Dudley Infant Academy
Curriculum
We aim to provide an ambitious, motivating and enriched curriculum that meets the needs of all children, allowing them to explore and understand the world they live in. We provide opportunities for children to develop as independent and confident learners with high aspirations, empowering every child to become a responsible and successful citizen in the community, becoming life-long learners.
Our curriculum incorporates the key knowledge, skills and understanding set out in the national curriculum. Our teaching is carefully planned with high expectations to ensure clear progression within all curriculum subjects and aims to support children in gaining a deeper understanding of their learning.
Every child deserves:
- A broad and balanced education, covering all aspects of the national curriculum, as well as important issues such as health, safety, personal and social development and an understanding of their community.
- The opportunity to develop skills and acquire understanding which provide a firm foundation for all future learning.
A positive learning experience in an environment that offers equal opportunities for all, regardless of gender, race, social background or physical ability and also encourages children to develop self-confidence.
Curriculum Statement: Intent
We want to ensure that every child has access to the best start in life and develops to their full potential. Our academy is at the heart of the local community, developing strong relationships with our families and with other groups and organisations in our unique locality.
Informed by the national curriculum that provides a broad and balanced education, we deliver a high quality and purposeful curriculum, meeting the needs of all pupils. It is designed to equip them with the knowledge and cultural capital necessary to prepare them to become educated citizens and to succeed in life. Its implementation is intended to provide children with ambition, learn new and exciting concepts and deepen subject knowledge through a progressive model. In addition, physical development, well-being and mental health are key elements that support the development of the whole child and promote a positive attitude to learning. Underpinning the curriculum are our academy’s key drivers – community & location, adventure & intrigue, nurturing young minds and moral values & diversity.
Location and Community
Develop our learners understanding of their place in the community and wider world: Who we are and the differences we can make.
We are a community of learners and we will work together to maintain a safe and stimulating learning environment, develop an awareness of wider global issues and through our curriculum make strong links with our local and wider communities.
Adventure and Intrigue
Develop a passion for learning through an exciting and engaging curriculum: awe and wonder.
Our children will be engaged by a curriculum that is rich in learning opportunities which excite the imagination. Their knowledge and understanding will be developed through a wide range of creative, physical and expressive activities that will broaden their horizons and enrich their experiences of life.
Nurturing Young Minds
Develop our learner’s learning: Our head and body – what we learn.
To develop the appropriate subject specific knowledge, skills and understanding as set out in the national curriculum, so that children can flourish, reach and achieve their potential academically, physically and artistically. To develop the behaviours that learners need to succeed in the world such as concentration, perseverance, imagination, co-operation, the enjoyment of learning, self-improvement and curiosity.
Moral Values and Diversity
Develop the character of our learners: Our heart and character - who we are when we learn.
To develop learners to have a holistic set of values that prepares them for life in the modern world in a diverse and ever changing community. To understand spirituality in themselves and others, develop social skills and understand society, build a firm set of personal morality, and to engage in the culture they live in and understand the cultures of other
Curriculum Statement: Implementation
We offer a curriculum which is broad and balanced and builds upon the knowledge, understanding and skills for all children as they progress through our academy. Our ambitious curriculum incorporates the statutory requirements of the national curriculum and is adapted to ensure that it reflects the context and locality of our unique academy, meeting the learning and developmental needs of all pupils. Using the national curriculum as a basis, all subjects are coherently planned and sequenced, developing pupils’ knowledge with the aim being that ‘Everyone can know more and remember more at Dudley’.
Every child is recognised as a unique individual and we celebrate and welcome differences within our school community. The ability to learn is underpinned by the teaching of basic skills, powerful knowledge, concepts and values. Our Personal Development Awards support our learners to acquire the skills needed to promote responsibility for learning. In addition, they contribute to future success and underpin their character development.
Subject leaders are key in the planning, progression and delivery of the curriculum and a system of curriculum monitoring and review ensures subject developments and changes are implemented effectively. Attainment, progress and knowledge acquisition are tracked by academy assessment strategies and used to inform planning and support the varied needs of our learners. Theme weeks, whole academy activities and opportunities within and outside the academy enrich and develop the children’s learning and equip them with the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life.
Curriculum Statement: Impact
Through our curriculum drivers, we will:
Develop our learners understanding of their place in the community and wider world: Who we are and the differences we can make. By working together and building strong positive partnerships with the community, we will develop well-rounded and responsible citizens with a distinct awareness of society both locally and globally. Children will be academically and physically prepared for life.
Develop our learner’s learning: Our head and body - what we learn. Learners will have fully rounded characters with a clear understanding of complex values such as equality, friendship and trust. They will be able to develop a character that prepares them for living in the community, demonstrating tolerance and respect for others.
Develop a passion for learning through an exciting and engaging curriculum: awe and wonder. Through exciting curriculum design, learners will acquire a deep body of learning over time. They will have been provided with opportunities to make interconnected links to prior knowledge and showcase their understanding. Our learners will have developed detailed knowledge across the curriculum and, as a result, will achieve well and go onto destinations that meet their interests and aspirations.
Develop the character of our learners: Our heart and character - who we are when we learn. Our learners will be motivated by a strong personal sense of morality. Our character education will encourage them to make decisions for the right reasons and in the best interests of their life and their community. They will be able to decide what is right and what is wrong, and will be resilient to the influence of others. They will go out into the world and make a difference in their own life and to others. Our learners will be the owners of their own destinies.
Subjects
Design Technology
English Phonics and Reading
English Writing
Maths
Our Mathematics curriculum is delivered through a framework entitled The White Rose Scheme of Work. We utilise the White Rose planning schedule to develop a teaching for mastery curriculum which enables children to develop their reasoning, investigative and problem solving skills. Alongside this scheme we follow the Mastering Number program developed by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics, which develops firm foundations of good number sense and ensures all pupils develop fluency in calculation and a confidence and flexibility with number.
Physical Education (PE)
Personal, Social and Health Education and Safeguarding
At Dudley Infant Academy, we offer PSHE education (personal, social, health and economic education) as a planned programme of learning through which children and young people acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to successfully manage their lives – now and in the future. As part of a whole-school approach, PSHE education develops the qualities and attributes pupils need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society.Our PSHE curriculum follows the Jigsaw whole-school approach to PSHE Education and aims to nurture our children’s development as compassionate and well-rounded human beings as well as building their capacity to learn. Jigsaw is a comprehensive and completely original PSHE Education programme (lesson plans and teaching resources) for the whole primary school from ages 3-11 (12 in Scotland). Written by teachers and grounded in psychology, it includes all the statutory requirements for relationships and health education, and sex education is also included in the Changing Me Puzzle (unit).
Jigsaw has two main aims for all children:
- To build their capacity for learning
- To equip them for life
Religious Education (RE)
Relationship and Health Education
The curriculum map for relationship and health education (RHE) can be found within our RHE policy, which can be located on our policies page.