Overview
Our Exciting, Knowledge-Rich Curriculum
At Flanshaw we believe that children must have access to an engaging, inspiring and challenging curriculum that encourages them to become independent and resilient learners. Learning experiences should be exciting and memorable and we should utilise every opportunity to encourage our children to better themselves and make a difference to their own community. Our curriculum is 'knowledge-rich' and we have carefully considered the key knowledge areas that our pupils must learn by the end of each year group.
Our aim is to provide a highly enjoyable, creative curriculum which not only incorporates the National Curriculum but the needs, thoughts and ideas of every learner in our school. Our creative curriculum ensures that all of our pupils are motivated, engaged and enthused about every learning experience, inspiring them to become lifelong learners.
At Flanshaw our teaching and learning takes place within a topic-based curriculum approach. This means that wherever possible we group our subjects around a topic. This topic-based structure has been effective in enthusing staff and pupils because of the many creative opportunities for links across subject areas. It covers the National Curriculum points of study in a way that makes learning interesting and engaging for all of our pupils. The design of the curriculum takes into account the needs of all pupils. It values their diversity and allows them to make excellent progress within their learning. School leaders have identified the key knowledge areas that our children need to learn and they ensure that knowledge progresses effectively as the children progress through school.
At each stage of curriculum design and implementation, we endeavour to incorporate our school drivers to ensure that children leave the Flanshaw Family as well rounded, caring and respectful members of the community.
Collaboration Aspiration Respect Pride Well-being
The curriculum is led and overseen by a designated curriculum leader whose role is to ensure that teaching and learning in each subject area is progressive so that pupils build on their existing knowledge and make meaningful links between different areas of the curriculum. Subject leaders play an important part in the success of the curriculum by leading a regular programme of monitoring, evaluation and coaching to ensure that each subject area continues to evolve and meet the needs of the pupils.
When designing the teaching, learning and sequencing of the curriculum, the following have been considered carefully:
-It has a topic-based approach, whereby subject areas are linked together to ensure that knowledge can be transferred effectively.
- It Incorporates the ‘Characters of Effective Learning,’ ensuring that teaching and learning opportunities consistently address these characters.
- Knowledge, skills and vocabulary are progressive for each subject area to ensure that the pupils are challenged effectively at each stage of their learning.
-Teaching staff ensure that teaching and learning is underpinned through the implementation of ‘Kagan’ cooperative strategies. A wide range of partner and group work structures are incorporated into lessons to encourage all children to actively participate in sessions, in turn developing their communication and cooperation skills
-Senior leaders have created a set of ‘Knowledge fundamentals’ that will be interwoven throughout school. These are specific non-negotiables that we feel the children must learn about every year to ensure that they are not only fully prepared for modern Britain but aware of the current and historical context of our local area.
-The outdoor classroom is incorporated effectively into curriculum design and a wide range of inspiring, meaningful educational visits are used to ‘hook’ children into leanring and create memorable experiences.
This curriculum design ensures that our pupils are taught in an active, collaborative environment that facilitates speaking and listening improvement and helps our children to build resilience and respect others. Enjoyment of the curriculum promotes achievement, confidence and good behaviour. We continue to develop the knowledge and skills progression across the curriculum, pushing our children to challenge themselves and develop their own resilience.
Children have opportunities to share their learning with each other, their parents and carers and other learners through school-based and external exhibitions, performances, competitions and events involving other schools. Children leave the school with a sense of belonging to a tightly knit community where they have the confidence and skills to make decisions, self-evaluate, make connections and become lifelong learners.
Key Knowledge
For each year group we have carefully considered the 'Key Knowledge' areas that we expect the children to possess before they move to the next year group. An excellent understanding of these knowledge areas will help the pupils to learn new knowledge, skills and vocabulary as they progress in their learning journey.
Here is a whole school 'Key Knowledge' document that outlines the most important knowledge for each subject across school.
If your child needs further help in Maths, you can find our maths guides documents below:
More information on the Oxford Reading Tree Scheme and the Read Write INC phonics scheme that we use to teach your child reading and phonics can be found below.