Bincombe Valley Primary School

Curriculum

Below is an outline of the Primary curriculum.

At the bottom of the page is a link to give you more detail about the National Curriculum for each year group and information about each subject area.

The curriculum is the means by which we try to achieve the aims of the school. We endeavour to provide a solid foundation, developing the children’s knowledge, skills and attitudes on which they can build and enjoy their future learning.  The National Curriculum 2014 is the basis for the curriculum within the school. We are committed to providing ‘excellence with enjoyment’, aiming to provide a rich curriculum experience and celebrating achievement. We offer this opportunity to all pupils irrespective of gender, ability or need – striving to be fully inclusive in our work. Our Nursery and Reception classes follow a Foundation Stage curriculum.

We adopt a subject-specific approach to the curriculum and we endeavour to use the wealth of resources which we have access to in the local area (the Jurassic coastline, historical buildings, Lorton meadows, museums, local theatre, etc) to support learning and bring it to life.  Our outdoor learning environment around school, including the forest school area, is used to it’s full potential for teaching a variety of lessons to stimulate and interest the children further in their learning.  

In order to make sense of the curriculum and to make links between prior and present learning, we use Golden Threads in each subject. These threads weave between different aspects of the same subject and help to ensure that learning becomes memorable or as we like to call it 'sticky'!

At Bincombe Valley, we aim to help children to become good learners, who are ready for the next stage in their education when they leave us for secondary school. Therefore, it is our intent that the curriculum builds not just on the knowledge that children learn but also on key attributes that they can develop, so that all children are able to become effective learners. 

We believe that a good learner has the following characteristics:

  • Imaginative
  • Pushes themselves
  • Listens to others
  • Works hard
  • Works in a team
  • Perseveres
  • Makes mistakes

In accordance with the National Curriculum: English, Mathematics, and Science form the 'core' curriculum.

Below are overviews for each subject. Please follow the link at the bottom of the page to find out more about the detail of our curriculum and the content of the National Curriculum for each year group. 

English

At Bincombe Valley Primary School, we aim to make the acquisition of reading and writing skills an enjoyable and positive experience. Parents are encouraged to become involved in the development of their child’s reading by sharing books with and reading to their child/ren.  Your child will bring home a variety of books to read and share with other family members.  This valuable link between home and school can help enormously and be rewarding for the parent or guardian as well as for the child.

Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 children are taught Phonics daily using the Read, Write, Inc scheme.  Phonics teaching continues in Key Stage 2 for those children who need extra input in small groups outside the classroom.  A variety of materials are used to link in with the Phonics scheme of work.

We have a school library and a large and varied collection of books within classrooms.  Books are organised according to reading ability and the children progress through the Accelerated reading programme and use online quizzes.  Parents are encouraged to be fully involved with reading. All children take reading books home on a daily basis so they can practice.

We work hard to teach exciting and stimulating writing lessons and often link the context of the lesson to a class topic as we find this helps to stimulate and excite children in their learning.  Accurate  spelling, correct grammar and neat handwriting are all seen as important aspects of English at this school.

Maths

The basis of our  teaching of mathematics has an emphasis on number; shape; space and measures; handling data and reasoning/problem solving.  There is a clear focus on teaching standard written methods to solve calculations throughout the school while ensuring that all children fully understand the methods being taught.  We have a strong focus on arithmetic. Children are given work appropriate for their level, measured against Age Related Expectations. We use a programmes called TTRockstars to support learning of multiplication tables.

Science

We help children understand more about the natural and man-made world around them.  Children need to develop basic scientific concepts, skills and curiosity so that they can investigate and respect their environment.  We want to encourage lively minds, and a keen approach to investigate, probe and experiment. Children learn scientific facts about energy, movement and forces, about materials and living things and about the environment, Earth and the solar system. They also learn how to work scientifically and use equipment safely.

 

The ‘foundation’ subjects include Design & Technology, Computing, History, Geography, Art & Design, Music and Physical Education.

