Our Curriculum – Together We Grow

A Curriculum for All to Flourish

At Silsoe VC Lower School, we are passionate about providing a high-quality education that inspires curiosity, develops a love of learning and enables every child to flourish.

Our curriculum is rooted in our Christian vision: “For all to flourish as confident, resilient and kind individuals who encourage one another and grow together in God’s love.” (Ephesians 3:17)

Together We Grow.

We believe that every child, whatever their background, starting point or individual needs, deserves access to a broad, balanced, ambitious and engaging curriculum. Our curriculum develops children’s knowledge, skills, understanding and character, preparing them for the next stage of their education and for life beyond our school.

We value every subject and provide rich and meaningful learning experiences that broaden children’s horizons, celebrate diversity and help them understand themselves, others and the world around them. Our values of kindness, confidence and resilience underpin high expectations, inclusion, respect and belonging.

Curriculum Intent – What Do We Want Our Children to Learn and Become?

Our curriculum provides a progressive and coherent learning journey from Reception through to Year 4. We want children to acquire essential knowledge, skills and understanding while developing confidence, curiosity and resilience as enthusiastic, independent learners.

• Ambition for all: enable every child, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, to access and achieve within a rich curriculum, with appropriate support and challenge.
• Knowledge and progression: sequence learning carefully, building on prior understanding towards clear subject end points.
• Confidence and resilience: encourage perseverance, reflection, independence and pride in achievement.
• Kindness and respect: develop positive relationships, compassion and appreciation of difference.
• Curiosity and creativity: inspire questioning, exploration, imagination and a love of learning.
• Spiritual and personal development: provide opportunities for reflection, wonder, consideration of beliefs and values, and a sense of purpose.
• Communication: prioritise vocabulary, oracy, reading and writing across the curriculum.
• Experiences and aspirations: enrich learning through visits, visitors, outdoor learning and community opportunities.
• Identity and belonging: celebrate individual experiences and develop understanding of local, national and global communities.
• Readiness for the future: prepare children confidently for the next stage of education.

Curriculum Implementation – How Do We Bring Our Curriculum to Life?

Our curriculum follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework and the National Curriculum, alongside our Christian vision and agreed approach to teaching and learning. Each subject has a clear intent, sequenced knowledge and skills, and identified progression. Further detail is available on our subject curriculum pages.

High-Quality Teaching and Learning: The Silsoe Approach

At Silsoe Lower School, we have a clear and consistent approach to effective teaching and learning, underpinned by evidence-informed practice and our shared commitment to high expectations for every child.

Our agreed Silsoe pedagogy is evident throughout the school, from Reception to Year 4. It includes positive relationships, encouragement and challenge, explicit teaching and modelling, retrieval of prior learning, effective questioning, adaptive teaching, assessment for learning and the development of independence.

Teachers use their professional judgement to apply these principles appropriately to children’s ages, stages of development, individual needs and the subject being taught. This ensures consistency in the quality and principles of teaching without requiring identical lesson formats.

• Clear explanations, modelling and guided practice help children grasp new learning.
• Retrieval, revisiting and purposeful practice strengthen memory and fluency.
• Questioning, discussion and regular checks for understanding identify gaps and misconceptions.
• Working walls, practical resources, interactive whiteboards and visualisers support explanation, accessibility and independence.
• Assessment and feedback inform responsive teaching and appropriate next steps.
• Vocabulary, oracy and reading are developed deliberately across subjects.

Developing Independent and Reflective Learners

Metacognition and self-regulation are important features of teaching and learning at Silsoe. Children are supported to think about how they learn, explain their reasoning, select appropriate strategies and reflect on their progress.

Through modelling, discussion, encouragement and carefully planned opportunities for independence, we help children develop confidence in tackling challenges, recognising mistakes as opportunities for learning and understanding that they can improve through practice, perseverance and support.

Our shared message, “We can’t do it yet… but Together We Grow,” reflects our commitment to developing confident, resilient learners.

Inclusion and Adaptive Teaching

We are committed to ensuring all children can participate, achieve and flourish. Teachers use their knowledge of pupils and ongoing assessment to identify barriers and adapt teaching, explanations, scaffolding, resources and practice. We maintain ambitious expectations while providing the support or additional challenge children need, working with families and professionals where appropriate.

Enrichment and Wider Opportunities

Learning extends beyond the classroom through educational visits, visitors, Forest School, outdoor learning, sport, music, creative activities, pupil leadership and involvement in our community. Our links with St James’ Church and other local organisations strengthen children’s understanding of service, responsibility, belonging and care for others.

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development

Across the curriculum, children explore beliefs and values, reflect on experiences, appreciate diversity and develop respect and understanding. Collective worship, relationships and everyday school life reinforce kindness, fairness, compassion and thoughtful choices. Our Christian vision helps shape opportunities for personal development and flourishing.

Working in Partnership with Parents and Carers

We recognise the important role that parents and carers play in supporting children’s learning and development. We share information about the curriculum, children’s progress and ways to support learning at home. Through parent consultations, curriculum information, phonics and reading workshops and other opportunities to engage with school life, we aim to build a shared understanding of learning and celebrate achievements together.

Curriculum Impact – What Difference Does Our Curriculum Make?

The impact of our curriculum is seen in what children know, understand, remember and can do, alongside the attitudes, values and personal qualities they develop. We want children to:

• Achieve well and develop secure foundations across the curriculum.
• Communicate confidently, ask questions and think independently.
• Show resilience, persevere and learn from mistakes.
• Demonstrate kindness, compassion and respect.
• Take responsibility, make thoughtful choices and contribute to school life.
• Feel valued and included, with a strong sense of belonging.
• Appreciate diversity, cultures, beliefs and perspectives.
• Remain curious and enthusiastic about learning.
• Reflect on their beliefs, values and responsibilities towards others and the world.
• Move to the next stage of education with confidence, knowledge and positive attitudes.

We evaluate curriculum impact through proportionate assessment, pupils’ work, discussions with children, lesson visits, subject leadership and outcomes over time. This helps us celebrate success, identify gaps and continually improve teaching and learning.

Our ambition is for every child to leave Silsoe Lower School as a confident, resilient and kind individual, equipped with strong foundations for future learning and belief in their own potential.

Curriculum Long-Term Plans

Our long-term plans provide an overview of planned learning for each year group. They show how knowledge and skills are organised and sequenced. Teachers respond to assessment and individual needs while maintaining intended curriculum content and progression. Please select the relevant year group:

Related School Policies

Our Curriculum Policy and Teaching and Learning Policy explain in more detail how we plan, teach, assess and evaluate learning. Links to the approved policies will be added here when published.

Together We Grow.