Vernon Primary School
Curriculum Overview and Intent
Vernon Primary School has an excellent reputation for its curriculum. Noted for its richness and breadth by Ofsted, it teaches pupils the highest level of skills, knowledge and understanding that they will need to prepare them for the world, within an inspiring, innovative and holistic curriculum.
A bespoke Curriculum, covering National Curriculum requirements, was designed in 2014 and is continually evolving to engage and enthuse pupils even further. High standards across the curriculum are sustained, but our bespoke curriculum gives a greater opportunity for the cross-curricular learning that we embrace at Vernon Primary School. We always ensure that children can see the connection between subjects within a relevant and exciting context. This fully holistic approach continues to provide opportunities for real, hands-on experiences to excite and engage. Furthermore, it allows us to continue to place emphasis on creativity and immersive learning experiences.
Our curriculum is taught through a dynamic, structured, topic approach which appeals to children and excites their interests. Each year group teaches through a termly topic, which acts as a stimulus for every curriculum area. We use 'Chris Quigley's' Milestones and methodology as a basis for our learning objectives in all Foundation Subjects. These follow the statutory National Curriculum.
Values
The key curriculum drivers (values) for our school, Creativity and Curiosity; Independence; Respect and Cooperation, thread through our planning, teaching and learning across the whole school, ensuring that our ethos is consistent and progressive from Reception to Year 6. These values prepare our pupils for modern Britain and as such, we feel that they play an integral role in shaping our curriculum and approach to life at Vernon Primary School.
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum
Early Years education is the foundation on which children build the rest of their lives. Our aim is to provide a broad, balanced and relevant range of experiences, well rooted in play and planned to be worthwhile and of interest and value to our children. These experiences will be developed in a safe, secure and supportive environment. Children will be able to fully develop socially, emotionally, physically, intellectually and spiritually as they work towards achieving the early learning goals.
We work from the Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, with four overarching principles: Learning and Development, The Unique Child, Positive Relationships and Enabling Environments. There are seven areas of learning and development. The three Prime areas are: Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Physical Development, Communication and Language. There are a further four specific areas: Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, Expressive Arts and Design. In planning and guiding children’s activities, our staff reflect on the different ways that children learn and reflect these in their practice. The three characteristics of effective teaching and learning are: playing and exploring, active learning, creating and thinking critically.