Computing

The computer suite, housing 32 computers, is well used across all year groups and very popular. We have equipped all our classrooms with interactive teaching boards.  Children have access to a wide range of computer software giving experiences in word processing, interactive media, graphic design, data handling and simulation. Access to the Internet gives a wealth of opportunities for the children to explore the outside world.

Modern Foreign Languages

French is taught as a foreign language at KS2.

Physical Education

Each class throughout the school does 2 hours of Physical Education every week, which includes one session in the hall (dance or gymnastics) and one session outside (games).  Year 4 also have a 1 term block of swimming at the local swimming pool during the Summer term.  There are also numerous sports clubs after school, held throughout the year, offered to the children, such as: football (girls and boys), netball, tag rugby, athletics and tennis.  These sporting clubs compete in matches and tournaments against other local or regional teams.  We have an annual sports afternoon held during the summer term.  Parents are encouraged to come and cheer the children on!

Relationship Education

At Bincombe Valley Primary School, Sex Education is delivered in line with the County Curriculum Guidelines and the National Curriculum Council Guidelines (2020).

We believe Sex and Relationship Education is an integral part of the lifelong learning process, beginning in early child hood and continuing into adult life. We believe it should encourage personal and social development, foster self-esteem, self-awareness, a sense of moral responsibility, and the confidence and ability to resist abuse and unwanted sexual experience. Please follow the link to read our draft RSE policy.

Geography, History and Social Understanding

In this area of learning children are encouraged to interpret the world around them, from the local to the global. They become aware of how communities are organised and shaped by people’s values and actions, and how communities can live and work together. They begin to understand how events that happened long ago here or in other countries can affect our lives today and how we can help shape the future.

Religious Education & Collective Worship

Religious Education is taught according to the Dorset SACRE scheme, a copy of which is available at school for you to look at.  This enables the children, through experiences and activities to:

  • Question, reason and think honestly for themselves about their beliefs and moral values.
  • Appreciate, respect and learn about major world religions, in particular Christianity and also Judaism and Islam.
  • Develop their spirituality through empathy, wonder, prayer and worship.

Collective worship is a regular activity and generally takes place in assemblies through stories, prayers (where appropriate) and song.  Friday’s assembly takes the form of a celebration and sharing of each other’s achievements and successes. 

If you wish your child to be withdrawn from Religious Education or other acts of worship, please come and talk with us about your feelings, and confirm your decision in writing. 

The Arts

Children’s understanding and enjoyment in the Arts is developed through a range of activities, incorporating individual, group and whole class activities, in music, art and craft, dance and drama.

Creative, imaginative and practical skills are taught using a variety of media, tools and techniques.

Children are introduced to the work of artists, craftspeople and designers. The school uses artists and craftspeople to work with, and inspire the children. Children’s work is displayed in the community as well as our own art displays.

Singing forms a major part of music making in the school, but children are also given the opportunity to listen to, compose and play their own music. Our older children sing to the wider community. Workshops are organised where musicians work with the children. The school works in partnership with The Dorset Music Service who provide both class lessons and individual lessons.

The school holds activities, productions and assemblies during the year where children can experience performing dance, drama and music to an audience.

Personal, Social, Health & Economic Education (PSHE)

We aim to promote healthy, independent and responsible members of society. We encourage all our pupils to play a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community through class & school councils, fundraising events, supporting nominated charities and involvement in community activities. Our pupils are given opportunities in PSHE lessons and assemblies to develop confidence, self-motivation and an understanding of their rights and responsibilities within our diverse society. We follow the JIGSAW scheme of work.

Equal Opportunities and Race Equality

The school offers full access to the curriculum to all children, regardless of gender, ethnicity or ability.  We also recognise our role in the prevention of disability, gender and racial stereotyping and prejudice.  Please ask for a copy of the relevant Policy documents.

Want to know more?

If you would like to find out more about the curriculum we follow at Bincombe Valley Primary School and Community Nursery, please contact the school office who will direct you to the right person.

 

 

Curriculum information

Awards

The school has achieved National Healthy Schools Status and Activemark. We have been awarded the Gold Artsmark award from the Arts Council and achieved recognition as a UNICEF Rights Respecting School.