Our Curriculum
At Thorpedene Primary School our creative topic based curriculum engages our children and is intended to inspire a love of learning and develop life-long learners. Through the implementation of a broad and balanced curriculum, we ensure that children are provided with a rich variety of experiences, enabling them to widen their knowledge and understanding of the world around us. The key aim for our teaching and learning in all areas of the curriculum is to provide opportunities where all pupils learn, enjoy and achieve beyond our expectations.
To this end, learning opportunities are imaginative, engaging and offer challenge to all pupils so that they can have impact in their lives as future world citizens in the local and wider community. At Thorpedene, our school curriculum is based on equity, diversity and inclusivity. As part of the school's Accessibility Plan, we make sure that all children regardless of their needs have access to our curriculum.
If you would like any more information on our Curriculum please contact the School Office via email:
office@thorpedene.secat.co.uk
Curriculum Statement
Intent
At Thorpedene Primary School, we place great importance on a curriculum which develops and supports the whole child in their primary learning journey. Through our core values: Achieving, Caring and Respecting with Confidence, we foster an environment where the emotional, physical, academic, social, moral, spiritual and cultural development of each child is considered and planned for.
Our curriculum is mapped and linked to the National Curriculum expectations and prepares and equips children with the skills, knowledge and understanding for life. Our curriculum is designed to excite, challenge, engage and motivate with the ultimate goal that our learners progress academically, socially and become successful, confident individuals, who make a positive contribution to the community and society - both now and in the future.
Implementation
At Thorpedene Primary School, we have used the National Curriculum alongside specific year group topics, to allow our children to gain the necessary knowledge and skills to make progress. We recognise that the curriculum encompasses all areas of learning and we provide learning which is broad and balanced, and makes clear links across all subjects to give children a clear rationale for completing their work In order to allow children to remember key skills and knowledge, children revisit them over the course of a key stage. Wherever possible, reading, writing and Maths activities are linked across lessons so that children are confident in the links between all the subjects and this embeds their knowledge in a more meaningful way.
For some subjects, outcomes are presented in more creative ways either through use of media, use of computers, class presentations and discussions. These still represent the children’s best work but also demonstrate individuality of learning which we expect from our pupils. These creative learning opportunities act as a hook or celebration of work and give learning purpose, ensuring the work carried out is memorable, and meaningful links are made between different areas of the curriculum.
Alternative enrichment experiences, such as trips, ‘Hook days’, use of Media and Outdoor Learning provide the children with vast learning experiences outside the classroom environment which helps enhance their understanding, school experience and learning.
Impact
Pupils leave Thorpedene Primary School with a secure understanding of the academic content; with the understanding of how to be socially, morally, spiritually and culturally responsible and globally aware; how to make positive contributions to the local area and how to endeavour to be the best that they can be. We aim for all of our children to leave Thorpedene with not only a solid understanding of the KS1/KS2 curriculum, but to leave with our core values at the heart of what they do. This allows them to confidently make the next step in Secondary school and beyond.
For further information on the Curriculum at Thorpedene Primary School please contact the School Office by emailing office@thorpedene.southend.sch.uk
Reception Curriculum
In Reception, we follow the Early Years Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. This Framework sets out the requirement for learning and development in the Early Years and provides specific and prime areas of learning which we must cover in our curriculum.
These areas are:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Physical Development
- Communication and Language development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
Curriculum Overview Table
Reading in Reception
Reading In EYFS
Reading plays an important part in developing children’s imagination and interests. All children have an individual read every week and the child’s reading record book and class reading folder are updated. They also select a sharing book to take home. We have a half-termly focus author where the children are introduced to the author and the stories are shared in daily, whole class story time. Reading happens daily during continuous provision when children can be found playing phonics games and sharing books in small groups. Every half-term the children are assessed against the high frequency words and are given lists to practise at home. All children also attend a weekly session in the library where they have the opportunity to read, share and most importantly enjoy books!
