Curriculum Statement

ETHOS

The school promotes life-long learning linked to the theory of Growth Mind Set. The curriculum at Mithian School includes all core and foundation subjects.  We provide a high standard of teaching and learning, through a creative, stimulating environment that offers challenges to each child.  Our curriculum is inclusive and provides wider opportunities for all the children.

CHILDREN EMERGE AS LIFE-LONG LEARNERS

(Emotional Intelligence, Motivation, Self-Efficacy, Resilience, Grit, Enthusiasm)   

AIMS 

Our Curriculum aims to:

  • provide a broad and balanced curriculum.
  • use different learning and teaching styles.
  • embed key skills in order to prepare children for real-life and everyday situations.
  • deliver knowledge and learning in practical ways.
  • use the Inspire Curriculum to provide a creative approach to learning.
  • aim to link to the outdoors, wider community and opportunities for visits, events and visitors. 
  • encourage a passion for learning and knowledge.
  • ensure the children are independent learners. 
  • aim to enable our children to tackle challenges and develop resilience.
  • for pupils to become reflective learners.
  • regularly assess children's progress and achieve next steps.

Pupils are taught to:-

  • understand their emotions and those of others
  • be active, motivated enthusiastic learners
  • think creatively
  • be responsible members of their community
  • be resilient and exhibit true grit
  • understand the choices they make impact on themselves and others
  • work co-operativley as part of a team
  • to stay safe and live a healthy lifestyle
  • understand the area in which they live as well as contrasting localities
  • understand the aspects of British Values: Democracy, Rule of Law, Mutual Respect, Personal Liberty and Tolerance of other faiths and cultures. 

The Inspire Curriculum is sectioned in year groups; as the school has mixed age classes the school follows a two year rolling programme of topics.  Each topic is approximately 4 weeks long and three are studied every term.  In addition the school also holds focus days and weeks (e.g. Science Week, Art Week, British Values.) 

Each Unit contains:

  • Simple summary of the Unit
  • National Curriculum POS coverage
  • A launch PowerPoint for each unit
  • Detailed launch lessons for all subjects then LO & SC for the following 3 lessons
  • Optional schemes e.g. innovation and enterprise, memory skills, heritage site ideas, educational visits, and more
The Inspire Curriculum provides a creative approach to learning and offers exciting areas of study and opportunities for the pupils. 
 
Phonics 
We use Letters and Sounds as our main teaching of phonics in EYFS and KS1.  As part of this we integrate Jolly Phonics, Giant Phonics and Read, Write, Inc and select the most appropriate element for the particular cohort and child. We ensure children apply phonic knowledge and skills as their first approach to reading and spelling. Children are taught the common exception words and tricky words to help to aid their reading and spelling fluency.  Every year parents are invited to come in to the classroom to see a phonics session in action.  
 
Reading 
Pupils at Mithian move through reading bands as their reading fluency and comprehension develops.  Children begin reading using a mixture of phonics levelled books and also age appropriate texts. They continue to move through the colour-banded scheme and can change their books when necessary. Reading is recorded in reading records and teachers monitor the comments to assess reading progress and to communicate with parents/carers about any issues raised whilst reading at home.  Reading regularly at home earns children a sticker for their sticker chart and a filled sticker chart can be swapped for a book which the children take home.    
 
Writing 
Writing at Mithian is cross-curricular often linking to what children are learning in their topic; this makes writing relevant, meaningful and purposeful.  Writing sessions focus on a variety of genres and text types using toolkits to help identify features.  Spelling, punctuation and grammar are incorporated into every lesson in a variety of inspiring ways including games and use of iPads etc.  
 
Maths 
Maths at Mithian is taught using a mastery based approach where all pupils access the same teaching and learning with the aspiration that all children achieve.  Lessons consist of fluency, problem solving and reasoning tasks to develop a secure understanding of mathematics. 
 
 Equal Opportunities

We offer inclusive education for all children irrespective  of age, gender or ethnic origin equal opportunity. All children are given the opportunity to learn in a safe and encouraging learning environment.  Children with additional languages and pupils with special educational needs are supported on all levels and all pupils acheievements and talents are recognised and celebrated.

 

EYFS

In the Foundation Stage we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and the school runs it's own Nursery which is linked to EYFS.  Parents have access to Tapestry which gives them regular information to their child's early learning steps. 

Spiritual, Moral, Social, Cultural (SMSC)

The school encourages opportunities to promote the spiritual, moral and cultural development of all our pupils, especially through our acts of Collective Worship and our Religious Education scheme of work.  Cornwall has an agreed Religious Education syllabus. 

Extra-Curricular Clubs

The school offers a wide range of  extra-curricular clubs which change termly. Clubs are run by our  teachers, teaching assistants, coaches and well supported by parents. There is no charge for these. 

The school takes part in a variety of performances, events and sporting fixtures.

 

Wrap-around Care

We offer a Breakfast Club every morning from 07.45.am and after school provision is provided (Chill Zone) until 16.30.pm.  See Parental Information  page.