Curriculum

On the curriculum pages, you will find information about our  curriculum, including: 

• the content of the curriculum we follow in each academic year for every subject
• the names of the phonics and reading schemes we are using in KS1
• how parents or other members of the public can find out more about the curriculum we follow

If you have any questions about the curriculum please speak to your child’s class teacher.

There may also be additional information posted under each separate class page of this website under the ‘Our Schools’ tab and then under the specific school and class. We hope you enjoy reading about what we do and hopefully you can use the information to help encourage your child to talk to you about their learning.

 EYFS Curriculum

At Lady Modiford's we recognise that every child is unique. We understand that children develop in individual ways and at varying rates. We want our children to be independent and self-motivated learners, encouraging the children to adapt their work, think critically and take risks with their learning.

Our curriculum:

• is at the heart of our learning journey approach
• is distinctive, innovative and strategically planned with the individual pupils in mind
• is research informed
• introduces challenging, engaging and real life problems
• strives to encourage and develop a love of learning
• lets learning happen within a child centred approach
• ensures all areas of learning are regarded with the same level of importance and are interlinked in learning
• includes fundamental British values to teach children a sense of self and belonging; enabling them to learn and stay true to the values that make people good human beings
• ensures that children learn to live together peacefully, with each of them playing a valuable role in the multicultural world in which they live.

The Foundation classes follow the curriculum as outlined in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, which is available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/974907/EYFS_framework_-_March_2021.pdf

Teaching of Phonics

At Lady Modiford's we follow 'Little Wandle Letter and Sounds Revised' to deliver our teaching of phonics and early reading. More information about this scheme of learning can be found  at https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/ 

Specific Subject Information

(under construction)

Art & Design:

At the WDF we understand that art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of creativity. We believe our curriculum should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works. Pupils need to respond critically to works from all genres being able to give an opinion on their likes and dislikes. Pupils need to understand how art works and how humans use many mediums to express themselves and communicate. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.

Computing:

At the West Dartmoor federation we believe that Computing is an integral part of preparing children to live in a world where technology is continuously and rapidly evolving, so much so that children are being prepared to work with technology that may not exist yet. Therefore we feel it is important that children are able to respond to new developments in technology with confidence and capability. This will better prepare them for the world of work.

We aim to provide a relevant, challenging and enjoyable Computing curriculum for all pupils, meeting the requirements of the National Curriculum programmes of study for Computing. We see Computing as a tool to enhance learning throughout the curriculum. Some of the changes in Computing such as the rise of social media, pose issues for our pupils. We wish to develop an understanding in our pupils of how to use Computing safely and responsibly.

Geography:

At the West Dartmoor Federation we do not see Geography as a subject merely of places and land-forms. It is an exciting subject for children that that helps us to better understand our world, its people, places and environments and the interactions between them. Geography also helps us understand how and why places are changing, and to better imagine, predict and work towards, likely and preferred futures. The study of Geography deepens our understanding of what places are like, why and how they are connected, and the importance of location.

History:

At the WDF we believe that knowledge and skills in History is not simply the ability to regurgitate facts and dates. It is about real people and real events which happened in the past. History revolves around sequencing, chronology and studying evidence to make conclusion about what has happened and why. This body of knowledge helps give our sense of identity and explain our social, cultural and economic relationships with others. A high calibre History curriculum will build on children’s natural curiosity about Britain’s past and that of the wider world. This knowledge, insight and understanding will help our children take their place in the modern world of socialisation and work. What our children learn can influence their decisions about personal choices, attitudes and values. In History, children find evidence to reach their own conclusions. To do this they need to be able to research, recognise bias and argue a point of view – skills that are essential for lifelong learning.

MFL:

Learning a language at KS2 is statutory in the National Curriculum. At the West Dartmoor Federation we are really fortunate that one of our grandparents is a retired languages teacher from a secondary school. She has kindly devised and delivers a scheme of work for children to learn the French language. The children have produced plays in French and have presented them to our twinned town in France when they visited. The children learn songs and daily conversation. They have even performed a nativity play in French. We believe this exciting, creative and fun curriculum gives a great experience of learning a language and lays very positive foundations for their continued studies at KS3.

Music:

At Lady Modiford’s and Meavy, we know that music helps promote confidence, creativity, a sense of achievement and a sense of community, and is also a great deal of fun and a universal language! Therefore, we provide opportunities for singing and music-making through the programmes of study for KS1/2 of the National Curriculum. Children have opportunities to present their music through our Christmas, Easter and end of year productions, weekly singing assemblies, after-school clubs and music lessons. We aim to use our lessons to inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians. They need to be able to engage with all types of music, critically assessing what they like (or not) about a particular style.

In recent years, our children have had the opportunity to learn the recorder, ocarina and taiko drums and in 2018, our children benefited from whole-class instrumental teaching of the clarinet through the Devon Music Hub.

Physical Education:

At our schools, we recognise the importance of PE, sport and exercise as a life choice. Children need to learn about the benefits of exercise and healthy eating and how to make informed choices about these as they grow. We aim to inspire and engage children’s lifelong interest in sporting activities through providing a wide range of opportunities within school, after school and within the wider community. Therefore children of all abilities will be encouraged to join clubs and organisations . We will also encourage children to develop their creative and expressive abilities, through improvisation and problem-solving. The teaching and learning of PE focuses of the development and exploration of physical skills which we aim to do through an engaging, purposeful and challenging PE curriculum. Through the variety of opportunities that PE offers children can develop a sense of personal achievement, fair play, teamwork and an understanding of the ways in which sport can promote our Christian values

Through the Government Funding for Sport the School will, where possible, provide opportunities for both pupils and teachers to work with and alongside PE specialists and sports coaches. We will also use this grant to subsidise attendance at externally organised events and ‘taster’ sessions to give all children as wide an experience as possible. Spending will be reviewed and published on the school website.

RE

Lady Modiford’s and Meavy Primary schools are Church of England Voluntary Aided schools. Within this specifically Christian environment we aim to provide religious education in accordance with the Christian values of the Federation, which are central to its life and ethos, and are vital to the realisation of our vision.
We aim to enable children to develop spiritual understanding, to begin to comprehend what it means to be a person of faith, and to accept and value those whose commitments, values and ways of life are different from their own promoting good and caring relationships with others.

Science:

Children are naturally fascinated by everything in the world around them and Science is concerned with developing the children’s natural enquiry skills and making a valuable contribution to understanding of all aspects of life. Children learn by playing with and experiencing things in their world. They are constantly picking up clues from all their senses to makes sense of it the world around them. It is important that children are given the opportunity to explore and understand the world in which they live.  Teachers and parents/carers can help children to take a careful look at their world. Science in our schools is therefore about developing children’s ideas and ways of working that enable them to make sense of the world in which they live through investigation, as well as using and applying process skills.

Our aims in teaching science include the following.

• Preparing our children for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world.
• Fostering concern about, and active care for, our environment.
• Helping our children acquire a growing understanding of scientific ideas
• Helping develop and extend our children’s scientific concept of their world.
• Developing our children’s understanding of the international and collaborative nature of science.
• Encouraging the development of positive attitudes to science.
• Building on our children’s natural curiosity and developing a scientific approach to problems.
• Encouraging open-mindedness, self-assessment, perseverance and responsibility.
• Providing our children with an enjoyable experience of science, so that they will develop a deep and lasting interest.
• Giving our children an understanding of scientific processes and helping our children to acquire practical scientific skills.
• Developing the use of scientific language, recording and techniques.