The Paradigm Trust KS1-2 Phonics and English and The Aims of the EYFS-KS3 Science, RE and Foundation Subject Curriculum
We teach the right things efficiently.
The curriculum for Paradigm Trust:
- prepares pupils to lead fulfilling lives and to play an active, positive and productive role in our democratic society.
- is based on the National Curriculum and Early Learning Goals;
- represents and celebrates the contributions from all groups of people who make up our community;
- enhances pupils’ personal, social and emotional development (PSED);
- promotes fundamental British values;
- makes provision for pupils to develop their literacy and numeracy skills so that they can access all areas of the curriculum;
- is responsive to both the current and future needs of pupils through planning;
- accommodates future examination and assessment reforms;
- ensures that pupils will be equipped with the correct qualifications to gain access to future study and employment;
- is well organised and staffed appropriately throughout all year groups;
- prioritises all year groups equally;
- meets the needs of learners with special educational needs and disabilities;
- encourages pupils to master skills and deepen knowledge and understanding;
- prepares pupils for an ever changing, wider world of work;
- encourages the use of environments and expertise beyond the classroom including immersive learning;
- provides interesting and varied extra-curricular activities and educational visits to broaden pupils’ experiences;
- has local, national and international dimensions;
- ensures that pupils have the background knowledge to interpret new information from sources including stories and images.
We make appropriate adjustments against this default curriculum according to our pupils’ needs.
SEND Curriculum Adaptations
Our approach to making adaptations for pupils with additional needs is to use the Paradigm Trust core curriculum as a starting point. We believe that our curriculum provides the best structured learning for all learners.
Class teachers working with the SENDCo identify the most appropriate point in the curriculum to start. The curriculum is then adapted to support academic progression from that starting point. The teacher progresses through the curriculum at the pace best suited to the learner.
We track the curriculum taught to each pupil so that we can ensure that in subsequent years, the pupil does not repeat the same curriculum and also that teachers can refer back to previous learning.
Mixed Age Classes
In some of our schools, we have mixed age classes. Our approach to curriculum for these classes is to adapt the Trust’s curriculum so that:
- all pupils are stretched and challenged;
- all pupils are supported to make appropriate progress and
- pupils do not repeat content they have already studied.
In some cases, additional units have been developed to ensure all pupils make good progress without repetition.