Writing

At Wellesley Primary School, we want all children to be able to confidently communicate their ideas, knowledge and emotions through their writing. We aim to provide a variety of purposeful and exciting writing opportunities to engage all children. In addition, the development of language and oracy is encouraged, developed and planned for throughout our topics as is the progression of grammar skills that allow the children to write effectively in a range of genres. We encourage children to take pride in their presentation, by developing a legible, cursive handwriting style by the time they leave primary school. Our curriculum is progressive and builds upon the previous year’s teaching and regular assessment allows teachers to ensure that all children’s needs are met in lessons.

Maths

At Wellesley, we aim to encourage our children to have a positive attitude towards mathematics, enjoying both the fun and challenge it brings. We believe that allowing our pupils to develop their knowledge and understanding of mathematical concepts through concrete and pictorial experiences gives them a secure start in their learning, enabling them to reason and problem solve. We use the White Rose Maths programme to teach our Reception to Year 6 children. White Rose is a whole-class mastery programme designed to spark curiosity and excitement and help nurture confidence in maths. Concepts are taught in small connected and structured steps, so that children are consistently building upon their previous knowledge. We ensure that Mathematics is taught across our curriculum, so that our children develop as confident mathematicians and can apply their knowledge and skills in other contexts.
Mathematics is a core subject in the National Curriculum and at Wellesley our ‘mastery’ approach follows the DFE Mathematics National Curriculum Programmes of study. and the Early Years Foundation Stage Guidance using the White Rose Maths scheme of work.

Reading

At Wellesley Primary we believe that learning to read is central for all areas of development and is a vital skill for life. We aim to foster a love of reading in many ways, such as listening to daily stories; visiting the school library; weekly reading for pleasure time and our class book areas. We want children to become fluent readers as this is the key to success and future opportunities. Our aim is that the children will be competent readers by the time that they leave us and that they will choose to read a wide range of genres and take pleasure in recommending books to their peers. We teach reading comprehension skills so that the children will be able to access and understand texts they have read in our school and as they move on to secondary education.

Science

At Wellesley Primary School, we have developed a science curriculum based on the National Curriculum. Children are encouraged to think of themselves as ‘scientists’ as they learn about healthy lifestyles and the world around them. We aim for children to enjoy learning science and that they have the opportunity to learn about the wonders of the natural world around them.
Our curriculum is designed to build on children’s proper experiences and to revisit key ideas and concepts to enable deep learning.

Art

At Wellesley Primary School our curriculum to teaches specific art skills as well as providing opportunities to explore different media, concepts and artists, through creative and interactive lessons. Art is taught via four key areas:
• drawing
• painting and mixed media
• sculpture and 3D
• craft and design.
We use the Kapow Art scheme which has been carefully tailored to ensure that appropriate knowledge and skills are being developed, with the focus on progression across all year groups. We want our Art curriculum to ignite creativity, enthusiasm and a genuine interest in the subject. We want our children to appreciate the work of other artists, craft makers and architects; critiquing their work and using it as an inspiration for their own. We support the children to be personally reflective and evaluate their own creative journey.

Design and Technology

At Wellesley Primary School, Design and Technology is taught through following the Kapow scheme of work. The units have been carefully selected to ensure gradual progression towards the National curriculum end of key stage attainment targets and to cover all of the four strands:
• Design
• Make
• Evaluate
• Technical knowledge

We intend for all children to acquire appropriate subject knowledge, skills and understanding as set out in the National Curriculum. It is our aim, where possible, to give children opportunities to make cross curricular links with other subjects, such as Mathematics, Science, Computing, and Art.

Music

The music curriculum at Wellesley Primary School is based on the principle that it should be fun and engaging for all children. All children have the capability to be musicians and music plays a role in every aspect of our lives. It is creative, collaborative, celebratory and challenging. We want to ensure that all children perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians. The children will learn to sing, create and compose music independently and with their peers, and have the opportunity to learn to play instruments including un-tuned percussion, ukulele, recorders, glockenspiels and keyboards. The children are also exposed to a range of genres of music in assemblies through entrance and exit music. We promote singing as much as possible and provide opportunities for children to sing, for example in assemblies and Key Stage 2 children can take part in the Christmas choir each year.

