Our curriculum has been designed to create a balance between the National Curriculum statutory requirements and a range of experiences which allow our pupils the opportunities to broaden their life experiences. Our curriculum provides our pupils with experiences and opportunities which best meet their learning and developmental needs. Through clear strategic planning, our curriculum provides not only memorable experiences but is rich in opportunities from which the children can learn and develop
transferrable skills.

Quality first teaching:

• highly focused lesson design with sharp objectives;
• high demands of child engagement with their learning;
• high levels of interaction for all children;
• appropriate use of teacher questioning;
• modelling and explaining;
• emphasis on learning through dialogue;
• an expectation that children will develop resilience and accept responsibility for their own learning and work independently;
• regular use of encouragement and praise to motivate children.

Target setting

• Individual children's progress tracked;
• Strengths and weaknesses identified supporting planning and intervention;
• Data collected on a regular basis and shared with staff and children;
• Children have regular opportunities to discuss their progress;
• Teachers actively involve children in setting and reviewing their progress towards their targets;
• Teaching, interventions and revision programmes are adjusted in the light of the progress children make;
• Parents and carers are regularly updated on their child's progress;
• Processes run across the whole academy to ensure consistency and are regularly evaluated by SLT to ensure that the needs of the children are being met.

Focussed assessment

• Rigorous assessment and tracking of children's performance take place to inform classroom practice allowing children to make good progress and close attainment gaps;
• Day to day, Periodic and Transitional assessments used effectively;
• Assessment for Learning (ALF) evident across the academy - learning objectives, learning outcomes, success criteria, self and peer evaluation.

Intervention

• Individuals and groups who are not making sufficient progress are identified;
• Provision for intervention is mapped according to need;
• Detailed plans are put into place;
• Learners are enabled to perform beyond age related expectations, deepening their knowledge and understanding;
• Interventions are evaluated and relevant adjustments are made;
• Securing Standards Meetings take place regularly to discuss current and future interventions engaging in dialogue around the impact of interventions, potential barriers and further actions required. 
   

Learning environment

• Organisation of the classroom/learning environment adapted to the children's learning needs;
• The use of learning resources and ICT developed to allow children to work independently and successfully;
• Make effective use of other spaces - 'outdoor classroom', ICT suite, hall space;
• Displays to be a mixture of celebration of children's work, supportive resources such as our working walls and the knowledge the pupils have gained through our Knowledge Building Boards.
   

Curriculum organisation

• The curriculum is designed to cater for the needs and interests of a full range of learners.
• Some pupils may follow a bespoke curriculum ensuring that the whole child is developed and supported.
• The curriculum is taught through whole school themes which focus on reading and vocabulary development.
   

Extended curriculum

Kingsmoor offers a full range of 'out of hours' activities and clubs which enhance and extend the basic curriculum;

• We ensure access for all;
• Pupils have access to a range of activities before and after school.
• Pupils have access to opportunities that will prepare them for life in the future, including weekly career aspiration and cultural capital assemblies.
• Pupils to work with or within the community checking the air pollution in different areas for example.
• Pupils to have workshop opportunities both within the school and externally for example Bletchley Park and The Grove Theatre.
• Pupils have the opportunity to work closely with pupils in other schools.
• Pupils have the opportunity to participate in sporting events.
• Pupils have the opportunity to attend educational trips and visits.
   

The school is committed to address inequalities, ensuring that disadvantaged pupils have the same opportunities as their peers beyond the classroom.

