Curriculum Policy

The curriculum is all the planned activities we organise in order to promote learning and personal growth and development. It includes, not only the formal requirements of our curriculum, but also the range of extra-curricular activities that the school organises in order to enrich the experience of the children. It also includes the ‘hidden curriculum’, or what the children learn from the way they are treated and expected to behave. The curriculum is designed to provide a secure and imaginative basis for academic progress at each stage of development. We aim to teach the children how to grow into positive, responsible people, who can work and co-operate with others while developing knowledge and skills, so that they achieve their true potential.

The aims of our school curriculum are:
 

• To create a broad curriculum which gives pupils experience in linguistic, mathematical, scientific, technological, human and social, physical and aesthetic and creative education in a happy, secure and stimulating environment in which children learn to work with concentration and enthusiasm.
   

• That pupils acquire speaking, listening, literacy and numeracy skills.
   

• To foster the importance of each child as an individual, equipping them with the skills to be a lifelong learner, a well-rounded, happy and confident child.
   

• To promote the excitement and enjoyment in learning and investigating.
   

• To provide a sound grounding in the basic concepts on which future learning can be based.
   

• We encourage tolerance, mutual respect, courtesy and thoughtfulness for others in school and in the wider community.
   

• Across the curriculum we explore fundamental Vaishnav values in line with our aim to discover the best in every child and challenge them to go beyond their expectations. We encourage focus on values throughout our learning, in core and non-core subjects. Learning identifies themes covering tolerance; compassion and kindness; mutual respect, truthfulness and honesty. The development of these values is through a holistic approach throughout the school day.
   

• Through individual learning we encourage children to develop their talents, interests and self-belief.
   

• To prepare the children for senior school exams (IGCSE)
   

• To provide children with a range of opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life in our Vaishnav society.

There are seven areas of learning and development that shape our educational programme in the Early Years settings. These are taught in conjunction with The Early Years Foundation Stage. All areas of learning and development are equally important and inter-connected.
 

1. Communication and language (Prime area): This focuses on giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment. To develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves and to speak and listen in a range of situations. We help children become effective communicators and with the ability to use language to problem solve, discuss and to build relationships with others.

2. Physical development (Prime area): Split into gross and fine motor development, this involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive and to develop their co-ordination, control, and movement. They are also helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food and exercise.

3. Personal, social and emotional development (Prime area): Involves helping young children to develop a positive sense of themselves and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities.

4. Literacy (Specific area): Involves beginning to use phonic knowledge to decode words. Demonstrate an interest and recognition of the written word. The children are supported to begin to form letters and engage in pre-writing and mark making skills. In the final two terms, the older children are introduced to the Twinkl Phonics programme.

5. Mathematics (Specific area): Involves quantity counting, ordering numbers, sorting and recognition of numbers. Encouraging problem solving, learning about space, shape and measure. This is done in a wide variety of ways using Hamilton, Abacus and Twinkl  Mathematics.

6. Understanding the world (Specific area): Involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about themselves primarily, then their families, other people, places, technology and the environment. We engage with the local community to set up visits.

7. Expressive arts and design (Specific area): Involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology.

In year 1 and 2, we offer a broad and balanced curriculum that follows the International Curriculum subjects. It is, however, enhanced and enriched in order to provide every pupil with the opportunity to reach their potential. The core subjects are Mathematics and English. Pupils are expected to be able to read when they leave this key stage as well as be able to do basic addition and subtractions. Socially, pupils are expected to be able to listen to instructions and show  understanding for what a good student is in classroom work and in the playground.
 

• Literacy: The literacy curriculum ensures children are provided with opportunities for speaking and listening, spelling, grammar, writing composition, handwriting, word awareness,  reading and comprehension. We focus on listening and responding to adults and peers, building on children’s vocabulary and encouraging children to articulate their knowledge and  feelings. We believe all children should develop a love for reading. Children use their phonic knowledge to decode words and participate in discussions about a variety of books. We develop handwriting using a print and pre-cursive script. Children combine their literacy skills to plan, draft and write their own texts based on the class weekly text focus.
   

