The Curriculum

At Manor Green, we have four curriculum pathways

• EYFS curriculum
• Engagement Curriculum
• Semi-formal curriculum
• Formal curriculum

These curricular take into account pupils’ learning needs and stages of development; pupils may therefore move from one level to the next at any point in their school career. Our curriculum is based on two factors: communication and cognition. These are the fundamental structure underpinning all pathways.

The National Curriculum forms part of the whole school curriculum. The National Curriculum Programmes of study for each subject are followed where they are relevant and accessible. However, the suggested Programs of studies may be implemented to different Key stages due the needs of our pupils. The whole curriculum at Manor Green includes a much broader offer for pupils in terms of supporting and developing our pupils in areas of attention and communication, physical development, self-care and independence and specific therapy the pupils may need.

Teachers keep detailed records on individual’s progress using a whole school system, which ensures continuity and development throughout the school. Each pupil has a “Record of Achievement” and an end of year progress report which contains evidence of improvement and accomplishment throughout their time in school.

Learning outside the classroom (LOtC) is highlighted at every opportunity as an important part of delivering the curriculum. Every class from reception through to Year 6 have their own outdoor learning area. The outdoor classrooms are used every day regardless of the weather as part of delivering the children’s daily lessons. These lessons are fully differentiated and personalised. Children are never denied learning outdoors regardless of medical, physical or behavioural needs.

The fostering of positive attitudes by parents/carers and teachers to a pupil’s learning cannot be over-emphasised. Pupils are encouraged from an early age to evaluate their work and celebrate achievement.

English

At Manor Green, English has a high priority. The skills children learn in reading and writing, speaking and listening are directly transferable to all areas of the curriculum and are so important for children to succeed.

Our curriculums have been developed to meet to the national curriculum (2014) and we have worked carefully as a school to ensure that our English curriculum is relevant, robust and appropriate for all our children. Every child is an individual; we recognise the importance of promoting a holistic, sensory based curriculum to support pupil development. Children need to succeed at their own pace but maximising their opportunity to achieve their absolute potential is reflected in our approach to the curriculum.

Where ever possible, English should have strong cross-curricular links. We believe in thematic learning based around good quality text embodying the early skills needed to allow children to meet every aspect of the new targets for spelling, grammar and handwriting in the new English curriculum.

We want to work in complete partnership with the child’s home and any other agencies to ensure that early reading, writing and speaking and listening is developed and children have a positive view of themselves as readers and writers.

Phonics

Phonics begins with sound awareness and recognition of sounds, children follow our specifically developed ‘Pre-Phonics Scheme of Work’, recognised as best practice and shared with our locality schools before moving through the nationally recognised ‘Rocket Phonics’ scheme.

Children’s phonics skills are regularly assessed and those at a pre-formal phonics level will work specifically with interactive music and sound awareness activities.  The main focus of this is to develop children’s speaking and listening skills and to get children attuned to the sounds around them (phonological awareness).  This supports children to become ready to begin developing oral blending and segmenting skills.

This work lays the foundations for the phonics work which starts later and is delivered in conjunction with our communication curriculum. When children are assessed as being secure in these skills then a daily synthetic phonics approach is used; Reading planet Rocket Phonics. This includes interactive books and games with a focus on letter sounds, blending and segmenting work, spelling and letter formation. This is referred to across the curriculum and taught daily using both the inside and outside learning environments. Children who are identified as possibly becoming sight readers are given a personalised programme to cater for their individual need.

Contact hoana.skipworth@mgprimary.co.uk our English Strategy Lead to discuss this further

Maths

As a member of the West Sussex Maths Hub, at Manor Green we aim to inspire children by providing them with a fun and creative sense of interest and enjoyment in mathematics. We support the children to develop understanding of the practical and creative use of Maths in everyday life. Our teaching and learning focusses on the delivery of Maths mastery, across all areas of the Maths curriculum.

We use the scheme ‘Big Maths’ and ‘Little Big Maths’ to deliver mathematically teaching and learning.

The Long Term Planning and personalised targets ensure that all pupils are introduced to a wide range of mathematical skills in the areas of number, shape space and measures, and data handling with an overall emphasis on mastery of number to assist in the using and applying of those skills

Contact Jodie.rowe@mgprimary.co.uk our Maths Lead to discuss this further or see our Calculation Policy.

Science

Science helps children to develop their ideas and way of working so that they can make sense of the world in which they live. Through a highly practical and sensory curriculum, our children are encouraged to develop and explore their own ideas.

