Curriculum Overview
Pensby Primary School Overarching Curriculum Intent Statement
Our overarching Curriculum Intent Statement is;
To encourage curiosity and creativity alongside knowledge and understanding so that our pupils move forward in life, with confidence and resilience, as valuable members of the local community and the wider world.
The staff, governors, children and families of Pensby Primary all worked together during the academic years of 2019/20 and 2020/21, to re design the curriculum. In July 2022, OFSTED visited the school and reported favourably on our curriculum design. Our work developing the curriculum will continue year on year.
It is appropriate that each curriculum subject has its own intent statement. Sometimes those intent statements overlap as they share similarities with other subjects; if it is natural they do so. Other subject’s intent statements are very individual. Both have a place in our school.
In all areas of school life (lessons, experiences, interactions) we have one overarching intent for our pupils. We know that this intent is very individual to our school, and is driven by everyone in our school family. What we have created as the foundation for our pupils is often commented upon highly positively by visitors to our school and by the those members of the community we meet.
We have plans and documents for all areas of our curriculum. Our Whole School Curriculum Policy can be downloaded at the end of this page.
In our school we have a Nursery facility, which is part of our Early Years (EYFS) Provision. In EYFS we follow the EYFS curriculum. Our Nursery is very much part of our school and links very closely to Reception class (which is the first year in school but also part of EYFS). Children in the Nursery are able to access their activities inside and outside the classroom in a purpose built and very well equipped environment. We offer 30 and 15 hour Nursery provision and this can be taken flexibly. Our EYFS team will be happy to discuss this with you.
Reception class is the first year of primary school. In our school we have one Reception class and the maximum number of pupils in the class is 30. In Reception class the curriculum is also based around the Early Learning Goals.
These Early Learning Goals help practitioners to plan the learning environment and the activities provided within it, but this does not mean that children learn in these separate subject-based areas. Very often, a well-planned activity can promote children’s development and understanding in several areas simultaneously.
In Key stage 1 and Key Stage 2, we have 1 form entry – this means there are 30 pupils in each year group.
In Key Stage 1 (years 1 and 2), we follow the National Curriculum. We try to include experiences that will help the children to develop intellectually, aesthetically, physically and spiritually. We plan our work deliberately to further these areas. High regard is given to the development of the intellectual skills, which are essential in all our work. It is vital that the children learn to convey their meaning clearly and accurately through speech and written English and that they learn to manipulate numbers with confidence and understanding and solve problems mathematically using the appropriate concepts. At all times we try to extend these skills in a realistic way, involving the children in first hand, meaningful experiences. Wherever possible we take the children out to explore their environment and help them respond to it creatively through the arts, mathematics, science and language. In this way, children develop the formal skills far more quickly and comprehensively.
In addition to these skills we aim to develop the children’s ability to observe carefully, record accurately and with sensitivity and to gain an understanding of their environment in a natural, geographic, historical and social way.
In Key stage 1, the children follow a structured approach to phonics. Details of this can be found in the English section of this website.
In lower key stage 2 (years 3 and 4), children continue to build on the KS1 curriculum following the National Curriculum. Children develop their understanding of maths concepts and apply them through reasoning and problem solving activities. Guided reading and structured spelling/phonics programmes are taught regularly through the week. Children’s learning is enhanced through humanities, the arts, PE and science, providing a broad and balanced curriculum. The structure of the day becomes increasingly defined, building on the structures introduced in EYFS and key stage 1.
Years 5 and 6 form upper key stage 2. The children continue to follow the National Curriculum. It is important that the children become increasing independent both socially and in their work by taking more responsibility for moving their learning forward. The demands of the curriculum steadily increase and build upon those already introduced in the school. Despite the need to prepare the children for national tests at the end of year 6, the staff strive to deliver a broad and very balanced curriculum through a creative approach.
Above all, we have high standards for pupils behaviour in lessons and around the school so that they understand what is expected and what they need to do. This allows them to access the many opportunities we offer them in school and maximise their learning.
More information about our curriculum can be found under the ‘Curriculum Subjects’ tab of the website or by following the individual links below;
Pensby Primary School Overarching Curriculum Intent Statement
Our overarching Curriculum Intent Statement is;
To encourage curiosity and creativity alongside knowledge and understanding so that our pupils move forward in life, with confidence and resilience, as valuable members of the local community and the wider world.
