Curriculum
Willows-Curriculum (ID 1023)
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Religious Education
Religious Education
At The Willows we see Religious Education as a way of becoming more human as we grow to love ourselves, love each other and love Jesus Christ. We understand that Jesus challenges us to be ‘perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect’, by the strength of our faith, hope, love and compassion. Therefore, we aspire to see ourselves and each other as ‘precious in His eyes’.
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HRSE
HRSE
At The Willows we are inspired by Jesus to be the very best we can be. We look after one another and show respect and love through our relationships with one another. Jesus is invited into our hearts. In the Beatitudes, Jesus invites us to lead a full life with him by explaining what makes people blessed or happy. This is about understanding how loving our neighbour enables us to be happy too. Therefore, having a good relationship with ourselves and the other people in our lives makes us grow and flourish and we respect that everyone is a unique and beautiful part of God’s creation.
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Art & Design
Art & Design
We believe that teaching and learning in art and design is important because it stimulates creativity, imagination and inventiveness. It fires the children’s imagination and is a fundamental means of personal expression.
“Art is not just a subject to learn, but an activity that you can practise with your hands, your eyes, your whole personality.” Quentin Blake, Children’s Laureate
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Computing
Computing
As the use of technology is an integral part of teaching and learning, we view the teaching of online safety as a fundamental part of our curriculum. At every opportunity, online safety is taught and discussed with our children where appropriate to everyday use, as well as having a specific focus on relevant areas of online safety, for example, where there are issues identified involving our children.
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Design & Technology
Design & Technology
Design and technology is an intricate part of our day to day lives and we therefore believe that our children need to be taught the importance of this subject in our rapidly changing world. Our children are encouraged to think creatively in order to solve problems and make improvements to existing ideas and products. It is through these methods that they can make positive changes to their own and others’ lives.
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English
English
At The Willows Catholic Primary School, we believe that a quality English curriculum should develop children’s love of reading, writing and discussion. We have a rich, progressive English curriculum that provides many purposeful opportunities for reading, writing and discussion. Our curriculum closely follows the aims of the National Curriculum for English 2014.
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EYFS (Reception)
EYFS (Reception)
At The Willows Catholic Primary School, the EYFS curriculum is designed to encourage independent, inquisitive and happy learners. We recognise children’s prior learning and various starting points, and create a holistic curriculum that maximises cross-curricular links and builds strong foundations for their future.
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Geography
Geography
It is the intent of the Geography Curriculum to inspire children’s curiosity and interest to explore the world that we live in and its people, through the children with lots of opportunities to learn about the world in which we live. We want our children to develop a deep understanding of their local environment and the diverse surroundings of the wider world, with appreciation of the human and physical characteristics.
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History
History
Our intent is that our teaching of History will help pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. We aim for it to inspire pupils’ curiosity about the past and to know more about the past. We aim to enable children to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement.
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Languages
Languages
At The Willows Catholic Primary School we provide all of our children with a high-quality education in Modern Foreign Languages (M.F.L.), which develops their love of learning about other languages and cultures. At The Willows, our children are taught about the French culture and language.
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Maths
Maths
At The Willows, we strive to develop a love of all things mathematical. Every child is equally important and so our children are fully supported to enable them to develop at a level that is appropriate to them. As well as engaging our children through fun activities, our lessons focus on developing deeper thinking, rehearsing methods and learning new facts. Through challenging word problems, missing number tasks and open-ended problem solving where they explain their understanding, we challenge children to become masters of the subject. Children explain their answers rather than just giving a numerical answer and are encouraged to challenge others if they disagree and argue their case if they are convinced that they are correct.
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Music
Music
Music is an integral and well-resourced part of life at The Willows Catholic Primary School. We want the music lessons to be fun and inspiring, engaging the children with songs, lyrics and movement. We want the children to feel able and reflective and expressive, developing their own appreciation of music with the opportunities we provide as a school. All children are actively encouraged and given the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument, from standard classroom instruments to individual instrumental lessons with the visiting peripatetic staff.
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PE
PE
At The Willows Catholic Primary School, we aim to engage, motivate and inspire children to develop a love of physical exercise, games and healthy lifestyles. We recognise the benefits of a strong Physical Education curriculum and extra-curricular activity on raising children’s aspirations and self-esteem. Our staff and children are enthusiastic about P.E. and this is shown through teachers’ attitude towards the teaching of high quality P.E. lessons. P.E. teaching at The Willows follows all requirements of the National Curriculum for Physical Education; providing opportunities for all pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness.
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Phonics
Phonics
At The Willows Catholic Primary School we are committed to the delivery of excellence in the teaching of Phonics. We aim to develop each child so that they are able to read with fluency as well as develop a love of reading that will stay with our children all their lives. Being able to read is the most important skill children will learn during their early schooling and has far-reaching implications for lifelong confidence and well-being.
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Science
Science
At The Willows Catholic Primary School our children love Science and are Scientists! We aim to give every child a broad and balanced Science curriculum which enables them to confidently explore and discover what is around them, so that they have a deeper understanding of the world we live in. We want our children to love science. We want them to have no limits to what their ambitions are and grow up wanting to be astronauts, forensic scientists, toxicologists or microbiologists.
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Writing
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British Values
British Values
At The Willows, we uphold and teach pupils about British values as directed under Ofsted guidance, September 2024, which states that school 'prepares pupils for life in modern Britain effectively, developing their understanding of the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.'
