Our Schools Derbyshire New Whittington Primary Curriculum Working together to be Happy and Successful! At New Whittington Primary School, we strive to work closely and in partnership with parents and the community to provide a safe, caring and inspiring environment where children are supported, challenged and encouraged to be the best they can be. Our knowledge and understanding of our children and the community in which they live helps to tailor an exciting and creative curriculum which meets the needs of our learners and which also has a strong focus on the development and application of the core areas of reading, writing and mathematics. We believe in providing children with a broad, balanced curriculum which provides first had experiences and builds upon children’s prior knowledge. As such we have chosen to follow the National Curriculum 2014 in all subjects. We use a thematic approach to planning our curriculum. This approach helps to ensure that lessons are taught in an exciting and engaging way which exploits and reinforces cross curricular skills. We aim to ensure that our themes have stimulating starting and finishing points and teachers ensure that there are many opportunities for first hand experiences, including a variety of visits and visitors to school. In addition, we aim to ensure that the children are involved in the planning process and can guide where their learning takes them. As long as we, as teachers, ensure that the key skills and objectives are taught from the National Curriculum, the interests of children and the focus on creativity and challenging themselves is a school aim. The curriculum at New Whittington Primary School is not, nor should it be, focused solely on academic subjects and outcomes. At the heart of our curriculum sits the children – giving them an exciting and inspirational start to their school life and preparing them for the future is an important aim. We promote an understanding of different beliefs and cultures and learn tolerance and respect towards others. We ensure our children understand the difference between right and wrong and the consequences that their actions can have. Our curriculum and high quality pastoral programme supports pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. We aim to develop well mannered, rounded children who are tolerant and respectful and, by the time they leave us, are well prepared for their secondary school years and ultimately adult life in modern Britain. Topics and Terms: Key Stage 1 and 2 Curriculum Topics (Two Year Cycle) Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Term 4 Term 5 Term 6 EYFS A My World Sparkle Long long ago Messy Maths All Creatures Great and Small Flying High EYFS B How to be a Hero! Changes all around Out of this World Down in the Woods What grows? On the Farm Year 1 and 2 A The Caribbean What a Performance! The Great Fire of London Beware of the Pirates! Turrets and Tiaras Deep, Down Underwater Year 1 and 2 B The History of New Whittington & Great Britain Winter is Coming! Living in India Terrific Transport The Secret Lives of Plants! Hot, Hot, Hot! Year 3 and 4 A Road Trip USA All the World’s a Stage The Land that Time Forgot I am Warrior! Expecto Patronum! Pestilence and Plague (sound/plants) Year 3 and 4 B Stone Age to Iron Age Everyday Heroes Fire and Ice Rainforest Rescues Don’t you think you should be fit and healthy? Angry Aztecs Year 5 and 6 A Journey to Africa War and Peace Myths, Monsters and Mayhem (Ancient Greece) Spread the Word The Big Band Theory! Fit for life Year 5 and 6 B Terrible Tudors “One small step for man; one giant leap for mankind” (Space) Ecowarrior What the Dickens? Victorians The Game of Survival (Adaptation and interdependence) Think you’ve got it bad? Welcome to…Ancient Egypt! End of Year Expectations:Reception • Year 1 • Year 2 Year 3 • Year 4 • Year 5 Helpful Links:Helping Your Child with Phonics