Parents and carers, as well as the wider community, are involved in extended provision;

• Parents and carers have access to workshops such as Triple P parenting.
• Parents have the opportunity to contribute to their child's education through Open Days
• Parents have opportunities to attend workshops and presentations to support and safeguard their child.
• The school employs a Pastoral Support Worker
   

Our Curriculum
 

Writing:

At Kingsmoor, writing is taught in a cross-curricular way, making natural links with other areas of the curriculum especially History and Geography as well as in discrete lessons. Pupils are taught the craft of writing using Talk For Writing strategies. Pupils are supported to move towards independent writing through a range of activities including film, imagery, modelled, shared and guided writing, peer and self-editing and discussion. The teaching of writing focuses on authors intent, the skills of writing and the development of sophisticated vocabulary. We encourage the pupils to see themselves as authors, considering the purpose of the text, the audience and justifying the choices they make. To promote the status of written work we provide opportunities for pupils to publish their work on our website or in our newsletter each month. Grammar lessons are taught separately in some year groups focusing on specific skills linked to the objectives being taught in Writing Lessons. This enables the pupils to apply their newly acquired knowledge, ensuring that it is committed to their long term memory. Handwriting sessions are incorporated into the English lessons and promoted in all lessons across the curriculum.

Reading:

Reading is an important part of our curriculum and is an integral part of all of our lessons. At Kingsmoor, we teach reading through:

Discreet comprehension lessons: At Kingsmoor, we teach lessons which focus on developing pupils’ level of understanding of the text, through discussion, written and oral tasks; and the exploration of new vocabulary. Pupils will be taught to retrieve, infer, predict, summarise, analyse and evaluate a whole class text.
Big Read Lessons: At Kingsmoor, we encourage our pupils to read for pleasure and to read widely. In these lessons, pupils explore a novel, developing their reading skills and their ability to understand the author’s intent, connections and links to their own experiences. Discussion and critiquing are key aspects of these lessons.
Reading across the curriculum: At Kingsmoor, we maximise opportunities for pupils to read, through our Topic Reading Lessons. These lessons focus on the teaching of reading whilst increasing the pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the topics being taught in History and Geography.
Independent Reading: Kingsmoor uses quiet whole class reading times in KS2 to promote independent reading. Pupils are regularly tested to assess their reading level, ensuring that pupils are reading the most appropriate books. Reluctant readers, or those pupils who struggle with reading are heard more regularly to ensure that they make expected progress.
 

Each Key Stage within the school focuses on age appropriate skills and uses a range of strategies and interventions to support the pupils.

In EYFS, reading is taught through shared reading, using large print books and picture books. Pupils are taught the process of reading; learning that words and pictures have meaning. Through a range of practical activities children learn familiar stories. Pupils explore skills such as sequencing, prediction and retrieval. Using the Little Wandle Phonics programme our pupils are taught the progression of sounds.

In Key Stage 1, we use Letters and Sounds for our phonics programme. Phonic awareness helps the development of reading by segmenting and blending sounds. The children will be heard reading individually and in groups. Reading is taught through a shared reading approach using large print books that are rhythmical and have repetitive patterns. Pupils explore vocabulary, prediction, sequencing, making inferences and retrieving information.  Pupils are taught reading through a whole class approach using VIPERS comprehension skills. Pupils explore vocabulary, prediction, sequencing, making inferences and retrieving information.

In Key Stage 2, we teach reading through a whole class approach focusing on the curriculum domains. We use VIPERS comprehension skills to ensure consistency across the Key Stage. Pupils explore vocabulary, prediction, sequencing, making inferences and retrieving information, ensuring that they are able to make justified responses using evidence from the text. Pupils explore a wide range of fiction and non-fiction texts in their foundation lessons, which are based around age appropriate texts linked to the topic being studied

Maths:

At Kingsmoor, maths is predominantly taught as a stand-alone subject, but is woven through all areas of the curriculum as and where natural links present themselves. We teach maths for mastery, meaning the objectives are effectively taught at a slower pace which results in greater progress, as children have the time to really understand ‘why’ as well as ‘how’. They master the subject, and become able to solve maths problems without having to memorise procedures. In turn, they develop a deep and adaptable understanding of maths, rather than shallow knowledge which relies on rote learning. In years 1-4 we follow a maths mastery scheme called ‘Maths – No Problem’. It is a child-centred approach that incorporates ‘concrete, pictorial, abstract’ philosophy that our teachers enjoy teaching and pupils benefit from greatly. Importantly, we find it to be a very inclusive approach where all children achieve.