Children are encouraged to be inquisitive and become independent learners by exploring possible answers for their scientific based questions. Children will acquire specific skills and knowledge to help them think scientifically, whilst gaining an understanding of the uses and implications of science, today and for the future in line with their level of need.

We have developed a comprehensive long-term plan and scheme of work to support scientific enquiry and the development of knowledge and skills relevant to our pupils, whilst maintaining the broad and balanced needs of the science curriculum expectations.  Children develop their investigative skills, ask questions, make observations, experiment and develop knowledge across a range of scientific areas; including plants, animals, materials, light, sound and seasonal changes.

Contact cheryl.gallon@mgprimary.co.uk our Science Lead to discuss this further

Personal, Social and Health Emotional

At Manor Green all staff have an important part of the wider safeguarding system for children. This system is described in statutory guidance, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2020 everyone who comes into contact with children and their families at Manor Green has a role to play. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all staff involved with the children at school should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.

Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) is an integral part of all learning at Manor Green throughout each day and across all aspects of the curriculum. Personalised Life Skill targets allow each pupil to work on specific areas which enables them to become as world ready and independent as they can be.

The PSHE curriculum follows a two year cycle and covers topics such as; self-awareness, healthy lifestyles, the world I live in, self-care, support and safety, managing feelings and changing and growing. The curriculum is organic and will adapt to the changing needs of society, local community in which we live in and our ever changing school population to ensure all the children are as world ready as possible before leaving Manor Green in Year 6.

We hold Friday assemblies which reflects that PSHE and SMSC topics of learning. This learning is followed up with class based differentiated lessons in small groups, in pairs or on a 1:1 personalised basis according to need of the class and individual. When sensitive learning is shown to parents and or carers in advance through parent workshops or online meetings. This ensures consistency and removes any misconceptions considered before the material is delivered to the children.

Since Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education has become statutory by GOV we have been working hard to ensure our curriculum content has the breadth and depth to cover all this material. The focus in primary school should be on teaching the fundamental building blocks and characteristics of positive relationships, with particular reference to friendships, family friends, online relationships and relationships with other children and adults.

By the end of Year 6 pupils should have developed their knowledge and understanding of;

•  Families and people who care for me – importance of stability, love and security that a family brings, characteristics of a healthy family life, what other families look like, what marriage represents, how to recognise and seek advice if family relationships are making them unhappy.

•  Caring friendships – how to choose and make friends, what characteristics make up a true friend, how to be a friend, how to cope when friendships have their ups and downs, how to strengthen friendships and resolve disagreements and how to recognise who to trust and who not to trust.

•  Respectful relationships – importance of developing respect for others, practical steps to improve established and new relationships, developing manners and why they are important, understanding how you should be treated by others and different types of bullying including cyberbullying and how to get help.

•  Online relationship – importance of behaving appropriately online, understanding some people are not who they say they are online, developing understanding of rules for online use and not sharing private information with unfamiliar people and how to securely save data online.

•  Being safe – importance of learning boundaries and the concept of privacy, why you should not always keep a secret, what the difference between a surprise and a secret, learning that your body belongs to you and the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touch is, how to ask for advice or help for themselves and to keep trying until they are heard and how to use specific vocabulary or augmented communication methods to report concerns or worries.

Sex education is not compulsory in primary schools but at Manor Green we feel strongly to provide education for all the children in Years 5 and 6 who are going or will be going through puberty. For each cohort of children we will provide personalised education linked to body development, consent, responsibilities in older life and human life cycles. This material is graduated, age appropriate and take into account the needs of each child. All parents and carers will have opportunity to view these materials and ask questions ahead of it being delivered to their child(ren). Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child(ren) from sex education and it is good practice for a conversations with parents around the right to withdraw.

Contact cheryl.gallon@mgprimary.co.uk our PSHE Lead to discuss this further

Computing

At Manor Green all pupils have access to computing within all our curriculum pathways, we believe that Computing forms part of the children’s core learning and it is essential to prepare children for a digital world. 

Computing is carefully planned and adapted to meet the level of needs of our children.  We have a Long-Term plan that incorporates the ESMART themes, coding and creating digital content.   Our computing curriculum closely supports our PSHE curriculum and we celebrate Online Safety Day each year.

Teaching and Learning is delivered to children once a week within a designated computing or communication lesson and will also be accessed as a cross curricular tool.  Learning is delivered using a blended technology approach, using programmes such as Mine Craft Education, Nearpod and Sum dog.

