Information for Parents:
National Curriculum Subjects (September 2014):
A new National Curriculum for Primary Schools came into law from September 2014. You can find the full document at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum
Children in the Early Years (Reception) follow the requirements of ‘Early Years Foundation Stage Framework’. You can find the full document at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework–2
How our Curriculum is Planned:
At Little Melton Primary school we first follow the requirements of both of the national documents above. Our planning then utilises cross curricular topics (eg a topic such as ‘Stone Age, Bone Age’ includes content drawn from History, Geography, Art and Music) alongside discrete subject teaching where appropriate. This is intended to enrich the learning experience for children whilst also allowing individual subject skills and knowledge to be addressed.
Curriculum and lesson planning is then based on our whole school overview ‘Subject Narrative’ and ‘Skills Progression’ documents- see below. These have been developed following discussion with staff and stakeholders and with reference to recognised national leading subject authorities, for example the Historical Association. We seek to make meaningful links for the children between subjects and also to reinforce key literacy and maths skills across the whole curriculum. This includes extended writing opportunities planned in across the curriculum, and also planned opportunities for real-life Maths experiences, to supplement the daily discrete Maths lessons.
We seek also to actively promote British Values of tolerance, understanding of different faiths, democracy and the rule of law through our taught curriculum and school ethos (see Assembly Themes, Children’s Code and Curriculum Maps).
Our planning is finally broken down into half-term blocks, and can be accessed below. As we have mixed-age classes, there is a 2 year cycle of planning for each class.
Phonics:
We recognise that the acquisition of skills in phonics and early reading, is a vital part of education for all of our children. Our phonics curriculum and approach is detailed here:
Phonics Progression at Little Melton Primary School
Reception Phonics Yearly Overview 2020-21
Please find our Phonics and Reading Workshop powerpoint here: Phonics and Reading Workshop 2020
Statutory Relationships and Health Education:
(September 2020):
Relationships and Health Education in this school aims to draw together a range of content connected by the theme of being safe and is also now directly informed by the statutory content requirements introduced from September 2020. Our curriculum is built on the Islington ‘You, Me and PSHE’ resources, supplemented by Norfolk County Council advised RSE curriculum. Examples of the additional topics covered include, e-safety, road safety, drugs and medicines education. This is further reinforced by our programme of Assembly themes and our Behaviour Policy. We also have trained staff as ‘Mental Health First Aid’ and in Thrive counselling, to support individual children where needed.
Religious Education (September 2019):
Little Melton Primary school follows the updated (2019) Norfolk Agreed Syllabus for RE. RE is block planned, with Music, to provide more in depth coverage on alternate half-terms. (See link below for our 2-year plan- which feeds into the full curriculum overviews. This 2-year plan was developed through recent direct working with the Norfolk Schools RE advisor.)
