Our Curriculum – The Abbeyfield Way!

At Abbeyfield Primary Academy we offer a broad and diverse curriculum to meet the needs of all our pupils. Since the introduction of the 2014 national curriculum, we have engaged with a range of research to develop the curriculum we offer. The teaching team, led by the SLT and the FRMAT, have co-constructed detailed schemes of work, which ensure that each year group have knowledge rich, well-resourced programmes. The teachers plan in teams, to develop well planned and resourced lessons which reduce individual teacher workload and improve the quality of the lessons for all children. All our schemes of work ensure pupils’ progress in knowledge and skills and offer oracy rich experiences.

Writing Vision Statement and approach to teaching

We follow a Talk for Writing approach and strongly believe that if the children can’t say it they can’t write it. Our writing sequences of work start with the children learning an oral WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like), they then innovate on a piece similar to a model demonstrated by the teacher and then progress to a fully independent piece. This final piece is then edited, up levelled and polished. Contextualised grammar is taught throughout each writing unit.

We strongly believe that children should write for purpose in all subjects across the curriculum. Our topic lessons are language rich whilst also developing our children to be geographers and historians. The curriculum has been designed to build on children’s cumulative knowledge and develop their understanding of key overarching concepts. Subject specific skills are mapped out to be introduced when appropriate. A rich programme of educational visits and immersive experiences underpin all our topic work ensuring that all our children have access to the same experiences.

Reading Vision Statement and approach to teaching

We promote a love of reading by using reciprocal reading to enhance the enjoyment of a whole class text. We teach reading skills lessons to enable our children to engage with all aspects of comprehension. Discrete phonics sessions are taught following letters and sounds using a multi-sensory approach.

Mathematics Vision Statement and approach to teaching

We provide a mathematics mastery approach, which offers all pupils access to the full mathematics curriculum. Those pupils who grasp concepts quickly are challenged further to deepen their knowledge within the topic. Those children who are not sufficiently fluent are provided with additional support to consolidate their understanding before moving on.

Science Vision Statement and approach to teaching

Through skills based practical investigation our science curriculum is designed to focus on technical vocabulary which provides our children with science capital enabling them to access the world around them. We have a strong partnership with the AMRC, independent Sheffield schools, local engineering companies and Sheffield University who we are working closely with to enrich the science curriculum with STEM opportunities.

Every child enjoys a rich well-structured PE curriculum consisting of skills development and fitness. We compete in house and against other schools whilst also making use of the sports grant to enable children to take part in a wide variety of sporting experiences. Our children enjoy art lessons which exposes them to a wide range of artists and art forms.

Following the music scheme Charanga the children enjoy a range of different music genres and have the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience. Live performances are used to enhance this experience.

At Abbeyfield Primary Academy we ensure that the experiences we provide for the children in the Foundation Stage are shaped to ensure that they are given opportunities to make progress within the seven areas of learning and development as they make progress towards achieving the 17 Early Learning Goals (ELGs) at the end of the Reception year at school. We follow the statutory guidance in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, which sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children’s ‘school readiness’ and gives children the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life. All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected. We ensure that we consider the individual needs, interests, and stage of development of each of our children to plan challenging and enjoyable experiences for each child in all of the areas of learning and development through planned, purposeful play and through a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activity. We use a theme based approach to engage the children in their learning and ensure there are writing opportunities in all areas. We assess the progress of children using the characteristics of effective learning to develop learning behaviours ready for their learning journey.

We have one class for International New arrivals for children who arrive with little English and sometimes no formal schooling. This class offer an intensive focus on language acquisition as well as offering bespoke nurture provision. We also have The Den which is for those children who need a more individualised curriculum due to complex special education needs. The setting prioritises basic skills within a rich and exciting learning environment offering specialist interventions where needed.

In order to develop computing skills we teach children a range of skills including coding, programming and digital literacy. Central to our computing programme is a focus on on line safety, cyber bullying and respecting others on line.

We endeavour to develop well-rounded citizens who will contribute positively to modern British society. In order to do this we offer a wide range of enriching experiences such as aspirations weeks, school council, after school clubs, international days, religious and cultural experiences, and residential visits. We also offer a wide range of family learning. This is underpinned by a well-structured RE, PSHCE and a rich arts curriculum. This provides a structured set of protocols that empower our children to have a voice, be listened to and the opportunity to engage with other children’s views and opinions in a safe and respectful environment. We are also about to launch a peer mediation scheme in order to develop children’s skills in conflict resolution.

Five Rivers Mat is committed to offering its children enriching and exciting opportunities to complement and enhance their academic achievements through the Children’s Charter. This includes experiences such as taking part in a debate and trying something new leading towards children recording their achievements in a booklet.

For further information about the curriculum, email enquiries@abbeyfield.sheffield.sch.uk