0191 427 2160 Home Isolation About Curriculum Parents & Community SEND & Well Being Keeping Safe Letters Early Years Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Topic Webs Homework PSHE Curriculum Curriculum Intent & Rationale We are a much larger than average primary school situated in the coastal town of South Shields, South Tyneside. With a working-class demographic, we are located in an area of high deprivation and unemployment and our children generally start school with low entry points and low aspirations. As a result of this, we believe our curriculum should look to raise children’s aspirations, by providing them with a wide range of practical learning experiences, developing their cultural capital, as well as teaching them about what is possible in terms of human creativity and achievement. At Westoe Crown we have a bespoke curriculum, underpinned by academic research, that promotes positive attitudes to learning for all pupils. It is a topic led, contextual, child focused curriculum encompassing progressive skills throughout all areas. The curriculum seamlessly merges statutory knowledge and understanding with a wider ‘real – life’ context to deliver consistently high outcomes throughout. The topics / themes are relevant, purposeful and enjoyable and are developed through the interests of the children. The topics are practical and dynamic as well as holistic in their approach. The thread of Enterprise, Engineering and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) is interwoven within the application of basic skills as well as the importing and exporting of English and Mathematics understanding. The curriculum manifests itself through the learning environments. These environments display the ‘bigger picture’ of learning. They show both a breadth and balance of learning while offering clear evidence of continuity and progression. The environments are also attractive and engaging as well as displaying a clear meaning and relevance. Throughout our curriculum we support the view that respecting the faith, beliefs and opinions of others fosters a culture of tolerance and freedom for all views to be expressed. We value and promote the principles of a democracy where each person is valued for their contribution to our community. Implementation The framework (long term plan) of the curriculum is the Primary Curriculum 2014. The core subjects of English and Maths then follow prescriptive medium term plans which track statutory and non statutory guidelines. Use this link to read our Reading Intent, Implementation and Impact Statement. Teachers then use these medium term plans to produce detailed and personalised weekly plans that are specific to the needs of the children in their classes. Science is planned following the new South Tyneside Agreed Syllabus, created by a working party led by our Science Leader of Learning. It also follows a prescriptive medium term plan that follows statutory guidelines which the teachers use to create individual lesson plans. Foundation subjects are covered within the thematic / topic approach. All year groups have an overview of all foundation subjects as well as a comprehensive progressive skills list and a breakdown of the curriculum knowledge that needs to be covered. From this medium term plans are produced as well as specific topic webs which then feed into weekly short term planning. Lessons are evaluated and assessed with teachers recording assessments for the core subjects, English, Maths and Science, on the schools own tracking system. Foundation subject assessments are also recorded and all assessments infer future planning. The curriculum is stringently monitored through lesson observations, book / work scrutinies, whole school moderation, pupil voice, environment inspections and learning walks. This rigour ensures that the curriculum we deliver to the children is bespoke and unique to them while allowing the opportunity for all children to progress and enjoy as they learn. Impact By the end of the primary phase we aim to have made a difference. Our children will leave us having developed the skills to break the cycle of of high levels of unemployment and low aspirations. They will leave us with ‘open doors of opportunity and ambition’, helping them to recognise the potential they have to make a positive contribution, not only within their own community, but on a global scale, as they achieve amazing things. Please click here to discover what our curriculum looks like in real life. Please click below for details of our long term core curriculum plans. English Core Curriculum Maths Core Curriculum Science Core Curriculum Computing Core Curriculum For more detailed information about our foundation curriculum, please click here and here to download our knowledge and skills progression documents. Learning and Curriculum As children move through the school the emphasis is retained on high quality learning through literacy and numeracy. Teachers use the programmes of study from the National Curriculum to ensure that children learn key strategies and elements of these core subjects whilst having opportunities to practise, rehearse and improve on their understanding. Reading and Phonics Children learn to read through specific teaching of key words and strategies to work out unfamiliar words. All children, who are developing early reading skills, take part in phonics sessions whereby understanding of initial sounds to building simple words and more complex blends are practised and rehearsed at an ability level appropriate to each child. Our ‘Jolly Phonics’ programme (Dfe approved) follows a progression of phases which builds understanding, makes links between learning and practises reading and writing spelling patterns. These skills are complemented by group or individual reading. However, the enjoyment that can be gained from reading is also encouraged through talking about stories, questioning their comprehension and an emphasis on sharing and enjoying listening to, and reading, favourite books. We have libraries which enable children to become engrossed in reading and teaches vital library and research skills. We celebrate our love of reading, often with a visiting