Primary Handbook 22/23

THE PRIMARY CURRICULUM AT BSAK The curriculum is a narrative, a journey that the children begin when they enter school in the Early Years and continue through the Primary School. It is, in effect, what the children are taught. The children are provided with engaging and diverse learning opportunities as part of a very carefully sequenced, cumulative curriculum. Teachers, knowing the curriculum narrative well, base current learning on what children have previously learnt and also forecast future learning for the weeks, months and years to come. Being able to make these ‘bigger picture’ connections, linking knowledge and concepts within a subject and between subjects, is very powerful and helps the children to contextualise what they have learnt, helping them to make many meaningful connections. The curriculum is carefully designed in order that children frequently revisit previous learning which supports them in transferring knowledge into their long term memory. Our teachers employ impactful, evidence informed and age appropriate teaching practices to ensure that the children learn and remember core knowledge with which they can then be skilful and creative, applying what they know and being challenged to think hard. Thinking hard is the engine for learning and teachers provide planned and considered opportunities for such thinking across the curriculum. Transitions between each phase of the Primary School are carefully planned in order that children move seamlessly from one stage of their learning to the next. EARLY YEARS: NURSERY & RECEPTION In the Early Years, staff pride themselves on a responsive teaching approach, where children learn through the joy of play and exploration. Enabling environments are thoughtfully designed to support children in feeling calm, safe and truly at home during their time in school. During the school year, children are provided with opportunities to enable them to develop socially and academically, grow in confidence and engage with every aspect of school life. Employing a child-centred ‘in the moment’ approach to teaching and learning, staff quickly learn the unique attributes of each and every child and are able to interact compassionately with the children as individuals. As a result, staff provide learning opportunities which encourage and extend the children’s development across all areas of learning, driven by each individual’s particular interests and ideas. This is very powerful. The learning environment is crucial to success in the Early Years and is very carefully designed to support personalised learning and progress for every child. Another important element of the Early Years curriculum is that of core ‘secondary knowledge’, such as phonics, writing and maths which are delivered during focused learning times. This is managed appropriately for the needs of the children and includes short whole class, group, paired or individual instruction. These teaching and learning opportunities support children to deepen and extend their knowledge and skills in preparation for their transition into Year 1. Children start to learn Arabic, taught by specialist Arabic language teachers, in Reception. Music and PE are delivered by specialist departments from Nursery through the Primary Years.