Curriculum

Future Ready Curriculum 

A Problem Based Approach 

Blue Coat Primary School aims to provide a curriculum that matches the needs of its children.  Our vision is built around “future readiness” and, as such, what we teach our children needs to precisely match the way in which we teach them.  Through doing this, we ensure that our children are prepared as learners and as individuals for their future lives in an exponentially evolving world.  In short, we aim for children to be empowered learners. 

Many schools present, as their curriculum, a set of objectives that their children are expected to achieve during their time at school.  This forms part of our curriculum, and in our Subject Progression documents we have sequenced the learning in order that knowledge, skills and understanding build progressively on each other.  Objectives are taken from the National Curriculum as well as objectives that we have recognised as being essential to the needs of our children to be future ready.  These progression documents were designed upon our Intent Preambles and our Endpoints.  The Intent Preambles were where we started.  They are an ambitious vision for each individual subject, taking into account the needs of our children.  These were then incorporated into our Endpoints, ensuring that our curriculum has the high expectations.

However, our curriculum goes beyond a set of objectives.  Our curriculum is based around the understanding that the way in which our children are presented with objectives and the way in which they are asked to engage with them, shapes their learning experience.  An effective curriculum is a cohesive whole that incorporates every aspect of the child’s learning.  This links with our vision, where we recognise that for our children to be “future ready”, they need to be empowered with the skills to learn for themselves as highly effective problem solvers. 

Our curriculum is an innovative curriculum.  We teach children through a Problem Based Learning approach.  This is an approach that is research rich with regards to its efficacy, meaning that we know that it will work.  Problem Based Learning is often used in higher education settings but we have adapted the approach to suit our children, as we believe that they deserve a first class education based upon the best evidence available.   

Details of our curriculum can be read below but if you which to find out any additional information following please email you question to admin@bluecoat.gloucs.sch.uk

Why Problem Based Learning? 

At Blue Coat Primary School, we work towards achieving our vision.  We believe that our children need to be equipped to thrive in an unknown future. In an ever changing and developing world, our children need to be prepared to take their place in a world with jobs that do not yet exist and using technology that has not been created. We are committed to having the highest possible expectations for our children and we have created a curriculum that prepares them to flourish rather than just meet the National Curriculum. 

Problem Based Learning incorporates the same objectives as a traditional curriculum.  However, it goes further.  It involves the children in tackling a problem, or a trigger They are involved in agreeing what knowledge, skills and understanding they need to learn in order to make progress and structure their learning sequence alongside their teacher.  At every point, the children are considering what they need to learn to be successful and where their learning fits within the context of the topic.  Rather than a curriculum being seen as something that is done to them, they are active participants in the process (Problem‐based learning: Using students' questions to drive knowledge construction, 2004: Chin and Chia).   

A Problem Based Learning curriculum matches the individual needs of the children of Blue Coat Primary School.  It is a curricular approach that enhances learners ability to learn for a purpose whilst being participant in constructing the objectives and shaping the learning.  This, ultimately, ensures that children are future ready. 

A 3 Dimensional Curriculum 

Education has the habit of swinging from one area of emphasis to another.  Just like within our curriculum, we aim to build upon what has gone before and not build from the start each time an aspect of quality education is in focus.   

Our Problem Based Learning curriculum does focus on ensuring that the objectives that have been carefully selected, are taught in practice.  However, we are also aware of the limitations of a curriculum that skips quickly over objectives without ensuring a depth of understanding.  As children learn objectives, we also ensure that their understanding is deepened.  We use SOLO taxonomy as a consistent approach to ensure that teachers and children are equipped to simplify and extend their learning.  As objectives build sequentially and progressively, they are supported by an equally progressive and sequential depth of understanding within each objective (Biggs and Collis, 1982: Evaluating the Quality of Learning). 

