Curriculum
Our Curriculum Implementation
EYFS
At Our Lady of Lourdes, the curriculum begins with the standards in the EYFS curriculum. This provides our children with a strong foundation to access the National Curriculum in Year 1 and beyond. The EYFS curriculum is planned for the inside and outside classrooms and equal importance is given to learning in both areas. The EYFS curriculum gives children knowledge of our local community and the wider world. By the end of EYFS, the children will have knowledge and skills that they need now and in the future. We recognise that reading is a core life skill which will be a specific determiner of a child’s future success. This means phonics and reading across the curriculum is key. Children develop a greater understanding of where they live as wherever possible, learning is linked to the local community. We are foremost a school family and the curriculum is delivered in an environment which is safe and inspiring. We value and nurture children’s talents, allowing them to thrive so that when they leave Our Lady of Lourdes they are responsible, active citizens within their local community and fully equipped with the life skills they need to achieve their ambitions. We have a curriculum that promotes and encourages sustainability and values diversity on both a local and national scale. The EYFS curriculum ensures that knowledge progresses meaningfully and prepares children for their next steps.
KS1 and KS2
In KS1 and KS2, the curriculum covers all the standard requirements of the 2014 National Curriculum. It has been refined to reflect the communities the children belong to. It is relevant, diverse and engaging, meeting the needs of future citizens and equips all children, including those with SEND and disadvantaged groups, with the foundations for life.
We have developed year group specific long-term curriculum maps, which identify when the different subjects will be taught across the academic year. Subjects are delivered in discreet lessons, with meaningful links to other subjects. Long term plans, knowledge progression and skills progression documents are the building blocks of the subject. From these, medium term plans are created. The medium term plans form the basis of cover sheets used in books. Individual lesson plans are created by class teachers; these lesson plans take their objectives from the medium term plans. Lessons are structured to minimise cognitive overload, this is done by ensuring prior knowledge is secure and that lessons are not overloaded with new knowledge. Children will present all work to their best standard. This fosters pride in their learning. Work will show the clear progression of children’s learning through the Key Stages.
Lessons are teacher assessed against the learning objective. An end of topic assessment or evaluation is used to assess what knowledge the children have retained. The development of the outdoor learning area is ongoing and outdoor learning is actively promoted and planned for wherever possible.
We believe it is important for our curriculum to reflect the children’s specific needs and their unique individualities. Our pupils are given a breadth of experience to develop their understanding of themselves as individuals within their community and as members of a wider global community.
We recognise that reading is a core skill, which will have a direct impact on a child’s future success; placing phonics and reading at the centre of the wider curriculum is fundamental.
Children develop a greater understanding of where they live as wherever possible, learning is linked to the local community. We are foremost a school family and the curriculum is delivered in an environment which is safe and inspiring. We value and nurture children’s talents, allowing them to thrive so that when they leave Our Lady of Lourdes they are responsible, active citizens within their local community and fully equipped with the life skills they need to achieve their ambitions.
As well as our school based learning; we ensure learning is supported by relevant educational visits and visitors. A range of clubs and enrichment activities such as choir with annual participation in the local music festival, sports matches, music, performing arts, Eco club, Science club and Relax Kids to promote wellbeing further enhance the curriculum and children’s learning. These are a vital part of the children’s development as lifelong learners and ensure individual talents are celebrated.
We have a curriculum that promotes and encourages sustainability and values diversity on both a local and national scale. All subjects show progression of both knowledge and skills so children feel confident moving onto their next steps in learning and are fully prepared for what is to come in their future learning.