Hayes Meadow Primary School and Nursery

Our curriculum intent is underpinned by the National Curriculum. There is a strong focus on developing children’s moral, spiritual, social and cultural understanding to ensure they know how to make a positive contribution to their community and the wider society. We celebrate our childrens’ individual talents and encourage their interests in a variety of ways and aim for all learners to enjoy their education and make good progress in all areas of learning.

The school’s focus on curriculum development has been carefully designed to ensure coverage and progression focussing on the key knowledge pupils require. Strategies such as pre-learning and retrieval activities are built in regularly to ensure pupils retain this knowledge in their long- term memory. It provides pupils with memorable learning experiences often utilising the local community and surrounding areas and providing activities that children may not otherwise experience. We recognise that the children need to show honesty, respect for each other, a sense of pride in themselves which help develop aspirations for their future and for their community.

We believe that our fundamental task is to teach our children to speak clearly and articulately and to read and write effectively. Reading across all curriculum areas is a priority to extend and deepen pupils understanding and use of vocabulary.

Our school fully supports the principle that young children learn through play, and by engaging in well planned and structured activities. Teaching in our Nursery and Reception classes builds on the experiences of the children and progress within the phase is carefully planned for and tracked. We are proud of the strong relationship we have with parents and use this positively to ensure that children have a joint support approach to make good progress in school.

The curriculum at Hayes Meadow is designed to be equally accessed by all children who attend our school. If children have special needs, our school does all it can to meet their individual needs, and we comply with the requirements set out in the SEND Code of Practice. Pupils at all levels are helped to achieve their potential through appropriately matched challenge and extension activities. Pupils who require further support in some areas are encouraged and given targeted support to embed knowledge and skills, to develop at their own pace or simply to learn in a style that best suits their learning needs. We have high expectations of attendance, academic achievement and pupil behaviour. Children are expected to work hard and demonstrate positive leaning behaviours to achieve ‘The best we can be’.

At Hayes Meadow School, our personalised curriculum is aligned to our specific Learning characters, which were created to develop children’s learning styles and their understanding of what makes a good learner. Our characters encourage our children to develop the skills to become lifelong learners by learning to learn.

Our six characters are; The teamwork twins Tom and Tim - working with others, respect, sharing and listening Reflective Learner Leo – planning, setting own targets, taking on board feedback Participating Poppy – engaging in learning, finding solutions, solving problems Self-management Maggie – organising, managing risks, improving and not giving up Resourceful Thinker Ruby – imagination, explaining, initiative Independent Izzy – asking questions, researching, sharing, recognising own strengths Our curriculum includes a strong focus on growth mind set, which threads throughout all areas of the curriculum.

Subject leaders play an important part in the success of the curriculum by leading a regular programme of monitoring, evaluation and review. They collate evidence and regularly hold pupil discussions to ensure progression of knowledge and acquisition of skills and the integrity of each subject. Subjects are planned to ensure progression of knowledge and skills in all areas of the curriculum from Early Years to Year 6. The curriculum design ensures that the needs of individual and small groups of children can be met within the environment of ‘Quality First Teaching’, supported by targeted, proven interventions where appropriate.

Our PSHE curriculum provides pupils with opportunities to discuss and learn about personal health, wellbeing, safety, relationships (including anti-bullying work), differences and aspirations. Our diversity work helps children to realise that everyone is special and unique and we should celebrate differences and different kinds of families.

We have a strong focus on mental health and well-being at Hayes Meadow led by our Child and Family Support Worker. The children are taught methods for supporting their own mental health such as strategies for regulation and how to develop positive relationships, self-control and manage emotions and worries. Where necessary pupils may take part in small group and individualised programs, including Forest School, to support mental health due to bereavement, self-esteem and anxiety.

Developing Cultural Capital is a key aspect at Hayes Meadow, that a pupil needs in order to be able to become more successful in society and their future career. It is the accumulation of knowledge, behaviours and skills that a child can draw upon and which demonstrates their cultural awareness, knowledge and competence. By providing these wider experiences and opportunities we are dedicated in giving our children the best chance to achieve their goals, become successful and respectful young adults in their community.