Curriculum Intent

Intent

You will be made to feel welcome as you learn and grow at Newsham Primary School. The atmosphere you will experience will be calm, safe and happy. You will be surrounded by kindness from children, staff, parents and carers, and all others who make up our wonderful community.  You will receive help when you need it, but be challenged by our ambitious expectations.  Everyone you meet will display the values of being Respectful, Responsible and Ready; because that is ‘The Newsham Way’.

Our curriculum recognises all members of our school community are learning together and are on ‘Our Journey to Excellence’. Our curriculum reflects the fantastic community of Newsham. We aim to engage with the people in the town, celebrate it’s rich history, and take part in what is going on. We also want to help shape the positive future of the area. Our curriculum is designed so that there are no barriers to learning for pupils from all backgrounds or abilities and signposts support for those who need it. We celebrate and welcome the diversity of those in our community and want it to enrich the lives of those we serve. We adapt our curriculum to drive forward progress on our identified targets. 

We have a reading rich curriculum which allows learners to acquire knowledge, behaviours and skills that develop cultural awareness, proficiency and competence; giving them every opportunity to be successful in society, their career and the world of work. This cultural capital development will be seen in learning across the school. An example of this is our STEM work, which is so important for the future of our town. We are very proud that we have recently been awarded the prestigious ‘Outreach’ status for a Primary Science Quality Mark, which is clear recognition of Newsham delivering the curriculum it intends to. 

Enrichment experiences are designed to build self-esteem, promote independence and teamwork. They are available to all learners. We also want to be ambitious about spreading the experiences we offer and the influence we have beyond the local area. They will be available to everyone.

For Core subjects, we have created our own coherent curriculum structure, with the assistance of well-respected schemes.

For maths we base our framework around White Rose, with enhancements from Mastering Number and NECTM materials to ensure reasoning and calculation balance.

Early reading is based around Little Wandle phonics scheme, with complementary reinforcement and ‘keep up’ delivery. Throughout school reading enjoyment is developed through small group reading practise sessions, library visits, live storytelling sessions, daily class reading and access to high quality books. The curriculum for all subjects is reading rich.  

Stimulation for writing opportunities for children are developed through experience sessions and then scaffolded to develop vocabulary and grammar, based on Jane Considine’s Write Stuff. This enhances vocabulary use, writing stamina and exposure to a variety of genres.

For many of our Foundation subjects we use the scaffold of Curriculum Maestro, which provides coherent objective mapping reassurance and a creative and thematic approach. All learning is mapped to the 2014 Primary National Curriculum to ensure comprehensive coverage of national expectations.

Curriculum Maestro is based on a child-centred pedagogy  and is delivered through imaginative learning projects and knowledge rich projects, which provide a rich menu of exciting and motivating learning activities that make creative links between all aspects of children’s learning. We believe children learn better when they are encouraged to use their imagination and apply their learning to engaging contexts. 

Our curriculum provides many learning challenges throughout the academic year that require children to solve problems, apply themselves creatively and express their knowledge and understanding effectively. It provides a rigorous skills and knowledge framework that outlines the end of year expectations in all subjects. 

The RSE and PHSE curriculum is currently being reviewed again but is based upon advice from the PSHE Network. PSHE is delivered in lessons, and through assemblies, as well as the development of character by continual development of Newsham Way characteristics.  

RE follows the SACRE guidelines and we are currently adapting the lesson format with the support of our Chair of Governors to align it to our community needs.  

Some General Principles

Lifelong Learning

• learn within a coherent and progressive framework
• experience the challenge and enjoyment of learning

Purpose: We want everyone in our community be life-long learners to establish positive self-esteem and a valued role in society. We aim to instil the belief that learning is the best vehicle to achievement and contentment. Positive learning habits and skills established in the primary age range create a springboard for success, so a carefully planned, progressive curriculum, which allows for repeated learning reinforcement, is essential.

SMSC

• Moral – Recognise right and wrong and respect the law; understand consequences; investigate moral and ethical issues and offer reasoned views
• Tolerance and respect – To respect and tolerate the opinions or behaviour of others

Purpose: We want everyone in our community to respect the rules of society, but be confident enough to make up their own mind about ethical issues. We will learn together to appreciate diversity in all of it’s forms, and cultural and religious differences. Appreciation of others develops empathy.  

Well-being

• learn how to respect themselves and others
• develop self-esteem and confidence in their abilities

Purpose: Respect for others is hard to develop, unless we have respect for ourselves. Our learners need to be given the opportunity to develop their confidence and self-worth. In this way they will establish the capacity to make more positive social interactions.

Pupil Voice

• make a positive contribution to the school and local community

Purpose: From the earliest stages of development, learners need to know that their voice can make a difference; whether this is for their own personal circumstances, or those of others.

Pedagogy

• enables and fosters children’s natural curiosity
• excites, promotes and sustains children’s interest

Purpose: Exciting learning helps establish the life-long learning habits that we aim to instil in all learners within our community.

Enrichment

• providing on and off-site subject or topic related activities
• welcoming parents and carers to take part in children’s learning and experiences
• broadening experiences to raise confidence and self-esteem

Below are links that will help you find out a lot more detail about our curriculum.