Our Curriculum
Our curriculum is designed to enable children to become good and successful citizens of their communities. All our National Curriculum subjects are interwoven with the Learn Together curriculum and our Educate Together principles and values. We learn across a broad range of subjects, and we aim to broaden horizons, raise aspirations and develop confident, curious learners. It provides a wide range of experiences across all subjects, with an emphasis on learning which takes children beyond the familiar and opens their minds to new and different experiences and ways of thinking. We aim for a reading-rich environment across the whole curriculum and learning in all areas is designed to encourage creativity, curiosity, independence, social responsibility and growth mindset. To enhance this and meet the needs of all our children we are constantly looking at ways that can immerse the children in their learning that are researched based. This includes Virtual Reality headsets, inviting local speakers in, online interactions, Nowpressplay headsets. This landscape is constantly evolving and developing and part of our role is to ensure we stay up-to-date and open minded.
Development of the curriculum
Our curriculum was created by reviewing the Trust documents, analysing the Early Years Framework and the National Curriculum, discussions with local new schools, research based (EEF) and auditing this for AFET. We are continually evolving our curriculum where we are opening up additional year groups annually and looking at the latest research on how children learn most effectively as we do so. We looked at local barriers to learning to ensure that these were/are addressed as we further develop our schemes. We reflect frequently on ensuring the children have the cultural capital needed to thrive and succeed alongside appreciation for different cultures, music, arts and life skills. Our curriculum remains balanced with a focus on academic and personal development, especially in our younger years with 'In the moment' planning and 'Greg Bottrill'.
Statutory Assessments
All schools, including Abbey Farm Educate Together have to participate in statutory assessments, which currently take place in Years R, 1, 4 and 6. While this is the case, we strongly believe that children should not feel the pressure of these assessments and ask families to support us in this.
Statutory assessments are a measure of the school, not the child. We strive to carry out these assessments in such a way that the children are not aware they are doing them. So far, we have succeeded in this endeavour, although we recognise that this will prove more difficult with the Y6 assessments. We prepare the pupils in how to approach these assessments in a low-stress way and provide them with the necessary skills and knowledge in order to achieve their potential.
Further Pages
If you wish for further information about your child's curriculum coverage please contact their class teacher. They will be more than happy to meet with you to go through any additional questions that you may have.
Examples of our curriculum enhancements across the year groups
