Juniper Hill School Curriculum Statement

Curriculum Rationale

• The curriculum at Juniper Hill School is designed to provide a broad and balanced education that meets the needs of all pupils and gives them the skills, knowledge and understanding to prepare them for their future lives. 
   
• Our Juniper values underpin our curriculum. Academic achievement, respect, creativity, curiosity, independence and the courage to take risks, as well as physical development, well-being and mental health are key elements of our children’s learning. We support the development of the whole child and aim for our children to develop positive attitudes to learning. We want our children to be kind; kind to themselves and each other.
   
• Our Juniper curriculum celebrates the importance of community. We teach children the skills, knowledge and cultural capital they need to thrive in our diverse world. Our curriculum teaches British Values, while supporting the pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
   
• The curriculum at Juniper Hill School is designed to be fun and innovative, we want our children to love learning and enjoy coming to school.

Curriculum Statement

At Juniper Hill School we offer a curriculum which is broad and balanced and which builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills of all children, whatever their starting points, as they progress through each Key Stage. The curriculum incorporates the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum 2014, complies with the Equality Act 2010 and the SEN and Disability Regulations 2014. The curriculum at Juniper is accessible for all children, including those with a disability or SEN needs. Our ‘Unique Juniper Curriculum’ provides children with experiences and opportunities, which not only support their learning and development, but provide them with the skills to be successful young people.  The aim of our curriculum is for pupils to have the requisite skills to be successful, independent, creative, curious learners, in readiness for their next stage of education. Our curriculum considers the development and wellbeing of the whole child and not just concentrates on academic success. 

Pupils are still working on the Early Learning Goals of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum as they enter Year 1. There is a period in the Autumn Term where the majority of children progress to the National Curriculum. Throughout this period and beyond all children are still developing their phonic knowledge through the Read, Write, Inc. Programme and developing their fluency in reading through the Daily Supported Reading Programme.

The National Curriculum is delivered using an integrated topic approach in Key Stage 1 and through discrete subjects in Key Stage 2. Our subject leaders are clear about the knowledge and skills the children need to be taught across the school in each subject and monitor the coverage and progression throughout the school. The more able are challenged further in their learning and children who find aspects of their learning more difficult are appropriately supported so that they too are able to experience success. The National Curriculum requirements and school requirements are mapped out as a whole school and then individual year groups plan the curriculum for their pupils accordingly.

The curriculum is underpinned by the Juniper values of Respect, Community, Curiosity, Courage, Creativity and Independence and our motto of Kindness, Enjoyment and Achievement. The children are clear about the behaviours that show they are following the school values; our values are taught on their own e.g. through assemblies and also through other areas of the curriculum. The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our pupils and their understanding of the core values of our society are woven through the curriculum.

In Year 4 and Year 6 the children are able to take part in a residential visit. These trips involve aspects of history, geography and outdoor education as well as the opportunity to develop social skills and independence. All years undertake educational visits and inspirational topic days. Before any visit takes place, the initial plan is approved by the Headteacher and risk assessments are completed. In order for educational visits to take place, parents are asked to make a voluntary contribution towards the cost.  Children across the school benefit from visiting speakers and special curriculum days.

Please click 'here' for detailed information about our school curriculum in each academic year for every subject.

Please see the 'Curriculum Overviews' on each year group page.