Science:

At Kingsmoor, we believe that since ‘Science stimulates and excites a pupil’s curiosity about natural phenomena and events in the world around them’, we have implemented a science teaching strategy that incorporates both reading, encourages the development of an understanding of our environment, primarily through first-hand experience, exploration, interaction with scientific phenomena and by developing scientific language. All our pupils develop their skills of enquiry and investigation to promote and progress their creative thinking. They learn to ask scientific questions and begin to appreciate the way Science will affect their future at a personal, national, and even at a global level. Throughout the school, pupils engage in scientific activities which encourage them to ask questions, to learn through practical experiences and to offer and investigate their own solutions to problems, enabling them to become independent and effective learners. We believe that all pupils must have regular access to Science appropriate to their age and stage of development. Furthermore, our in-situ Woodland Area provides a natural outdoor science lab which our children can explore. The school library aids the teaching of the most wonderful subject in the world – SCIENCE! In order to promote the excitement that Science offers, pupils who have flourished in Science will have the opportunity to share class work in assemblies and on school communication platforms.

History:

At Kingsmoor, we teach a progressive History curriculum. Pupils explore significant British events, significant world events and British Kings and Queens. Pupils are taught knowledge through high quality texts, trips and visits, whilst developing their key skills such as: chronological awareness, understanding historical context, and organising, evaluating and communicating information.

Geography:

At Kingsmoor, we teach a progressive Geography curriculum. Pupils explore Local geography; landmarks and physical features and Natural Disasters. Pupils are taught knowledge through high quality texts and trips and visits, whilst developing their key skills such as: map reading, interpreting data, comparing, locating and scale.

Art:

Art is a subject area that we celebrate and enjoy. Art is taught through high quality school projects, where pupils across the school work towards a whole school theme, such as The Elements, Animal Kingdoms and Dynasties. Each year group will learn a range of skills and techniques, use different mediums and develop the ability to experiment with different kinds of art, craft and design whilst increasing the pupil’s awareness and appreciation of art. Throughout the year, pupils will have opportunities to develop their artistic skills and will be taught to: Use materials to design and make products. Use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination. Develop a wide range of art and design techniques using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space. Create sketches to record their observations. Use a range of materials including clay, charcoal, paint, pencil and fabric in our Art Studio. Art will be celebrated across the school through high quality displays which illustrate our appreciation and love of Art.

PE:

At Kingsmoor we value sports and what it can bring to our young people, from social skills and lifelong values. We can use sports as a vehicle to develop each child into a healthy, independent and positive person. Our PE lessons are where each child will start their learning journey into sports so we want this to be a positive experience for all and this is what we strive for every day. We do this by having layered activities for children to choose from so they can decide which challenge they are ready for and a clear progression to achieve the lessons overall objective. We also focus lessons on our fundamental movement skills which are agility, balance and coordination and we believe this underpins every sport we play. Agility - ability to move quickly and easily. Balance - an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady. Coordination - that you have control over the movements of your body.

Computing:

At Kingsmoor, we teach our pupils the skills required for the digital era. Pupils will be taught skills such as programming, producing music and coding. We believe that our pupils need to have access to high quality computing lessons which will prepare them for their future career opportunities.

Music:

Music is highly valued at Kingsmoor, as we ensure that all of our KS1 & KS2 pupils are continuously exposed to quality first teaching . Our approach is to provide all pupils with the opportunity to excel and express themselves musically by delivering an extensive programme of high quality music provisions. Our wide and expansive range of musical instruments and equipment allows pupils to experience well-resourced music lessons following the national curriculum, whole class instrumental lessons and before school choir. We also recognise talent, and parents/carers have the opportunity to have 1:1 instrument tuition.