Our Curriculum Offer
At Hoyland Springwood, we recognise that children deserve a curriculum that has breadth, depth and balance and that is an exciting curriculum, personalised for our children; so that when children leave our school they will have had a great start with opportunities and experiences that will be embedded for life. Our focus regarding the curriculum is to ensure that its breadth, depth and balance will mean that children are properly prepared to take their next steps when they leave us - but that they will also retain what they have learned so that it continues to shape them into the future.
We understand that our children will have far better life chances if they are highly literate and numerate, but we are determined not to pursue those aims if it leads to a curriculum that is narrowed and starved of opportunities to develop the whole child. By understanding our children and by recognising how we can help them to be fully rounded citizens we can redress any social disadvantage that may have chained our community in the past. Our children are the future and our curriculum will give them the very best chances in life.
The National Curriculum in England:
We understand that our children will have far better life chances if they are highly literate and numerate, but we are determined not to pursue those aims if it leads to a curriculum that is narrowed and starved of opportunities to develop the whole child. By understanding our children and by recognising how we can help them to be fully rounded citizens we can redress any social disadvantage that may have chained our community in the past. Our children are the future and our curriculum will give them the very best chances in life.
The National Curriculum in England:
Click here to see more information about the national Curriculm
Literacy at Hoyland Springwood
At Hoyland Springwood, our Literacy curriculum is extremely important to us.
We are passionate about ensuring that children are given the opportunities to read, explore and utilise the best that has been thought and said, by introducing them to texts that they will become passionate about. Some of which they may never have heard of or had the chance to read otherwise. It is important to us that children are able to read and enjoy modern texts by authors such as Dahl and Walliams alongside definitive writers such as Dickens and CS Lewis. Our discrete teaching sessions of vocabulary will help children not only to understand these texts, but give them a broader understanding which to enrich daily conversation.
We also acknowledge and appreciate the breadth of experiences on our doorstep and in our surrounding area for us to incorporate into our curriculum.
We strive to ensure that the children who enter our care have mastered the subject to the best of their abilities by the time that they leave us, and they are able to use these skills to further their own learning within secondary school and beyond.
We are passionate about ensuring that children are given the opportunities to read, explore and utilise the best that has been thought and said, by introducing them to texts that they will become passionate about. Some of which they may never have heard of or had the chance to read otherwise. It is important to us that children are able to read and enjoy modern texts by authors such as Dahl and Walliams alongside definitive writers such as Dickens and CS Lewis. Our discrete teaching sessions of vocabulary will help children not only to understand these texts, but give them a broader understanding which to enrich daily conversation.
We also acknowledge and appreciate the breadth of experiences on our doorstep and in our surrounding area for us to incorporate into our curriculum.
We strive to ensure that the children who enter our care have mastered the subject to the best of their abilities by the time that they leave us, and they are able to use these skills to further their own learning within secondary school and beyond.
Click here for most recent Handwriting Policy
Maths at Hoyland Springwood
At Hoyland Springwood, we aim to help children develop their knowledge and understanding of maths in an enjoyable way, but one which will also fit them for life after school as well as help them achieve the appropriate levels in the Attainment Targets of the National Curriculum.
Children will be given the opportunity to work both in groups and individually, using a variety of resources and materials. To ensure individual needs are met and that their progress is carefully monitored; through high quality teaching for ability groupings; it is our aim that all our pupils will be able to:
Maths is taught in innovative ways and is based on the concrete - pictorial -abstract approach (CPA). Children are actively encouraged to use resources, whatever their ability, to develop, understand and prove mathematical concepts. Our maths provision is based on the 'Teaching for Mastery' approach. The main principles underpinning this are detailed by the NCETM (2016) as:
As a school, we use White Rose Maths for progression. The schemes can all be seen on the website:
Children will be given the opportunity to work both in groups and individually, using a variety of resources and materials. To ensure individual needs are met and that their progress is carefully monitored; through high quality teaching for ability groupings; it is our aim that all our pupils will be able to:
- Have a sense of the size of a number and where it fits into the number system
- Know by heart number facts such as number bonds, multiplication tables, doubles and halves
- Use what they know by heart to figure out answers mentally
- Calculate accurately and efficiently, both mentally and with pencil and paper drawing on a range of calculation strategies
- Recognise when it is appropriate to use a calculator, and be able to do so effectively
- Make sense of number problems, including non-routine problems, and recognise the operations need to solve them
- Explain their methods and reasoning using correct mathematical terms
- Judge whether the answers are reasonable and have strategies for checking them where necessary
- Suggest suitable units for measuring, and make sensible estimates of measurement
- Explain and make predictions from the numbers in graphs, diagrams, charts and tables.
