South Hill Primary School
Building Character, Learning Together
Our Curriculum
At South Hill School, our curriculum allows our pupils to flourish through a nurturing environment, which aims to build confident and resilient learners and provide the building blocks of learning in all subjects, in preparation for their next steps across our school and to secondary school.
Our Curriculum Intent
The intent of our school curriculum is clearly planned and developed using a progressive approach with a build-up of learning, knowledge and skills. This is mapped out from year group to year group, and across key stages, via our ‘subject long term planning documents’ and ‘year group curriculum overviews’, which follow the National Curriculum. These can be found on each of our subject web pages (‘Curriculum’ tab) and on our year group class pages. We have aimed to design an ambitious curriculum which is designed for the pupils at our school and a curriculum that is relevant and meaningful.
The core of our curriculum is based on developing pupils' Reading, Writing and Maths skills and providing a rich, diverse learning experience. We focus on a strong 'daily diet' of learning for all pupils. Our Reading curriculum follows the Read Write Inc scheme to teach phonics and reading skills in a consistent manner. Matching phonetical books further support the acquirement of phonics (also known as the ‘3Ps’ at South Hill School).
We use the ‘Herts for Learning’ (HFL) documents for our Core Subjects and we have adapted the 'Learning Challenge Curriculum' ('Weave') for our Foundation Subjects. This ensures that all our pupils are taught a broad and balanced curriculum, with the key skills and knowledge to support their future learning to ensure all pupils have the opportunity to reach their potential.
Our SEN pupils access learning at an adapted level dependent on individual needs. Some children have a personalised curriculum which is tailored but based around whole class learning wherever possible and also follows their individualised 'Passport to Success'. Accessibility across our school can be seen via our whole school provision maps based on the four broad areas of need and our EAL provision map.
Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs
Speech, Language and Communication Needs
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Underpinning our intended curriculum and deeply rooted in our ethos is the wellbeing of our pupils. For our pupils to access the curriculum, they must be in a nurturing and supporting environment with a rich cultural capital. Our curriculum celebrates a broad and enriched learning approach. Events such as 'International Day', led by the Geography lead, is a celebration of language, foods, music, different cultures and dances from across the world. Our Science Day, our Wellbeing days and our annual Art Gallery are other examples in which leaders join together to ensure our pupils' learning is extended beyond the classroom and their experiences are widened.
Our curriculum design incorporates a therapeutic behaviour approach and this is echoed through our whole school ethos, The South Hill Way which links to British citizenship.
