The Walliscote Curriculum

'Aim High, Work Hard, Be Kind' 

At Walliscote Primary School we believe that every child should have the opportunity to be extraordinary and future ready through a curriculum which is knowledge rich, bold and courageous. 

Our unique context is at the forefront of our minds to ensure that our curriculum is adapted to meet the needs of all our children. We have taken into consideration the varied backgrounds, needs and experiences of our diverse community using the curriculum as a tool to counter inequality and disadvantage in order to expand life chances, and increase social and cultural equity and mobility. 

We are committed to delivering a broad and balanced curriculum with a rich diet of learning experiences and opportunities to enhance our children’s learning and developmental needs. 

Our topics have been designed to ensure progression across the key stages alongside careful sequencing to build successive knowledge and skills for future learning. We recognise the importance of teaching concepts to support children’s development of understanding when making connections with new knowledge. Effective ongoing assessments ensure children embed key concepts in their long-term memory and support children to apply them fluently.  

When children leave Walliscote Primary school at the end of Key stage 2, our aim is for all children to have the requisite knowledge and skills to be resilient, independent and motivated learners in readiness for their next stage of their education and beyond. 

We believe it is important that the curriculum considers the development of the whole child and not entirely on academic success. 

At Walliscote we have mixed year group classes, for some areas of our curriculum we have a 2-year rolling programme which allows our children full coverage of the curriculum in their time at Walliscote Primary School. We call these cycle A and B. 

• Art
  Art

  Walliscote Art and Design Rationale

  'Art has the power to transform, to illuminate, to educate, inspire and motivate.'

  At Walliscote, we believe art and design should engage, inspire and challenge children's thinking and ideas. Children will be given the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills so they can explore and develop their own creativity.

  Aim:

  At Walliscote we aim for every child to leave year 6 with the ability to:

  • Explore their creativity and experiment with creating their own work of art
  • Recognise and respond to a variety of famous artists and designers using appropriate language
  • Understand about the cultural and historical development of art and design
  • Develop and progress through the skills and techniques to become confident and proficient in their abilities
  • Think critically to evaluate and analyse creative works using appropriate technical language

  Walliscote Art progression

  Walliscote Art overview

  National Curriculum Art

• Computing
  Computing

  Walliscote Computing Rationale

  'Become computer literate. Use technology to enhance your abilities.'

  In this ever changing world, technology is at the forefront of everything we do. It is important we recognise the role of computer science and its links with mathematics, science and design and technology. To ensure our children are future ready, they must be digitally literate - able to use a computer, express themselves and develop their ideas through information and communication technology.

  Aim:

  At Walliscote we aim for every child to leave year 6 with the ability to:

  • Develop computational thinking skills and understand the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science
  • Understand their responsibilities when using technology so they become confident digital citizens
  • Understand the opportunities that technology offer for future employment and as active participants in a digital world
  • Develop knowledge and understanding to apply information technology and analytically solve problems
  • Think critically to evaluate and analyse computational problems using appropriate technical language

  Walliscote computing overview

  National curriculum Computing

  Progression

  Term 1 - Computing Systems and Network

  Term 2 - Creating media

  Term 3 - Creating media

  Term 4 - Data information

  Term 5 - Programming

  Term 6 - Programming

• Design and Technology
  Design and Technology

  Walliscote Design and Technology Rationale

  'Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.' Steve Jobs

  Design and technology requires creativity and imagination. It requires children to think carefully about the practicality of design and technology in addition to the aesthetics. Through a risk taking culture, children are encouraged to learn from their ideas by continually evaluating and adapting original designs. Children will develop their skills and knowledge through opportunities to explore and solve a range of problems drawing on existing knowledge and skills from other curriculum areas including science, mathematics, computing and art.

  Aim:

  At Walliscote we aim for every child to leave year 6 with the ability to:

  • Develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
  • Develop and apply a repertoire of knowledge, skills and understanding to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of purposes
  • Incorporate their knowledge and skills of computing to programme, monitor and control their products
  • Think critically to evaluate and test their ideas and products, including the work of others
  • Understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped to shape the world
  • Understand and apply the principles of a healthy and varied diet
  • Prepare and cook a variety of dishes using a range of techniques
  • Understand the keys principles of design and technology; purpose, function, authenticity, design, decisions and innovation.

