Curriculum Intent

Fawbert and Barnard Infants’ School and Reedings’ Junior School 

Combined Curriculum Intent 

Our curriculums at Fawbert and Barnard Infants’ and Reedings’ Junior School give the children the opportunity to learn through a variety of exciting and memorable contexts. From Fawbert and Barnard’s integrated Montessori approach in the Early Years and ‘Cornerstones’ cross curricular curriculum in Key Stage 1, through to Reedings’ bespoke curriculum, it is our intent that children at our schools:

• Have high aspirations, resilience and perseverance 
• Are problem solvers, with a thirst for knowledge who are confident to take risks  
• Become active citizens in a diverse, global and digital society   
• Are happy and secure within themselves and their pursuit for truth  
• Are excited and motived with a deep-rooted love of learning.  

We believe our curriculums are progressive and support children in their pathway towards adulthood.    

Our curriculum covers the whole experience that we offer the children at F& B. We provide an exciting, 'hands on' approach to learning appropriate to the children's ages and stage of development. We aim to ensure that every child's thirst for learning will be nurtured and encouraged through the many and varied learning experiences offered to them throughout the school day. Teacher's planning takes account of government requirements as well as using the school's own chosen schemes of work.

Teaching Methods

In the EYFS we have an integrated Montessori approach to children's learning. Our classes are beautifully prepared with a good range of Montessori materials to support children's learning. We have teachers and assistants that have been trained by the Montessori Centre to integrate the approach into our EYFS. 

What is Montessori?

Montessori is an approach to early education that focuses on the immense capacity of children to absorb information when given the freedom and independence to learn at their own pace.  It takes its name from Dr. Maria Montessori whose scientific background and belief in the potential and uniqueness of children empowered her to develop an educational approach that appreciates how children's thought processes differ from those of adults. Her insights and approach to child development have been enormously influential all over the world, both through which has become the Montessori movement and through mainstream education, which has come to accept many of her practices.  Increasingly, evidence from scientific research on how the brain develops, supports Montessori's views on how children learn and how to optimise their developmental progress.

What makes the Montessori approach different, and what makes it work so well, is that it is based on this deep understanding of the way children learn - through choosing, trying and doing themselves. When allied to the availability of specially developed materials in a prepared environment, and the close observation and guidance of a trained teacher, this leads to an enormously powerful, confidence-building approach to learning. (Reach Magazine).

In KS1, our children are taught in mixed ability classes. During the day they will be taught in a variety of groupings within the class - whole class, small ability groups, small mixed ability groups and sometimes, where appropriate individually. A variety of teaching strategies will be used by the teachers. To ensure children receive the best possible teaching all our Senior Leaders, including the Head Teacher/s will teach whole class, small groups or individual children at various times during the year.

Planning the curriculum

This is our whole school curriculum overview

The Fawbert & Barnard Infants’ School 2021/22

Imaginative Learning Projects

Specific Science Projects

Whilst there is a curriculum focus/project each half term, all curriculum areas are taught throughout the term and cover learning intentions specified in the National Curriculum. Maths may link and children are given opportunities to apply and consolidate skills learned, but the teaching and learning of new concepts will be taught as a discreet subject.

In addition to the above themes and topics, we hold regular themed weeks and days linked to important days in the British Calendar such as Remembrance Day, Harvest, Comic relief, key religious festivals and any events special to our local community.

The School Curriculum - Key Stage 1

All children follow the National Curriculum as follows:

Personal, Social and Health Education/Citizenship, including Relationships/ Health education also forms part of our curriculum. Our curriculum is broad and balanced. The development of Literacy and Numeracy skills form a major part of our teaching and underpin the learning in other areas of the curriculum.

Fuller details about the curriculum content for Literacy and our approach to the teaching of phonics can be found in our School Brochure on our parent page.