Curriculum

At King David Primary School our curriculum is based on our core values and our Jewish ethos. We follow a knowledge-engaged approach as we see our curriculum as a balance between knowledge and skills. Our curriculum is designed to inspire enthusiasm for learning and to ensure opportunities are provided to create independent, confident and highly motivated life-long learners. We encourage high achievement and support pupil well-being and happiness with equal access to learning, with high expectations for every pupil and appropriate challenge and support.

We aim for all our pupils to be responsible, caring citizens who build strong relationships, develop resilience, celebrate diversity, encourage respect and build a sense of community.
All our children are given the opportunity to succeed through a broad, balanced, challenging and inclusive curriculum that enables pupils to develop knowledge, understand concepts and acquire skills and to be able to apply these in relevant situations.

We plan our curriculum to include all the requirements of the Early Years Framework, National Curriculum and a Jewish Studies curriculum that supports the heritage and culture of orthodox Jewish families in Manchester and our support of the state of Israel. As a Jewish school we value the spiritual, moral, social and emotional development of every child. We are deeply committed to preparing our pupils for life in modern Britain and understanding their place in the global community. We constantly strive to provide enhancement opportunities to engage learning in the classroom and the wider environment. We promote the learning and development of our youngest children in Preschool and Reception to ensure they are ready for Key Stage 1 as well as preparing our older pupils for their transition to secondary school.

Pupils have the opportunity to demonstrate mastery and are encouraged to speak eloquently and articulate their ideas and thoughts and to have the confidence to express their views through the wide curriculum.

A wide range of extra-curricular activities enrich the opportunities for our pupils. At King David Primary School we promote a positive attitude to learning and behaviour so all children enjoy coming to school, develop high expectations of themselves and have a strong sense of belonging and are proud that they have developed the confidence and skills needed to succeed in their future lives and the working world.

Curriculum Details

 

The Early Years Foundation Stage

At King David Primary, we believe that the Early Years Foundation Stage is crucial in securing solid foundations that children are going to continue to build upon. It is our intent that we support all children who enter our EYFS in their personal, social and emotional development ensuring they feel safe, secure and have a positive attitude to school and learning. We believe that all children deserve to be valued as an individual and we are passionate in allowing all children to achieve their full, unique potential. Our Integtrated Jewish Studies curriculum works alongside the EYFS Framework. The Jewish ethos of the school reflects, supports and enhances this intent.

 

The three Prime areas are:

  • Communication and Language
  • Physical Development
  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development

The four Specific areas are:

  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding the world
  • Expressive Arts and Design

The teaching of these areas of learning is practical and playful with support and challenge from adults in class sessions, small group sessions and work with individuals. There is a combination of adult-led, teacher taught sessions and a wealth of stimulating Continuous Provision opportunities for child-initiated activity. Throughout all of these areas of learning and at the heart of the EYFS Curriculum are the “Characteristics of Effective Learning”. We strive to develop these key characteristics of “Playing and Learning”, “Active Learning” and “Thinking Critically” in order to give the children the skills that they will continue to draw upon throughout their development. The Jewish Studies curriculum is delivered in exactly the same way as the secular curriculum. All of the crucial skills, knowledge and vocabulary that we teach are presented to the children throughout the year through a range of topics, which are designed with their interests in mind.

Our learning environments, both inside and outside are also adapted regularly to meet the different and developing needs of the children. We aim to ensure that these areas are always stimulating and exciting and that, importantly, they are accessible to all children, regardless of where they are on their learning journey. The environments are developed to enable the children to access the curriculum independently and confidently with the necessary level of support and challenge.

Within our EYFS Curriculum, children are assessed continuously through accurate observations. These provide us with information for future planning for next steps in learning. They enable us to ensure learning is embedded and consistent and that all children continue to make outstanding progress within our EYFS setting and achieve the Early Learning Goals and a Good Level of Development. Therefore providing them with a confident and positive transition to Key Stage 1.

Key Stage 1

The subjects taught in Key Stage 1 are in keeping with the 2014 National Curriculum. They include English, Maths, Science, History, Geography, Art and DT, Music, Computing, Physical Education, PSHE as well as Jewish Studies.

See: gov.uk site National Curriculum Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2
Download: Key Stages 1 and 2 Framework (pdf)

Further information about the curriculum can be found in the Curriculum maps and subject area sections of this website. The class pages will also contain information about what your child is learning in school.

Key Stage 2

The subjects taught in Key Stage 2 are in keeping with the 2014 National Curriculum. They include English, Maths, Science, History, Geography, Art and DT, Music, Computing, Physical Education, PSHE, Modern Hebrew and Jewish Studies.

See: gov.uk site National Curriculum Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2
Download: Key Stages 1 and 2 Framework (pdf)

Further information about the curriculum can be found in the Curriculum maps and subject area sections of this website. The class pages will also contain information about what your child is learning in school.

 

Curriculum Maps
EYFS

Preschool

KS1

Year 1

 

Year 2

KS2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

Pupil Progress, Assessment and Reports


Assessment at King David Primary School is an integral part of teaching and learning. Its purpose is primarily to inform the teacher of a child’s progress so that appropriate tasks are planned for future teaching.

We are committed to each child reaching their full potential. To measure this, a baseline profile is completed within the first half term of each child’s entry into both the Preschool and Reception and this is kept as a reference point in the child’s records as they go through the school. Children are then continually assessed as they go through the Foundation stage according to Development Matters and the Early Learning Goals for their Foundation Stage profile is completed in their final term. In Years 1 to 6 children are assessed termly and individual targets and results are discussed and agreed with children. These describe an all-round picture of the child’s development, this information is shared with parents at our two Parents Evenings each academic year and annual reports are completed and sent home towards the end of the Summer term.

Termly assessments also inform teachers, children and parents of the next steps in learning.
Formal tests take place in Year 2 and Year 6 in line with National SATs testing.

Homework


We believe homework is an important part of school life that fosters the partnership between home and school. It informs and involves parents in the work their children are doing and helps them to reinforce new knowledge and skills. Children will be given homework that is appropriate to their age and ability.