• Mathematics: Our mathematics curriculum focuses on children embedding the key principles of maths: number & place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, measures, geometry (properties of shape and position and direction) and statistics. We spend significant time ensuring children grasp these principles and are ready for more challenging work as they progress through the school. Children have problem solving lessons to encourage mathematical thinking and make links across the key principles. Maths is taught through written and practical  activities. Hamilton Math,  Pearson Abacus and Twinkl is used throughout the school to support number understanding.
   

• Science: Science is taught through cross curricular topic. Children are given  opportunities to learn and become curious about the world through identifying, questioning, observation, simple tests and making predictions and reaching conclusions.
   

• History and Geography: History and geography are taught through cross curricular themes and topics. In History, children learn about significant Vaishnavs, global and national events e.g. Srila Prabhupada on the Jaladuta, Louis Braille and the lives of significant individuals in the past. In Geography, children use maps to learn about the world’s continents and oceans and other countries. They make comparisons between where they live and the countries  of their origin. They develop an awareness of the world’s climate.
   

• Art and Crafts: Art is taught to develop children’s creativity and imagination through drawing, painting and sculpture. The children explore and begin to understand use of colour, shape, space, pattern and texture. They study the work of a range  of artists and make comparisons with their own work.
   

• Music: All children have weekly class music lessons. During          these lessons, they sing, play percussion instruments, compose and listen to music and play the recorder. The children are also given opportunities to perform in assemblies and school events.
   

• Drama: A part  of the curriculum where the teacher works with the children to enhance their performance skills, language and movement through out the year. Each child performs in a production produced by the  Drama teacher or class teacher.
   

• Physical Education: Children are encouraged to develop their physical skills and spatial awareness. The children develop skills across a variety of sports including athletics, soft ball, dance, simple  gymnastics and Circuit training. There is a focus on competitive sporting activities to develop their  teamwork skills.
   

• Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education: The PSHE curriculum focuses on three key themes: Health and Well-being, Relationships and Living in the Wider World and follows the PSHE Association guidelines. Well-being stems throughout the PSHE curriculum. Through teaching children explore core values, resilience, courage, core values, bouncing back from setbacks, understanding emotions and relationships, the importance of humour, the ingredients for success, understanding and tackling bullying, understanding their physical and emotional selves. Opportunities to develop a sense of the value of money are also created outside the classroom with real life scenarios, such as a bake sale and the school Market day.

We encourage children to strive in all areas of education. This is achieved by offering a broad and balanced curriculum that follows an international Curriculum.  It        is tailored to the needs of each child whilst ensuring every child is challenged and supported  in their learning. The core subjects remain English, Mathematics and Science. Literacy skills now move towards reading for meaning and teaching Pupils how to produce reports, recounts, instructions and stories in writing. Pupils are expected to be able to do short spoken presentations and explanations of their work. In key stage 2 pupils are taught by a primary school specialist.The children are taught by their class teachers and  Art, Drama, Hindi, Music, Science and PE are taught by specialist teachers

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• English: English is taught in explicit lessons, as well as being embedded throughout the school week. The curriculum provides opportunities for speaking and listening, spelling and writing. Our aim is for all children to develop a love for reading; guided reading occurs every day in  the classroom and is set for homework. In addition, children are encouraged to read their own independent reading book. Speaking and listening opportunities are provided throughout the year to ensure children can communicate confidently. These include year group and key stage debates, spelling competitions, presentations to parents and  assemblies.
   

• Mathematics: The mathematics planning ensures each concept is covered termly and reviewed each term at a greater depth. The mathematical concepts covered are: number & place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals and percentages, ratio and proportion, algebra, measures, geometry (properties of shape and position and direction), statistics and problem solving. To develop a child’s understanding, mathematics is taught through both written and practical-based activities. We use Hamilton Mathematics, Abacus and Twinkl to support number understanding. Children are set for maths to ensure they cover the curriculum at the correct pace.
   

