Curriculum and Standards
OUR CURRICULUM INTENT
We deliver the full national curriculum throughout Key Stages 1 and 2 building on the EYFS in Reception and supplemented by the local RE syllabus. We incorporate regular mindfulness and reading for pleasure sessions into the weekly timetable and find opportunities to enhance the curriculum inside and outside of the classroom with visitors, visits and other activities.
Our aim is to deliver a curriculum which:
- Inspires our pupils to want to learn and know more
- Engenders a love of learning
- Builds a rich knowledge base across all subjects
- Is inclusive and ambitious for all
- Supports the wellbeing of our pupils
- Values the identity of individual subjects but makes connections between them
- Reflects our locality and experiences of our pupils
- Includes cross-curriculum experiences in the outdoors being physically active
- Builds links with our local communities
Early Years Foundation Stage
The curriculum in Reception Year, Squirrels class, follows the EYFS guidance and covers seven areas of learning:
Prime Areas
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Specific Areas
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
Within these areas, children work towards Early Learning Goals (expected levels that they should reach at the end of Reception Year.)
Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active and through creative and critical thinking with learning experiences, based on flexible half termly topics, taking place both indoors and out.
EYFS Long Term Plan 24-25
(Go to Squirrels class page)
Children are taught phonics for reading and writing from the beginning of Foundation Stage using the Read Write Inc phonics scheme.
National Curriculum
From Year 1 the children follow the National Curriculum, which covers English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Physical Education, Music, Art, Design Technology and Computing.
In Key Stage 2, Year 3 onwards, they also learn French or Spanish.
Religious Education (following the Bedfordshire agreed syllabus) and PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) are also taught.
For further detail see the subject overviews below.
English Curriculum Map English Intent and Implementation Statement
Maths Curriculum Map Maths Intent and Implementation Statement
Science Curriculum Map Science Intent and Implementation Statement
History Curriculum Map History Intent and Implementation Statement
Geography Curriculum Map Geography Intent and Implementation Statement
PE Curriculum Map PE Intent and Implementation Statement
Art Curriculum Map Art Intent and Implementation Statement
DT Curriculum Map DT Intent and Implementation Statement
PSHE Curriculum Map PSHE Intent and Implementation Statement
RE Curriculum Map RE Intent and Implementation Statement
Spanish Curriculum Map Spanish Intent and Implementation Statement
Phonics
At Sheerhatch, we use a whole school approach to teaching phonics using a programme called Read, Write, Inc in which teaching and support staff are trained. It focuses on breaking down words into individual sounds in order to read accurately. The children’s knowledge of the sounds they hear within words then helps them to spell the words in their writing. They begin in Foundation Stage with the initial code, mostly consisting of one letter one sound, progressing by the end of the year to two letter spellings at the beginning of the extended code, which they continue in Year 1 and build on in Year 2. Children take the National Phonics Screening Test at the end of Year 1.
Reading
We have a variety of reading material available to children throughout the school. All children have individual reading books that are chosen to interest and challenge them, with books being from a range of schemes which are colour coded using the book banding scheme including phonics readers and higher interest books to allow breadth and depth across all abilities. Children can also borrow books from the range of fiction and non-fiction books in the school library or their classrooms. Children are taught specific reading skills in group guided reading and whole class English lessons.
Use of Reading Records – March 25
Writing
The children will be taught writing skills through a structured programme of Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling, which they will put into practice in a range of styles of writing. Lessons are based on a range of texts, with a key text based on the class topic. Using the models of different text types, they will to be supported to plan and structure an independent writing piece at the end of each unit of work.
Mathematics
Maths is taught from Year 1 to Year 6 using the White Rose Maths programme, based on a highly visual approach to mastery in Mathematics.
Most curriculum subjects are taught through termly or half termly topics. This gives an engaging, thematic approach to learning which encourages creativity in the classroom. English work is linked to the topics to provide relevant writing opportunities. Please see the class pages to find out what the children are learning.
Music
Music Development Plan 2024/25
PSHE
We use the Jigsaw scheme of work giving a whole school approach with shared themes across the classes. This covers all areas of Personal, Social and Health Education including Drugs and Alcohol education and Sex and Relationships education at an age appropriate level.
For more information see the parents guide.
Jigsaw information leaflet for parents and carers
Outcomes
Children are assessed formally at various key points of their school journey. Within the Primary Years, these points are the end of EYFS, Y1 Phonics check, Y4 MTC and the end of KS2 (Year 6). We monitor our outcomes against national attainment and that of our local authority.
National Performance tables can be found here
The document below shows the latest outcomes for our pupils against those comparisons.
Sheerhatch School Outcomes 2024
Further Information
If you have any further questions about the curriculum we offer, please contact your child’s class teacher or Mr Oliver Cresswell, Curriculum Leader