  Walliscote Design and Technology progression

  Walliscote Design and Technology overview

  National Curriculum Design and Technology

• English
  English

  Walliscote English Rationale

  'If we talk about literacy, we have to talk about how to enhance our children's mastery over the tools needed to live intelligent, creative and involved lives.' Danny Glover

  At Walliscote, Literacy is fundamental to all areas of learning as it unlocks access to the wider curriculum. We believe that all children are entitled to a broad and balanced English curriculum, which is delivered in a way that recognises the varied needs of our children and allows each individual to maximise their learning potential.

  Being literate increases opportunities for the individual in all aspects of life, lays the foundations for lifelong learning and work, and contributes strongly to the development of phonics, reading, writing and spelling. The study of English at Walliscote develops children's abilities to listen, speak, read and write for a wide range of purposes, including the communication of their ideas, views and feelings. Children are enabled to express themselves creatively and imaginatively, as they become enthusiastic about and critical readers of stories, poetry and drama, as well as non-fiction and media texts. Children will gain an understanding of how language works by looking at its patterns, structures and origins within spelling. Children use their knowledge, skills and understanding in speaking, listening, reading and writing to underpin their learning of the entire curriculum.

  Aim:

  At Walliscote we aim for every child to leave year 6 with the ability to:

  • Write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences.
  • Use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas.
  • Are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate.
  • Have a good understanding and application of their spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPAG) skills.

  Walliscote English progressions

  Walliscote English overview

  National Curriculum English

• Mathematics
  Mathematics

  Walliscote Mathematics Rationale

  'The only way to learn mathematics is to do mathematics.' Paul Halmos

  At Walliscote primary school, we believe mathematics is a tool for everyday life and essential for understanding our world. Mathematics allows pupils to develop their natural ability to think logically and solve puzzles and real life problems. Children learn to think creatively and make links between mathematical concepts and encouraged to explain their reasoning and justify their answers using mathematical language.

  We develop children's mathematical skills through a series of lessons using a concrete-pictorial-abstract approach (CPA) Children are given the opportunity to solve problems both independently and through collaboration with others. It is important children understand the interconnectivity between subjects such as science and technology and have the ability to move with fluency between representations of mathematical ideas.

  Aim:

  At Walliscote we aim for every child to leave year 6 with the ability to:

  • Have a sense of enjoyment, enthusiasm and curiosity for mathematics
  • Understand the role mathematics has played in our history
  • Be fluent and confident in the fundamentals of mathematics
  • Recall and apply their knowledge rapidly and accurately
  • Reason mathematically using mathematical language with confidence and accuracy
  • Solve problems by applying their skills and persevering in seeking solutions
  • Understand the importance of mathematics and its impact on future forms of most employment

  Walliscote Mathematics progression

  Walliscote Mathematics overviews

  National Curriculum Mathematics

• Music
  Music

  Walliscote Music Rationale

  'Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything else.' Plato

  Music is a powerful, unique form of communication that can change the way pupils feel, think and act. Music allows pupil's at Walliscote to express themselves as composers, performers, improvisers and communicators. We aim to inspire a love of music that not only develops a subject-specific skill set but also enables personal expression, reflection and emotional development, pupils will learn to take managed risks, trying out new ideas and new ways of working without fear of failure. As an integral part of culture, past and present, it helps pupils understand themselves and relate to others, connecting important links between the home, school and the wider world. The teaching of music develops pupils' ability to listen and appreciate a wide variety of music and to make judgements about musical quality. It encourages active involvement in different forms of music making, both individual and shared, developing a sense of group identity and togetherness.

  At Walliscote, we use the online learning platform SingUp which supports all of the requirements of the National Curriculum and gives children access to a wide range of musical concepts and experiences. The 'SingUp' scheme follows an established, consistent structure that is practical, interactive and allows children to apply their knowledge and interpretation of all key musical skills: listening, appraising, improvising, composing and performing.

