Curriculum
Our Ambition…
At Grangehurst our aim is to provide our pupils with a broad and balanced curriculum which equips them with the skills, knowledge and understanding to be successful in life. We value the importance of providing our pupils with a rich curriculum with fun and engaging lessons. In order to achieve this, we have created a curriculum which is designed for all, despite different starting points.
Ultimately the aim of our curriculum is for the children to have the requisite skills and knowledge to be successful, independent and motivated learners in readiness for their next stage of education and life beyond. We teach children to ask big questions, challenge ideas and build on their individual and combined strengths to solve problems and respond to the world around them. It is important that the curriculum considers the development of the whole child and does not only concentrate solely on academic success. We ensure each child practises taking risks, learning from mistakes and aims high.
How do we achieve this?
It all begins in our Reception class; the children are provided with a stimulating learning environment which encourages learning through play – a fundamental part of early learning. The school uses the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum to plan learning opportunities which enables the children to develop their knowledge and skills.
There are some children who can still be working on the Early Learning Goals of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum as they enter Year 1. There is a period in the Autumn Term during Year 1 where the majority of children progress to the National Curriculum. Throughout this period and beyond all children are still developing their phonic knowledge through the Monster Phonics Programme and developing their fluency in reading.
Reading and writing are critical skills and capabilities that we put considerable focus on as this is a means of accessing further and wider learning opportunities. Throughout our curriculum, we make best use of assessment information to enable our pupils to develop and reach their goals and beyond through challenge from adults, their peers and themselves. Our world is a technological one – and our curriculum seeks to both use technology to support learning and to ensure children have skills and capacity to deal with this rapidly changing world.
We believe that inclusive education means providing all pupils with appropriate education and support alongside their peers. All children benefit from quality first teaching in the classroom, which caters for their individual needs and supports all children to make good progress. Work is adapted for different groups and individuals. The more able children are challenged further in their learning and those children who find aspects more difficult are appropriately supported so that they too are enabled to experience success.
Click here to find more information about our SEND provision.
The design of our curriculum also ensures that children are given the opportunity to take part in a variety of enrichment experiences such as trips and visits, sporting, cultural and outdoor/forest school activities. These are built into the curriculum and provide children with opportunities they might not normally experience. There are also planned whole school events across the year that allow us to come together as a school community.
Coventry and Warwickshire are rich in local history, as well as areas of geographical interest, and as a school we strongly believe that our children should both contribute to and understand their local community. Therefore, in each year group there are aspects within the topics, that look at what is local to us, and then develop insights into the wider UK and explore our links across the world.
Interwoven through all of this are our school values of Growth, Pride and Safety. These are taught on their own and through other areas of the curriculum, including assemblies. The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our pupils and their understanding of the core values of our society (Fundamental British Values).
If you would like to find out any more about our curriculum please contact the school.