Curriculum

We provide a rich and inspiring curriculum to ensure that children are engaged and motivated to learn. We offer a range of stimulating and exciting opportunities for all children to learn collaboratively and be part of a thriving team spirited community. Our children benefit from learning outdoors, exploring the world around them to develop their creativity, independence and enhance their understanding.

Our curriculum is underpinned by the values that we hold dear to our school. These are the values of Brinkley Grove Primary School which we have based our curriculum upon:

 

Tolerance, Respect, Teamwork, Resilience, Enthusiasm, High Aspirations and Inclusion

 

If you wish to find out more about our school curriculum please contact the school office or email info@brinkleygrove.essex.sch.uk for the attention of Mrs Patmore.


The English curriculum at Brinkley Grove

The teaching of phonics (sounds)

Brinkley Grove uses aspects of ‘Read, Write Inc’ as its phonics programme. This is taught in EYFS and KS1 classes to help children develop their reading skills. Children are regularly assessed to ensure they are making good progress with their phonics.

Click on the link below for more information about ‘Read, Write Inc’.

https://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/programmes/phonics/

Reading - EYFS

In EYFS, children are regularly assessed and heard read using the ‘Dandelion Launcher’ reading scheme. These reading books provide children with opportunities to practise their phonics skills and read with growing confidence. Each book introduces only a few letter/sounds at a time allowing independent reading from the outset. Four books in each unit provide practice whilst offering different stories. Each unit introduces new letters/sounds while revising previously taught phonic letters/sounds and high-frequency or sight words.

For more information about the ‘Dandelion’ reading scheme, click on the link below:

https://www.phonicbooks.co.uk/advice-and-resources/advice-and-resources-for-parents/

Reading - KS1 (Y1 and Y2) and lower KS2 (Y3 and Y4)

At the beginning of Y1, all children are assessed using the PM benchmarking reading assessment resource. This allows the teachers to ensure every child is reading a PM reading book which is appropriate to their needs. The PM reading scheme is meticulously levelled to ensure a gentle learning gradient. More high frequency words are introduced within this reading scheme and are reinforced regularly to foster fluency. Children can then progress through the levelled fiction and non fiction texts until their class teacher is confident that they have the reading and comprehension skills to become a ‘free reader’ when the child can choose any text that is not part of the PM scheme.

English Curriculum

Brinkley Grove uses Pie Corbett’s ‘Talk for Writing’ approach to teaching English. Each year group’s learning is based on a variety of texts; this ensures all children experience a wealth of high quality children’s literature. These stories go on to become the basis for children’s writing and ensures the progression of skills when learning about different genres and plot structures year on year.

View the planned texts for each year group on the links below –