Ranby C of E Primary School

Curriculum Statement

Intent

The Ranby curriculum, underpinned by our Christian ethos, is the foundation upon which every child will develop and build their own set of knowledge, skills, values, and principles. We believe deeply in the importance of helping our pupils develop as a whole person – happy and ready to take the next steps into their education and lives beyond primary school, regardless of their starting point. We celebrate our difference.

      To that end it aims to teach a curriculum which:

• arouses curiosity and fascination;
• enables children to investigate the wider world;
• encourages them to ask questions, develop critical thinking, form opinions;
• become resilient learners- not afraid to make mistakes;
• building secure connections through progressive and sequential teaching;
• results in a love of learning.

At its heart is the ethos of ensuring children value themselves and each other and are tolerant of differing cultures and backgrounds to

• better understand our society and the wider world;
• instil respect, tolerance and love for all;
• enable them to grow up to be kind, positive and productive members of society.

Through a rich, diverse and inspiring curriculum that responds and adapts to evolving situations in the world, our aim is that by the time children leave Ranby they will

• have developed a sense of their own identity;
• be proud of who they are as an individual, being the best that they can be;
• be equipped with the confidence and skills to make decisions;
• have the motivation to make connections with the wider community and world;
• have a love of learning for life and for all.

Implementation

The Ranby Curriculum is based on our knowledge of the National Curriculum 2014 and supported by Focus resources. We have broken down the programmes of study into a series of skills and knowledge and our long term curriculum plans show how, at Ranby, we cover the fundamental concepts of each national curriculum subject. We have carefully considered how each skill and knowledge statement connects and builds over time in each subject.

The curriculum for each year group is carefully designed to ensure coverage and progression across all subject areas; developing depth of knowledge and understanding together with opportunities for intelligent repetition which enables children to remember more.

We recognise children’s prior learning, encourage the children to develop interpersonal skills, build resilience and become creative, critical thinkers. Children are supported to achieve their potential and progress with confidence to the next phase of their education.

Our approach to teaching and learning supports our curriculum by ensuring that lessons build on prior learning and provide opportunities for guided and independent practice. The development of children’s knowledge and skills across all primary subjects is key when building on prior learning, supporting pupils for the next stage of their learning.

Everyone at Ranby is encouraged to improve through our curriculum, understand others, not to give up, try new things, work hard, concentrate, excel in many subject areas, to experience real life contexts and embed these in memorable learning journeys, and to enjoy school life, to enjoy the subjects the children take part in, to develop a thirst, a love, a need to develop their own knowledge and thus become model British citizens of the world with a clear, reflective moral compass and independent skills to apply in the wider world.

Pupils are supported in school with extra support/resources deployed as necessary to help close the individual learning gaps.

Key skills such as evaluation, reflection and investigation are developed across our curriculum.  Lessons are planned in such a way that children can apply their knowledge in thinking/problem solving contexts.

We have a commitment to expanding our pupils’ horizons, whether through learning outside the classroom, working in the local community or work–related learning. We see great value in working with visiting speakers, specialists and other professionals.

Our curriculum is underpinned by a range of texts, vital to the promotion of a language rich environment to support the increasing communication needs of the children in our school. Books are selected to reflect equality, alongside spiritual, moral and cultural needs prompting a wider variety of vocabulary and subject specific language.

The primary purpose of our curriculum is to guarantee a successful learning experience for every child.

Examples of how our curriculum is delivered:

In Foundation, children follow the Early Years Curriculum and develop their knowledge, skills and understanding through a combination of both continuous provision/independent learning time and more focused teacher led sessions. Pupils learn to share, work independently and play with others.

English

English skills are taught in daily English lessons at both Key Stages. The focus is on the teaching of reading and writing with opportunities for children to listen and speak in many different situations across the curriculum, to make writing purposeful and interesting and to develop and enhance opportunities to write and learn in different areas of the curriculum.
The enjoyment of books and a love of reading are fostered from the early stages of their education. The children have access to a range of books so that reading skills can progress.
We begin the teaching of phonics at the beginning of the Foundation stage. This gives the children confidence to attempt writing of their own and as they progress through the school these early strategies help them develop into fluent and confident readers and writers.
In class, reading is taught primarily through a shared reading approach in which the class share a book or extract of text together and are supported by the teacher to improve their vocabulary and comprehension skills.