Maths is taught in innovative ways and is based on the concrete - pictorial -abstract approach (CPA). Children are actively encouraged to use resources, whatever their ability, to develop, understand and prove mathematical concepts. Our maths provision is based on the 'Teaching for Mastery' approach. The main principles underpinning this are detailed by the NCETM (2016) as:
- Maths teaching for mastery rejects the idea that a large proportion of people ‘just can’t do maths’. ·
- All pupils are encouraged by the belief that by working hard at maths they can succeed. ·
- Pupils are taught through whole-class interactive teaching, where the focus is on all pupils working together on the same lesson content at the same time, as happens in Shanghai and several other regions that teach maths successfully. This ensures that all can master concepts before moving to the next part of the curriculum sequence, allowing no pupil to be left behind.
- If a pupil fails to grasp a concept or procedure, this is identified quickly and early intervention ensures the pupil is ready to move forward with the whole class in the next lesson.
- Lesson design identifies the new mathematics that is to be taught, the key points, the difficult points and a carefully sequenced journey through the learning. In a typical lesson the teacher leads back and forth interaction, including questioning, short tasks, explanation, demonstration, and discussion.
- Procedural fluency and conceptual understanding are developed in tandem because each supports the development of the other.
- It is recognised that practice is a vital part of learning, but the practice used is intelligent practice that both reinforces pupils’ procedural fluency and develops their conceptual understanding.
- Significant time is spent developing deep knowledge of the key ideas that are needed to underpin future learning. The structure and connections within the mathematics are emphasised, so that pupils develop deep learning that can be sustained.
- Key facts such as multiplication tables and addition facts within 10 are learnt to automaticity to avoid cognitive overload in the working memory and enable pupils to focus on new concepts.
As a school, we use White Rose Maths for progression. The schemes can all be seen on the website:
Science at Hoyland Springwood
At Hoyland Springwood, we provide the children with high-quality science education. This gives children the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics.
Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world's future prosperity, and all pupils are taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. Pupils are encouraged to develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They are encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.
Speaking and listening is highly valued throughout science lessons, as this not only encourages children to explore scientific vocabulary but also share and develop their ideas with others.
An emphasis is placed on 'Working scientifically' through inspirational and engaging activities. We strive to develop a love of science where questioning and an exploratory attitude is at the heart of learning.
Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world's future prosperity, and all pupils are taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. Pupils are encouraged to develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They are encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.
Speaking and listening is highly valued throughout science lessons, as this not only encourages children to explore scientific vocabulary but also share and develop their ideas with others.
An emphasis is placed on 'Working scientifically' through inspirational and engaging activities. We strive to develop a love of science where questioning and an exploratory attitude is at the heart of learning.
PHSE at Hoyland Springwood
Personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education is an important and necessary part of all pupils' education. All schools should teach PSHE, drawing on good practice, and this expectation is outlined in the introduction to the proposed new national curriculum.
At Hoyland Springwood, teachers will use 'SEAL' as a starting point for our PSHE delivery and planning across the key stages. As a school, we have developed a host of learning behaviours which are instilled in every year group. Each half term, there is a focus on one particular learning behaviour and all learning behaviours are celebrated weekly in Fridays assembly
At Hoyland Springwood, teachers will use 'SEAL' as a starting point for our PSHE delivery and planning across the key stages. As a school, we have developed a host of learning behaviours which are instilled in every year group. Each half term, there is a focus on one particular learning behaviour and all learning behaviours are celebrated weekly in Fridays assembly
History at Hoyland Springwood
At Hoyland Springwood, we believe that children deserve a broad and balanced curriculum. To provide this, we include a high-quality history education to assist pupils to gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain's past as much as that of the wider world. We feel that it is important to develop our planning to make our topics engaging and relevant to our pupils by incorporating local historical study. It should inspire pupils' curiosity to know more about the past. We will endeavour to make sure that children gain a variety of first hand experiences of different time periods through significant school visits, themed days and historical experts sharing their knowledge within school.
Geography at Hoyland Springwood
At Hoyland Springwood, we believe that a rich geography curriculum is essential for our children, as geography plays a crucial part in helping children to understand their place in the world and how their actions can influence the human and physical environment. It should inspire a curiosity and a fascination for world and its people that will stay with them throughout their lives.
Geography teaching needs to provide pupils with knowledge about the Human and Physical environment and the interactions between these. We will also equip children with the skills needed to gather and interpret information.
