Wider Curriculum

At Chipstead Valley, where possible and appropriate, we make cross-curricular links between subjects. These are based around each year group’s ‘Discovery Topic’ and enable children to see the links between different areas of their learning and build upon them. Each Year group has their own ‘Topic at a Glance’, which is planned carefully to ensure quality links across subjects and a breadth of subjects being taught. The topics are progressive across the school and ensure suitable challenge in every year group. Although topics include cross-curricular objectives from science, geography, history, art, design technology, music, Spanish, PE, RE and computing, we feel it is important for children to consider these subjects specifically, so we will often refer to our children as ‘artists’, ‘scientists’ and ‘historians’ etc. We are lucky to have specialist teachers of music and PE, who support the delivery of these subjects from EYFS to Year 6.

 Art

At our school, art lessons are taught in three half-termly blocks, which are carefully structured to enable creativity and skill development in our students. Each lesson begins by focusing on one of the main elements of art, such as colour, line, tone, shape, or texture. Through engaging activities and discussions, students learn about the importance of these elements in creating art. Following this introduction, students are introduced to an artist who demonstrates this skill within their artwork. By studying the artist's work, students gain insight into how the element is used in real-life art and are inspired to explore its possibilities. With this newfound knowledge and inspiration, students are then given the opportunity to experiment and express themselves creatively. Through hands-on activities and guided exploration, they develop their own unique approach to the element, making artistic decisions along the way. Finally, students use these skills and creativity to create a final piece of art. With the guidance of their teacher, they bring together all they have learned and explored to produce a piece that reflects their individual style and vision. Through this process, students not only develop their artistic abilities but also gain confidence in their creative expression. As they create, they also cultivate their own artistic opinions, enriching their understanding of the world around them.

 

Computing 

At CVPS we have a wonderful new computing suite where every child in the class has access to a desktop computer each lesson. All our lessons aim to equip children with the skills they need in an increasingly digital world, while fostering creativity, critical thinking and collaboration.  The ‘Teach Computing’ curriculum is structured into units for each year group, and each unit is broken down into lessons. Aspects of computing covered are: programming, creating media, internet safety, data and information and computing systems and networks. Children progress through their units and build on their skills and knowledge in each year group. The children also have access to I-Pads and Chromebooks to use in the classrooms. Children in KS2 have an opportunity to attend computing club – where the work on collaborative and fun projects! Additionally, Year 5 take part in a global digital project through the 'Global Scholars' network, which aims to increase understanding of using technology to communicate about global issues.

 

Design & Technology

Design and Technology is taught once a term alongside Art, using schemes of work entitled ‘Projects on a Page’ which are based on the different aspects of D&T and follow the PACE progression maps. These lessons are taught either weekly or in a block across the half-term, and this is decided by the class teacher as to which is the best fit for the children. During these projects, children are given the opportunity to develop the skills they will need in order to complete the Design and Make Assignment (DMA) which comes at the end of their unit. They will also consolidate their understanding of the D&T process by following the plan, design, make and evaluate steps through a purposeful and relevant context. Each year, the projects will build on the children’s prior learning and skills to enable them to be confident in taking risks and becoming innovative and enterprising citizens.

 

Geography

Geography is taught in three half term units across the year from Year 1 to 6. Children are regularly involved with exciting fieldwork activities, which allow them to engage with the outside world and develop skills in meaningful contexts. We are lucky to have extensive grounds as well as a fantastic local area, which ensures that real world experiences are powerful and engaging for all. A key highlight in our geography curriculum is 'Fieldwork Fortnight', which is completed during June. Children take part in a range of fieldwork activities such as using their senses in EYFS, map reading in KS1 and drawing and using thematic maps in KS2. Lessons are planned using the PACE progression document alongside 'Teaching Primary Geography' to ensure both skills and knowledge are covered in depth and progression is made throughout their time at Chipstead Valley. Each year group undertakes a theme drawn from ‘Our Changing World’ with a strong focus on climate change, pollution, deforestation and recycling which allows children to understand more about the world around them. Our Eco Committee involve the wider school in their efforts to create a more sustainable environment.

 

History

At Chipstead Valley Primary School, we aim for our children to be young historians, curious and knowledgeable about the past. They will understand history as the study of change and continuity over time. History is an integral part of the curriculum, with dedicated one-hour sessions each week. The teaching approach emphasizes a source-based method, allowing students to delve into both primary and secondary sources. Through this hands-on exploration, children gain a deeper understanding of historical events and concepts. The curriculum is thoughtfully designed to offer a rich and diverse range of topics, which evolves as students progress through their schooling journey. This ensures a comprehensive and engaging learning experience, where students not only learn about key historical periods but also develop critical thinking and analytical skills. By immersing themselves in the past through primary sources and building upon their knowledge over time, students develop a lifelong appreciation for history and its significance. They will also be able to recognise, describe and explain differences, similarities and connections between individuals and groups of people in different places at different times. They will be able to, and want to, think critically, evaluate evidence and question assumptions. They will understand the impact of history on today’s world, and will gain perspective on their own and others’ identity.

