Our School Curriculum
Our Curriculum Intent
At Primrose Hill Primary School we aim to provide a holistic and creative curriculum which maximises opportunities for meaningful cross-curricular links and purposeful learning experiences. We introduce our children to a breadth and wealth of subject specific knowledge and support them to develop the cognitive skills and expertise required to map out, manipulate and extend that knowledge in an ever-changing world. Our teachers are responsive to their individual children’s needs and interests, whilst working within a detailed progression framework of knowledge and skills that meets the scope and breadth of the National Curriculum.
Below is an overview of our curriculum ethos and vision, though you can find subject specific information here (including our approach to early reading).
For information on Science and our Foundation Subjects, please follow this link.
You can find further information on English, Early Reading and Maths here.
Early Years Foundation Stage
In the EYFS, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework. Children’s learning experiences are carefully planned to support their development and progress across all areas of learning through a balance of continuous provision and adult-led carpet and guided sessions.
Our curriculum is informed by the principles set out in Strong Foundations in the First Years of School, ensuring that learning is coherently sequenced, builds on prior knowledge and focuses on securing the fundamental skills and knowledge that children need for future success.
The EYFS curriculum is delivered both indoors and outdoors, with equal importance given to both environments as valuable learning spaces. Opportunities are planned in a cross-curricular way to support all aspects of children’s development, recognising the interconnected nature of learning.
All EYFS classes (Tadpoles, Froglets and Ladybirds) follow a rolling programme of topics which provide a context for learning. Within this, practitioners ensure a clear and balanced coverage across all areas of learning, adapting provision in response to children’s interests and developmental needs.
The characteristics of effective learning are embedded across the curriculum and are integral to how children learn. These are reflected in ongoing observations and inform responsive planning to support engagement, motivation and resilience.
Physical Development is enhanced through weekly specialist PE sessions, and Expressive Arts and Design is supported through specialist Music teaching and singing assemblies led by the Phase Leader.
Key Stage 1
This consists of Year 1 and Year 2. From Year 1 we, as all schools, follow the National Curriculum. This comprises eleven subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, Computing, History, Geography, Art and Design, Music, Design and Technology, Physical Education and Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education.
We aim to ensure that children have a gradual and supportive transition into Key Stage 1, building on the mix of self-directed and adult-initiated learning in EYFS.
Our Key Stage 1 topics include – Space, Who am I and who are you?, The Wonders of Water, Superhero Changemakers, London Now & Then, India, Puppetry and Explorers! Subjects are woven into these topics to make meaningful links.
Phonics and the Reading Process
Whole class Phonics is taught systematically across Nursery, Reception and Key Stage 1 every day following the government validated programme of Little Wandle. This promotes a fun, pacey, multi sensory, rigorous and systematic approach to teaching phonics along with regular guided reading and carefully chosen books. You can see our approach to Early Reading here.
Guided reading is prioritised across YR – Y6, including elements of reciprocal reading in Upper Key Stage 2. From Y4 onwards, we have introduced the Reading Challenge, where children work their way through a range of high quality texts which will consolidate the many reading skills needed to achieve well and to be a confident and successful reader.
The investment of high quality and rich texts to teach the English Curriculum across the school. In addition, the promotion of grammar and technical accuracy through our ‘List of Magic’ and and a focus on drama, oracy and presentation.
Key Stage 2
We continue to follow a topic based approach in Key Stage 2, making links between subjects, continuing to be creative with topic choices, following children’s interests or events which are happening locally, nationally and globally; and further developing work on oracy and speaking and listening.
In Key Stage 2, we introduce Reading Challenges to enrich children’s reading range and vocabulary, Maths challenges to accelerate children’s mathematical fluency.
For more detail please see our Curriculum page in the School Information section.
