Curriculum

It is our belief that children at Castledyke should have a broad and balanced curriculum that gives them the skills and knowledge they need to become respectful, resilient, empathetic citizens, who will have the opportunities to thrive. Our desire is that through our curriculum, we will inspire children to have high aspirations of themselves in order to be as successful as they can be.

We have ensured that diversity and inclusivity thread through the curriculum, giving children a wide range of experiences. Learning concepts will be revisited, creating a spiralised curriculum as we know that new knowledge is retained if we can link it to existing knowledge.

Empathy and emotional resilience are key to our curriculum and we want our children to become well-rounded individuals. which is why we have a holistic approach to education, developing the whole child. Our curriculum is linked to our four key areas of development:

We want our children to have;

• Respect
• Empathy
• Effective communication
• Problem solving abilities
• A love of reading
• Emotional resilience
• Self-control
• Pride in everything they do
• Ability to work collaboratively
• Good manners

Educational Visits and Trips

School trips and visits will be used to enhance the learning process for children by giving them the opportunity to:

• introduce a subject new to the children
• to introduce new vocabulary and develop language skills
• gain first hand experience of a subject already broached
• reinforce ideas and concepts already initiated
• extend the idea of group participation and raising the social awareness of pupils by expecting and demanding the highest level of behaviour
• promote the good image of the school

The school strives to provide strong value for money in this area and always works with the travel companies to gain the best deals. We aspire to have all pupils attend (at least once) a residential trip before they finish their primary career.
 

Castledyke uses the Local Authority recommended risk assessments, procedures and documentation for all visits.

Quality First Teaching

At our school, we believe every child can succeed when teaching is clear, supportive, and engaging. Quality First Teaching is our approach to making sure all children get the best possible learning experience in every lesson.

We use a simple, structured way of teaching to help children learn and remember more. This includes:

• Revisiting what they already know
• Teachers clearly showing how to do something
• Practising together before working independently
• Regular checks to see how well children understand
• Time to reflect and improve

This approach is based on research about how children learn best. We know that children learn more when:

• They revisit and practise important knowledge
• They feel confident and supported
• They are encouraged to learn from mistakes
• Learning is broken down into manageable steps
• They can talk, share ideas, and learn with others

In our classrooms, you will see:

• Clear explanations and modelling from teachers
• High expectations for every child
• Lessons that are engaging and well-paced
• Support and challenge tailored to each child’s needs
• Key vocabulary taught and used regularly
• Opportunities for children to work together and discuss their learning

We also make sure classrooms are inclusive, so every child feels supported and able to take part fully.

Quality First Teaching is not about following a strict formula or ticking boxes. Instead, it is a flexible approach that helps teachers plan effective lessons and respond to the needs of their class.

Our aim is simple: to help every child build strong knowledge, develop confidence, and become an independent, successful learner.