Curriculum Statement

High quality texts are at the heart of the English curriculum to allow for opportunities to read for pleasure and to model and stimulate the children's writing. Where appropriate, other curriculum subjects are used to extend writing opportunities in a range of genres. The Read - Write process follows a structured format: Immersion, Analysis, Planning and Writing. KS2 children edit and redraft their independent writing pieces. 

Reading is central throughout all years. Phonics sessions occur daily in N, Reception and Y1 and 4 times a week in Y2, following Little Wandle.  Lessons follow a structured daily plan ensuring fidelity to the scheme. Children are assessed half termly and any children falling behind will receive phonics ‘keep up’ to plug any gaps. Following on from the assessments, children are matched to the correct level of book, resulting in a high level of fluency. 

Teaching of  reading is timetabled daily in all year groups. These sessions have a clear focus and ensure the wider skills of reading are taught. There are opportunities for children to read silently and complete reading related tasks independently each week. In KS2, the children enjoy a mixture of reading tasks that are linked by theme and a weekly Novel Studies session. In N children are immersed in stories through their daily learning. In R, Y1 and Y2 children read 3 times a week in a group, focusing on decoding, prosody and comprehension. This book is then given at the end of the week for children to read at home. In addition children take home a reading for pleasure book. This is not one that is matched to their phonic ability but is to share with their families. They choose from either the class selection or the infant library where there is a variety of different genres and both picture and chapter books available.  At the end of every day, all classes engage with storytime which is led by a member of staff and its sole purpose is to listen to a story for pleasure.  Reading sessions for parents are delivered across the school to ensure parents are able to support effectively at home.

Speaking, listening and drama activities are inbuilt into the various phases of the reading and writing process to enhance and deepen understanding. As a school, we value the importance of oracy as a tool for learning and invest time in this.

There is a systematic approach to the teaching of spelling across the school. There is discrete teaching that is then carried through into all subjects. In Reception, spellings (tricky words) are sent home when deemed appropriate by the class teacher. Spelling lists are sent home weekly  from the Ninja Vocabulary Spelling Scheme.  The teaching of Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar form an important part of the English curriculum. In all year groups there is a dedicated time given to the discrete teaching of these aspects, this session is named Daily SPaG. The teaching of Grammar is also followed up within the main body of English lessons and in other subjects to embed a contextual understanding. 

Handwriting is taught using Twinkl’s Cursive handwriting scheme which is a whole school approach centred around Letter families. The goal is for children to be writing in joined (cursive) script when they enter Year 4. 

Mathematics at Green Park is delivered in a variety of ways in order to ensure that our children have the opportunity to use and apply their knowledge and skills in a range of contexts. The following outlines the various sections of mathematics teaching for years 1-6:

Daily Maths ‘Fluent in Five’ - each morning of alternate weeks, the children begin their day with a fifteen minute daily maths session, which allows them to practise concepts and skills that have previously been taught and learned or allow for pre-teaching experiences prior to a main concept.  This time provides the children with an opportunity to refine and enhance their learning, ask questions or complete corrections with a teacher or teaching assistant.

Green Park School follows a whole school long term ‘spiral’ mathematics curriculum with the intent to revisit concepts throughout the year for retrieval practice and embedding purposes.   The class teachers are autonomous in planning their sequence of lessons to suit the children in their class whilst ensuring that they are planning learning opportunities for mastery.  This learning is supplemented by NCETM curriculum prioritisation materials.  The mathematics session includes opportunities to practise and use new concepts in an engaging way and by using cross-curricular links whenever possible.  Once per week, a maths session is dedicated to guiding children through arithmetic problems in addition to reasoning and problem solving guided work.  Similarly, specific times tables sessions are completed each week to support children in achieving fluency with times tables by Year 4 with the aim to use times tables confidently for more difficult concepts as they move to Year 5 and Year 6.  Since September 2022, Green Park has adopted the NCETM’s Mastering Number Programme to aid fluency and confidence further as an additional maths learning opportunity for children in KS1 and for intervention across KS2.  Reception class uses Mastering Number as their maths curriculum, enhanced with other learning experiences within their continuous provision.

Overall, our maths teaching and learning develops fluency, provides regular opportunities for retrieval practice to enable children to know more and remember more in addition to preparing children to use maths within  everyday contexts and the wider world.

Green Park Primary School are currently trialling a new scheme for our Science Curriculum, which is derived from the ‘Kapow Learning’ Units of work.  It covers the National Curriculum for England while supporting a broad, yet deep approach to learning which is ambitious for our children.  We ensure that working scientifically is threaded through the sequences of lessons so that our children are constantly using scientific skills as well as acquiring and embedding scientific knowledge.  Teachers are encouraged to deliver the units in their own unique way of teaching in order to inspire young scientists of the future.

