Our Curriculum
At North we aim to develop children who love to learn and are curious about the world around them. All our lessons are adapted to meet the needs of the pupils in the class. We aim for our pupils to make progress by moving through a carefully sequenced body of skills and essential knowledge that build on what has been taught before.
Our curriculum is designed so that pupils develop their knowledge and skills in each of the National Curriculum subjects.
Metacognition, formative feedback, balancing of cognitive load and spiral learning, are embedded in the curriculum which are evidenced as making a significant impact on raising attainment
We plan highly engaging and stimulating learning experiences across the curriculum.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum consists of these curriculum areas:
Early Years Foundation Stage
The day is exciting and varied as children learn in adult led group sessions for phonics and mathematics and through exploratory play opportunities to develop the understanding of the other areas of the EYFS curriculum.
English
From Reception children learn phonics and early reading and writing skills through
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Children are taught in groups at their own pace and level which are assessed half termly. Children who are new to English also learn phonics in these groups before they start English lessons in their classes. Phonics takes place between 9am and 10am every day.
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The books we choose help children to grow ideas and expand their minds. We only choose significant and important children's literature to create our book-based resources.
It starts at the roots. We provide book-based planning sequences, Writing Roots, which embed complete curriculum coverage and engage children to write with clear audience and purpose. Our Teach Through a Text pedagogy is the backbone of each sequence.
We sow a seed with Spelling Seeds. We provide a sequence for teaching spelling and vocabulary in context, through investigation and at the point of application. Spelling Seeds complement Writing Roots and use the same texts to provide further short writing opportunities.
We grow literary knowledge through Literary Leaves. We provide a range of sequenced activities that take children through whole books to teach reading comprehension and create critical readers. Literary Leaves use novels, poetry collections and high-quality, non-fiction books that connect to the Writing Roots through Literary Themes.
Mathematics
This is our mathematics lesson structure
Mathematics lessons will look like this
Every day children also attend a maths meeting, which reminds them of areas of the maths curriculum that they are not currently studying.
These are the elements of our Mathematics Curriculum
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The Wider Curriculum
Our wider curriculum has been developed so that children can make connections between and within subjects and, where possible, it links to the books we’re reading in our English curriculum. We have designed our curriculum so that children focus on language acquisition - all lessons have ‘star words’.
As many of our learners speak English as their second language we exploit as many opportunities as possible to use visual prompts, every class has and uses a visualiser.
We ensure the pupils learn and remember more through the use of retrieval practice which is embedded in every lesson.
Science
Our curriculum provides the foundations for understanding the world. Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, therefore all of our pupils are taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. Through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, pupils are encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They are encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes. Yearly, we celebrate science by planning different activities around the common theme which allow the kids to develop their scientific skills. This is further seen within after school clubs where they are given the opportunity to widen their knowledge and use vocabulary effectively.
History
At North, we believe that students deserve a broad and ambitious history curriculum, rich in skills and knowledge, which immerses students in a range of cultures and promotes an enquiring and critical outlook on the world.
Our curriculum is carefully sequenced to give students a broad understanding of the chronological development of British and world history, as well as being able to make links to other societies, cultures and world events.
Understanding key concepts within history, such as significance, causation and consequence, unlock the door for students to be able to ask leading questions, analyse information and convey their views in a methodical and structured way.
History helps pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time.
The richest of the history of this school and our local area forms a large part of our curriculum.
Geography
At North we endeavour to develop children’s curiosity and fascination about the world and its people. We equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. As pupils progress, their growing knowledge about the world should help them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments. Geographical knowledge, understanding and skills provide the frameworks and approaches that explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time.
Music
We are lucky enough to have a dedicated music room. During their time at North, children learn to use four instruments, their voice, the recorder, the glockenspiel and Djembe drums. We use a combination of specialist teachers and Charanga to develop the children' knowledge of music. Our curriculum engages and inspires pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. As pupils progress, they develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon. We have strong links with The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Mozartists who provide quality workshops for our pupils.
Art
We use Kapow Primary to deliver our comprehensive Art and Design curriculum. Kapow Primary provides us with an innovative, engaging and inclusive program that helps our students develop their artistic skills and appreciation for the arts.