Drama and role-play allow the children to explore their own feelings, develop speaking and listening skills and learn about the world around them.

In Key stage 2, children study a wide range of fiction and non-fiction texts. They use different genres for writing and are taught to draft and re-draft before producing their final piece of work. High expectations in correct spelling, grammar, punctuation and sentence formation are emphasised.

Reading

We encourage Ranby parents and carers to read with their child every night.  All children have a Home Reading Record book. We invite parents to sign or make a comment to help support their child’s reading at home. Children have the opportunity to change their reading books regularly.

We encourage a love and respect of books and it is helpful when children spend time at home talking about books and reading. Encouraging the children to ask questions and say what is happening in the pictures and why are good starting points.  Whilst out and about, we encourage the children to look at the print around them - in shops, posters, road names, signs, etc. 

We have an extensive range of banded books in school covering a variety of genres, for the children to select from.       

Phonics

We follow the Bug Club Synthetic Phonics Programme for the teaching of phonics. This is produced by Pearson Education. Phonics is taught daily across Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 with additional phonics intervention sessions taught depending on need.

Maths

Our children are encouraged and supported to develop a positive attitude to mathematics from their earliest days in school. Children are taught to value the importance of mental maths in their mathematical development. Knowledge, understanding and skills to develop numeracy are taught in the daily maths lesson based around 'White Rose Maths.'
Maths is used in a wide range of contexts to help children appreciate the purpose and relevance of mathematics in the real world.

There is an emphasis on Basic Skills, as it is acknowledged that for children to know more and remember more, they need to have a solid understanding of the four operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

After focused teaching in each lesson, opportunities are provided for children to independently apply skills and all groups are provided with challenge.

Science

Science is essentially a practical subject intended to stimulate pupils' curiosity about the world around them. Our science curriculum provides the foundations for understanding the world through the disciplines of chemistry, biology and physics. Science teaching helps children to develop enquiring minds and equips them with key skills, so that they are increasingly able to research answers to their own questions.

Curriculum schemes and resources overview

We utilise published curriculum materials to support our planning – all based on the Early Years and Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum and the National Curriculum (2014). We use a variety of published schemes to support some aspects of the curriculum in school, these include:

• Pearson Bug Club (Phonics)
• White Rose Maths and Karen Wilding subitising (Mathematics)
• Charanga (Music)
• HeartSmart (PSHE)
• Understanding Christianity (R.E)

Impact

We evaluate the knowledge, skills and understanding that the pupils have gained against the expectations agreed and evaluate our teaching from this. This ensures that we are constantly striving for improvement and ensuring that our curriculum is the best it can be.  

For more information about our curriculum please contact the school office

parent information booklet

parent login details

scatter tables  

Calculations Policy Parent format

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RE

At Ranby C of E Primary our RE is taught using the Nottinghamshire Agreed Syllabus and Understanding Christianity. We use the Agreed Syllabus to cover all religions apart from Christianity which we use Understanding Christianity for.

Please see our RE policy for our aims.

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PE

PE is taught on a weekly basis, covering a wide range of skills and tactical development. Older pupils are encouraged to share their skills with younger pupils during sessions additional to PE slots.  To enhance sporting skills, pupils take part in a variety of sporting events throughout the school year, some of which are competitive.

Swimming is taught as part of the KS2 PE curriculum and delivered by NCC swimming instructors.  

Outside providers regularly engage with Ranby pupils to allow opportunities for them to experience different sporting events and enhance their sporting skills 

An outside provider delivers weekly PE sessions for all our pupils and after school coaching sessions 

PE curriculum 2022 -2023 - pending 

NCC parents information school swimming service

Please note we may have to alter the timetable to accommodate sporting events or outside professionals  

If your child achieves in a sporting events outside of school, please share their success with us

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