At Green Park School we aim to provide the children with a broad, well balanced, stimulating and ambitious curriculum which provides first hand experiences and builds on the children’s prior knowledge. We encourage all of our pupils to become independent, confident learners and help prepare them for the next stage of their lives.

Details of what is covered in each year group can be found in our year group and subject curriculum maps. Progression within each subject is carefully planned to ensure a good balance of consolidation and new learning to ensure knowledge and skills are embedded.  Retrieval practice forms a key aspect of teacher's planning so that children know more and remember more.

Our approach to learning is through teaching of discrete subjects so that children are extremely clear about which subject and skills belong to which.  Our curriculum is continually being reviewed to ensure that it is ambitious and challenges our children to become scientists, geographers, historians, artists, engineers, musicians, and well-rounded individuals.  Subjects may be covered in a weekly lesson or in a block if more appropriate e.g Design & Technology. Science, PSHE, PE and RE are taught weekly to ensure that class teachers can follow up and capitalise on children’s learning throughout the week.  We use educational visits, fieldwork and organise visitors to school to help create enthusiasm for learning and to provide academic, social and cultural experiences.

Videos and photographs are also used to record the children’s work. These are often shared with parents and can be found on our Twitter feed on the school website using our school hashtags.

Curriculum schemes used to support learning and teaching at Green Park School:

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). All aspects comply with legislation and national guidance, including the teaching of Sex Relationships Education (SRE).

We use a variety of published schemes to support us in school, these include:

●      Little Wandle (Phonics)

●      Literacy Counts Read to Write (English)

●      NCETM Mastering Number programme and Third Space Learning Fluent in Five (Mathematical Fluency)

●      Charanga (Music)

●      Kapow Primary (Science, History, Geography, Art and Design, Design and Technology)

●      Twinkl Move (PE)

●      Sefton SACRE (RE syllabus)

●      Ilearn2 (Computing)

We follow the new Sefton syllabus for RE 2022. Children have the opportunity to explore different faiths. There is a focus on key celebrations within the christian faith. Through our teaching, including collective worship, we foster a tolerance and understanding of other faiths and promote that all faiths can live harmoniously.

At Green Park, we have a  structured personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) programme but tailor this to the needs of the children or cohort at any given time which allows us to be reactive to children’s experiences and the world around them.  At Green Park, we have carefully planned our RSE curriculum and have adapted to meet the needs of our children, keeping parents informed at all times so that they are able to engage with their children about RSE at home too.

All children have two timetabled PE lessons each week.  Coverage is carefully mapped out offering a broad and balanced curriculum. The school sports funding is used to promote exercise and up the level of activity during the day in addition to providing opportunities to compete in level 1, 2 and 3 competition where possible. Coaches offer sessions at lunchtime to enhance the quality of provision. Children take part in a range of local and regional competitions which also provide opportunity to access competition at a national level. These are coordinated by our PE subject leader. Swimming is a statutory element of the curriculum and is delivered from Y3-Y6 as part of the PE curriculum.  All children are assessed on their ability to swim 25 metres and carry out basic life saving techniques by the end of Year 6. We take pride in ensuring our children understand the importance of exercise in living a healthy and active life.

t Green Park School we aim to provide the children with a broad, well balanced, stimulating curriculum which provides first hand experiences and builds on the children’s prior knowledge. We encourage all of our pupils to become independent, confident learners and help prepare them for the next stage of their lives.

The statutory National Curriculum 2014 programmes of study are covered across Key Stages 1 & 2.  Details of what is covered in each year group can be found in our year group and subject curriculum maps. Progression within each subject is carefully planned to ensure a good balance of consolidation and new learning to ensure knowledge and skills are embedded.

We have adopted Sefton’s agreed syllabus for delivering Religious Education and have a structured personal, social, health education (PSHE) programme.  

The music curriculum is delivered through interactive units of work from Charranga. Specialist teachers provide whole class and individual teaching of instruments including flute, drums, ukulele and others.

The computing curriculum is delivered both through discrete teaching and themed topics.  A range of devices and software are used to ensure children can engage in simple programming.

A Themed approach to learning is used wherever possible. The length of time spent on a theme may vary. Our Medium Term plans show how subjects are linked or if they need to be delivered as a ‘stand alone.’ Subjects may be covered in a weekly lesson or in a block e.g Science Day or Design & Technology Week. We use trips to a variety of places and organise visitors to school to help create enthusiasm for learning and to provide academic, social and cultural experiences.

Videos and photographs are also used to record the children’s work. These are often shared with parents and can be found on our Twitter feed on the school website.

Our Geography scheme of work  inspires pupils to become curious and explorative thinkers with a diverse knowledge of the world; in other words, to think like a geographer. We develop pupils’ confidence to question and observe places, measure and record necessary data in various ways, and analyse and present their findings. Through our scheme of work, we  build an awareness of how Geography shapes our lives at multiple scales and over time. We encourage pupils to become resourceful, active citizens who will have the skills to contribute to and improve the world around them. Our scheme encourages:

● a strong focus on developing both geographical skills and knowledge.

● Critical thinking, with the ability to ask perceptive questions and explain and analyse evidence. 

● The development of fieldwork skills across each year group. 

● A deep interest and knowledge of pupils’ locality and how it differs from other areas of the world.

● A growing understanding of geographical concepts, terms and vocabulary.

For EYFS, the activities allow pupils to work towards the ‘Understanding the world’ Development matters statements and Early learning goals, while also covering foundational knowledge that will support them in their further geography learning in Key stage 1.

Our History scheme of work  inspires pupils to be curious and creative thinkers who develop a complex knowledge of local and national history and the history of the wider world. We encourage pupils to develop the confidence to think critically, ask questions, and be able to explain and analyse historical evidence, building an awareness of significant events and individuals and recognise how things have changed over time and why.  

Our  History scheme supports pupils in building their understanding of chronology in each year group, making connections over periods of time and developing a chronologically-secure knowledge of History. We introduce children to key substantive concepts including power, invasion, settlement and migration, empire, civilisation, religion, trade, achievements of humankind, society and culture.

Art and Design at Green Park inspires pupils and develops their confidence to experiment and invent their own works of art.  It is designed to give pupils every opportunity to develop their ability, nurture their talents and interests, express their ideas and thoughts about the world, as well as learning about art and artists across cultures and through history.  

Art and design lessons are sequential, allowing children to build their skills and knowledge, applying them to a range of outcomes.  The formal elements of the National Curriculum, drawing, painting and mixed media, sculpture and 3d and craft and design are revisited again and again with increasing complexity in a spiral curriculum model to allow children to build on their previous learning.

Our Design and technology scheme has been designed for  pupils to respond to design briefs and scenarios that require consideration of the needs of others, developing their skills in the six key areas of the National Curriculum.   Each of our key areas follows the design process (design, make and evaluate) and has a particular theme and focus from the technical knowledge or cooking and nutrition section of the curriculum. 

Our curriculum is a spiral curriculum, with key areas revisited again and again with increasing complexity, allowing pupils to revisit and build on their previous learning. Lessons incorporate a range of teaching strategies from independent tasks, paired and group work including practical hands-on, computer-based and inventive tasks. This variety means that lessons are engaging and appeal to those with a variety of learning styles. The resources used to support learning ensures a high standard of pupil progression.

From Year 3, children are highly encouraged to learn how to play an instrument with specialist peripatetic teachers from Sefton Music Support Service who visit school to teach woodwind and string instruments.   To ensure breadth and balance, Musical Minds offers guitar, piano and drumming lessons for children.

Music at Green Park is designed to equip children to listen, appraise, perform, compose, appreciate and enjoy music across the curriculum.  The music curriculum is delivered through interactive units of work from Charanga which cover composing, listening, appraising and performing music within each unit.  Across the year, whole class music is also delivered by the music subject leader.

At Green Park we foster an early understanding of the Spanish language and enable children to speak with increasing confidence, fluency and accuracy.  We aim to teach children to read and write increasingly complex sentences and build an understanding of key grammatical features.  We also foster an appreciation of the culture and traditions of Spain. 

In Key Stage 2 the teaching of Spanish is delivered by a bilingual Spanish teacher, who delivers weekly lessons including speaking, listening, reading, writing and learning about Spain and its traditions.  

All Spanish lessons include games, songs and a highly motivating style of teaching to foster an enthusiasm for learning the language.

Using technology is a very important and essential feature of the teaching and learning that takes place at Green Park Primary School.

Professional development of staff skills is a paramount feature of developing a successful and positive approach to the use of existing and future technologies.

We believe ICT at Green Park will allow the children to become confident users of  technology equipping them to become successful and productive learners. Our current range of technology is purposely varied and includes Chromebooks and  iPads.  The use of Google classroom enhances many teaching and assessment opportunities in the classroom.

The computing curriculum is delivered discretely and the skills learned within these lessons are applied across many other areas of the curriculum where it provides an enhancement to learning.  A range of devices and software are used to ensure children can engage in simple programming.  A celebration of the school’s wide and varied curriculum can be found on our twitter feed on the home page of the school website.

Information coming soon