Art and design units of work provide sequential lessons organised into four core strands which run through each year group:
Drawing
Painting and mixed media
Sculpture and 3D and
Craft and design
Each year, we dedicate a special week to celebrate art. During this time, we focus on the work of a specific artist. This immersive experience not only deepens students' understanding of artistic techniques and history but also broadens their cultural perspectives. By studying a wide range of artists from different backgrounds and time periods, our students learn to appreciate the diversity and richness of the art world. This celebration of creativity helps to foster a lifelong appreciation for the arts and encourages our students to think creatively and critically.
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Design Technology
We have a dedicated design, technology and art laboratory. Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design, plan, build and evaluate products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. They acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world.
Computing
Technology is fully embedded in our teaching, each class has its own bank of Chromebooks. Every child has a google classroom. We explicitly teach the computing curriculum using Purple Mash.
The core of computing is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation; IT, computer science and digital literacy. Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through information and communication technology and as active participants in a digital world.
This year, we were incredibly fortunate to have an artist in residence collaborating with various KS2 year groups. The students had the chance to reap the academic and holistic benefits of a well-rounded curriculum, learning valuable skills in animation and creativity.
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Religious Education
We strive for all children at North to obtain core understanding and knowledge of beliefs and practices of world religions and views which shape history and will guide their own development. Understanding key concepts within the RE syllabus allows the children to answer the big questions and develop a number of positive attitudes linked to the British values of Democracy, Rule of law, Individual liberty, Mutual respect and Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
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More information about the Ealing RE curriculum can be found here.
Physical Education
At North our aim is to provide the best possible curriculum for children to better understand their own physical literacy. We aim to inspire all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive and non-competitive sport through a variety of physically demanding activities. Our curriculum, aided by Get Set 4 PE, allows all students to develop physical competence, fundamental movement skills and actions within sequenced movement. As a school we have implemented schemes of work which allow all pupils to explore, learn and gain knowledge. We teach the skills needed to excel in a wide range of physical activities, by providing broad and balanced opportunities for all to use in game situations. Sports houses ensure opportunities for all to participate in a range of inter school and intra school sporting activities. Additionally, we are involved in a borough organisation, Featherstone school partnership, which supports our competitive and non- competitive sport competition and also helps us train our Play Leaders. Pupils get the opportunity to compete with other schools in the local area as well as this the programme also offers pupils the chance to try different sports.
We strive to provide high quality of PE and sport provision, so that pupils experience the benefits of regular exercise – becoming both mentally and physically healthier to improve behaviour and contribute to academic achievement. Extracurricular activities are provided throughout the week to encourage all children to be as active as possible and create a positive social environment.
Wellbeing, Personal, Social, Health Education
Wellbeing is a priority at North. Children have lots of opportunities to attend clubs before and after school. Lunchtimes are play based, children have many opportunities to communicate, collaborate and cooperate with their friends. We have three wellbeing practitioners, Donna, Susan and Paddy who provide different strengths to the team. Many children benefit from Forest School activities in our garden, play opportunities in the playroom and the chance to talk via listening post, which is a safe space to talk about anything that troubles them, be it friendship issues, homelife issues or anything else that they need to talk through.
PSHE
All children have lessons in PSHE which teach about relationships, health and wellbeing and living in the wider world.It includes all statutory elements of the relationships, sex and health education guidance whilst also helping children to keep themselves safe, understand fundamental British Values and meet equality and inclusion goals.
Spanish
At North, we aim to develop and promote a love and enthusiasm for learning new languages through our teaching of Spanish. We offer a vibrant and ambitious foreign languages curriculum that will inspire our pupils using a wide variety of topics. Our planned schemes of work ensure connectivity and progression, that allow children to progressively acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary organised around topics. All our children in KS2 will have weekly Spanish lessons and will be expected to achieve their full potential by encouraging high expectations and excellent standards.
By the end of KS2, the ultimate aim is that pupils can engage in simple conversation in Spanish, understand key terms and phrases as well as promoting the love for learning a new language so pupils will continue to study Spanish or other languages beyond key stage 2.