Curriculum

 

Curriculum Intent

At Morecambe Bay Community Primary School, we design our curriculum, with the following objectives in mind:

  1. Our children will be successful learners.
  2. Our children will become confident and happy people.
  3. Our children will become responsible citizens
  4. Our children will be given the best opportunity to recover from COVID both academically and emotionally.

We believe that a successful school curriculum in Morecambe Bay School is one that emphasises the relevance and purpose of learning with particular reference to the context of our school. Because of this it is an ever-evolving work of art, which is responsive to and inclusive of the dynamic nature of staff, child and community interests and enthusiasms. It is even more crucial to respond to the needs of the children in the sense of curriculum, in our post COVID world. Our curriculum continues to be adapted to address the needs of the children in each Key Stage.

The nationally agreed requirements of national curriculum form the structure of our curriculum experience.

At Morecambe Bay Community Primary School, it is essential that we use the curriculum experience to address life’s challenges. In response to this, the following are identified as curricular priorities:

  • To promote a sense of self efficacy and self esteem
  • Build a rich vocabulary, maturity of language and love of reading
  • Develop a sense of their place in the world and an appreciation of their world
  • Find talents and enthusiasms that will enhance their sense of self
  • Build positive attitudes to learning and life
  • Live healthy lifestyles

Curriculum Implementation

To promote these priorities; we insist on children learning positive values, including identified British Values, but with a particular focus on five school values – Bravery, Responsibility, Respect, Happiness and Kindness. Our school year is split into six half term blocks, with cross curricular topics assigned to each. Because of our mixed age classes, a two year rolling programme of topics is maintained in each Phase.

Foundation Stage – Nursery and Reception, Key Stage 1 – Years 1 and 2, Lower Key Stage 2 – Years 3 and 4, Upper key Stage 2 – Years 5 and 6

Our Topic Matrices are age specific and have a clear progression and sequence in expectation across year groups, building a spiral experience of knowledge, understanding and skills across the whole school. To this end each Subject Leader has developed a Morecambe Bay Progression in Skills framework for their subject, in consultation with their colleagues across school from Early Years to Year 6.

Subject leaders oversee the development and implementation of their subject within the matrix of each Phase and Phase Leaders, assist in planning and assessment within each Phase. Subject Leaders monitor curriculum coverage alongside Phase and Senior Leaders identifying strengths and areas for development, this process is on-going and forms part of our annual school improvement cycle.

In order to create a dynamic curriculum experience that addresses challenges of social and cultural capital, we also ensure that there is a rich diet of educational visits, visitors to school and cultural experiences. This has been greatly enhanced by the addition of our Immersive technologies and multimedia opportunities, which allows teachers to create truly immersive learning experiences around each topic covered.

We have been involved in the initial stages of discussions and foundations of the Eden curriculum and are excited about our continued contribution, the further developments and the implementation as it is rolled out.

School recognises the vital role that parents play as the Primary Educators of their children. We have a very successful record of involving parents, carers and community members in school life.  

There are particular priorities necessitated by the above six identified needs that our school context creates:

  • In order to promote the development of a rich vocabulary and language, alongside appropriate levels of self- confidence we offer an enhanced use of Drama and multi-media.
  • Our Learning for Life (PHSE) curriculum is integral to Life skills and healthy lifestyles which are developed wherever possible in topics, by ensuring that all classes have weekly Food Tech sessions, Learning for Life lessons and Enabling Enterprise theme topics.
  • To develop a sense of self-efficacy, children are encouraged to participate in local democracy projects through Pupil Parliament, School’s Council etc.
  • In order to understand and appreciate the diversity of our world, whatever their travel opportunities and cultural experiences, children study ML, topics are often used to expose children to other cultures, religions and traditions.
  • The importance of promoting healthy lifestyles means that teachers will often use topics as vehicles for experiencing sporting/outdoor opportunities, giving children access to a wide range of activities to broaden their appetite for sport and exercise.

All of the above are reflected in the school’s Non negotiables for teaching and learning identified within our teaching and learning policy.

Homework

The children are given homework throughout the school.  In Reception and Year One this usually consists of reading and reading related activities.  From Year Two onwards the children are expected to do their reading, learn spellings and multiplication tables.  In addition the children may be asked to complete other tasks/activities at the discretion of the class teacher.  We would appreciate parents’ support to ensure that homework is completed.

Religious Education

Religious and Moral Education form an integral part of our school day.

We approach Religious Education in a variety of ways, through daily school assemblies, as well as stories, topics and celebrations of major festivals.  Should parents wish their children to be withdrawn from any aspect of Religious Education they are of course quite free to do so. Such requests should be made in writing to the Headteacher stating the reason for the withdrawal.

Sex Education

At Morecambe Bay, Sex Education is provided for all children in a manner which is appropriate to their age and development.  This is part of a comprehensive curriculum and the importance of family life and personal relationships are emphasised throughout.  With our younger children sex education is dealt with sensitively as appropriate situations arise e.g. topics on ourselves, but it is not formally taught.  As part of the National Curriculum Science programme the children will learn the main stages of the human life cycle.  This includes growth and reproduction.  Parents have the right to withdraw their children from all or part of the sex education other than those elements which are required by the National Curriculum.

Educational School Visits

Educational school visits are encouraged and parents/guardians are informed whenever children are to be taken away from the school premises.

Visits are an important element of the educational lives of children.  These visits may be strictly educational and cultural or a leisure activity, whether undertaken within or outside normal school hours.  They include half-day or day visits as well as those requiring an overnight stay, both those arising directly from the curriculum and those that are clearly extra-curricular, for example, a sporting activity after school or at the weekend.  Visits during school hours are justifiable in terms of National Curriculum and encouraged in order to enhance children’s learning.

Risk Assessments are completed before the visit is arranged.

An outdoor residential adventure week is offered to Year 6 pupils during the Summer Term.

It is the policy of the school to ask parents/guardians for voluntary contributions to cover the costs of the trips.

 

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