Reading in Year 1
Download: Year 1 Skills Coverage
Reading in Year 1
Reading plays an important part in developing children’s imagination and interests. All children will have an individual or group read weekly and will change their levelled reading book and while this is happening, the children will engage in paired reading within the class. There is a new focus author every half-term and these stories will be shared (along with others) during the daily story time in class. Each class has a Reading Bear and a child is chosen every week to take the bear home and take photos and share reading with. Each class has a weekly library session and they also do paired reading with Year 4 every Friday afternoon. Whole class reading also takes place during lessons such as phonics and cracking comprehension. As an additional incentive, the children are awarded a point for every whole book they read and these points accumulate and turn into prizes.
Reading in Year 2
Download: Year 2 Skills Coverage
Reading In Year 2
In Year 2, English is taught across the school week, in a range of ways.
Aside being an integral part of topic and wider curricula lessons, through each week, English lessons are taught in class daily with two additional lessons of SPaG in the afternoon. In these lessons, a range of writing and SPaG skills are taught and developed.
In addition, every day after lunch, the children take part in ERIC Time (Everyone Reading in Class) where the children have time to do independent free reading. This incorporates a range of reading activities including comprehension tasks and adult guided group sessions.
The children have an opportunity throughout the week to read a levelled book with an adult. These books are them taken home to continue to practise their reading. They can choose a non-levelled reading book that they can share with an adult at home.
Each class has an interactive book corner to help promote the love of reading, as well as having interactive displays that encourage their comprehension and reading skills.
Reading in Year 3
Download: Year 3 Skills Coverage
Reading in Lower KS2
In Years 3 & 4, English is taught across the school week, in a range of ways.
Reading skills are focused on as a daily occurrence. Children have books to read at school and to take home to help develop both their reading and comprehension skills. Children have reading record books to keep a log of books they have read at home and at school.
Every day, children are also involved in reading activities outside of their daily English lessons. The focus for these is around the Accelerated Reader programme. When a child finishes a book, they complete an online quiz to assess their understanding of the book before they can move onto a new book. This helps the teacher and the child gain confidence that their skills are progressing. In addition to these independent activities, children have weekly visits to the library where they partake in reading-based activities alongside changing their books.
Reading in Year 4
Download: Year 4 Skills Coverage
Reading in Lower KS2
In Years 3 & 4, English is taught across the school week, in a range of ways.
Reading skills are focused on as a daily occurrence. Children have books to read at school and to take home to help develop both their reading and comprehension skills. Children have reading record books to keep a log of books they have read at home and at school.
Every day, children are also involved in reading activities outside of their daily English lessons. The focus for these is around the Accelerated Reader programme. When a child finishes a book, they complete an online quiz to assess their understanding of the book before they can move onto a new book. This helps the teacher and the child gain confidence that their skills are progressing. In addition to these independent activities, children have weekly visits to the library where they partake in reading-based activities alongside changing their books.
Reading in Year 5
Download: Year 5 Skills Coverage
Reading in Upper KS2
In Upper Phase, years 5 & 6, English is taught across the school week, in a range of ways.
Aside being an integral part of topic and wider curricula lessons, through each week, English lessons are taught in class daily. In these lessons, a range of writing and SPaG skills are taught and developed.
In addition, every morning, the children take part in a reading lesson to further develop their comprehension and reading skills. As part of these sessions, children complete a range of activities, including independent, group and adult guided. Every day after lunch they read either independently, in pairs or with an adult. This is part of the Accelerated Reader programme and the children take a quiz when they have completed each books to track their progress.
Every class in the phase has an interactive book corner to help promote the love of reading as well as an inquiring mind through questions, discussion points and interactive displays.
Reading in Year 6
Download: Year 6 Skills Coverage
Reading in Upper KS2
In Upper Phase, years 5 & 6, English is taught across the school week, in a range of ways.
Aside being an integral part of topic and wider curricula lessons, through each week, English lessons are taught in class daily. In these lessons, a range of writing and SPaG skills are taught and developed.
In addition, every morning, the children take part in a reading lesson to further develop their comprehension and reading skills. As part of these sessions, children complete a range of activities, including independent, group and adult guided. Every day after lunch they read either independently, in pairs or with an adult. This is part of the Accelerated Reader programme and the children take a quiz when they have completed each books to track their progress.
Every class in the phase has an interactive book corner to help promote the love of reading as well as an inquiring mind through questions, discussion points and interactive displays.