The National Curriculum (2014)
In September 2014, the DfE published a new National Curriculum. In order to prepare for this, all our staff engaged in a wide range of professional development and we dedicated a significant amount of time in ensuring that our school fully implemented the new curricluum from September 2014. You will find out more information about the curriculum that your child is learning on the 'curriculum maps' page, where each class has published their curriculum. If you would like more information about the new National Curriculum, and the subjects that your child will be learning throughout their education, you will find it here
Timetabling the Curriculum
At Childer Thornton, we believe that children learn best when they are given real, first-hand experiences. We therefore teach most of our history, geography, art & design technology through a topic-based curriculum. As much as possible, we introduce each topic with a 'wow' factor, such as an inspiring visit, a workshop, visitors into school, a drama, a work of art or music, etc. We aim to incorporate other subjects such as science, maths & music where relevant, but these are generally taught discretely. English is the 'golden thread' that underpins everything we do, so reading, writing, speaking and listening all play a vital role in our topics.
Music is taught throughout school. Once the children reach KS2, they have 2 years of specialist instrumental teaching which is funded by school.
Spanish is taught by a specialist languages teacher to all children in KS2.
We have an outstanding specialist art teacher who takes each class for a period of 8 sessions over the year.
PE is taught by specialist sports coaches as well as our class teachers.
Trying to fit in all the National Curriculum subjects every week, and all the 'extras' is extremely challenging! Therefore, you may find that some subjects are taught in blocks. Art, or Design Technology for example, may be taught intensively over a period of a week each term, rather than shorter weekly lessons. The advantage of this, is that all materials and resources can be left out in the classroom and the children can work on a big project and complete it over a shorter period of time rather than have it hanging around for weeks. When subjects are blocked in this way, we will still teach English and Maths every morning.
Some subjects may not be taught every term. Geography, for example, may fit in more with a residential visit in the Summer term so the children will have a higher focus on this over that specific term. History may lend itself more to visits planned in the Autumn term.
Please see the document below for an in-depth overview of our curriculum for each year group