Our curriculum is underpinned by high ambition for all pupils within our small village school community. It is designed to develop children who know how to live and learn together, valuing kindness, respect and responsibility, and who understand their place both within the local community and the wider world. Inclusion is central to our curriculum intent: every child is known as an individual, feels a strong sense of belonging, and is supported to achieve success. We place a strong emphasis on building resilience, enabling pupils to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to fulfil their emotional, physical and academic potential, whatever their starting point.

Closely aligned to the National Curriculum, our curriculum is carefully adapted to reflect the context of our small school. It is coherently planned and sequenced across single and mixed-age classes to ensure clear progression in knowledge and skills over time. Teaching builds on strong relationships and high expectations, with learning adapted to meet the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND. Meaningful learning experiences make purposeful use of our local environment and community, promote independence and collaboration, and encourage pupils to take risks in a safe and supportive setting. As a result, pupils develop confidence, positive learning behaviours and a strong sense of responsibility, leaving Kingston St Mary well-prepared for the next stage of their education and for life beyond our village school.

Phonics and Reading

Through the implementation of the Read Write Inc synthetic phonics scheme, we are committed to the delivery of excellence in the teaching of Phonics. We aim to develop each child so that they are able to read with fluency as well as develop an enjoyment of reading that will stay with them throughout their lives. Being able to read is the most important skill children will learn during their early schooling and has far-reaching implications for lifelong confidence and well-being.

Our primary aims are:

• Develop a love of books including stories, poems, non-fiction and fiction texts.
• Develop phonetic skills which lead to fluency when blending and reading.
• Establish consistent practice, progression and continuity in the teaching and learning of phonics and spelling throughout the school.
• Give children strategies that will enable them to become fluent and confident readers and writers.
• Promote confidence and positive attitudes to reading.
• Monitor each child’s progress using a range of assessment strategies; supporting those who are progressing slowly in acquiring reading skills through personalised interventions.