Physical Education

Our Physical Education curriculum offers a broad range of activities to allow our children to make and sustain healthy, active life choices. We aim to provide opportunities for children to compete in sports and other character-building activities, whilst embedding those important values of fairness and respect. At Wellesley we follow the scheme Get Set 4 PE to allow for smooth transitions and clever learning connections from EYFS to Year 6.

PSHE

At Wellesley we follow the Jigsaw scheme of work for PSHE. Jigsaw is a mindful approach to PSHE that brings together personal, social, health education, emotional literacy, social skills and spiritual development in a comprehensive scheme of learning. Teaching strategies are varied and are mindful of preferred learning styles, with lessons adapted to meet children’s needs. The children will build their relationships within their classes and will begin to understand themselves as unique human beings. Jigsaw is designed as a whole school approach, with all year groups working on the same theme at the same time. The aim is to improve children’s capacity to learn and develop their resilience as well as support their emotional wellbeing and mental health, thereby enhancing their life chances. There are six puzzles in Jigsaw that are designed to progress in sequence from September to July.

French

At Wellesley Primary School, French is taught via the Language Angels scheme which has been carefully tailored to ensure that appropriate knowledge and skills are being developed, with the focus on progression across all year groups in Key Stage 2. We want our French curriculum to develop children’s curiosity and confidence to explore other countries, cultures and languages and they will recognise the value of communicating effectively in another language. By embedding the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing that are necessary to enable children to use and apply their French learning in a variety of contexts, they will be engaged and prepared to continue language learning at secondary school. Furthermore, learning French will also offer pupils the opportunity to explore relationships between language and identity, develop a deeper understanding of other cultures and the world around them with a better awareness of self, others and cultural differences. The intention is that they will be working towards becoming life-long language learners.

Religious Education

At Wellesley Primary we follow the Discovery RE scheme (in accordance with the South Gloucestershire SACRE Syllabus) which is based on an enquiry approach to learning. Each enquiry is underpinned with a human perspective; this is explored within each child's own experience. The children's personal resonance with the enquiry forms the link into the world of religion. Christianity is taught in every year group, alongside one other religion that is recognised in Britain.
We feel the principle aim of Religious Education is to engage the children's thought processes so that they can develop the understanding and skills needed to appreciate, appraise and respond to questions regarding different faiths and cultures.

History

At Wellesley Primary School, History is taught via key areas: change and continuity, cause and consequences, similarities and differences, sources of evidence, historical interpretation and historical significance. We use the Kapow History scheme which has been carefully tailored to ensure that appropriate knowledge, skills and historical vocabulary are developed, with the focus on progression across all year groups. We want our History curriculum to excite genuine interest in our pupils, inspire curiosity about the past and for them to gain a greater understanding of the past. Our curriculum develops their knowledge of power and monarchy, achievements, Invasion, settlement and migration, civilisation, trade and beliefs. History gives the children opportunities to investigate how the past has influenced the present.

Geography

At Wellesley Primary School, Geography is taught via four key areas: place knowledge, locational knowledge, human and physical geography, and geographical skills and fieldwork. We use the Kapow Geography scheme which has been carefully tailored to ensure that appropriate knowledge and skills are being developed, with the focus on progression across all year groups. We want our geography curriculum to excite genuine interest in our pupils and for them to gain a greater understanding of the ways of life and cultures of people and places beyond Yate. Our curriculum develops their knowledge of places and environments throughout the world; their understanding of maps and their investigative and problem-solving skills both inside and outside the classroom. Geography gives the children opportunities to investigate environmental issues and to consider the legacy that we, as humans, will leave behind. As our pupils study geography, they encounter different societies and cultures and this helps them realise how nations rely on and support each other. Our children are inspired to think about their place in the world, their values and their rights and responsibilities to other people and the environment.

Computing

At Wellesley Primary School, we have developed a computing curriculum based on the National Curriculum to engage our children in the ever-changing world of technology and e-safety. It is clear that technology forms an important part of our children’s lives and we want to ensure that children are able to become independent computer users, prepared to take their place in today’s digital world, whilst being able to keep themselves and others safe online.