Our Curriculum

Our curriculum at Alsager Highfields.

We believe in providing a nurturing environment where every child can believe in themselves and achieve as mighty oaks from small acorns grow. We live out our motto of ‘Nurture, Believe and Achieve’.

Curriculum Intent

At Highfields, we value and nurture every child, helping them to reach their full potential across all areas of the curriculum. Our aim is for pupils to leave Highfields as confident, well‑rounded individuals with a genuine enthusiasm for learning. We celebrate each child’s uniqueness, recognising their different strengths and qualities, and welcome all pupils into our happy, supportive environment.

We create a learning culture where children take pride in their work, feel safe to make mistakes, and develop resilience and independence. Our school is committed to providing a high‑quality, cross‑curricular education, with rich and engaging literary texts at the heart of our teaching. We understand the strong link between achievement and a love of reading, and we work to build positive attitudes towards reading while nurturing a lifelong enjoyment of books.

While ensuring pupils leave Highfields secure in the core skills of reading, writing, and maths, we also recognise the vital role the Arts play in promoting happiness, self‑belief, and positive mental wellbeing. We therefore offer all pupils a wide range of enriching experiences. Our curriculum builds on the statutory national curriculum, providing opportunities that deepen children’s understanding of the world around them and broaden their horizons.

Curriculum Design

At Highfields, our curriculum is delivered through a carefully planned approach that links subjects wherever meaningful connections can be made. Children understand that they are learning the knowledge, skills, and vocabulary specific to each subject, as lessons remain discrete. However, because many subjects naturally overlap, we make these links explicit and build on pupils’ ‘sticky knowledge’ to strengthen understanding over time.

Although we use commercial schemes as a foundation, we always work to shape and deliver a bespoke curriculum that reflects the needs of our pupils. This includes adaptive teaching and providing enriched, first‑hand experiences that deepen learning. Further details about the breadth of our curriculum across the whole school can be found in the documents attached below.

Curriculum Implementation

At Highfields, English is taught both as a subject in its own right and as a medium for learning across the curriculum. Fluency in the English language is essential for success in all subjects, so we prioritise the teaching of phonics throughout EYFS and into KS1. Once pupils complete the Read Write Inc. systematic phonics programme, they continue to develop their reading skills through the Renaissance Accelerated Reader programme.

Mathematical understanding is built through daily mastery‑based lessons, enabling pupils to develop deep conceptual knowledge alongside secure procedural skills. A daily fluency session supports the recall of key facts and methods. Our science curriculum further strengthens pupils’ understanding of the world around them, providing strong foundations for future learning.

All three core subjects are taught by class teachers. Most foundation subjects are also delivered by class teachers, with additional support from subject specialists where appropriate. Year group curriculum maps, available on each class page, outline the breadth of learning on offer. Each term includes a historical or geographical focus; Art and Design may complement the theme, but discrete skills and the study of significant artists are also taught. Design and Technology may be taught in blocks to make the best use of curriculum time. Computing is taught both as a discrete subject and as a tool for learning and communication.

Physical Education is sometimes taught by specialist coaches, ensuring high‑quality provision. Modern Foreign Languages are taught throughout KS2, and Religious Education follows the agreed syllabus. PSHE and RSE are woven throughout each term and year.

Every subject has a dedicated subject leader who is given time to ensure that our ambitious curriculum is delivered consistently and continues to develop. This approach supports a broad and equitable curriculum where every subject is valued and has a secure place within the timetable.

We actively seek opportunities to enrich learning through experiences that deepen pupils’ understanding. These include bespoke residential visits—such as trips to Llandudno, the Quinta Centre, and London—alongside educational visits, visitors to school, use of our forest school area, and engagement with our local community, including the church, food bank, and housing associations. Together, these experiences help build pupils’ cultural capital and broaden their horizons.

Curriculum Impact

At Highfields, all children—regardless of their starting points or any potential barriers to learning—are supported and encouraged to meet our high expectations and achieve their full potential. Evidence shows that pupils make strong progress across all areas of the EYFS curriculum, as well as in the core subjects of reading, writing, and maths during the foundational stages of their education.

Teachers assess pupils’ learning across the curriculum every day, using discussion, observations, and pupils’ work to provide feedback and identify next steps. At the end of each term, more formal assessment information is gathered by the Headteacher, Senior Leaders, the SENCo, and class teachers. Together, they review the progress pupils have made and evaluate how effectively the curriculum is supporting their learning.

This information is shared with parents during parents’ evenings and is also included in a written report at the end of each school year.

Promoting the Protected Characteristics at Alsager Highfields

We work to ensure that all children understand that:

• There are no outsiders at Alsager Highfields.

• Everyone is different.

• We celebrate those differences.

• We are all equal in our differences.

The Equality Act and Protected Characteristics

The Equality Act became law in 2010. It applies to everyone in Britain and protects people from discrimination, harassment, and victimisation. The Act safeguards all of us because it prevents discrimination based on the protected characteristics we each have. Under the Equality Act, there are nine Protected Characteristics:

• Age

• Disability

• Gender reassignment

• Race

• Religion or belief

• Marriage or civil partnership

• Sex

• Sexual orientation

• Pregnancy and maternity

At Alsager Highfields, we actively promote these characteristics through our curriculum and work to embed them within our school ethos.

When the Equality Act Protects You

Under the Equality Act, you are protected from discrimination in many everyday situations, including:

• In the workplace

• When using public services such as healthcare or education

• When accessing services and goods from businesses and organisations, such as shops, restaurants, and cinemas

• When using transport

• When joining clubs or associations, such as sports clubs

• When interacting with public bodies, including your local council or government departments

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