments, will then join the schools spelling programme which is 'Spelling Shed'. All year groups are taught the spellings from the National Curriculum spelling expectations and these are embedded into their everyday learning. 

Phonics Check Year 1

The Government introduced a Year 1 'Phonics Screening Check' to ascertain children's attainment in reading phonetically by the end of Year 1. This check consists of 40 words children need to read, of which 20 of them are known words and 20 of them are classed as 'nonsense' words that would need to be sounded out by the child. 

The check is set at what's called 'Phase 5' expectations of ability. 

The pass mark has remained over the years at 32/ 40 accurate. Those children who do not reach 32 marks will be re-tested at the end of Year 2 to see how far they have progressed. Children requiring continuation of phonics beyond Year 2 will have additional sessions within the class in key stage 2. 

The test takes place in June. The results of the Phonics Screening check will be included in the annual end of Year 1 report to parents. 

It is very important that the check is not seen as a 'test' and that children are not seen as 'failing' if they do not meet the pass mark.