Priory Infant School

Curriculum intent, implementation and impact

Our Intention

At Priory Infant School we want all our children to be confident learners who enjoy coming to school and who develop a love and thirst for learning during their time with us from Reception to the end of Year 2.

In their Reception year the children work towards achieving their Early Learning Goals in 7 key areas through continuous provision and active indoor and outdoor play. Early essential skills in phonics, reading, writing, speaking and listening and maths are practised and developed in readiness for the children moving into Year 1 and the Key Stage 1 National Curriculum.

Progression of the skills and knowledge for each subject area are mapped out so that it is clear what the children will learn in each year group and to ensure all National Curriculum objectives are covered before the children move onto their junior school and into Key Stage 2.

Within the curriculum we develop children’s understanding of British Values as well as their personal, social, moral, cultural and health and relationships education. We are passionate in broadening children’s experiences and curriculum opportunities above and beyond the National Curriculum, with our pupils working towards achieving the ‘50 Priory Things’ in their ‘Passport of Fun’ which we truly believe develops the whole child and fosters a greater creative and adventurous side to their learning and development.

How this is Implemented

In order to achieve our aims we teach the curriculum through termly topics as well as discrete subject areas. Teachers make connections with children’s prior learning, enable cross- curricular links, enrich vocabulary and teach using explanation, modelling, scaffolding and practice.

The curriculum is differentiated where necessary in order to address the needs of all our pupils and repetition is fundamental, especially in the core subject areas, to enable children to consolidate and build upon their knowledge, skills and understanding.

We recognise the importance and benefit of providing wider opportunities and experiences and engage in local community projects such as Artsmark and Eco Schools. Visitors and experts are invited into school to inspire and engage our children and provide opportunities that they may not otherwise experience. Educational visits and trips are organised to broaden aspirations and provide further memorable learning experiences.

During Reception the children work towards developing characteristics of effective learning which prepare them for the 8 key learning powers of ‘Oli the Octopus’ in Key Stage 1. We build effective partnerships with parents as we recognise the importance of the collaboration between school and home. Parents are kept well informed of what their child is learning and how this can be supported and consolidated at home.

Phonics is taught using the ‘Letters and Sounds’ programme to ensure consistency across the year groups with children assessed towards the end of Year 1 using the Phonics Screening Check.

Our Impact

By the time our pupils leave Priory Infant School at the end of Year 2, they are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to begin the next stage of their education. They have developed independence in their learning and are resilient to challenges, problem solving and change.

In the Reception classes, Tapestry, an online learning journal, will have tracked coverage of the depth of each pupil’s knowledge, skills and understanding in all key areas. Across the other year groups the children’s progress in all subjects will have been assessed regularly, both formally and informally, using retrieval practice methods such as quizzes or questioning; as well as observations and book looks.

To ensure our children are improving their fluency and mastery and are on track in their learning and development pupil progress is monitored termly. This enables the support or intervention for any children not making expected progress to be put into place swiftly to address individual pupil’s needs.

Teacher assessment in reading, writing and maths is reported to parents every year and the school compares this with national data.