Our Learning & Curriculum

Hand in Hand we Learn

We are critical thinkers

Driven by curiosity, we develop our understanding through collaboration, skilfully exploring and reflecting upon new concepts.

We are enthusiastic learners

We readily take on challenges with resilience, as we become resourceful, creative life-long learners.

We are responsible citizens

We are well-informed and make positive contributions to our communities.

 

At Longford Primary Academy our broad and ambitious curriculum opens our children’s eyes to the world around them; extends opportunity and raises aspirations, enabling our children to become independent, forward thinking and confident learners who are adaptable to modern advances with the ability to shape their own futures.  The curriculum at Longford is designed to give all pupils the knowledge and cultural capital they need to leave our academy as educated citizens and to succeed in life.
Critical Thinkers	Enthusiastic Learners	Responsible Citizens
Collaborate  Curious  Adaptable  Creative	Resilience  Ambition  Enjoyment  Passion	Respect  Encourage  Tolerance  Honesty
Learning is coherently planned and sequenced with the aim of ensuring pupils remember and make progress in essential knowledge and skills so they are ready for the next stage of their learning in each curriculum subject.  Teaching and learning is underpinned by high expectations and embedded behavioural norms. The prioritisation of early language, communication and reading provides a firm foundation for children to develop independence and self-confidence from an early age.  High quality texts continue to feature across the primary age range, as we encourage our children to become avid readers and develop their language and oracy skills.  Principals of high quality teaching are supported by continued development of subject knowledge to enable our children confidently embed new concepts into long-term memory, demonstrating a greater depth of understanding.  Children are provided with opportunities to expand and apply their knowledge critically and creatively and connect their learning in meaningful ways so that they develop proficiency.  Some subjects at Longford are taught discretely whereby children build continuously upon their prior learning to ensure they are gaining and retaining key knowledge.  Other subjects are meaningfully linked (thematic learning).  In these cases we strongly believe that understanding within one subject can help with building to understanding within another. The curriculum at Longford is enriched through carefully planned experiences across the primary age range such as visits to a theatre, art gallery, concert, sporting event, geographical landmark and places of historical significance, creating authentic and memorable moments for all.

 

We encourage parents to be as involved in their child's learning as possible, through shared reading and homework projects related to topic areas covered throughout the school year.

EYFS

We ensure that each pupils’ wellbeing is at the heart of our curriculum where we enable and motivate children to confidently take risks, explore, create and feel immersed in play whilst feeling valued and listened to.  We make use of high-quality texts, a rich language environment and the children’s interests to centre our teaching and learning as much possible as we recognise that high quality engagement leads to high levels of attainment with high levels of wellbeing.     

At Longford Primary Academy, we greatly value the importance of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).  We aim to provide the highest quality care and education for all our children thereby giving them a strong foundation for their future learning. We create a safe, stimulating and happy environment with motivating and enjoyable learning experiences that enable children to become confident, creative and caring individuals. We value the individual child and work alongside parents and others to meet their needs and help every child to reach their full potential.  

At Longford Primary Academy we ensure that our environment and delivery of the curriculum incorporates the three characteristics of effective teaching and learning: 

• Playing & exploring
• Active learning
• Creating & thinking critically

We greatly value the importance of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in providing a secure foundation for every child’s future learning and development.  

Our curriculum follows the learning and development requirements as set out in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (2021) where we cover the seven areas of learning and the educational programmes as set out for each area. 

The Prime Areas (where we build the foundations for a thirst for learning, forming relationships and thriving)

1. Communication and Language
2. Physical Development
3. Personal, Social and Emotional Development

The Specific Areas (where the prime areas are strengthened and applied):

1. Literacy
2. Mathematics
3. Understanding of the World
4. Expressive Arts and Design

Phonics

At Longford Primary Academy we believe that all our children can become fluent readers and writers. This is why we teach reading through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, which is a systematic and synthetic phonics programme. We start teaching phonics in Nursery/Reception and follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised progression, which ensures children build on their growing knowledge of the alphabetic code, mastering phonics to read and spell as they move through school.

As a result, all our children are able to tackle any unfamiliar words as they read. At Longford Primary Academy we also model the application of the alphabetic code through phonics in shared reading and writing, both inside and outside of the phonics lesson and across the curriculum. We have a strong focus on language development for our children because we know that speaking and listening are crucial skills for reading and writing in all subjects.

Please click here for the Little Wandle parent page for further information and resources, including how to videos to support your children phonics and reading at home.

Please see Phonics & Early Reading Policy

Key Stages 1 & 2

At Longford we follow an ambitious curriculum as set out by the national curriculum for England.  Please click here for the Key stages 1 & 2 framework document.  For further information about our curriculum please do not hesitate to ask any member of our team.

The links below provide additional information regarding our approach to learning in each curriculum subject:

READING                                                   WRITING English Programme of Study
MATHEMATICS Programme of Study	SCIENCE
COMPUTING	PSHE
HISTORY	GEOGRAPHY
MUSIC	LANGUAGES
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION	PHYSICAL EDUCATION
ART & DESIGN	DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

 

EYFS - Nursery & Reception	Annual Overview
KS1 - Years 1 & 2	Annual Overview
Lower KS2 - Years 3 & 4	Annual Overview
Upper KS2 - Years 5 & 6	Annual Overview