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Personal Development
‘Learning together and supporting each other’.
Our personal development curriculum is underpinned by our school vision and values of courage, curiosity and compassion. By the end of Year 6, all children will have developed their knowledge of who they are, their future aspirations and have a broad understanding of the ever-changing world around them. Our curriculum has been designed with our school community at the forefront, prioritising our children’s physical, emotional and mental well-being.
Through progressive, rich opportunities, our aim is for all children to be well-rounded citizens, able decision makers and lifelong learners. We believe it is vital for all children to experience wider opportunities beyond the curriculum that develops our children’s personal, social and moral development as well as life skills they can use to be successful in future life.
Courageous Children:
We have a culture where every child has a voice and is listened to. We consult children in major changes, for example, the emblem design for our values and our behaviour policy. We invest time in building positive relationships with trusted adults in order for children to express their needs, concerns and ambitions. Time is spent each year on building the environment and culture as the foundation layer of our Teaching and learning pyramid.
Curious Children:
We promote curiosity in all aspects of school life. Our knowledge rich curriculum and daily academic challenge promotes their intellectual curiosity; our range of exciting opportunities and experiences promote explorative curiosity; our strong links with our diverse community in and out of school support their social curiosity. Whether it is taking part in extra curricular clubs, participating in a sporting event or learning to play an instrument every child contributes something unique.
Compassionate Children:
Our school community is diverse. Therefore the quality of compassion is at the heart of everything we do and instilled in everyone. We have managed to create a cohesive community where all stakeholders support us in supporting their children. Staff are compassionate and model being compassionate to others and themselves. We focus on explicitly teaching children the words of emotions and support them in understanding how they can understand and manage these feelings.
The school prepares pupils well for life in modern Britian. It priorities pupils learning about the ways they can stay safe, including online. Well-considered opportunities help to build pupils' self-confidence and broaden their horizons.
Ofsted - Nov 2024
Our Curriculum
We provide children with a progressive curriculum that unites both the academic and non-academic. This is largely delivered through the discrete teaching of RSE, PSHE, RE and computing (e-safety), enhanced with wider opportunities. Our curriculum evolves with our community, pupils' economic, social and ethnic backgrounds and the dynamic world we live in. This is shared and accessible for all members of the community including parents and carers.
The TKAT ACE is a trust wide strategy that ensures that every Pupil Premium child and their family has an adult champion. Through regular one-to-one contact with their TKAT ACE tutor children and their families build strong relationships and overcomes barriers to the child doing well in our school.
“I USE MY TIME WITH THE CHILDREN IN A MORE INFORMAL WAY. I SIT WITH THEM AT THE LUNCH TABLES, OR PLAY A GAME WITH THEM AT WET PLAY. IT IS THEN PART OF THE CHILD’S DAY. I FIND THAT THIS IS A BETTER WAY FOR ME TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE CHILD.”
"SHE HELPED ME WITH MY ATTENDANCE. IT’S MORE FUN.. WE PLAY SNAKES AND LADDERS AND OTHER GAMES.”
"I WORK ON SOCIAL ANXIETY AND TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE."
Room 13 is a creative space where children are able to express themselves and explore the arts. It is a place where children are encouraged to be curious, away from the day to day curriculum.
Throughout the year Ed (our resident artist) works with all children in every year groups- working with them in small groups, allowing them to be creative and free with the art that they make. Ed will often set up a theme or encourage the children to explore different media types but is happy for them to be creative in many ways. Every child is encouraged to think outside the box and be creatively free. a place where children are encouraged to be curious, away from the day to day curriculum.
“IT’S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE APPRECIATE WHAT I MAKE BUT ALSO A PLACE WHERE MY WORK CAN INSPIRE OTHERS."
"ED IS ALWAYS THERE TO HELP YOU. HE IS GREAT AT MAKING YOUR THOUGHTS TURN INTO REAL ART.”
There are many benefits to being and learning outdoors. There are no right or wrong answers in nature and children have space and time to explore their feelings and thoughts. Learning Without Walls encourages children to take calculated risks, have fun, challenge themselves, develop their team working skills, gain confidence and develop a deeper understanding of nature and their place in the world.
"FOREST SCHOOL HAS GIVEN HIM SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO. HE LIGHTS UP WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT FOREST SCHOOL. HE HAS SHOWN US THAT HE HAS LEARNT TO BE MORE PATIENT, RESILIENT AND CAN WORK AS A TEAM.”
"ON WEDNESDAYS I FEEL EXCITED HAPPY TO GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE I HAVE FOREST SCHOOL”
We provided a space one afternoon a week for the child to access the bike shed project. This provided them with a space to socialise, discuss problems, find solutions and share their work. This time each week was also an opportunity to learn new skills, develop their self esteem and re-engage with learning.
"THE BIKE PROJECT IS THE BEST PART OF THE WEEK. I LIKE LEARNING ABOUT HOW TO FIX BIKES. I’VE BEEN HELPING MY BROTHER AND HIS FRIENDS FIX THEIR BIKES OUT OF SCHOOL."
"THE BIKE PROJECT HAS MADE *** REALLY HAPPY. EVERY TUESDAY HE IS READY TO GO TO SCHOOL WITHOUT ANY REMINDING. HE SEEMS TO HAVE MADE FRIENDS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS TOO AND TALKS ABOUT THEM AT HOME. HE HAS BEEN SHOWING HIS BROTHER WHAT HE’S BEEN LEARNING. THEY USUALLY CAN’T STAND EACH OTHER."
| Year group | Trip | Visitor |
|---|---|---|
| Reception | Washbrook Farm | Planetarium Workshop |
| Year 1 | Wakehurst | Great Fire of London Workshop |
| Year 2 | Tilgate Park | Samba Music Workshop |
| Year 3 | Weald and Downland Museum | Samba Music Workshop |
| Year 4 |
Anne of Cleves Museum Library Visit |
|
| Year 5 | British Museum - Ancient Eygpt | Planetarium Workshop |
| Year 6 |
Imperial War Museum PGL |