Our curriculum is underpinned by our vision ‘Nurturing aspiration through happy, creative learning’ and our school aims are based on the word PRAISE:

Perseverance - keep on going when the going gets tough

Respect- one another, your school and your own education

Attention- manage your distractions, keep focused

Independence – have a go and try for yourself

Self-motivated – work hard, not a second wasted

Explain- your learning and show progress

The 5 areas below, also known as our ‘whole school topics’, underpin our curriculum offer and thread through all that we do at Ashbourne Primary School. Our curriculum is planned and sequenced effectively to promote academic success, as well as broader development in:

Wellbeing

Communication

Diversity

Creativity

Aspirations

Our curriculum is planned and sequenced in a progressive way enabling pupils to build on prior knowledge, develop then master skills and deepen their understanding. We strive for all pupils to achieve or exceed the expected national standards and use quality first teaching approaches to scaffold pupils’ learning. The curriculum is all the planned learning that we do and sequence in order to promote learning, personal growth and development. It includes not only the formal requirements of the National Curriculum, but also the range of additional experiences, opportunities and learning that we carefully organise in order to help all of our children reach their full potential. Every year group within the school covers the full range of subjects from the National and Early Years Curriculums, including Religious Education. We teach pupils to utilise a range of memory strategies to support their long-term retention of knowledge and skills. This approach to teaching the curriculum allows our children to know more, experience more, remember more and do more!

Our curriculum offer is carefully organised to promote enjoyment, positive attitudes to life and learning and prioritises children’s wellbeing. Our nurturing ethos and pastoral work supports pupils to develop their social and emotional skills so they achieve well with their learning and with their peers. We promote a culture of mutual respect and ensure everyone feels valued. Pupils are taught to develop their resilience and their capacity to deal with challenges, as well as how to manage their thoughts, feelings and behaviour.

We provide a curriculum and learning environment full of enriching vocabulary that widens and develops children’s communication skills building their confidence, comprehension and understanding. We use a ‘text-based approach’ which harnesses a love of books, reading and vocabulary supporting pupils to become confident communicators, that can express their needs and explain their learning clearly.

Our curriculum and wider offer ensures pupils appreciate diversity and cultural influences encouraging social and cultural inclusivity. We promote the fundamental British Values and teach children how to engage positively in society becoming responsible and active citizens that always show respect. Our curriculum promotes equality ensuring all pupils’ needs are met and allows everyone to be included in all that we do at Ashbourne Primary School. Children understand that differences are positive and make us unique.

We provide a curriculum full of interesting opportunities for children explore their creativity and imagination. We develop pupils’ ability to appreciate and interpret what they observe, as well as teaching them the skills and knowledge to create what they imagine and invent. Our curriculum encourages children’s curiosity, perseverance and out-of-the-box thinking.

We expose children to new opportunities and experiences that aim to raise aspirations by developing pupils’ self-esteem and self-motivation. We ensure that children have the knowledge and skills to progress towards their aspirations and provide inspiring visits, visitors, stories and experiences that children can learn from and be inspired by. Our high expectations shape pupil outcomes and we support all pupils to reach their full potential, now and in the future.

Our Yearly Curriculum Overviews for each year group include all subjects from the National Curriculum, as well as our wider curriculum offer. Our Schemes Of Work provide progressive skills and knowledge plans for each curriculum area. You can find these on our website here: https://www.ashbourneprimary.co.uk/foundation-subjects/