Subjects
Pear Tree Mead (PTM) dedicates itself to ‘Pupils That Matter’. We embody this in our ethos, values and curriculum. Because of this we aim to provide our children with an engaging, exciting and empowering curriculum that equips them for today and tomorrow.
Intent
At PTM the curriculum is designed to ‘help all children grow so that they can reach the branches to their future’. This is done through:
- Self-belief
- Respect
- Aspiration
- Inquisitiveness
- Resilience and
- Togetherness
The PTM curriculum aims to be broad and balanced and relevant for our Harlow community. This means that learning opportunities are underpinned by basic life skills along with our strong core values. As a staff we feel it is important to enable children to be independent, adventurous and develop a growth mindset through all experiences they encounter.
PTM are dedicated to well being and a positive mental health and this is a key feature in the development of the PTM curriculum. We celebrate and welcome difference, all cultures, diversity, beliefs and most of all ourselves and the beauty in being unique.
Implementation
The PTM curriculum was created through a united desire to provide more for our children and their individual needs. Therefore we have developed a set of PTM progressions for Foundation subjects that allow us to teach and develop in a more inclusive and child centred way. We follow the National Curriculum and supplement their division across the year groups with a set of PTM skills. These skills are what we believe is needed to enthuse and support our community.
We teach on a one year programme of objectives and skills where the ‘focus’, ‘experience’ or ‘approach’ may change. This allows PTM staff to teach through current affairs, community links, common interests or a philosophical question. The options are endless!
The one recurring feature for planning is that we have a child’s voice. The PTM curriculum comes to life through the ‘forward planning sessions’ held every term with the children. This is where the children discuss and involve themselves in the next stages of learning.
We are very lucky to have extensive grounds and a plethora of opportunities on our door step. We take advantage of these boasting a forest school, various habitats (pond, allotment, outdoor classroom), outdoor learning opportunities and our own swimming pool. We involve our community in as many experiences as possible from community days, family visits, workshops, guest speakers and links with the secondary schools and colleges. PTM staff understand that these are the links to further aspirations and future goals.
PTM have a commitment to inclusion, accessibility and positive self image. We provide a Nurture group, flexible learning mentors and extended school provision that supports all these areas. PTM staff understand the beauty in being unique and endeavour to provide opportunities to strengthen this.
Subject leaders play an important part in the success of the curriculum by leading a regular programme of monitoring, evaluation and review and the celebration of good practice contributes to the ongoing commitment to evolve and improve further. All subject leaders are given training and the opportunity to keep developing their own subject knowledge, skills and understanding, so they can support curriculum development and their colleagues throughout the school.
Impact
The innovative practice across the school provides a strong foundation and opportunities for children to collaborate and develop social skills both indoors and out. This curriculum design ensures that the needs of individual and small groups of children can be met within the environment of quality first teaching, supported by targeted, proven interventions where appropriate. In this way it can be seen to impact in a very positive way on children’s outcomes.
Enjoyment of the curriculum promotes achievement, confidence and good behaviour. Children feel safe to try new things. High quality visits and visitors to the school enhance the curriculum and provide opportunities for writing and communicating for a purpose.
At PTM we continue to develop and broaden our outcomes. We continue to involve the children and their views through the school council, well being team, pupil perception and the family group feedback. This means we will always know if we are on the right lines!
Our Curriculum Policy can be seen in full by clicking here.
Here is a link to the National Curriculum for Primary schools. This forms part of the structure of our PTM curriculum.