In the new National Curriculum (2014) it states that :-

• The national curriculum provides pupils with an introduction to the essential knowledge that they need to be educated citizens. It introduces pupils to the best that has been thought and said; and helps engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement.
• The national curriculum is just one element in the education of every child. There is time and space in the school day and in each week, term and year to range beyond the national curriculum specifications. The national curriculum provides an outline of core knowledge around which teachers can develop exciting and stimulating lessons to promote the development of pupils’ knowledge, understanding and skills as part of the wider school curriculum.

At Longshaw Community Infant School we believe that all children have a right to a broad, balanced and relevant education which provides continuity and progression and takes individual differences into account. We believe that learning in school should be designed to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum and Early Years Foundation Stage Guidance and be set in contexts which are enjoyable and stimulating for the children, thus ensuring that children develop both academically and personally and are well prepared for their journey in life.

The school will:

• cater for the needs of individual children of both sexes from all ethnic and social groups, including the most able and those who are experiencing learning difficulties;
• facilitate children's acquisition of knowledge, skills and qualities which will help them to develop intellectually, emotionally, socially, physically and morally, so that they may become independent, responsible, useful, thinking, confident and considerate members of the community;
• provide experiences which build upon children’s prior knowledge, within a context which is meaningful and relevant;
• create and maintain an exciting and stimulating learning environment;
• ensure that each child's education has continuity and progression;
• ensure that there is a match between the child and the tasks he/she is asked to perform;
• provide an appropriate curricular balance which meets the aims of education;
• recognise the importance of children’s personal, social and emotional development;
• recognise the crucial role which parents play in their children's education and make every effort to encourage parental involvement in the educational process;
• treat every child in a dignified way.

Children will:

• learn to be adaptable, how to solve problems in a variety of situations, how to work independently and as members of a team;
• be developing the ability to make reasoned judgements and choices, based on interpretation and evaluation of relevant information from a variety of sources;
• be happy, cheerful and have high self esteem;
• be enthusiastic and eager to put their best into all activities;
• begin acquiring a set of moral values, e.g. honesty, sincerity, personal responsibility; on which to base their own behaviour;
• be expected to behave in a dignified and acceptable way and learn to become responsible for their actions;
• care for and take pride in their school;
• be developing tolerance, respect and appreciation of the feelings and capabilities of others in an unbiased way;
• be developing non-sexist and non-racist attitudes;
• know how to think and solve problems mathematically in a variety of situations using concepts of number, algebra, measurement, shape and space, and handling data;
• be able to listen and read for a variety of purposes and be able to convey their meaning accurately and appropriately through speech and writing for a variety of purposes;
• be developing an enquiring mind and scientific approach to problem solving;
• have an opportunity to solve problems using technological skills;
• be capable of communicating their knowledge and feelings through various art forms including art/craft, music, drama and be acquiring appropriate techniques which will enable them to develop their inventiveness and creativity;
• know about geographical, historical and social aspects of the local environment and the national heritage and be aware of other times and places and recognise links among family, local, national and international events;
• have some knowledge of the beliefs of the major world religions and develop tolerance and respect towards them;
• be developing agility, physical co-ordination and confidence in and through movement;
• know how to apply the basic principles of health, hygiene and safety.

If you would like any further information about the curriculum at Longshaw Community Infant School please ask for the Headteacher at the school office and I will be glad to discuss this with you further.