Our Curriculum

Curriculum Subject Leaders

Design Technology- Mrs Nicholson

Music- Miss Waters

Science- Mrs Richards

Maths- Mr Crewe

History- Mr Paterson

P.E.- Mr Whinn

Art- Miss Ryans

ICT- Mr Mclean and Miss Canavan

English- Miss Ewing

PSHCE- Miss Ward

MFL- Mrs Hodges

Geography- Miss McCaig

R.E.- Miss Hinkley

Curriculum

The school’s curriculum offers a broad, balanced, relevant, differentiated education for all pupils providing progression and continuity. Above all, it is an opportunity for all children to succeed.

The process of evaluation and assessment is continuous and is inseparable from the learning and teaching process. It provides the next steps for learning for your child and ensures that they make progress. We believe in assessment for learning.

The National Curriculum

The National Curriculum, is made up of eleven subjects.

The core subjects are: English, Mathematics and Science.

The foundation subjects are: Computing, History, Geography, Design and Technology, Art and Design, Languages, Music and Physical Education.

In addition the school provides Religious Education and a daily act of collective worship. The school provides PSHCE (Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship Education).

Within the national curriculum, programmes of study set out the essential teaching within each subject area. There are national assessments (SATs) for primary school children at ages 7 and 11 years. These ages mark the ends of the two key stages of the primary school part of the National Curriculum.

Curriculum

Our curriculum is delivered within the school’s curriculum entitlement. The overview encompasses all the requirements of the National Curriculum and is taught through a skills-based, creative curriculum approach where appropriate. Within topics, discrete subjects are taught to ensure pupil knowledge and understanding and progression of each subject.

This arrangement ensures steady progression and continuity throughout the Foundation Stage, and Key Stages 1 and 2.

The curriculum builds upon the six areas of learning of the foundation stage:

· Personal, social and emotional development

· Communication, language and literacy

• Mathematical development

• Knowledge and understanding of the world

· Physical development

· Creative development

Within the structured framework, consideration is given to the physical, mental, social and emotional development of each child with activities and experiences planned in the light of each child’s needs and maturity level. It is from this range of experiences that basic skills are developed.

Homework

This is given weekly to extend school learning and to promote self study. This provides the parents with the opportunity to work with their children and share in their learning.

We believe that at Norman Street Primary School education is a partnership between children, staff and parents and support from home is vital for children to achieve their full potential. There are three parents evenings each year and reports are sent home each term.

Please feel free to discuss your childs progress with staff at a mutually convenient time.

Educational Visits and Visitors

Educational visits and visitors are an integral part of our curriculum. They provide meaningful, rich and real life experiences for our children. Based in and beyond the local area, they further enhance and consolidate the learning which takes place in school. Some our our regular visitors to school include health professionals, music workshops, historical re-enactment experiences (Stone Age, Vikings and Romans) Many of our external visits include the local area, Tullie House, Talkin tarn, Whinlatter Forest Park. Others are further afield, Beatrix Potter World Windermere, The Life Centre in Newcastle, Beamish Open Air Museum and Liverpool Museums and Titanic exhibition.

Sport and P.E.

At Norman Street we believe that sport and physical education are fundamental to the early development of children's skills. Through participation in sport and P.E, children learn the key values of:

Honesty
Team work
Fair play
Respect for themselves and others
Adherence to rules

They also provide opportunities for children to cope and understand winning and losing and in this way sport and P.E impact on children's social and moral development, whilst learning new skills.

It is our aim that all children take part in whole school events such as sports day, which takes place annually.In addition, we have a number of highly successful teams, who take part in competitive events in the school calendar; inter-school competitions and festivals, gymnastic competitions and locally organised events.

Whilst receiving high quality P.E lessons weekly, our children also have a wide number of opportunities to participate in after school club sports activities, which may involve community facilities such as Melbourne Park, The Neil Centre at Carlisle United and other local schools. Gymnastics club, Dance club, Netball club and key stage one football clubs take place in school.

We have excellent relationships with our local secondary schools and use the facilities at Central Academy to participate in skills workshops with our children.

Residentials

It is a fundamental principle at Norman Street that all of our Key Stage two children have the opportunity to participate and enjoy a wide range of residential opportunities. These enable children to see the wider world, provide new experiences, develop social and emotional relationships and equip them with the skills to go out into the world responsibly. The length of stay, distance from school and experiences completed are appropriate to the age of the children. For example:

In Year 3 children experience an overnight stay at Ratlingate Scout Camp and participate in team games, activities to support team building and group work.
In Year 4 children experience 2 nights staying in Newcastle, exploring the coastal areas natural resources, local museums and a boat ride.
In Year 5 children participate in an outward bounds centre residential in Glaramara, Borrowdale for 3 nights. They experience hill-walking, ghyll scrambling, coracle building, archery, climbing and ab-sailing, facilitated by the experienced staff at the centre.
In Year 6 children have the opportunity to spend 3 nights in London.. Activities include visits to The Tower of London, The Science Museum, The Natural History Museum, The Golden Hinde (Sir Francis Drake's ship), The London Eye and a River Cruise, in addition to seeing a top West End show.

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC)

At Norman Street we promote SMSC development by providing positive experiences through planned and considered opportunities in the curriculum and through interactions with teachers, visitors and the local community.

These include:

visits to museums
meeting with authors and other visitors to the community and school
trips and visits
sports day
assembly themes and values with daily collective worship
school productions
links with the local churches, St. John's and St. Cuthbert's
Pupil peer mentoring
Broad and rich curriculum topics which celebrate diversity and British Values
Themed curriculum days, Australia Day, Indian Dance and food day, Italian restaurant

Our curriculum ensures that all children explore, investigate and experience a wide range of opportunities, including teaching in R.E and citizenship, Health and Relationship Education, and a wide range of extra-curricular and out of school activities. These ensure that children understand their place in our multicultural modern society through each of the key strands.

Spiritual

Explore values and beliefs including religious beliefs and the way they impact on people's lives
To understand feelings and emotions, in particular the way they impact on others and how understanding them can be helpful in our society.
Understanding of key events and festivals in the annual calendar including, Harvest, Diwali, Christmas, Chinese New Year, Eid, Easter and Ramadan.

Moral

Our behaviour policy is based on our key values and vision including equality, respect, understanding and knowing how to do the right thing. A system of rewards and consequences underpin this and support the children in making appropriate and informed choices.
Opportunities in our curriculum enable children to explore moral concepts and values for example, work in the Tudor topic children explored whether Henry VIII was a good leader and why.
Developing the skills, personal qualities and knowledge of others necessary for living and working together.

Social

Supporting children to work effectively together, understand different needs and to make a contribution to the school and wider community.
Awareness of charities, their work, how to help others in our locality and further afield. Raising money for Children in Need, Dementia UK, MacMillan and collecting for Carlisle Food Bank.

Cultural

Encouraging a response to a variety of cultural activities
Learning about other countries, their features, customs, beliefs and societies.
Encourage children to explore their beliefs and opinions through understanding and knowledge of a wide range of beliefs