Curriculum

Curriculum statement

Intent

At Wells park School, we provide an eclectic curriculum, specifically developed to meet the needs and interests of our children. The overall intention of our curriculum is to prepare our pupils for adulthood through a positive and supportive framework of experience that helps to develop:

• Aspirational, confident individuals - who lead safe, healthy and fulfilling lives
• Successful learners - who celebrate and recognise the importance of joy both as an individual and within their wider lives
• Responsible citizens – who both belong to and make productive contributions to our society
• Emotionally aware, caring young people – who have the ability to recognise and respond to both their own feelings as well as those of another person; encouraging positive physical, mental, emotional, and social development. We have tailored our curriculum to best support five key developmental areas: Identity, Communication, Relationships, Health and Well-Being and The Wider World. The intention of our curriculum and its associated pedagogy is to develop the skills our pupils need in order to pursue friendships and meaningful social interactions with those around them. Through this approach we will provide a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum that supports every child's social, emotional and academic developmental needs as well as their spiritual, moral, cultural, and physical development.

Big ideas
Humankind
Understanding what it means to be human and how human behaviour has shaped the world.

Processes
Understanding the many dynamic and physical processes that shape the world.

Creativity
Understanding the creative process and how everyday and exceptional creativity can shape the world.

Investigation
Understanding the importance of investigation and how this has led to significant change in the world.

Materials
Understanding the properties of all matter, living and non-living.

Nature
Understanding the complexities of the plant and animal species that inhabit the world.

Place
Understanding the visual, cultural, social, and environmental aspects of places around the world.

Comparison
Understanding how and why things are the same or different.

Significance
Understanding why significant people, places, events and inventions matter and how they have shaped the world.

Change
Understanding why and how things have changed over time.

Mission statement

Whilst at Wells Park we appreciate that we are a small school, this does not stop us from having big ideas and as such we do not set limits on what our children can aspire to achieve.

We care about our pupils, their families, and our role in the wider community. We are committed to providing a safe and accessible school; ensuring that it is friendly, welcoming, vibrant and inclusive. We take our safeguarding responsibilities very seriously and foster a safeguarding culture which goes above and beyond our statutory duties.

At Wells Park, we are committed to fostering a sense of belonging in order to bring our pupils, their families and supporting professionals together to advocate and support the best possible outcomes. It is this sense of belonging that connects us to the many relationships we develop throughout our community and supports the social, emotional and academic development we strive for at Wells Park.

General principles
Our curriculum will give children the opportunity to:

• Experience the challenge, reward and enjoyment of learning
• Develop and demonstrate their individual creativity
• Understand the purpose and value of their learning and see its relevance to their past, present and future
• Experience success and the joy that it can offer
• Develop an understanding of their emotions and how to control them so that they are better able to understand their feelings and those of others

Purpose

To re engage pupils in their learning as prior to joining the school, pupils may not have enjoyed access to full-time education with some only receiving limited education away from a social/school setting.

SMSC/FBV

Our curriculum will give children the opportunity to:

• Moral - Recognise right and wrong and respect the law; understand consequences; investigate moral and ethical issues and offer reasoned views
• Tolerance and respect -To respect and tolerate the opinions or behaviour of others
• Rule of law -Learn that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable for their actions and behaviour
• Individual liberty - Be free to express views or ideas
• Social - Use a range of social skills to participate in the local community and beyond; appreciate diverse viewpoints; participate, volunteer and cooperate; resolve conflict effectively and display prosocial behaviours
• Spiritual - Explore beliefs, experience and faiths, feelings and values; enjoy learning about oneself, others and the surrounding world; use imagination and creativity and reflect on experiences
• Democracy - Be part of a system where everyone plays an equal part
• Cultural - Appreciate cultural influences; appreciate the role of Britain’s parliamentary system; participate in culture opportunities; understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity

Purpose

• To ensure pupils understand and appreciate what it means to belong and the positive impact belonging across all aspects of their lives.

Well-being
Our curriculum will give children the opportunity to:

• Build respectful and lasting friendships
• Develop self-esteem and confidence in their abilities
• Learn how to respect themselves and others
• Recognise that people are good at different things
• reflect and think mindfully about their own well-being

Purpose
To provide a supportive and nurturing environment in which the pupil can develop successful and lasting relationships in order to sustain lifelong well-being.

Pupil voice
Our curriculum will give children the opportunity to:

• Make choices about things that are important to them
• Make a positive contribution to the school and local community
• Take part in democratic activities across the curriculum
• Express their opinions on a range of different topics and issues

Purpose
To foster a wider sense of responsibility for themselves and the school community.

Pedagogy

Our curriculum will be taught through a pedagogy that:

• Promotes problem solving, creativity and communication
• Excites, promotes and sustains children’s interest
• Offers all children a memorable experience at the start of every topic
• Enables children to reflect on and evaluate their learning

Purpose

To provide a learning foundation built on experience that draws on a full and varied social, emotional and academic curriculum.

Enrichment

We will enrich our curriculum by:

• Providing on and off-site subject or topic related activities
• Offering opportunities for children to learn outdoors
• Using quality resources in and out of the classroom
• Welcoming parents and carers to take part in children’s learning and experiences

Purpose
To provide a variety of experiences specifically designed to contextualise the curriculum we offer and engage our pupils in a memorable and meaningful learning journey.