The staff at Abbotswood work hard to inspire the children by creating topics that are interesting and challenging.
Here you will find the overview for each year group as well as past newsletters detailing what was covered in each term.
The aim of our curriculum is to prepare our pupils, ensuring they are equipped with the full range of skills that allows them to be lifelong learners ready for the next steps in their education and as well as preparing them for the wider world.
At Abbotswood Primary School we are proud of the broad and balanced curriculum which builds on the knowledge, skills and understanding of all children. Through a positive and caring environment, we provide the opportunity for every child to reach their full potential.
Our curriculum is delivered through topics that meet the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum 2014 (https://www.gov.uk/national-curriculum/key-stage-1-and-2). Our staff have worked hard to create curriculum maps for each mixed age class from Year 1-6 to incorporate the key elements of the National Curriculum and also to inspire and enthuse children. Each topic is planned carefully, starting with children’s current knowledge and skills, so that real progress is made. The planning of the curriculum is based around a two year rolling programme to ensure coverage of selected topics by all children who progress through the school. This programme is regularly reviewed to ensure compatibility with new directives or to make necessary improvements to the existing programme of work. Our curriculum is inclusive for all and the more able are challenged according to their strengths. Children who find aspects of their learning more difficult are appropriately supported so that they are enabled to achieve success.
All subject leaders are given training and opportunity to keep developing their own subject knowledge, skills and understanding so they can support curriculum development and their colleagues throughout the school.
We believe that children learn best when they enjoy their learning and our various and engaging topics capture children’s interest from the start through our ‘Big Bang’ launches and subsequent exciting learning opportunities.
Pupils are able to share their learning with each other and their parents and carers through school based exhibitions, performances, competitions and events involving other schools. Developing children’s independence and motivation as learners and their sense of responsibility as future citizens is at the heart of all our teaching and learning.
Our curriculum is further enriched through local community visits and projects, school trips, visiting speakers and residential trips. We firmly believe that real life experiences like these create lasting memories and strengthen the learning happening in school. We also have an excellent range of after school clubs including yoga, football, judo, art, allotment and construction.
At Abbotswood, we have an extensive outdoor environment including an allotment and a wildlife area. Our school grounds are used for active learning for all of our pupils.
The curriculum is underpinned by the schools core values of RESPECT (Responsibility, Enthusiasm, Sense of Pride, Perseverance, Empathy, Curiosity and Teamwork) and these are taught through the curriculum and in assemblies. We actively promote the fundamental British Values of Democracy, Rule of Law, Individual Liberty, Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our pupils is woven throughout the curriculum.
We understand the crucial role parents have in promoting learning beyond the school gate and ensuring children make the best possible progress. We pride ourselves on being an open, friendly and approachable school that encourages parents to be actively involved in children’s learning. As well as Parents Evenings, we host regular events to inform parents how they can support their child or to come and work alongside their child. Recent events include reading and phonics workshops and Maths support sessions run by one of our experienced TA’s.
Abbotswood Primary School recognises the importance of English and Maths teaching in order to open up other areas of the curriculum and therefore a large emphasis is placed on these areas. In addition to regular English and Maths teaching, we try to make as many cross-curricular links as possible in order to utilise these skills in a range of contexts.