Curriculum
We aim to foster a life-long love of learning, through adopting a curriculum which inspires and excites our children.
Across our school we follow the national curriculum. The ‘basic’ school curriculum
includes the ‘national curriculum’, as well as religious education and PSHCE.
The national curriculum is a set of subjects and standards used by primary and
secondary schools so children learn the same things. It covers what subjects are taught
and the standards children should reach in each subject.
The national curriculum at our school
To have a better understanding of what your child will be learning across the year, please view the downloads available on this page.
At Ulcombe, we believe our curriculum provides rich opportunities to develop both the substantive knowledge within each subject and the disciplinary knowledge – the skills needed to master a subject. Carefully designed and sequenced, our curriculum ensures children have the best opportunities to succeed as 21st-century citizens.
Rooted in research and developed collaboratively with subject leaders, our curriculum reflects best practices while continuously evolving to provide the most meaningful learning experiences. Above all, we prioritize the needs and outcomes of our children.
Our curriculum serves as both a window and a mirror: a window to new opportunities and knowledge, broadening children’s horizons, and a mirror that reflects their own identities and experiences.
Should you like to know more about our curriculum, please contact our senior teacher Monique Syred: msyred@aspire-kent.org.uk
Right to Withdraw
Religious Education and Sex Education
At Ulcombe we have chosen to only teach the relationships part of Sex and Relationship Education. There is no right to withdraw from this. The only Sex Education to be taught will be that in the statutory science National Curriculum. Again there is no right to withdraw from this.
All children MUST come to school on the following days in their active uniform, although this can be worn everyday. Please remember no jewellery including ear-rings on these days.
Owlets – Tuesday and Wednesday
Barn Owls – Tuesday and Thursday
Tawny Owls – Tuesday and Thursday
RE / UBW
Religious education should enable every child to flourish and to live life in all its fullness.
It will help educate for dignity and respect encouraging all to live well together
(John 10:10).
RE Statement of Entitlement for Church Schools
Understanding Beliefs Worldviews Policy
Music
Early Years – Year R
We are an early adopter school of the new ELG and development matters.
More information on the framework used can be found in the document below [PDF, 43 pages].
Phonics and Reading
Please speak to class teachers for more information as to how your child is taught in class.
You can also download information about our phonics and reading schemes.
Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) Development and British Values
At our school we value the importance of teaching children the knowledge, understanding and skills to become healthy, happy individuals who can form positive relationships and keep themselves and others safe. While being a Christian school our ethos also actively promotes our British Values and we teach children to become positive British citizens who can understand and contribute to our democratic, diverse and tolerant society. We use various opportunities to explicitly teach children the values of Democracy, Rule of Law, Individual Liberty and Respect and Tolerance for those of different faiths and with different beliefs.
We have weekly, 15 minute class meetings where important issues are discussed and all the voices and opinions of every child, is heard. These are sometimes led by our school council members.
The children also take part in teacher directed PSHE lessons, where a variety of topics have been covered, for example: goal setting; personal reflection; British Values; understanding empathy; understanding cultural diversity, in Britain and in other countries; reflecting on personal identity and what impacts this (cultural influences); considering what success is and thinking about different ways to ‘connect’ with others and yourself; dealing with change; going green, health and fitness, personal values and explicit British values learning.
The whole school also takes part in and acknowledges different themed days/weeks throughout the year, such as:
- Anti-bullying Week
- Safer Internet Day
- World Thinking Day
- Children in Need
- Sports Relief
- Healthy Eating week and our ‘Well Being Day’
- Safety in Action
- Our Cultural Diversity Day
Pupils produce work based on these themes and have collective worship sessions where we, as a school, come together to learn and reflect.
Our British Values are strongly celebrated through displays in all classrooms and public areas and we have class books showing the learning and development in children’s understanding and application of these values.
We welcome everyone to our school that celebrates the similarities that unite us and the differences which enrich us.
All children from Years 3-6 get at least 6 weeks worth of swimming per year.
In addition there is a sensory swimming group which includes children from Year R – Year 6.
Teachers and TAs across Aspire are trained as swimming teachers overseen by Mrs Steer (Head of School at Leeds and Broomfield as the lead for swimming. All lessons are taught by an Aspire member of staff at Sutton Valence swimming pool.