We have created a bespoke assessment tool to track the progress in Computer Science, Digital Literacy, Online Safety, Digital Wellbeing and Information Technology. 

We prioritise teaching e-safety through computing lessons with termly focusses that complement the ever-changing online world in an appropriate and relevant way for our children.  To further keep our children safe, we use classroom cloud, Jamf and ESMART to teach online safety and monitor internet access.

Contact jim.duncan@mgprimary.co.uk our Computing Lead and Online Safety DSL to discuss this further

Physical Education

Manor Green regards physical education with the utmost importance. It is essential for all pupils to be physically active and to develop in physical confidence.

P.E. is a practical subject which enables all pupils to participate in enjoyable, exciting and challenging activities. At Manor, Green P.E. comes in many forms, such as P.E. lessons, horse-riding, dance, swimming and hydrotherapy. Many children also follow specific physiotherapy and occupational therapy programmes designed to improve mobility and strengthen core muscles.

PE is fully inclusive at Manor Green and children have access to a full broad and balanced curriculum focussing on developing skills, knowledge and understanding of all sports with resources in place to ensure inclusive practice.

We access the local community to deliver some of our PE curriculum, including K2 for Swimming, Littlebrooks for Horse Riding and the Bridge for Clip and Climb.

Local coaches deliver specific sports such as Jolf and Bikeability and teachers are encouraged to support the children on PE focussed school trips.

Each year we welcome families in to school to celebrate Sports Day, it is an important day in our calendar that Manor Green College support us. 

Contact Matthew.daw@mgprimary.co.uk our PE Lead to discuss this further

Foundation Subjects and Our Creativity Curriculum

These comprise History, Geography, Art, Design and Technology, Music and Religious Education.

Creativity in the Curriculum

We have a commitment to providing all learners at Manor Green School, with their “Cultural Entitlement”. By this we mean access to opportunities to meaningfully engage in a range of art forms. We want any encounters with the arts, to enable deep learning, and facilitate personal growth.

Design and Technology

Design and Technology teaches children to plan, design and create different products. It is taught through a wide range of creative practical activities and has many cross curricular links. The children learn how to communicate their ideas, how to use different materials and how to use a range of simple tools. They learn to make choices and how to evaluate their end product.

History

History is taught through topics to help pupils both develop a sense of past and present in their own lives and also as a knowledge and understanding of events, famous people and daily lives in the past. Learning is supported through studying of historical artefacts, educational visits, historical theme days and access to a range of historical sources.

Geography

Geography topics develop knowledge and understanding of places and environments throughout the world.
Activities include exploring the local community, collecting weather data, comparing different locations, finding out about places far away and using maps.

Art

Children are given the opportunity to develop their art skills over time through termly projects related to class topics. Children are also given exposure to different artists and techniques to help develop appreciation for their own work and others.

Dance and Drama

Drama is used to enhance our curriculum, develop knowledge and teach topics in a creative and fun way. Dance is taught within our PE sessions. Both drama and dance are showcased at various performances throughout the year including assemblies, our school winter and summer productions. We encourage children to explore all aspects of the arts and have performances/workshops by external artists wherever possible.

Music

Music is used to enhance and enrich all areas of the curriculum. It is used to engage and inspire pupils and to increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. Performing, composing and listening; this includes singing and playing instruments. 

We use the online programme of study ‘Charanga’ and ‘Singing Hands’ to support our Music curriculum.

R.E

At Manor Green, R.E. is inclusive of world faiths. We celebrate and learn about the belief systems of our children giving precedence to Christianity in line with the West Sussex Guidance.

Throughout the school year we celebrate festivals from a range of faiths and cultures, as reflected in our school population. Such festivals include Diwali, Harvest, Christmas and the birth of Jesus, Chinese New Year and the stories of Islam.

We learn about the Old Testament stories of Joseph, Noah, Jonah and the Whale, the miracles performed by Jesus, and Creation. We celebrate the miracle of His resurrection at Easter.

Our learning is creative and includes visits to Christian Churches, Mosques and Hindu Temples. We teach through the media of art; drama; dance; food technology, and plan visits both from religious speakers, and to a range of food outlets and restaurants. We celebrate through wonderful assemblies which incorporate visual effects; drama; and dance and which stimulate the children to enjoy and understand the cultures and beliefs of different faiths.

If you would like any more information on the curriculum please contact our Curriculum and Achievement Lead, cheryl.gallon@mgprimary.co.uk to discuss this further