Our Curriculum
At Laureate Community Academy, we intend for all children to be inspired to learn through a purposeful, inclusive and engaging curriculum which demands higher level thinking from all.
Our comprehensive and balanced curriculum delivers the requirements of the National Curriculum and is underpinned by a firm foundation of knowledge and subject specific vocabulary, which is enriched by regular opportunities to apply and extend understanding in preparation for the next steps in the learning journey.
Our curriculum is tailored to meet the needs of all learners and aims to:
· Develop children’s knowledge and understanding of the world around them;
· Focus on children’s learning behaviours, developing resilient problem solvers who can face and overcome challenges;
· Raise children’s aspirations and make them ambitious to succeed.
To support teaching and learning across the school, we use a number of teaching resources.
In Maths, we follow the ‘White Rose’ programme. This is based on ‘small steps’ progression and yearly frameworks, which provide the foundation for secure learning, confidence and competence in mathematics.
The White Rose Maths positive approach focuses on reinforcing number competency, whilst providing opportunities to build reasoning and problem solving into each lesson, and encourages each child to build confidence and resilience to achieve in Maths.
We use the Little Wandle programme to teach Phonics. This programme helps to ensure that children quickly develop the skills and knowledge that they need to be able to read fluently and confidently by the end of Year 1. Reading books are closely matched to the phonics that children are learning; these are used in class and then consolidated at home. Reading is taught through whole class reading lessons in Years 1 to 6.
The Curriculum for Unity Schools Partnership (CUSP) is used for English, Science, History, Music, French and Geography. This is an ambitious, evidence-based curriculum with a focus on vocabulary. It is planned around key knowledge and concepts that are well sequenced and engaging. The content is age-related and matched to the National Curriculum.
PE is taught through the Striver scheme of work: this meets all expectations within the National Curriculum and gives teachers the confidence and resources to teach expert PE lessons.
The Emmanuel Project is used to teach RE throughout the school. This is in line with the Suffolk agreed syllable for RE (2023) and unpacks key theological concepts in different world faiths, viewing their scriptures, practices and lifestyles systematically through these.
PSHE (which includes RSE) is high profile and taught weekly. We follow the Jigsaw long term plans which carefully map out what children will be taught each term so children develop knowledge and skills to equip them with a sound understanding of risk and with the
knowledge and skills necessary to make safe and informed decisions within the challenges of the modern world.
Each subject is taught discretely to allow children to build on previous knowledge and skills and to enable links to be made as their learning progresses.
Within Early Years, our children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. This consists of 7 areas of learning – three prime areas and four specific areas:
· Communication and Language
· Personal, Social and Emotional Development
· Physical Development
· Literacy
· Mathematics
· Understanding the World
· Expressive Arts and Design
Children in Early Years learn through a play-based approach with staff engaging in meaningful, teachable interactions. As and when children are ready, more structured sessions are used to support children’s development. White Rose and the Mastering Number programme (which is also used in Key Stage 1) are used to support teaching within EYFS as well as Little Wandle for delivering Phonics.
In Reception, Jigsaw long term plans are used for PSHE and the Striver scheme of work are used to deliver PE lessons.
The Curriculum for Unity Schools Partnership (CUSP) is used for structured story times throughout our EYFS. A well thought out and carefully selected literacy spine has been designed to support both the rhythm of the year and the needs of the cohort. This caters for children from the age to two up to the end of Reception. These books have also been selected to offer a wide range of stories both from different cultures and with a variety of foci; this helps children to fully understand the diverse world around them.
This is an ambitious programme with a focus on vocabulary that enables children to explore and develop all 7 areas of learning. CUSP Early Foundations is also used in all three EYFS classes to ensure we have consistent coverage of all 7 areas of learning and provide a range of opportunities for children.
As well as securing the necessary knowledge and understanding, children are challenged throughout the school to develop the skills that they need to become lifelong learners. Laureate Learning Characteristics are used to encourage and support children to talk about
how they are learning in order to develop positive learning attitudes; these characteristics are linked to our ‘REACH’ values, e.g. ‘Team Workers’ and ‘Respect’. These skills are embedded across the curriculum and throughout the school day, but are explicitly taught in Early Years through the Characteristics of Effective Learning, and in Key Stages 1 and 2 through Commando Joe’s, with a particular focus on self-regulation, resilience and collaboration.
Our intention is to provide our children with a rich variety of life experiences in order to raise aspirations, unlock potential and ignite individual passions.
Subject Links
Please follow the subject links for further information and resources on the subjects taught at Laureate Community Academy.
Associated Pages
Attachments
Year 1 Long Term Plan
Long-term-plan-Year-1-2022-23.pdf
Year 2 Long Term Plan
Long-term-plan-Year-2-2022-23.docx.pdf
Year 3 Long Term Plan
Long-term-plan-Year-3-2022-23.pdf
Year 4 Long Term Plan
Long-term-plan-Year-4-2022-23.pdf
Year 5 Long Term Plan
Long-term-plan-Year-5-2022-23.pdf
Year 6 Long Term Plan
Long-term-plan-Year-6-2022-23.pdf