Parson Street WIDER CURRICULUM

Parson Street Primary School Curriculum

Since the New National Curriculum was introduced by the Government in 2014/15, we have been working hard to develop our school approach and provision for pupils. As part of this work, we have  adopted the 'Cornerstones Curriculum', a nationally recognised approach for delivering outstanding learning opportunities for children. Since using this curriculum in September 2017, we have worked to ensure our curriculum is engaging, rigorous, challenging and contains positive learning experiences for the children.

Cornerstones ensures that we are able to deliver all aspects of the National Curriculum (www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum) and the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2)

What is the Cornerstones Curriculum?

The Cornerstones Curriculum is a creative and thematic approach to learning that is mapped to the new 2014 Primary National Curriculum to ensure comprehensive coverage of national expectations. Our new curriculum will be delivered through Imaginative Learning Projects (Topics) which will provide a rich menu of exciting and motivating learning activities that make creative links between all aspects of our children’s learning.

We believe children learn better when they are encouraged to use their imagination and apply their learning to engaging contexts. Our new curriculum will provide lots of learning challenges throughout the academic year that will require children to solve problems, apply themselves creatively and express their knowledge and understanding effectively across the curriculum.

Cornerstones also provide a rigorous essential skills framework that outlines the end of year expectations in all subjects. These essential skills are tied to activities and are age related so that staff can track children’s progress and identify their individual learning needs.

How it Works?

Children will progress through four stages of learning in each ILP – Engage, Develop, Innovate and Express. To find out more about these stages please click on the link through to Cornerstones website:

www.cornerstoneseducation.co.uk

The children follow a broad and balanced curriculum in accordance with the National Curriculum. As well as adopting Cornerstones as our curriculum, we also supplement this with some discreet curriculum topics in order to ensure breadth, balance and coverage in all year groups. Children also study Religious Education in line with the locally agreed syllabus.

Relationships & Sex Education (RSE) is covered in the framework of Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE). The school’s RSE Policy is available on the school website and parents and carers are invited annually to view the materials used in teaching the elements of the programme. Details about the full PSHE curriculum are available to view by clicking on the link below.

Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their children from RE and Collective Worship on religious grounds should they wish to do so. This can be discussed with the Head Teacher on an individual basis.

Curriculum Enrichment

At Parson Street, we have looked at the way we can enrich the curriculum by making use of staff expertise and layering different opportunities across the school. This means that the following enrichment opportunities within our curriculum during teacher's PPA (planning, preparation & assessment) time:

Nursery (YN) - Forest School

Reception (YR) - Forest School

Year 1 (Y1) - Swimming

Year 2 (Y2) - Whole class music/instrumental teaching

Year 3 (Y3) - Swimming

Year 4 (Y4) - Spanish

Year 5 (Y5) - Spanish

Year 6 (Y6) - Swimming/Spanish

Information about these opportunities are detailed above. Please get in touch with our Curriculum Development Leaders, Ms Hannah Jones & Ms Ashleigh Harris, if you have any further questions.

Extended Curriculum

In order to extend and enrich the curriculum beyond the school day, Parson Street subscribes to a number of online learning sites (e.g. TT Rockstars & Letter Join). These are accessible via the subject specific pages on our website. We also signpost to a range of additional learning resources on our Learning Links page of the website.

Information about Home Learning (homework) is detailed in our policy. At the start of each topic your child will be issued with a Project Planner. This contains a number of projects that you and your child can engage in to support their topic learning. Our primary focus for Home Learning is enjoyment and engagement so we hope you will support this approach. 

All children are encouraged to read daily beyond school (see recommended times within the Home Learning Policy) and families are encouraged to make use of the local library on Marksbury Rd in addition to using the books sent home from school. All reading should be recorded in the Home School Diary. 

Finally, as the school actively encourages curriculum enrichment beyond the school day, we engage with other organisations to support children and their families in learning. These are linked for your information below.

Religious Education & Collective Worship

At Parson Street, we follow the locally agreed syllabus for Religious Education (RE). Information about the syllabus is available online by looking at: www.awarenessmysteryvalue.org/syllabus

In accordance with Government requirements, we also deliver a daily act of collective worship (assemblies) to our children. These take place either together as a whole school, in phases or in class groups. The themes of our assemblies are available upon request and cover major world faith celebrations, British values and aspects of PSHE.

Parents/Carers have the right to withdraw their children from RE and/or collective worship. Any requests for this must be made to the headteacher so that there can be a discussion about curriculum provision for the children in our school.