Our Curriculum

This page provides an overview of our whole school curriculum for more information please speak to your Class Teacher.

The Dales Federation of Primary Schools Curriculum Statement

Across the schools in The Dales Federation of Primary Schools, we have given much consideration to our curriculum, its content, delivery and the outcomes for our pupils. We seek to attend to the individual needs of the pupils at each of our schools - which will be different to the needs of pupils from other schools. We offer a rich, inspirational curriculum which takes account of the unique context of each of our schools and their individual communities.

Ofsted refer to ‘The Three 'I's: intent, implementation and impact and we interpret this as follows:

● Intent – the extent to which we demonstrate a rich and varied curriculum, set in the context of our schools and their individual communities; a curriculum which is not simply focused on teaching to the tests or achieving good exam results, but enables each child to flourish.

● Implementation – that teachers present all aspects of this rich curriculum (not just English and maths) encouraging discussion and deep engagement of pupils, without an over-concentration on outcomes and with a far greater emphasis on learning processes.

● Impact – that pupils develop detailed knowledge and skills across the whole curriculum - knowing more, learning more, remembering more. A greater emphasis is placed on the behaviour and attitudes of pupils and their responses to the rich, inspirational curriculum, with a much less ‘single-lens’ approach to data.

Our children are happy at school because they enjoy their learning both inside and outside the classroom. We know that children learn in different ways and we use a variety of teaching strategies including whole class teaching, group work and individual support. Children learn not just from their teachers, but from other adults, other children across the school and their peers. They learn by listening, questioning and doing, working both individually and collaboratively.  Our curriculum helps to prepare our children for the 21st century world and also helps to promote British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs, encouraging everyone within our community to respect others. 

Phonics

Phonics is taught in KS1 and across the school where necessary. We follow the Sounds Write program. 

KS2 Residential visit

KS2 pupils will also encounter a diverse range of challenges, as they go on a week-long residential visit.

Our Curriculum – a little more information

Our smaller classes enable us to tailor work closely to pupil need. We always try to group pupils by ability, rather than ‘year group’. In this way, we can ensure that pupils are both challenged and supported appropriately.

We offer a broad and balanced curriculum across all years. We work hard to ensure that subjects are taught creatively, with as many opportunities as possible for real-life learning, in real-life contexts. Above all, we aim to make learning fun for our pupils.

The EYFS (Reception) follow the Early years programme of study, with a balance of opportunities for pupil initiated and teacher guided work. This is linked wherever possible to the topics followed in Key Stage 1.

Year 1 & Year 2, study the following subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, Computing, RE (following the 2014 Derbyshire agreed syllabus), PE, History, Geography, ART & Design, Design Technology, Music, PSHCE and French.

Years 3 to 6 are taught in mixed year groups (year 3/4 and year 5/6) for all subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, Computing, RE (following the 2014 Derbyshire agreed syllabus), PE, Swimming, History, Geography, ART & Design, Design Technology, Music, PSHCE and French.

We find that because pupils are taught in mixed age and ability groups, they show a high level of caring, compassion and empathy for each other, no matter what year group they are in. This level of respect is extended to the adults who work with them and because all staff have high expectations of what pupils are capable of and can achieve, children do not differentiate between the different roles of individuals in school; they know that all adults in school are there to care, nurture and support them.

Attached at the bottom of the page are our Long Term Curriculum Plans for more information.

Music and the Arts are a strength of our school – KS2 pupils learn to read music, and have the opportunity to learn to play a range of musical instruments including the recorder. In Key Stage 2, most of our pupils have more formal music lessons and currently have the opportunity to study clarinet, violin, flute, oboe, piano, guitar and ukulele. Lessons are delivered by both our ‘in-house’ staff and also peripatetic music teachers.

We strive to provide the most creative, inspirational and motivating opportunities for learning that we can. We provide real-life contexts for children to apply their skills and solve real life problems.

Reading and Phonics at Brailsford

We value reading above all other skills that we teach. Unless we can read fluently and reliably, we are unable to make sense of the world. To this end, we are investing in a new reading scheme to complement our current collections funded by a generous donation from Woodroffe Benton.

We will continue to invest heavily to improve our reading scheme, our school library and other resources to raise the standard of reading for all our pupils.

We use the Sounds Write scheme to teach early reading.

There are few more valuable things which parents can do to improve their child’s progress at school, and in life, than to dedicate a few minutes each day to read with/listen to their child read. 5 or 10 minutes each day, can make all the difference in accelerating reading and building confidence. We know you will agree.