The staff, governors, children and families of Pensby Primary have all worked together during the academic year of 2019/20 and 2020/21, to re design the curriculum. Our work developing the curriculum will continue year on year.
It is appropriate that each curriculum subject has its own intent statement. Sometimes those intent statements overlap as they share similarities with other subjects; if it is natural they do so. Other subject’s intent statements are very individual. Both have a place in our school.
In all areas of school life (lessons, experiences, interactions) we have one overarching intent for our pupils. We know that this intent is very individual to our school, and is driven by everyone in our school family. What we have created as the foundation for our pupils is often commented upon highly positively by visitors to our school and by the those members of the community we meet.
We have plans and documents for all areas of our curriculum. Our Whole School Curriculum Policy can be downloaded at the end of this page.
In our school we have a Nursery facility, which is part of our Early Years (EYFS) Provision. In EYFS we follow the EYFS curriculum. Our Nursery is very much part of our school and links very closely to Reception class (which is the first year in school but also part of EYFS). Children in the Nursery are able to access their activities inside and outside the classroom in a purpose built and very well equipped environment. We offer 30 and 15 hour Nursery provision and this can be taken flexibly. Our EYFS team will be happy to discuss this with you.
Reception class is the first year of primary school. In our school we have one Reception class and the maximum number of pupils in the class is 30. In Reception class the curriculum is also based around the Early Learning Goals.
These Early Learning Goals help practitioners to plan the learning environment and the activities provided within it, but this does not mean that children learn in these separate subject-based areas. Very often, a well-planned activity can promote children’s development and understanding in several areas simultaneously.
In Key stage 1 and Key Stage 2, we have 1 form entry – this means there are 30 pupils in each year group.
In Key Stage 1 (years 1 and 2), we follow the National Curriculum. We try to include experiences that will help the children to develop intellectually, aesthetically, physically and spiritually. We plan our work deliberately to further these areas. High regard is given to the development of the intellectual skills, which are essential in all our work. It is vital that the children learn to convey their meaning clearly and accurately through speech and written English and that they learn to manipulate numbers with confidence and understanding and solve problems mathematically using the appropriate concepts. At all times we try to extend these skills in a realistic way, involving the children in first hand, meaningful experiences. Wherever possible we take the children out to explore their environment and help them respond to it creatively through the arts, mathematics, science and language. In this way, children develop the formal skills far more quickly and comprehensively.
In addition to these skills we aim to develop the children’s ability to observe carefully, record accurately and with sensitivity and to gain an understanding of their environment in a natural, geographic, historical and social way.
In Key stage 1, the children follow a structured approach to phonics. Details of this can be found in the English section of this website.
In lower key stage 2 (years 3 and 4), children continue to build on the KS1 curriculum following the National Curriculum. Children develop their understanding of maths concepts and apply them through reasoning and problem solving activities. Guided reading and structured spelling/phonics programmes are taught regularly through the week. Children’s learning is enhanced through humanities, the arts, PE and science, providing a broad and balanced curriculum. The structure of the day becomes increasingly defined, building on the structures introduced in EYFS and key stage 1.
Years 5 and 6 form upper key stage 2. The children continue to follow the National Curriculum. It is important that the children become increasing independent both socially and in their work by taking more responsibility for moving their learning forward. The demands of the curriculum steadily increase and build upon those already introduced in the school. Despite the need to prepare the children for national tests at the end of year 6, the staff strive to deliver a broad and very balanced curriculum through a creative approach.
Above all, we have high standards for pupils behaviour in lessons and around the school so that they understand what is expected and what they need to do. This allows them to access the many opportunities we offer them in school and maximise their learning.
More information about our curriculum can be found under the ‘Curriculum Subjects’ tab of the website or by following the individual links below;
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Keeping your child safe online
The pandemic saw an increased online presence for everyone and this included young children. It is...
We are determined to help our pupils regain any curriculum experiences they missed during the COVID-19 Pandemic. This pandemic is still with us and we are constantly reviewing what we do for our pupils as a result. We have tried to use our Catch up budget allocation to maximise benefit for all pupils, but with a focus on the disadvantaged. Our Catch up plans can be accessed below: