_{Curriculum Statement}

‘Dream Big and Fly High!’

Curriculum intent

At Rockbeare C of E Primary School, our curriculum is shaped by our Christian vision:

“Dream Big and Fly High – for nothing is impossible with God.”

We are ambitious for every child. Our curriculum is designed to give pupils the secure knowledge, skills, confidence and character they need to flourish at Rockbeare and to be well prepared for the next stage of their education and life. Our Christian values of creativity, hope, respect and courage are reflected in our CARE learning values: Creative Thinkers, Active Learners, Respectful Citizens and Explorers. Together, these encourage pupils to be curious, resilient and increasingly independent learners who are confident in asking questions, expressing their ideas and contributing positively to their community. This closely reflects the school's distinctive Christian vision and the aspiration identified through SIAMS for pupils to develop holistically and reach their full potential.

We place strong foundations at the heart of our curriculum. We want every child to become a confident and fluent reader, writer and mathematician, while developing rich knowledge and understanding across the full breadth of the National Curriculum. Learning is carefully sequenced so that knowledge and skills build progressively over time. Explicit vocabulary teaching, opportunities for retrieval and purposeful links with previous learning help pupils to know more, remember more and increasingly apply what they have learned. Our current improvement work continues to strengthen these approaches, alongside responsive assessment and high-quality teaching across subjects.

Inclusion is central to our curriculum. We know our children well and maintain high expectations for all, including disadvantaged pupils, pupils with SEND and those who join Rockbeare at different points in their education. Barriers to learning are identified early and teaching is adapted so that pupils can access an ambitious curriculum alongside their peers. Where additional support is required, this is carefully planned and its impact reviewed. Our established approaches, including adaptive teaching, OAIP, PLPs and Class on a Page, support staff to understand individual needs while maintaining ambitious curriculum access.

Our curriculum extends well beyond academic outcomes. We want children to develop their character, confidence, interests and aspirations. Learning is enriched through opportunities including outdoor learning and Forest School, educational visits, sport, music and the arts, performances, pupil leadership and engagement with our church and wider community. These experiences, alongside PSHE, RE, collective worship and our behaviour curriculum, help pupils understand themselves and others, encounter different perspectives and develop the values and behaviours needed to participate positively in modern Britain. The school's evaluation identifies this broad enrichment and strong CARE/Christian ethos as important contributors to pupils' character, wellbeing and sense of belonging.

Reading is fundamental to accessing this wider curriculum, and we aim to develop children who read confidently, fluently and for pleasure. Alongside strong foundations in phonics and early reading, pupils encounter increasingly rich texts and vocabulary as they progress through school. Likewise, secure foundations in writing and mathematics enable children to communicate, reason, solve problems and apply their learning confidently across the curriculum.

As our school continues to grow and evolve, so does our curriculum. Subject leaders and senior leaders use a well-established cycle of monitoring, including looking at pupils' work, visiting lessons, talking with pupils and analysing assessment information, to understand the impact of the curriculum and identify where further development is needed. Our aim is not simply for curriculum content to be covered, but for pupils to understand, remember and use what they have learned. This reflects the school's current focus on evaluating the impact of curriculum implementation on pupils rather than simply checking that systems are in place.

Ultimately, we want every child who leaves Rockbeare to have secure academic foundations, a love of learning, confidence in themselves and consideration for others. We want them to be ready to embrace future opportunities, make positive contributions to their communities and, true to our vision, have the aspiration and courage to Dream Big and Fly High.

Inclusion and further information

In accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014, our curriculum is intended to be accessible to all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities.

For further information, please see our SEND information, the First Federation SEND policy and the First Federation Equality policy.

Please speak to your child's teacher or contact the school office if you would like to find out more about our curriculum.

Across the Trust, schools are reviewing and revising curriculum planning. At Rockbeare, staff plan a long-term two-year rolling programme, from which termly medium-term plans are designed. These are then broken down into the weekly teaching programme. The long-term plan is under constant review as circumstances change. 

In accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and the Special Needs and Disability Regulations 2014, the learning in each subject is provided for all pupils in the school, including those with special educational needs.

For further information, please see our SEND information, The First Federation SEND policy and the First Federation Equality policy.

Please talk to your child’s teacher or contact the school office if you would like to find out more about our curriculum.

Wider Curriculum

First Federation Trust Enrichment Offer - 

If a child spends their educational primary journey in one of our schools, they will have the opportunity to experience events outside of their time in the classroom. We believe in providing wider opportunities for the children in our care that complement their educational experiences.  

During their time in school our children will have the opportunity to -  

• Perform in a setting outside of the school building 

• Participate in a musical performance 

• Participate in an art exhibition 

• Watch a musical/drama production performed by professionals  

• Participate in a sporting event held outside of the school premises 

• Perform in the local community to support an event or facility e.g. care home 

• Learn a musical instrument 

• Participate in inter-school sports events (FFT and local schools) 

Each school will also have its individual offer that will be appropriate for the context and geography of the school. Schools will provide enrichment times where the children will have the opportunity to work outside of the usual classroom curriculum. This information can be seen below. 

We are happy to signpost children to local clubs, facilities etc if they are showing a particular interest or skill in the field of sport, art and music.  

At Rockbeare CofE Primary School we use the policy provided by Devon LA to inform health and safety for our Outdoor Education, visits and off-site activities. Please click on the document below to access this information.

TRANSITION

EYFS Transition days take place towards the end of the summer term, prior to your child joining our Reception Class. The class teacher holds an informal meeting with new parents, explaining how the Foundation Stage works, the learning which will take place and our expectations. There will also be an opportunity for two Stay & Play sessions in the summer term, ahead of there start in September.

At Rockbeare, we recognise the need to support transition for all pupils from year group to year group, this will be personalised where needed and aims to provide each pupil with the best possible start in their new class each September. Where Personal Learning Plans are in place, these will be used under the guidance of the SENCO, to provide the additional transitional support required.

When your child leaves Rockbeare at the end of Year 6, they have a programme of induction and liaison with their prospective secondary school during the summer term. Children from Rockbeare typically move on to Clyst Vale Community College, Cranbrook Education Campus, The Kings School or Colyton Grammar.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of your child's transition, please speak with the class teacher in the first instance.