Curriculum Approach
The Wallace Fields Infant School & Nursery ‘E-Curriculum’ is designed to provide opportunities for all of our children to develop the skills to be successful in the future, including English (language, reading and writing), Maths, Science and Computing as well as History, Geography, Art, Design Technology, Religious Education, Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE), Physical Education and Music. We weave Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) and British Values development through our whole curriculum.
The foundation of our approach is to maintain Excellence in all areas, ensuring a focus on the key knowledge and skills for each curriculum subject so that children make progress (‘knowing more, remembering more, being able to do more’) and therefore learn (‘a change in long-term memory’). We also ensure that our children receive high quality learning opportunities and experiences (Entitlement) both within and beyond the classroom which nurtures their individual talents and brings the curriculum to life (Enrichment):
Some of the key features of our approach are:
- Based on the National Curriculum: Our key aim is to make the curriculum exciting and stimulating while ensuring that children achieve the end of Key Stage 1 curriculum expectations in the core and foundation subjects. We have carefully considered the end points to which the curriculum is building towards with a clear progression through the Early Years up to Year 2 (the end of Key Stage 1). Each subject has a detailed Progression of Knowledge and Skills detailing expectations by year group which we devised using the KS1 National Curriculum expectations as a starting point and then working backwards - we have given extra thought to the progression between Reception and Year 1 as a bridge between the Early Years Foundation Stage and the National Curriculum. The objectives for each subject have been carefully sequenced so that the children's knowledge builds from what they have learned prviously to the less familiar and new content.
- Focus on developing vocabulary: Our progression grids include the key vocabulary that children are expected to understand and begin using in their spoken and written outcomes across different subjects. We teach children vocabulary through our three times a week reading practice sessions and as a key part of every lesson.
- Whole school topics over a whole term: Each topic is followed by the whole school and teachers plan using our Progression of Knowledge and Skills grids to ensure appropriate differentiation and challenge for each year group. Carrying over to a second half term, the topic takes a slightly new direction to develop a real depth of knowledge and rich language.
- Immersive learning environments: Classrooms are uniquely styled around the topic providing inspiring reading and roleplay areas and high quality displays of children’s learning. This creates a ‘Wow!’ moment when children begin each topic.
- ‘Task time’ in Year 1 and Year 2: This is similar to the style of learning in the Early Years, which supports the children to develop their independence and resilience. Children move around the room to complete a variety of tasks, including some ‘must-do’ tasks. The tasks change regularly. As well as teaching, the class teacher’s role is facilitator and ‘quality control’. Tasks usually include a challenge activity. Over the course of the topic, Task Time provides opportunities for children to revisit previously taught knowledge and skills (‘Recall Tasks’) which helps them to make progress and learn.
- Roleplay and drama: Encouraged in every year group so children get to develop their ideas and vocabulary creatively. Talk is a focus at all times.
- First hand experiences: Events or surprises in class along with trips, visitors and experts to inspire children and develop their knowledge and skills. The school makes considerable efforts to ensure children have exposure to a wide experience in their local community through, for example, sporting events, festivals, trips and through visiting speakers from other religious denominations and groups.
- High quality texts: Reading is very much at the heart of everything we do at Wallace Fields Infant School & Nursery, and the texts and stories used within each topic have been carefully chosen to inspire a love and enjoyment of reading.
- Learning Journals: Children in Year 1 and Year 2 classes record their learning in their ‘Learning Journals’. These comprehensive bodies of work are for the children to keep at the end of each year and are a celebration of the learning and achievements each term. The children are responsible for mounting and presenting all of their own work. At the end of each term, Learning Journals go home with the children who are incredibly excited to talk about and share their learning with their family.
- Support from teaching specialists: We regularly work with an art consultant which means that our children produce high quality art outcomes which we display around the school. We have a dedicated music teacher, so that children across the school have weekly music and singing lessons. Our music curriculum enables us to deliver amazing performances to parents and allow children to explore their topic through music. We have a PE coach to ensure children have access to excellent teaching of sports.
- Assessment: Teachers are continuously providing high quality verbal feedback to children to support their learning. They also assess the key ‘Milestones’ for each curriculum subject that we expect every child to achieve so that they have the knowledge and skills to move to the next academic year.
- Home Learning: Each half term teachers set a number of home learning tasks to complement the learning in class. We aim to make this very creative and it also provides further opportunities for children to recall the knowledge and skills learned in class.