Geography teaching needs to provide pupils with knowledge about the Human and Physical environment and the interactions between these. We will also equip children with the skills needed to gather and interpret information.
Art and Design at Hoyland Springwood
At Hoyland Springwood, we believe that children deserve a broad and balanced curriculum. In order to achieve this we provide an excellent art and design curriculum which helps children to produce high-quality projects.
Children are taught a range of skills and techniques which can be used across all medias; thus providing children with the knowledge and skills needed to produce work to be proud of.
We feel it is important for children to understand the benefits and opportunities available in the creative arts both during their education and beyond. Many of our art projects are linked to other topics to enhance and broaden the children's understanding.
Children are taught a range of skills and techniques which can be used across all medias; thus providing children with the knowledge and skills needed to produce work to be proud of.
We feel it is important for children to understand the benefits and opportunities available in the creative arts both during their education and beyond. Many of our art projects are linked to other topics to enhance and broaden the children's understanding.
Design and Technology at Hoyland Springwood
In design and technology, our curriculum gives children different opportunities to design, make and evaluate a range of different projects. The projects are designed to ensure the children are challenged, encourages them to take risks and teaches them to evaluate the work they have done. These are all skills which can be utilised across all subjects. Design Technology also allows children to use a range of subject knowledge in a variety of subjects such as maths, science and computing as they solve the problems put to them.
A large part of Design Technology involves the design and production of different food, this allows children to develop life skills, learn the importance of a healthy diet and taste food they would not necessarily have access to out of school.
A large part of Design Technology involves the design and production of different food, this allows children to develop life skills, learn the importance of a healthy diet and taste food they would not necessarily have access to out of school.
Computing at Hoyland Springwood
A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has deep links with mathematics, science and design and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems.
Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate - able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through information and communication technology - at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.
Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate - able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through information and communication technology - at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.
At school we support our IT/Computing curriculum with the use of Purple Mash. It is an award-winning website for nursery and primary school children which allows them to explore and enhance their knowledge in a fun and creative way. It also helps you as a parent have an insight into what your child is currently learning within IT with the parent code which is provided on your child’s login. Teachers will be using this to set tasks for your child/ren to complete at home to make learning even more fun.
MFL at Hoyland Springwood
At Hoyland Springwood we believe that MFL (Modern Foreign Languages) and the learning of a foreign language provides a valuable educational, social and cultural experience for our children. It helps them to develop communication and listening skills, whilst extending their knowledge of how language works.
In addition, learning another language gives children a new perspective on the world, encouraging them to understand their own cultures and those of others to assist them in an increasingly multicultural society in which the UK is becoming.
In addition, learning another language gives children a new perspective on the world, encouraging them to understand their own cultures and those of others to assist them in an increasingly multicultural society in which the UK is becoming.
Music at Hoyland Springwood
Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. A high quality music education should engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement.
PE at Hoyland Springwood
At Hoyland Springwood we aim to inspire and engage children's interest in sporting activities by providing a wide variety of opportunities and experiences both in school and off site. Through physical education and sport we aim to teach our pupils new skills and show them how to improve in a fun, safe and motivating environment. We strive to give children the opportunity to compete internally, and with other schools to encourage values of determination, respect, friendship, courage, equality and inspiration.
By creating experiences, broadening sporting opportunities and instilling a passion for P.E our pupils will become healthy, determined, confident and active young people ready for the next stage of their lives.
By creating experiences, broadening sporting opportunities and instilling a passion for P.E our pupils will become healthy, determined, confident and active young people ready for the next stage of their lives.
RE at Hoyland Springwood
Our approach to the RE curriculum ensures that it is taught discretely outside of topic time. The RE curriculum has been developed and enhanced from the National Curriculum and the Discovery Syllabus, which ensures that children learn about a variety of religions throughout their time at school. Our progressive curriculum supports the progression of knowledge and skills a child should learn and how children revisit knowledge and skills to ensure depth and rigour over time.
RE in school provides a balance of opportunities for children to learn about and learn from religion. We believe that learning from religion provides huge scope for developing children’s spirituality, understanding of the world and it's diverse communities.
We are continuing to develop our links with our local community church - St Peter's Hoyland. Father Richard is a regular visitor in school for assemblies and special occasions. We also visit the church at Christmas for a KS2 carol service.
RE in school provides a balance of opportunities for children to learn about and learn from religion. We believe that learning from religion provides huge scope for developing children’s spirituality, understanding of the world and it's diverse communities.
We are continuing to develop our links with our local community church - St Peter's Hoyland. Father Richard is a regular visitor in school for assemblies and special occasions. We also visit the church at Christmas for a KS2 carol service.