author, through which children learn about specific authors or styles of books and are engaged in reading and writing about them. Click here to read our Reading Intent, Implementation and Impact Statement. Home and School Reading All children are included in group or individual reading sessions. Taking into account their ability, children will progress through our finely graded reading scheme books based around, but not exclusively using, books from Jolly Phonics Reading Scheme and The Oxford Reading Tree. It is important that children gain a breadth of reading experience and therefore a range of reading schemes are used. Books are organised using the national book band scheme and are linked to the sounds the children are taught through Jolly Phonics. Pupil progress is assessed continually using specific criteria at every level. Children are encouraged to make their own choice of home reading book from within their book band. Click here for further Reading guidance. Writing Skills for writing are developed through using the understanding of sounds and word recognition whilst also learning the shape of letters through regular handwriting practice. Children are encouraged to sound out words and build a vocabulary of sight recognition words. A focus on understanding written language through use of punctuation and grammar brings variety and accuracy to children’s writing as their confidence increases. Click here for further Reading & Writing Guidance. Maths Click to view our Mathematics Curriculum Statement. Our inspiring maths curriculum at Westoe Crown Primary is fulled by a positive ‘I can’ attitude. To support us in modelling Growth Mindset behaviours, we have introduced four child-friendly characters, each with their own unique positive skillset. We recognise the value of making a coherent journey through the national curriculum and each year group follow a medium term plan where small, cumulative steps build a solid foundation of deep mathematical understanding. Click below to view each individual year group’s medium term planning. Reception, Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5 and Y6 Calculation Children love to count and this is further developed through looking at patterns within the number system and understanding manipulation of numbers through the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. The methods of calculation taught at our school can be found below. EYFS KS1 (Year 1 and 2) LKS2 (Year 3 and 4) UKS2 (Year 5 and 6) Watch examples of the more formal methods being used by our children… Click on the links below to watch examples of the more formal methods being used. Addition Subtraction Multiplication (short) Multiplication (long) Further support at home… We have a range of online resources that children can access from home with their own personal logins to further support their knowledge and confidence in maths. The Maths Factor – accessed through www.activelearnprimary.co.uk (school code:wata) Times Table Rock Stars Numbots The Math Shed My Maths Learning is based around teaching key strategies and providing opportunities to practise and use skills to solve problems. Knowing which strategy to use, and when, is an important part of understanding how mathematical understanding supports our daily lives. For further guidance on early number development please click here. Creative Curriculum Learning at Westoe Crown Primary School is exciting and imaginative, stimulating and challenging. We believe that young children learn best when they are motivated by what they are learning and are actively involved. Children are encouraged to question and discover, care and understand, imagine and believe. Our teachers are highly skilled in employing a range of teaching styles and strategies which enables the curriculum to come alive. This is further enhanced through visits, visitors and workshops. We believe every child has the right to a rich and varied curriculum, that challenges, inspires and promotes very high standards of achievement for all. Curriculum themes form the basis for our learning: through topics such as World War II, Space, Dinosaurs, the Seaside and Toys, natural links are made between subject areas, bringing a cohesive approach which is relevant and makes sense to young children. We run flexible timetables to enable children to become immersed in their learning rather than changing between different subjects, whilst still retaining a core emphasis on the key skills of literacy and numeracy. Our creative curriculum is enhanced by the use of visits and visitors. Children make sense of their learning through practical experience and visits outside of school, or workshops within school strengthen this. These opportunities do however entail a cost which we work hard to ensure this is kept to a minimum – see our charging and remissions policy. Parents are fully involved in their children’s learning, through newsletters, our class assemblies, open afternoons and being encouraged to share in the school day. Supported at every step… To ensure all children have the best possible opportunities they are supported by a team of highly skilled teachers, teaching assistants and support staff who endeavour to provide a creative, motivating, enriching and caring first school for our young children. We place a high value on personal and social skills and explicitly teach core values so that children become confident and happy learners. Engaging and communicating effectively with our community enables us to involve families and parents in supporting their children to achieve their best. At Westoe Crown there really is something for every child to excel in, whether it be reading, writing, maths, knitting, aircraft design or dance and drama… we have it all! Address Westoe Crown Primary School Sea Winnings Way South Shields Tyne & Wear England NE33 3NS Contact Details Tel: 0191 4272160 Fax: 0191 4272169 Email: info@westoecrownprimary.co.uk Mrs A Ridge, School Operations Manager Mrs A Allen, Assistant Headteacher, Special Education Needs & Disabilities Quick Links News Curriculum Parents & Community Pupil Power SEN Staff Email Login We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Cookie settings Accept