Curriculum Threads

We know our children and their needs better than anyone.  We use this understanding to identify some "curriculum threads".  These are aspects of our curriculum that we want to build, through our spiral curriculum, across different subject disciplines.  Our "curriculum threads" include celebrating diversity, instilling within our children a rich appreciation of cultural capital and the ability to be empowered learners.  These are very different skills that are demonstrated in different ways.  Cultural Capital and Celebrating diversity are shown explicitly in our long term planning Intent, whereas Empowered Learners is developed through the process of Problem Based Learning and is demonstrated below in our Empowered Learners Progressions Map.  We know that these are aspects of learning that will make a significant difference to our children, through our knowledge and understanding of them in their context.  Ultimately, these golden threads help to make our children "future ready".

Committing Learning to the Long Term Memory 

Learning can be defined, at least in part, as an alteration to the long term memory (Kirschner et al, 2006, Why Minimal Guidance During Instruction Does Not Work). This definition, guides us to ensure that the way that our curriculum is designed, as well as the way that we teach the curriculum, aims to embed the learning so that it can be retained over time.  As a research driven school, we investigated the most effective ways in which to ensure that learning is committed to the long term memory.  These are:  

Practice testing. This is where students have to generate an answer to a question.  

Motivation and relevance. Ensure that the learning has purpose and relevance for the children in order to spark an intrinsic desire to  

Distributed practice. Sometimes referred to as “spacing”, distributed practice involves doing little bits of work often instead of a lot all at once (ie cramming). Essentially, students remember more if they spread out their learning. 

Interleaved practice. Interleaving is where students mix up either the types of problem or different subjects, so as to avoid “blocking” their time on just one type of question. This helps keep things fresh and makes it easier for students to identify similarities and differences between the materials they are studying. 

Elaborative interrogation or deep learning. Asking “why is this true?” or “why might this be the case?” helps students think about the material and make connections to previously learned information. However, this technique does require students to have a good base knowledge for it to work effectively. 

These approaches have been integrated into our curriculum in order to ensure that learning remains learnt.  These were not added as an amendment but were the pillars upon which our approach, planning and pedagogy were built.  The way in which they are used are briefly described below: 

Practice testing. Mini assessments are to be utilized throughout the learning process.  Using small chunks of the audit or summative assessments and the start of a unit of learning as well as frequently interweaving test style questions into lessons will support this process.   

Motivation and relevance. A problem based learning curriculum provides a hook, which not only links the objectives to a relevant purpose but also engages the children in designing the learning pathway alongside the teacher. 

Distributed practice. Our medium term plans have been designed as a distributed curriculum, which repeats key objectives as part of lessons regularly after the original input on the key objective in question. 

Interleaved practice. As a problem based approach, children identify different aspects of a topic that they need to learn simultaneously.  Our distributed objectives also ensure different objectives are being taught simultaneously. 

Elaborative interrogation or deep learning. We use SOLO taxonomy to ensure a depth of understanding for all children as part of our teaching, learning and assessment practices 

Reference: Improving Students’ Learning With Effective Learning Techniques: Promising Directions From Cognitive and Educational Psychology John Dunlosky, Katherine A. Rawson, Elizabeth J. Marsh, Mitchell J. Nathan, and Daniel T. Willingham   

Cultural Capital 

At Blue Coat, Cultural Capital is defined as the best that humanity has thought, said and done.  We have made clear the cultural capital that we wish to equip our children with throughout our curriculum planning.  At each stage in the learning, aspects that reflect this are embedded within each subject of our curriculum.  As part of our process of constructing a clearly sequenced curriculum, we placed cultural capital opportunities within the overall structure.  Part of being “Future Ready” means that our children need to have the cultural reference points to thrive socially and academically.   

Early Reading and Phonics

Early Reading is a priority at Blue Coat.  

Why learning to read is so important

• • grapheme–phoneme correspondences in a clearly defined, incremental sequence
  • to apply the skill of blending (synthesising) phonemes in order to read words
  • to apply the skills of segmenting words into their constituent phonemes in order to develop spelling skills
  • that blending and segmenting are reversible processes. 
  • Increasing the child’s fluency in reading sounds, words and books.
    • Reading is essential for all subject areas and improves life chances.
    • Positive attitudes to reading and choosing to read have academic, social and emotional benefits for children.

