THE CURRICULUM

Curriculum for Excellence is the national curriculum for Scottish schools for learners from the ages 3-18 year olds. Its purpose is to improve our children’s chances, to nurture successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens, with the child or young person at the centre of the learning.

Our curriculum is based upon shared values. It is designed to promote challenge, enjoyment, breadth and depth, progression, relevance, coherence, personalisation and choice in learning for all pupils. For further information www.educationscotland.gov.uk

The curriculum is organised around experiences and outcomes in eight curricular areas:

ExpressiveArt (includingArt and Design, Dance, Drama and Music)

Health and Wellbeing (including Mental Emotional, Social and Physical Wellbeing, P.E., Food and Health)

Languages (Literacy)

Mathematics (Numeracy)

Religious and Moral Education Sciences

Social Studies (Understanding People, Place and Society in the past and present including history and geography)

Technologies

The curriculum areas are the organisers for ensuring that learning takes place across a broad range of contexts and offer a way of grouping experiences and outcomes under recognisable headings.

The experiences and outcomes describe the national expectations for learning and progression in all areas of the curriculum. Progression is indicated through curriculum levels which are explained in the table below. The core to everything will be literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing and all staff at Skene Square Primary School have a responsibility for delivering these core curricular areas.

The curriculum aims to recognise children’s achievements both in and out of school. At Skene Square we celebrate children’s achievement through celebratory assemblies and achievement wall and therefore we would appreciate it if you could please keep us up to date of achievements out of school.

Level Stage

Early The pre-school years and P1 or later for some

First To the end of P4, but earlier or later for some

Second To the end of P7, but earlier or later for some

Third and Fourth S1 to S3, but earlier for some. The fourth level broadly equates

Senior Phase S4-S6 and college or other means of study

LANGUAGESAND LITERACY, INCLUDING MODERN LANGUAGES

At St Joseph’s Primary School we take a developmental approach to Literacy This approach ensures that our pupils develop the foundation skills they require for the four organisers of Literacy: Reading, Writing, Listening andTalking.

More information about Emerging Literacy can be found at: https://highlandliteracy.com/emerging-literacy/

Across our school we have a termly focus on specific genres of writing in order to develop specific skills required. Please see table below for this sessions plan.

Mathsand Numeracy

At St Joseph’s Primary School we aim to equip our pupils with a sound grasp of numeracy and mathematics concepts, many of which they will require for life, learning and work.

Within numeracy and mathematics there are three organisers: Number, Money and measure, Shape, position and movement and Information Handling.

With an aim of developing fluency and confidence in maths and numeracy, all of our pupils participate in Number Talks as part of maths lessons. The focus during number talks is not necessarily about gaining the correct answer but it provides the teacher with an opportunity to listen to and follow their pupil’s thinking and therefore adapt their teaching. At the same time pupils are deepening their understanding of mathematical concepts and processes.

Numicon is a resource which is used widely across the school and nursery and supports children’s ability to visualise numbers and number patterns.

At St Joseph’s Primary we are very proud of the positive ethos that collectively the school community has created. Our school values help to ensure that everyone involved with the life of the school has an understanding and shared responsibility in order to maintain this nurturing learning environment.

Across the whole school a programme called ICE PACK is delivered with the aim of equipping our pupils with the skills they require to develop and maintain healthy relationships and to build resilience. At St Joseph’s this programme is planned so that key concepts/themes are taught with age and stage progression so that there is a shared language/ vocabulary across the school. This way of delivering the programme also supports our positive behaviour policy

Homework

We are working with our ASG colleagues to identify a consistent, meaningful approach to homework. In the meantime, homework’s main purpose will be to consolidate learning which has taken place at school. Tasks will have a focus on reading, maths, interdisciplinary and literacy.

Assessment

Assessment is an integral part of learning and teaching and it allows teachers, pupils and parents to make valued judgements about a pupil’s progress. Informal assessment takes place continuously in the day to day interactions between staff and pupils and between pupils and pupils. This assessment information is used to support teachers planning to ensure that the learning opportunities and next steps for each pupil are well planned for and are appropriate in terms of support and challenge. Curriculum for Excellence Benchmarks provide clarity for staff on the national standards within each curricular area and at each level.

National assessments in reading, writing and numeracy (SNSA) are completed by P1, P4 and P7 pupils. This information provides a further form of assessment data which allows professional discussion around a child’s progress.

Reportingand Sharing The Learning

As well as these formal opportunities to discuss learner progress with parents and carers throughout the year there are opportunities for children to share their learning. Class teachers also try to share learning via Class Dojo, Class blogs and our school twitter page in order that we can also share the learning with the wider school community.

Whilst the written progress report is issued to parents in Term 4 of the session parents are able to request a meeting to discuss their child’s progress or any concerns they may have at any point during the school year Appointments can be made by contacting the school office.