Curriculum Statement

Children at our school benefit from a rich and varied curriculum which meets the requirements of the National Curriculum. We believe in a values based education which educates the heart as well as the mind.

At the heart of our curriculum is the desire to make learning fun, engage children, develop relationships and provide children with a wide range of opportunities to learn in different ways.

The curriculum is taught through a topic based approach, linked to themes with an emphasis on one key text per term. During the course of the school year each year group will cover 3 topics that will have a science, history or geography focus.

Topics are enriched with a range of trips and visitors that bring the curriculum alive and provide children with real life experiences. This approach also develops their understanding of the community around them in Backwell, the South West, Great Britain and its place in the wider world. In the summer term Year 6 attend a week long residential trip to an outdoor education centre. This provides them with a range of experiences to challenge themselves in different ways and builds confidence and self-esteem as they prepare for the beginning of their secondary school education.

Focus weeks are used to extend the curriculum and are often linked to the school development plan or vision. The school annually holds an anti-bullying week, e-safety week, science week and sports week. National curriculum subject focus weeks are used on a rotational basis to raise the profile of subjects and give children extended opportunities to develop their skills. This ensures the children get a broad and balanced curriculum as they journey through the school.

Phonics is taught discreetly from Reception to Year 2. Children from Year 1 to 3 are taught in ability groups with additional support provided to children who are not working at age related expectations.  This ensures that all children have a strong knowledge and understanding of phonics as a reading and writing strategy throughout the school.

Reading, Writing and Maths are tracked rigorously 3 times a year. Children are assessed on an on-going basis and all teachers meet with the Headteacher and assessment leader to discuss progress of individuals and groups at the end of each term (3 times per year).

Reading is taught through discreet guided reading sessions and book club sessions. More information can found on our homework and reading page. All children will work through a reading challenge that includes high quality key texts. The more often they read the more rewards they can collect in our Friday achievement assemblies. It is essential that all children read at home at least 3 times a week to support the reading they do in school. Your support with this is key to your child's academic progress.

The school is currently introducing a mastery approach to mathematics. More information can be found on the White Rose Maths website and is also a member of the Boolean Maths Hub.

Computing is taught discreetly in the ICT suite that all classes visit weekly and each class has  access to mobile technology that can be used across the curriculum. Currently we have two trolleys of Ipads which all classes have access to.  E-Safety is also taught to all pupils to ensure they know how to stay safe online.

Additional Support for children

All children in at some stage during their time in school will need some kind of support with the curriculum. Here at BJS, there is an expectation that all lessons and curriculum activities are adopted to the needs of all pupils so that every child can access each lesson and be sufficiently challenged.

This will mean that in lessons whilst children will be working towards the same learning objectives the learning will not be exactly the same. The learning will be adapted by using different resources, groups may be guided by the teacher or working with another school adult and there may be additional challenges set for children who have achieved the expectation that are designed to deepen learning.

In addition to this adaption children will also work with other school adults in small groups to address any other learning needs. Groups may come out of class to do pre-teaching of concepts or post teaching to address any misconceptions. The school uses the breadth of our human resources to support the progress of any children who have been identified as at risk of not making expected progress.

We run a range of formal and informal intervention programmes for children as well as intervention activities for our Special Needs children and Pupil Premium children as required.

Enriching the Curriculum

Responsibility is central to the school vision. To this extent the school council and eco club work closely with the Senior Leadership Team to develop the school. Representatives are elected from each class and meet weekly. Standing items on the school council agenda include bullying, safeguarding and health and safety. 

The school enhances the curriculum with a range of clubs and activities, some of which are provided at a cost to parents. These include a range of sports, languages and curriculum clubs as well as music lessons in Key Stage 2. The school works in partnership with a range of providers and school staff provide a wider variety of clubs for free. Our own clubs include gardening, computing, homework club and many more.

The school provides children with a wide range of opportunities to perform to parents and share learning outcomes. This develops confidence and speaking and listening skills as well as providing the opportunity to celebrate achievement.

Year 4