 

Music

Music is a big part of life at Chipstead Valley. Not only do we pride ourselves on our choir, orchestra, productions and concerts but each child is afforded the opportunity to engage in a diverse, multicultural curriculum in their journey through Chipstead. The children perform in our local community and at larger scale events in the borough. Each child has a least an hour of music input a week in their time at school. In addition to music lessons, children attend a weekly singing practice, which underpins and extends the knowledge and practice in the classroom situation. They sing songs from a range of cultures and at this time are able to experience the music of various historical periods and geographical locations.

Music education begins with singing simple songs, playing and clapping rhythms in Nursery and Reception. By the time children are in Year 1, they are learning the basics of reading and writing rhythms. In Year 2 the children build on this knowledge to incorporate pitch notation and this enables them to compose and perform longer pieces of music. In Year 3 the rhythm and pitch knowledge that the children have learnt in KS1 is deployed in the learning of the recorder – a simple, inexpensive instrument that enables the children to read music, play and compose their own tunes. By Year 4 keyboards become the main focus of study and notation in both Treble and Bass Clefs are learnt. Many of our pupils go on to learning another instrument at this point and we have a full timetable of instrument lessons being taught each week. Music Technology is a large part of the Year 5 Music Curriculum with children composing their own dynamic pieces of music using software. Year 6 compose their own contemporary styled songs building on their knowledge from over the years and all the children participate in their Year 6 production in their final term at Chipstead.

 

PE 

Children at CVPS enjoy Physical Education and Swimming! Physical Education is taught weekly, with a combination of swimming, running and lessons taught by our sports coach and class teachers. In Reception, the children have weekly, hour long lessons with our sports coach and they also have an additional outdoor PE lesson on Friday called "Fresh Air Friday". Physical Education is taught through the 'iMoves' scheme. Within this scheme, it covers a range of skills and also encourages the children to develop their 'Personal Outcome Skills' linked with our 'Wellbeing' curriculum. The iMoves scheme is taught by class teachers whilst our sports coach teaches health and fitness, athletics and ball skill games. Over their years at Chipstead Valley, the children will have had the opportunity to play hockey, rugby, football, netball, basketball, tennis, cricket and tri golf. Alongside all this exciting learning, the children also have lots of opportunities to attend sports clubs, competitions and swimming. We are lucky to have our own amazing swimming pool, where the children get to swim for two terms every school year, starting in Reception. This is delivered by our 'Dip N Dive' swimming team, who delivers the swimming curriculum, in-line with the national governing body, Swim England.

 

RE

In accordance with Government guidelines, RE should be taught to all pupils and therefore at CVPS we have adopted the Croydon Locally Agreed Syllabus 2018. This syllabus has been designed to reflect the faiths within the local community thus incorporating a broadly Christian Curriculum that also covers Sikhism, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism.

Our children will be young philosophers, developing their knowledge of Religion and philosophies both locally and around the world. They are encouraged to question and reflect how world religions underpin values and morals of the local community. Our approach is based upon learning about the faiths and from the faiths and how this relates to their own and others’ lives.

We will provide the children with opportunities to visit places of worship, look at a variety of artefacts as well as using drama, holy books as well as digital resources.

 

Spanish

At our school, Spanish is taught every other week and is enjoyed by all the children from nursery to Year 6. We follow the Primary Languages Network curriculum, enabling children to develop their listening, speaking and writing skills on a variety of topics. They develop intercultural understanding through learning about customs and traditions in Spanish speaking countries. The children embrace the language and look forward to their lessons. Over time, they become confident young linguists and enjoy sharing their knowledge with others.

 

Wellbeing 

Our Wellbeing Curriculum provides children with the opportunities and experiences they will need to develop the attitudes, attributes and values, which we believe are vital to best prepare them for life in and beyond school. It incorporates all statutory aspects of Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education, as introduced from September 2020 LINK. It also has other cross-curricular links embedded, including online safety, equality and diversity, science and environmental links. This curriculum is adapted regularly to ensure that it remains purposeful, relevant and fits the needs of our children.

Children are taught Wellbeing lessons through a fortnightly learning question, with coverage that progresses each year from Nursery to Year 6. Learning and discussions during Wellbeing is evidenced within our class Wellbeing Journals and these act as a fantastic talking point within the classroom. Within our Wellbeing Curriculum, we have many whole school weeks, for example, "Children's Mental Health Week", "Keeping Safe Week", "Celebrating Difference Week" and "My Money Week".

We also encourage our children to “Be the Best They Can Be” and reward those children displaying our Chipstead Valley Values (Thoughtfulness, Respect, Co-operation, Resilience, Enquiry, Communication, Morality, Adaptability)  in our weekly B-Badge assemblies.