  Aim:

  At Walliscote we aim for every child to leave year 6 with the ability to:

  • Have the opportunity to perform and compose with others.
  • Have the opportunity to access and experience a range of instruments.
  • Take pride in independent creativity, and allow for thoughtful reflection and improvements.
  • Value the importance of music as a way to express ourselves freely and creatively.
  • Develop a secure, musical knowledge.
  • Reflect upon their work, the work of their peers and work of other composers and musicians.
  • Develop an appreciation of musical traditions and developments in a variety of styles, cultures and periods.

  Walliscote music progression EYFS

  Walliscote music progression KS1

  Walliscote music progression Year 3 and 4

  Walliscote music progression Year 5 and 6

  Walliscote music overview

  National Curriculum Music

  Music Development Plan 2024/2025

• Physical Education
  Physical Education

  Walliscote PE Rationale

  'Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of a dynamic and creative intellectual activity.' John F Kennedy

  Our broad and balanced curriculum is structured around participation, inclusivity and experience. We use a well-structured time table to ensure the children have the most effective environment for the particular needs of the session. We pride ourselves on our inclusivity and assure all children are able to participate at their particular level, using quality equipment with motivated, well-trained staff. Our provision ensures that the needs of pupils with SEND are identified and assessed for, to improve outcomes. This collaborative approach allows us to plant a seed for a lifelong health and active mind-set.

  At Walliscote we aim to provide daily opportunities for physical activity (at least 30 minutes a day), whether this is during the morning, at lunchtime or as part of our after school clubs offer. In addition to set PE sessions, we incorporate using the daily mile and regular brain breaks. All our children and staff are aware of the benefits of increased fitness which includes; decrease stress, increase work capacity and feeling happier.

  As part of the ELAN trust and NSSPEA. We are able to offer our children a wide range of opportunities to compete in various sports festivals across Somerset. This is great for building communication, collaboration and friendly sports competitiveness.

  Aim:

  At Walliscote we aim for every child to leave year 6 with the ability to:

  • Have confidence to excel in a broad range of physical activities
  • Engage in competitive sports and activities
  • Understand what it is to lead healthy, active lives
  • Sustain periods of physical activity
  • Confidently enjoy communicating, collaborating and competing with each other
  • Understand how to improve in different physical activities and sports
  • Evaluate and recognise their own success

  Walliscote PE progression

  Walliscote PE overview

  National Curriculum PE

  PE Timetable Term 5 and 6

• PSHE
  PSHE

  Walliscote PSHE/RSE Rationale

  'You are braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.' A.A. Milne

  At Walliscote Primary School we value PSHE as one way to support children's development as human beings, to enable them to understand and respect who they are, to empower them with a voice and to equip them for life and learning.

  PSHE is integral to all areas across the curriculum with aspects being taught through science, geography, computing and PE. The subject is delivered implicitly as well as explicitly, through many areas of school life. Assemblies, circle time, buddy or mentoring schemes and campaigns like Anti-Bullying Week all teach children the principles of PSHE.

  To ensure consistency and progression, we use Jigsaw; the mindful approach to PSHE, as our chosen teaching and learning programme and tailor it to meet our children's needs. The mapping document: Jigsaw 3-11 and statutory Relationships and Health Education, shows exactly how Jigsaw and therefore our school, meets the statutory Relationships and Health Education requirements. This also supports the Personal Development and Behaviour and Attitude aspects required under the Ofsted Inspection Framework, as well as significantly contributing to the school's Safeguarding and Equality Duties, the Government's British Values agenda and the SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social, Cultural) development opportunities provided for our children.

  Aim:

  At Walliscote we aim for every child to leave year 6 with the ability to:

  • recognise their worth as individuals by identifying positive things about themselves and their achievements, seeing their mistakes, making amends and setting personal goals
  • face new challenges positively by collecting information, looking for help, making responsible choices, and taking action
  • recognise their own and other people's emotions change during puberty and how to deal with their feelings towards themselves, their family and others in a positive way
  • understand how they can develop skills to make their own contribution in the future
  • confidently express their views on issues that affect themselves or society
  • understand their role as an active, participating citizen
  • understand a democracy and the basic institutions that support it both locally and nationally
  • appreciate the range of national, regional, religious and ethnic identities in the United Kingdom - respecting differences
  • have a developed understanding and confidence of what constitutes a healthy and safer lifestyle

  Walliscote PSHE progression

  Walliscote PSHE overview

  National Curriculum PSHE/RSHE

• Science
  Science

  Walliscote Science Rationale

  “Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton asked why.” – Bernard Baruch

  At Walliscote primary school, our curriculum is designed to promote curiosity about the world in which we live. We strive to enrich the children's scientific knowledge with practical experiences that will bridge connections between the classroom and the world around them. To support children's progression; key concepts, scientific knowledge and skills, are secured before moving on to the next phase of learning. Children will be encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave and analyse causes.

