Curriculum

Over the past year we have been re-writing and updating our curriculum to ensure a creative curriculum that engages our children. Within the curriculum, we aim to ensure that fundamental British values of democracy, the rules of law, individual liberty and mutual respect are taught and discussed and we highlight the importance of respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

For an overview of our curriculum CLICK HERE.

To deliver our curriculum we use a range of facilities and resources, such as IT (we have just purchased new laptops) , a cooking area, our updated library, the village hall, our allotment, the woods for forest schools and large recreation field. We also use the local area to enhance the children's learning experience, such as the local farm, the 2 churches and village and we invite members of the community into school, such as church leaders from both churches.

Our curriculum work is supported by a range of trips and visitors. You will be informed in writing about any trips that take place and you be asked to make a voluntary contribution to the cost. In some individual circumstances the Governors have approved the payment of the cost of the trips from school funds. Please ask at the school office for details of eligibility.

We are a Church School and to teach R.E. we follow the Emmanuel Project (Ipswich and St. Edmundsbury Diocese). This comprehensive and exciting curriculum helps children to consider their own beliefs and values and those of others. The children learn about religions and beliefs and learn from religions and beliefs through a series of well-planned themes.

We take part in a wide range of sporting activities, such as girl's and boy's football tournaments, swimming and Tag Rugby and Dodge Ball tournaments, in order to enhance the children's education and encourage them to 'have a go' at different activities.

Our passion for a fulfilling and creative curriculum does not disregard academic standards. Each child's learning is closely monitored and support is given to those children who need it, to either help the child with strategies or extend the more able child's thinking.

Our curriculum is carefully structured to ensure the children receive a balanced diet of teaching and learning throughout their primary education. Both skills and knowledge are developed and valued. Subjects and concepts are revisited to ensure children develop and deepen their knowledge, skills and understanding.

In the National Curriculum the government has set out the learning objectives which our children work towards.

• National Curriculum Overview with appendices for:
• Maths
• Spelling
• Vocabulary & Grammar

The topics we teach the children in Key Stage One are shown in our curriculum long term plans:

• Robins Year 1 & 2 Long Term Plan
• Robins EYFS Long Term Plan

 The topics we teach the children in Key Stage Two are shown in our curriculum long term plans:

• Badgers Long Term Plan
• Owls Long Term Plan

The curriculum at Elmsett C of E Primary School is comprised not only of interesting teaching and learning activities, which provide for the formal requirements of the National Curriculum, but also of a wide range of enrichment extra-curricular activities. It also includes the ‘unseen curriculum,’ or what the children learn from the way that they are treated and expected to behave.

Principles Underpinning the Curriculum

Please CLICK HERE for this document.

Enrichment activities

At Elmsett we believe that learning is more than attainment and scores. It is a combination of attitudes, emotions, beliefs and skills. Research indicates that learning through the ‘Arts’ and other enrichment skills can help children excel in many ways raising long term achievement.  The best learning incorporates kinaesthetic learners– this involves handling, observing, thinking, exploring and actually doing.

We ensure that the curriculum enrichment activities and wider opportunities chosen are available to all children, especially the most disadvantaged, enabling them to be successful both now and in later stages of life.  Our learning is organised into termly topics as part of our creative curriculum approach, designed to make learning stimulating, relevant and exciting for all.

We fully utilise our own staff specialisms and also employ specialist teachers to ensure that teaching in all curriculum areas including Music and Sport are of a high standard.  Peripatetic teachers offer additional tuition in guitar, keyboards and drums. The physical well-being of the children is also enhanced from year 4 from additional specialist teaching in swimming at Hadleigh Pool.  Children will learn a range of sports in PE and there are additional sporting activities on offer. These include: Forest-School activities, and outdoor adventurous residential trips.

Throughout the school year we invite a wide-range of visitors into school and trips are organised for each class in order to provide enrichment and extension to pupil experience.

Our main goal is to provide experiences that will develop natural curiosity and long-life learners ,taking forward theses skills learnt into their future careers.

Some Examples of the Activities this Year:   

Girl's and Boy's Football Tournaments

Tag Rugby Tournament

Cross Country 

'Jump In' Trampoline session

Christingle Activity

Dodge Ball Tournament

Christmas Carol Service

Wolsey Theatre Pantomime

Year 5 and 6 Residential Trip