Early Years Foundation Stage
In Nursery and Reception, we follow children’s interests to develop their learning through play as well as teaching knowledge and key skills through half-termly topics. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets standards for the learning, development and care of your child from birth to 5 years old:
EYFS – Parents guide
What to expect, when
At Leadgate Primary School, the framework we follow is personalised to our children, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to progress onto the next stage of their development and education. Click here to view our Early Years Framework.
You can find out more about Early Years at Leadgate Primary School by clicking here.
The National Curriculum
This is the statutory National Curriculum framework which includes the Programmes of Study for all subjects for Key Stages 1 and 2:
Our Curriculum 2022 – 2023
Please select the links to access any information that you require:
| Curriculum Years Groups and Phases | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| EYFS | EYFS | Key Stage 1 | Key Stage 1 |
| Nursery | Reception | Year 1 | Year 2 |
| Lower Key Stage 2 | Lower Key Stage 2 | Upper Key Stage 2 | Upper Key Stage 2 |
| Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 |
At Leadgate Primary School we provide a creative, experience rich curriculum based on the Cornerstones Curriculum which is a nationally recognised approach for delivering outstanding learning for primary-aged children.
The Cornerstones Curriculum is a thematic, sequenced approach to delivering the 2014 Primary National Curriculum and ensures comprehensive coverage of the national expectations.
How does it work?
Each year group will have six Imaginative Learning Projects (ILP’s) which they will work through during the year, completing one project per half-term. Each project has been designed to provide exciting and motivating opportunities for cross-curricular learning within the context of a theme.
Each project is broken down into four stages, or ‘cornerstones’ of education, which encourage progression of knowledge and skills as well as a love for learning:
Engage– The purpose of this stage is to excite learners in with a memorable experience, set the scene and provide the context for learning. This stage is designed to spark children’s curiosity using interesting starting points.
Develop– This stage will focus on deepening children’s knowledge, skills and understanding in the context of the theme. The stage will allow children to demonstrate new skills and allow time for consolidation. It will provide creative opportunities for making and doing, and provide opportunities for reading, writing and talking across the curriculum.
Innovate– This stage will provide imaginative scenarios that encourage creative thinking and enable children to apply previously learned skills. Children will be encouraged to think creatively and work collaboratively to solve a problem or achieve a goal.
Express– This stage will provide environments for reflective talk, allowing children to reflect on new knowledge and skills gained during the project and create opportunities for shared evaluation. This stage also aims to celebrate and share children’s success as well as identify next steps for learning.
How connected is the Cornerstones Curriculum?
Within the cornerstones curriculum, subject specific concepts and skills are woven throughout a number of projects. For example, in History, the idea of chronology is taught in many different concepts and becomes more complex each time it is revisited as children move through the school. This idea is present through all subjects within the Cornerstones curriculum.
Big ideas
Throughout the Cornerstones curriculum, larger concepts are woven. These big ideas are designed to help children develop a wider and more general understanding of the world. For example, One ‘big idea’ is ‘Humankind’. See below how this big idea is woven throughout subjects and also revisited and developed upon in different year groups
Please find these big ideas outlined below:
In addition, Leadgate Primary School offer a range of extra-curricular clubs for children which take place outside of school hours. These clubs aim to promote knowledge, skills, talents and enjoyment in learning; allowing children to develop as well-rounded individuals.
Please find our Curriculum plans below:
School Curriculum Statement and Entitlement
Long term plan of projects
2021 School Curriculum Project Overview
Full Curriculum with complimentary units of work – Long Term Plan
Year group plans
Nursery Planning Overview
Reception Planning Overview
Year 1 Planning Overview
Year 2 Planning Overview
Year 3 Planning Overview
Year 4 Planning Overview
Year 5 Planning Overview
Year 6 Planning Overview
Inclusion and diversity
At our school, we believe that the curriculum should positively promote the inclusion of all children and their families and develop respect and tolerance for their own and other cultures (Article 23 & 30).
Throughout the teaching of our curriculum, children are encouraged to talk and work in mixed ability groups as this enables all children to participate in lessons and promotes the inclusion of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), children who come from disadvantaged backgrounds and children who come from a family where English is an additional or second language (EAL / ESL). Children also have opportunities to work with partners of similar ability and at time to work alone and independently. Those children who are most able are challenged and supported through appropriate extension activities. This may take the form of further independent embedding of skills or application of skills and knowledge in other subject areas.
Where the content of lessons would prove to be too difficult for some children within the setting, teachers differentiate their tasks in order to make learning accessible for all children.
Please also view Our Classes to find out more.
Reading and Phonics
In Lower School, all children take part in regular phonics sessions following the Department for Education approved scheme ‘Little Wandle’.
Phonics begins in the early years by developing the listening skills to distinguish between different sounds in the environment, to develop an awareness of rhyme, and to hear and say sounds in words. Children then move on to linking sounds to letters. We use the Little Wandle phonics scheme to teach children to hear, say and write letter sounds and to develop blending skills. We create opportunities in the classroom and outdoor provision for children to apply this learning to their play.
In lower school we use ‘Big Cat Phonics for Little Wandle’ books which are matched specifically to the sounds the children have learned so far. This ensures children are accessing books where they can use their knowledge of phonics to practise blending letter sounds to read words, and to recognise ‘tricky’ words by sight, ensuring they have the skills and knowledge to read successfully. When children are secure with phonics and able to read more fluently, they have access to a range of other books such as Project X Alien Adventures. and Oxford Reading Tree.
In Upper School, pupils use ‘Reading Pro’. After each book they read, pupils complete a fun quiz. These quizzes support pupil comprehension skills.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
At Leadgate Primary School, we believe that inclusive education means providing all pupils with appropriate education and support alongside their peers. The curriculum is all the planned activities that the school organises in order to promote learning, personal growth and development. Further information can be found in the SEND Information Report.
If you would like to discuss your SEND requirements in detail please contact the school to arrange an appointment.
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