    Early Readers will be taught:

    We use "Little Wandle" as our complete synthetic phonics programme.  Reading books are sharply matched to the phonics knowledge that pupils are being taught.  The symbiotic relationship between phonics and reading is supported through this approach.  Decoding, prosody and comprehension are taught at the start of our sequential reading curriculum that is designed to instil a love of reading which enables access to the full curriculum.

  The role of Parents’ and Carers’ 

   

  • Have a positive impact on their child’s reading.
  • Should model the importance of reading practice to develop fluency.
  • Children take home books they have read at school to re-read at home to build fluency.
  • There are two different types of books that pupils bring home: reading practice and books to share for pleasure.
  • Reading at home encourages a love of books, along with developing vocabulary and discussion.
  • Parents should use voices, expression, discuss unfamiliar vocabulary, talk about the pictures, and predict what might happen next.

   

  Supporting your child with reading

  Although your child will be taught to read at school, you can have a huge impact on their reading journey by continuing their practice at home.

  There are two types of reading book that your child may bring home:

  A reading practice book.

  This will be at the correct phonic stage for your child. They should be able to read this fluently and independently.

  A sharing book.  Your child will not be able to read this on their own. This book is for you both to read and enjoy together.

   

  Reading practice book

  This book has been carefully matched to your child’s current reading level. If your child is reading it with little help, please don’t worry that it’s too easy – your child needs to develop fluency and confidence in reading.

  Listen to them read the book. Remember to give them lots of praise – celebrate their success! If they can’t read a word, read it to them. After they have finished, talk about the book together.

   

  Sharing book

  In order to encourage your child to become a lifelong reader, it is important that they learn to read for pleasure. The sharing book is a book they have chosen for you to enjoy together.

  Please remember that you shouldn’t expect your child to read this alone. Read it to or with them. Discuss the pictures, enjoy the story, predict what might happen next, use different voices for the characters, explore the facts in a non-fiction book. The main thing is that you have fun!

  Reception

  In Reception children progress through Phase 2 (single letter sounds), Phase 3 (introducing digraphs/trigraphs) and then Phase 4 (adjacent consonants). The children in Reception have discrete daily phonics teaching input. The classroom environments also facilitate opportunities for the children to independently explore, practise and consolidate their phonics learning throughout the school day.

  Year 1

  Discrete daily teaching of phonics continues in Year 1. They will revise Phase 3 and Phase 4 to ensure that previous learning is consolidated and embedded and before being introduced to Phase 5 alternative spellings.

  Year 2

  In Year 2 children will revise Phase 5 and be introduced Phase 6 (more complex, multi-syllabic words and morphemes such as prefixes and suffixes) in discrete spelling lessons.
   

  Programme Overview

  • Programme-Overview_Reception-and-Year-1.pdf

  Phase 2 sounds taught in Reception Autumn 1

  This Phase 2 sounds taught in Reception Autumn 1 video is designed to be shared with families by schools using Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised.

  Video of Phase 2 sounds taught in Reception A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZtjFIvA_fs

   

  Phase 2 sounds taught in Reception Autumn 2

  This Phase 2 sounds taught in Reception Autumn 2 video is designed to be shared with families to help them to support learning at home.

  Video of Phase 2 sounds taught in Reception A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDu3JAjf-U0

   

  Phase 3 sounds taught in Reception Spring 1

  This Phase 3 sounds taught in Reception Spring 1 video is designed to be shared with families to help them support the learning at home.

  Video of Phase 3 sounds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvOuc7cWXxc

   

  How we teach blending

  This How we teach blending video is designed to be shared with families by schools using Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised.

  Video of how we teach blending https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL5YUCPyC5I&feature=youtu.be

   

  A quick guide to alien words

  This Alien words video is designed to be shared with families by schools using the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised complete phonics programme.

  Video of how we teach alien words https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-o3cQKjU18

   

  How we teach tricky words

  This Explanation of tricky words video is designed to be shared with families by schools using the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised complete phonics scheme.

  Video of how we teach tricky words https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQmtOXbf3-0

   

  Additional 'How To' Videos and Information

  For additional information about 'How to say Phase 5 sounds', 'How we teach Phase 5' and other useful information about phonics, please follow the link below onto the Little Wandle website:

  https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/