• Science: Science is a core subject. The lessons encourage curiosity, interest in and enjoyment of science. Children make links between different areas of science, undertake investigations, use their knowledge and ideas to explain the applications of science and develop an awareness of science in our environments.
   

• History and Geography: These lessons encourage children to use a range of geographical and historical skills to develop their knowledge and understanding of the world. In geography the curriculum focuses on places, their locations and patterns; processes, including environmental change; and the concept of sustainable development. In history children consider the causes and consequences of historical events, comparing the differences between ways of life at different times. The children focus on Vaishnavisim, the eras from Pre-Roman  to the Vikings, they explore Early Civilizations around the world.
   

• Art and Design: Children have one hour of art each week, taught by a specialist teacher. The children look to develop their art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture. Children create a sketch book of their work and their final art piece is displayed in school during the Art Show. Through the art curriculum, children learn about artists, architects and designers in history.
   

• Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE):  Through the PSHE curriculum that’s taught cross curriculum, children learn how to live in the wider world, develop health and well-being and relationship skills. We give children the opportunity to explore attitudes, values and beliefs to develop the skills and strategies to manage issues that may arise in their lives. The lessons promote resilience, courage, core values, understanding emotions and relationships, the ingredients for success, explore attitudes, values and understanding and tackling bullying. Opportunities to develop a sense of the value of money are also created outside the classroom with real life scenarios, such as charity fundraising events and the school  Market Day.
   

• Music: All children have an hour of music lessons a week, taught by a specialist teacher, in which they sing, learn the recorder, explore percussion instruments, compose and listen to music. The children learn and use staff and other musical notations, explore the history of music and experience music from many traditions and composers. Many children also have individual instrument lessons; the skills developed in these lessons are used throughout the rest of the school day and help develop each child’s personality. The children are also given opportunities to perform in assemblies and school productions.
   

• Drama:  The  Drama teacher works with the children to enhance their performance skills. The children learn how to develop their voice, add emotion to their performance and  write scripts. Throughout the year, the children perform in productions for their parents and the pleasure of the Lord.
   

• Language (Hindi):  Hindi builds on the children’s learning from year 2 and continues to  be taught by a specialist teacher. This is split into three levels: Early Language (EL), Intermediate Language (IL) and Progressive Language (PL). This creates a progression of skills throughout key stage 2.
   

• Physical Education: All PE lessons are taught in a co-educational environment encouraging the children to enhance their physical skills and knowledge of the sports they play. There is an emphasis on competitive sporting activities and all our children have the opportunity to put their learning into practice in our weekly fixtures. The pupils are taught a variety of sports which help to develop different skills. In the first term, children learn circuit training, simple gymnastics before moving onto badminton,soft ball and athletics in the second term. In the third term, there is a focus on striking and fielding sports such as cricket alongside water fun activities. Children are provided with opportunities to compete in  competitions.
   

• Shastric Education: We recognise that learning about our Vaishnavs scriptures, promoting tolerance  and respect  is important. The Shastric education curriculum extends children’s knowledge and understanding of the Bhagavat Gita and Srimad Bhagvatam and the history of our Vaishnav saints. The curriculum includes culture, etiquette, worship, celebrations and festivals.

Pupils aged 11-13 will now be taught by subject specialists. A head of each key stage will be in charge of the personal follow-up of our Pupils. On the time table they will have  Shastra, English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Hindi, Music, Drama, Design Technology, Self- Sufficiency,  Physical Education and Art. Pupils develop greater independence and ability for critical thinking at this stage. They are expected to develop their language to comply with the spoken and written demands of their individual subjects.

This is the final stage of our secondary school programme. Pupils aged 14-16 choose between 5-10 subjects, from a range of subjects, which they then study for two years before sitting their IGCSE exams as private candidates (International General Certificate of Secondary Education). Pupils should now be equipped with the skills, independence and confidence to do well in upper secondary education. IGCSE subjects are taught by subject specialists. Shastra is a compulsory subject, however not an exam subject.

Detailed Curriculum maps for each subject will be provided for  enrolled parents only.