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The acquisition of numeracy and literacy skills is central to the curriculum as these are essential for academic success. They are developed through specific basic skills teaching and then applied across the entire curriculum.

Assessment for learning is at the heart of the curriculum. Teachers have the autonomy to teach what children need. Where it becomes clear that there are poor skills in a particular area, teachers are expected to rectify this quickly though whole class teaching or well-targeted interventions.  Town End Academy has invested heavily in this area, using resources from the Pupil Premium to support in increasing numbers of support staff, training staff in effective interventions, providing additional resources to support children’s learning and conducting research into improving our teaching.  This year we have developed a Nurture group across Key Stage 2 which is effective in supporting a range of children in accessing their learning.

Town End Academy follows the National Curriculum 2014 across Key stage 1 and Key stage 2.  This is a broad and balanced curriculum which:

  • promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society
  • prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.

Town End Academy has daily acts of collective worship, some whole school, some class based, and some within ‘Family Groups’ which have been introduced  to further promote Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural (SMSC) education across the school.  Each week has a theme and this is introduced in assembly each Monday and then covered in each year group – at age appropriate level- with the class teacher.

Children learn through a book based approach where core texts, linked with first-hand experience puts learning into context. This engages and motivates children and ensures that their learning is embedded.  Children work together and in different situations to apply their learning in problem-solving and other activities.  We have incorporated this philosophy when designing our curriculum across Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.   We believe in ‘hooking’ the children into their learning by finding an exciting way of introducing a topic.  We have developed a book based curriculum using quality texts linked to children’s interests and lines of enquiry, and making it relevant to the area around them.

The topics incorporate the programmes of study set out in the new National Curriculum 2014 for history, geography, art and music.  Some of the science is incorporated into the topics but where there is no link, science is taught as a discrete subject across a series of weekly lessons and follows the programmes of study set out in the National Curriculum 2014 and is supported by our use of ‘Science bug’ resources.

PE is taught be specialist coaches across Key Stage 2 and by class teachers in Key Stage 1 and Foundation stage.  The PE curriculum incorporates all of the elements of PE as set out in the National Curriculum 2014 – gymnastics, dance, games and athletics.  We also provide a range of PE and games resources to be used at playtimes and lunchtimes.  The Year 5 and 6 children are trained as play leaders and support the children in playing cooperatively and working together in small teams.  PE is led in school by Mrs Horn and Miss Langley (who also runs the school football team)

R.E. is taught each week and follows the Sunderland agreed syllabus.

Spanish is taught in school and staff are receiving training to enhance our skills in this area.

‘Focus education’ documents and resources have been purchased in school and clearly set out the expectations for each year group in each of the foundation subjects.  These are used by teachers to ensure the planning is pitched at the correct level for the children they are teaching and ensures progression of skills and knowledge across the whole school.

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