Our curriculum is integrated, purposeful and engaging. Wherever meaningful, we make connections between subjects so that children can see how their learning fits together and can apply their knowledge and skills in different contexts. Through carefully planned themes, high-quality texts, practical experiences and opportunities to explore, we aim to make learning memorable and relevant.

Our three school values are at the heart of our curriculum:

Collaboration – learning with and from others, listening, sharing ideas and understanding the importance of belonging to a community.

Creativity – encouraging curiosity, imagination and independent thinking, giving children the confidence to explore ideas, ask questions and find different ways to express themselves.

Challenge – developing resilience, perseverance and a positive attitude to learning, encouraging children to have a go, take appropriate risks and believe that they can achieve.

We believe that some of the most powerful learning happens through experience. Enrichment is therefore an important part of our curriculum, rather than an addition to it.

Our children benefit from visits, visitors, performances, workshops, community experiences and special curriculum events. Our extensive school grounds, Forest School, large playing field and outdoor spaces provide further opportunities for children to investigate, create, collaborate, problem-solve and connect their classroom learning with the world around them.

We want our children to experience the joy of discovery and to develop interests and talents that may stay with them long after they leave us.

We learn to learn

At the heart of our Poulner curriculum, you will not only find our core values but also our learning Heroes. These encourage children to be conscientious learners and kind young people developing healthy attitudes and habits that support them in a rapidly changing world.

Our Learning Heroes

We have 5 Learning Heroes that help us to define the types of learning behaviours that we are aiming to develop. In the classes you will be able to hear the children talking about which Learning Hero they are being today and which ones they need to work on. Here they are below:

Solver Snail

Solver is a real problem solver. Before tackling a problem he thinks very carefully about any obstacles that might get in his way and how he can be successful. Solver likes to imagine what the outcome might look like when he starts something so that he knows what he is working towards. He takes a step-by-step approach in his planning and always finds an answer.

REALITY: Identify the problem – What is working? What’s not working? 

POSSIBILITIES: Share, organise ideas, think things through and think outside the box 

ACTION & ANSWER: Discover new things 

Incy Independent

Incy Independent is not interested in an easy ride because he knows it won’t move his learning on. He likes to be challenged and is ‘up for anything!’ That doesn’t mean he is a brainbox; he just sticks at his learning and even his best friend can’t distract him because he has learnt to block out things that could sidetrack him from his goal. 

STICKABILITY: Perseverance, resilience and determination, ‘Try 3 before me’ 

HAVE A GO: Try new things and challenges 

ARE YOU IN THE ZONE?: Concentration and managing distractions 

Better Beetle

Better is a flexible learner who asks himself questions about how things are going and isn’t afraid to change things to make them better. He can look back on his learning and tell everyone how he learned and how he can improve on things the next time he tackles some learning. 

REFLECT: Look back and think about what you have learnt 

IMPROVING: Make changes to get better

Team Bee

Bay & Basil love to learn with other people. They encourage everyone in their group to take on a role and get involved. Team Bee likes to listen to others and copy their successes. They praise and congratulate their friends on great ideas and ask for help when needed. Team Bee understand how important other people’s feelings are and so people love working with them. They always share, compromise and reach an agreement. 

LISTEN & SHARE: Discuss ideas, co-operate and take turns 

DO YOUR JOB: Know your role in the team 

FLEXIBILITY: Compromise and reach an agreement 

Caring Caterpillar

Caring Caterpillar is always kind and respectful to others. They encourage everyone to be polite and honest and treat others they like to be treated too. Caring Caterpillar enjoys carrying out random acts of kindness.