Knowledge Organisers:
We are currently in the process of reviewing the content of our curriculum to ensure that there is a much greater emphasis on the ‘essential knowledge’ that children need in order to not only truly understand concepts, but also to enable them to apply the knowledge, offer informed explanations, make links and spot patterns. Crucially, it will also provide them with the essential foundations for the next part of their educational journey and beyond.
Like all maintained schools in England, we have to follow the National Curriculum. Whilst we will continue to use this as our framework, we will not limit our curriculum content to the knowledge, skills and concepts covered within it. Rather, we will raise our expectations and not restrict the depth and breadth of children’s understanding, to ensure that every pupil appreciates there is no limit to their potential.
At the moment, we are in the process of looking at each subject and identifying the essential knowledge that we feel is the children’s entitlement – and then deciding how best to teach it. Already this has had amazing results, with children being exposed to and accessing content which is deeper and more sophisticated than we have taught before. Predictably, these higher expectations are throwing up a range of challenges for us; not least, ensuring that we develop the structures and systems which enable pupils to effectively retain (and then apply) the knowledge we are delivering.
To help meet this challenge, we are producing ‘Knowledge Organisers’ which are the ‘go-to’ documents outlining the essential knowledge that the teachers will be covering across a unit of work; including dates, key personnel, vocabulary, definitions and other contextual or technical information. These ‘Knowledge Organisers’ will be shared with pupils, parents and carers at the start of every new term – with the aim that everyone knows exactly what is being taught, and what the children need to learn.
The Knowledge Organisers that we have shared with parents so far can be found under the specific year group tabs at the top of this page. As a parent, please feel free to use this as a reference guide for what your child is learning in school.
We will continue to develop the use of Knowledge Organisers over upcoming years and share these with pupils and parents accordingly. As this is a new initiative for our school, we would welcome your views and any suggestions you may have on this.
Religious Education:
Lincolnshire agreed syllabus for RE
Statement of British Values:
In accordance with The Department for Education, we aim to actively promote British values in our school to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance and understand that while different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, all people living in England are subject to its law.
The Key Values are:
- democracy
- rule of law
- individual liberty
- mutual respect
- tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
English long term planning:
Maths long term planning:
We currently use the Maths: No Problem Singapore Maths Scheme. This will be complemented by an assortment of other Maths activities, including outdoor geometry sessions and problem solving.
Phonics:
At St Margaret’s CE Primary School we use the Letters and Sounds Phonics Scheme. Children in EYFS work on Phases 1,2 and 3 which introduces them to the letters of the alphabet as well as some alternative spelling choices. It also supports children to blend for reading and segment for spelling. In Year 1 children work on Phases 4 and 5 which prepare them for the Year 1 Phonics Screening Test by learning a whole range of alternative spelling choices.