  In KS2 we use the HEP science curriculum to support our curriculum delivery.

  Aim:

  At Walliscote we aim for every child to leave year 6 with the ability to:

  • Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding
  • Understand the nature, processes and methods of science
  • Use the technical vocabulary with accuracy and precision
  • Understand and answer scientific questions about the world around them
  • Equipped with the scientific knowledge to support their understanding of the uses and implications of science today and for the future.
  • Children are confident to use a variety of scientific enquiry approaches including observations, fair testing, pattern seeking, identifying, classifying and researching secondary resources

  Walliscote science progression

  Walliscote science overview 2024 - 2025

  National Curriculum Science

• SEND
  SEND

  How we adapt the curriculum and learning environment for children & young people with SEN

  We adapt the curriculum and learning environment for pupils with SEN:

  Walliscote Primary School has a range of approaches to supporting children with SEN needs. All children benefit from quality first teaching in the classroom, which caters for their individual needs and supports all children to make good progress. Work is differentiated for different groups and individuals. Where children need additional support they will in the first instance be on a short note to address their needs.

  Sometimes this is enough to ensure a child is on track but sometimes an Individual Support Plan (ISP) will be needed with individual targets and strategies to work towards achieving them. This will be put in place in discussion with parents/carers and where appropriate the child. This would mean additional work with a child on a small group or 1:1 basis to carry out specific interventions to support a child to meet their individual targets.

  The SENCO works alongside class teachers and support staff to oversee SEN provision and monitor the progress of any child requiring additional support. Where appropriate other agencies will be asked to work alongside the school to assess a child and plan for their needs. At all stages parents/carers will be involved in the process.

  To ensure all children are able to access the curriculum at an appropriate level and fulfill their potential we take some of the following actions:

  • Make adaptations to ensure that all pupils have access to the school curriculum and school activities.
  • Support pupils to achieve their full potential despite any difficulty or disability they may have.
  • Ensure that staff are aware of pupil's individual needs and teach in a way that is appropriate for them.
  • Provide opportunities for pupils to develop confidence, self-esteem and resilience.
  • Work in partnership with parents/carers, pupils and external agencies to cater for children's special educational needs and disabilities.
  • Make provision for children with SEN to fully develop their abilities, interests and talents.
  • Identify special educational needs at the earliest opportunity to ensure early intervention and support.
  • Ensure all children with SEN are fully included in all aspects of school life.
  • Regularly review policy and practice in order to achieve the best outcomes for all our pupils

  More details on how we adapt information, our environment and curriculum can be found in the Accessibility Plan 2023 - 2026

  ELAN SEND and Inclusion Policy 2024-25

• Spanish
  Spanish

  Walliscote PFL Rationale

  'One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages opens every door along the way.' Frank Smith

  At Walliscote Primary School, we believe that learning a foreign language will foster children's curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world.

  Learning a modern foreign language in school provides children with a valuable educational, social and cultural experience. It develops skills needed for the twenty first century in a rapidly changing world where activities are increasingly carried out in languages other than English. Pupils develop communication and literacy skills that lay the foundations for future language learning. Studying a second language supports children's literacy and oracy in school whilst highlighting and extending their knowledge and understanding of their own language.

  Spanish lessons are taught in KS2 on a weekly basis using the La Jolie Ronde Spanish scheme. This is a scheme aimed at non-specialist language teachers, which is written in accordance with the PFL programme of study requirements for teaching a foreign language.

