At Rise Park Primary and Nursery school we follow the statutory National Curriculum guidance whilst ensuring that all of our pupils are exposed to a broad and balanced curriculum. We believe that children learn best of all when they are enjoying their work and it is this concept which forms the basis for much of our teaching approach in the school. We work extremely hard to give the children a good grounding to achieve high standards in Reading , Writing, Mathematics and Spelling ,Punctuation and Grammar. The way the children learn is a mixture of class lessons, group work and individual learning.
The teaching of English and mathematical skills are very well embedded at Rise Park Primary and Nursery School from a very early age. However, we are constantly trying to improve our standards by careful analysis of children’s work, observation of lessons and pupil discussions. The staff work closely as a team in their planning of the curriculum, having high expectations of all the children in their care.
In addition to English and Mathematics the following subjects are studied: Science, Art and Design, Computing, Design and Technology, Geography, History, Spanish, Music, Physical Education and the statutory requirement of Religious Education. Personal, Social and Health Education is integrated into all curriculum areas through our social, emotional aspects of learning (SEAL) and Drug Awareness programmes.
Each academic year the content of the curriculum is reviewed and new curriculum requirements are incorporated into our long term and medium term planning. These are available on our school server but can be provided to any parent/carer should they wish to see them. Working closely with our Sports Specialist Michael, the staff use and adapt the planning from the “real PE” scheme. A link to this can be found at www.createdevelopment.co.uk.
From September 2023, Rise Park will be using the ‘Teach Computing’ scheme of work provided by the National Centre for Computing Education (or NCCE). This is a progressive and detailed scheme of work that helps the children build on pre-existing knowledge of computers, software and other types of technology that they may have come across in their day-to-day lives. From the start of Year 1, all the way through to the end of Year 6, our children will be provided with high-quality Computing teaching, under-pinned by easy to use resources and child-friendly software and apps.
Each year group will study Computing units in the following areas:
- Computing Systems & Networks: How computers, networks and the Internet all work.
- Programming: Learning how to code and write our own computer programmes.
- Data & Information: Recording and presenting data and information in different ways.
- Creating Media: Using word processing, publishing and presenting software.
Although each year group trialled one Teach Computing unit in Summer term last academic year, this will be the first school year in which we will be teaching from the framework for all three terms. As such, there will be some overlap in units between year groups; Year 1 and 2 may cover some of the same Key Stage 1 content to begin with, and likewise, Years 3 through 6 may cover some of the same Key Stage 2 content until the schemes of work are fully embedded.
EYFS children will continue to use Barefoot Computing activities as part of their daily provision to use computational thinking in problem solving tasks. By working out how to complete patterns, ‘fix’ mistakes and work logically, our EYFS children will start to develop the skills that they will need to fully access Teach Computing when they join Year 1!
Staff are looking forward to using the new Teach Computing planning and resources, and we can’t wait to help the children unlock their Computing potential!
Our Records of Achievement are sent home throughout the school year for the parents/carers to comment on their children’s achievements in a variety of areas. The children’s achievements are recognised and celebrated through certificates and our “Celebrations Assembly” each Friday afternoon.
The school firmly believes that the needs of individual children should be catered for, always taking into account the less and more able child. Every effort is made to give pupils opportunities for first hand experiences and active learning. Account is taken of the interests and particular talents of the children. The Governors are linked to subject areas together with areas of school improvement and work closely with the staff in the implementation and monitoring of the curriculum.
Our OFSTED report in February 2012 stated:
“The ambitious leadership and drive of the head teacher, senior managers and the governing body have created the conditions for learning that have allowed pupils to thrive. This includes establishing an outstanding curriculum that promotes pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development very well”.
“The outstanding curriculum is used well to enhance teaching, including the use of visits and themes that bring a sense of purpose and motivation to writing tasks”.
” The curriculum is outstanding because it is excellent at promoting pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development…”
” Pupils are very well prepared for life in modern Britain and a global society through links with the local community, local schools and a curriculum that has a strong international dimension”.
Should you wish to find out anything more about our curriculum then please read the newsletters that are sent out each month by Mrs Kelly as these will keep you up to date with all the latest information. You will find these on the website. The teachers and children also send out a newsletter each term providing you with the range of curriculum activities they will be covering that term. Our open mornings prove very popular and will also give you the opportunity to join in a variety of lessons with your child and to see what the curriculum is like in “real life”.