The Curriculum: An Overview

At Coalway Infant School, our curriculum is carefully designed to be knowledge-based, ensuring that children build strong foundations across all subject areas. We follow the National Curriculum in full, providing a broad and balanced education that equips pupils with the essential knowledge and skills they need for future learning. Alongside this, we place a strong emphasis on enrichment, with special themed days and experiences that bring learning to life, deepen understanding, and inspire curiosity. These opportunities allow children to apply their knowledge in meaningful contexts, making their school journey both engaging and memorable.

Children in Reception follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile with guidance from Development Matters. This Curriculum has seven areas of learning covering children’s physical, intellectual, emotional and social development:

  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development
  • Communication and Language
  • Physical Development
  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding the World
  • Expressive Arts and Design

Teachers planning also provides 'continuous provision' in which the children can achieve their developmental goals.

The Foundation Stage Curriculum has a smooth transition into the National Curriculum. As children transfer into key stage one (Years 1 and 2) their learning is planned from their year group objectives, called age related expectations (ARE).

 

The National Curriculum consists of three ‘Core Subjects’:

English, Mathematics, Science

 

The remaining subjects are known as ‘Foundation Subjects’:

Art and Design

Computing

Design and Technology

Geography

History

Music

P.E.  (Physical Education)

 

R.E. (Religious Education) is also taught as a statutory requirement, in addition to P.S.H.E. (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education), which remains an integral part of our curriculum.