  Aim:

  At Walliscote we aim for every child to leave year 6 with the ability to:

  • Understand and respond to spoken and written language
  • Speak with increasing confidence and take part in simple conversations
  • Use knowledge of phonology, grammatical structures and vocabulary with increased confidence and understanding
  • Write for different purposes and audiences
  • Have increase accuracy of pronunciation and intonation
  • Have developed an appreciation of a range of writing in the language studies

  Walliscote PFL progression

  Walliscote PFL overview

  National Curriculum PFL

• Reading
  Reading

  'Reading is important because if you can read, you can learn anything about everything and everything about anything.' Tomie dePaola

  At Walliscote Primary School, the curriculum for reading is delivered so that each child becomes an enthusiastic reader. Children are taught the appropriate strategies in reading including phonics skills, word recognition and the use of picture and contextual cues to develop comprehension skills and increase independence when reading for enjoyment.

  The knowledge children acquire to support their development of early reading is equally as important for their development as a writer. It is important that children are given equal opportunities to practise and apply their phonics skills in writing and reading tasks so that they can understand the relationship between decoding skills for reading and encoding skills for spelling.

  This aspiration for each of our children is based upon the need for them to enter the world of work as articulate and literate individuals with a strong love of reading. We recognise the responsibility to send children to secondary school with the necessary skills and confidence to engage with all text types. Competence in reading is the key to independent learning and has a direct effect on progress in all other areas of the curriculum.

  We want our children to be 'readers', not just children who can read.

  Aim:

  At Walliscote we aim for every child to leave year 6 with the ability to:

  • Read with confidence, independence and fluency in any subject
  • Apply linguistic knowledge and knowledge of the world to comprehend a wide range of texts
  • Assimilate the wide range of vocabulary they encounter in their reading and use in their everyday speech
  • Select and read a book for enjoyment in addition to finding out information and facts

  Walliscote Reading progression of skills

  National curriculum reading

• Phonics
  Phonics

  'So it is with children who learn to read fluently and well: they begin to take flight into whole new worlds as effortlessly as young birds take to the sky.' William James

  At Walliscote Primary School we understand the importance of phonics as a crucial component of reading development. Phonics is part of our broad and rich curriculum that engages children in a range of activities and experiences to develop their speaking and listening skills and phonological awareness. Children's progress in developing and applying their phonic knowledge is carefully assessed and monitored. We prepare the children well for the phonics screening test but also ensure they are applying their skills daily, across the curriculum and embed their learning.

  We want to establish consistent, high quality practice, progression and continuity in the teaching and learning of phonics and spelling throughout the school.

  Walliscote uses the DFE accredited Extend Letters and Sounds programme of Phonics into Early Spelling. In the Independent Review of the Teaching of Early Reading carried out by Jim Rose in 2006, he clearly states that quality teaching of early reading, “involves a systematic approach to phonics which adheres to a small number of core principles”.

  Aim:

  • Children having knowledge of the alphabetic code;
  • Children having the skill to blend to read;
  • Children having the skill to segment to spell;
  • Children understanding these as a reversible process.
  • Confident and independent readers

  Walliscote phonics overview

  Phonics keywords

  Helping your child at home with phonics parent/carer guide

• Humanities
  Opening Worlds (HEP)
  Humanities

  Humanities

  Walliscote Humanities Rationale

  From September 2023, we have adopted the Opening Worlds humanities curriculum for history, geography and RE.

  Opening Worlds curriculum and its associated teaching approaches will secure the highest possible quality of education for pupils. This is because the curriculum ensures that the subjects reflect the wide reference and academic practices, outside of school, to which they refer. In addition the material is organised so that pupils use earlier material to access to later material and so that pupils start to see how everything connects within a subject.

  Opening Worlds has strongly recommended that the material is taught in sequence because each part makes the next part much more understandable. Numerous words that are explicitly taught and practised in Year 3 are then taken for granted in lessons in Year 4-6. If children do not have the secure knowledge of the content and vocabulary of the Year 3 curriculum this is likely to slow progress and limit enjoyment.

  All key stage 2 children have, therefore, started with the Year 3 Opening Worlds curriculum in 2023/2024. As a result of moving from the school’s previous curriculum to Opening Worlds, the school has identified a small number of content gaps. These have been noted and will be addressed through our choice of books that are used in English and read to children, field trips and acts of collective worship.

  In 2024 - 2025 all Key Stage 2 children will be following the Year 4 Opening Worlds Curriculum.

  To find out more about the Opening Worlds curriculum click here

  Walliscote Humanities Curriculum 2024-2025