Our Curriculum

At Peppard Church of England Primary School, our Curriculum Offer is central to everything we do with our children. Carefully designed and thoughtfully planned, our curriculum aims to engage every child, spark their curiosity, and enable them to achieve their very best. We strive for teaching and learning that supports, challenges, and enriches our pupils’ lives, nurturing a lifelong love of learning.

Through our Curriculum Offer and a wealth of wider experiences, we bring our School Vision – ‘Inspiring Each Other to Shine’ – to life.

Key Strands of Our Vision

• Celebrating Individuals
  We encourage all children to take pride in their efforts, build confidence in their abilities, and celebrate their unique achievements in all areas of life.
• Learning for Life
  Our school promotes a love of learning and encourages children to be curious about the world, so they can experience life in all its fullness now and in the future.
• Inspiring Excellence
  We provide a strong foundation of knowledge, skills, and attitudes through a carefully sequenced curriculum, offering a rich variety of opportunities both in and beyond the classroom.

Our Curriculum Design

Our curriculum is specifically tailored for the children at Peppard CofE Primary. Staff have meticulously planned and sequenced the content so that knowledge is revisited and built upon each year – helping children to learn more, remember more, and do more.

Curriculum Themes

We weave key themes through our curriculum to reflect our ethos and vision, including:

• Environmental awareness and sustainability
• Diversity, justice, and equality
• Global citizenship

Local features of Henley-on-Thames and South Oxfordshire – such as the River Thames, local woodlands, and our rich cultural heritage – are embedded in our curriculum. All classes make use of the local area for subjects such as Science, RE, History, Geography, Art, and Computing.

To support children’s wider personal development, we:

• Prepare pupils for road and river safety
• Visit local landmarks, such as the church, library, and nature reserves
• Explore local places of worship, supporting our Christian values and understanding of other faiths
• Utilise the surrounding countryside and woodlands for outdoor learning

Learning in the Outdoors

Outdoor learning is a priority at Peppard CofE Primary. Our beautiful rural setting enables us to make the most of outdoor opportunities. Our Forest School provision is a key strength, supporting the personal development and wellbeing of all our pupils. Activities include:

• Forest School sessions led by accredited practitioners
• Gardening and growing projects (Science)
• Outdoor cooking and environmental work (Geography)
• Nature-inspired music, art, and poetry
• Using technology outdoors

Children from Reception to Year 6 participate in these activities, deepening their connection with nature and their local environment.

Reading – At the Heart of Our School

Reading is a core focus at Peppard CofE Primary. We are committed to ensuring that every child learns to read confidently and for pleasure.
In the early years, we prioritise helping children to ‘Learn to Read’, so they can then ‘Read to Learn’. Our approach, developed in partnership with parents and carers, aims for every child to:

• Read to enjoy and imagine
• Read to learn and achieve
• Read to dream and explore
• Read for laughter, relaxation, and adventure
• Read to be informed and inspired

School and Home – Partners in Learning

We value strong partnerships with our families.

• Termly and yearly overviews are shared on our class pages, outlining key learning and vocabulary.
• Families are regularly invited to share in learning, join assemblies, and take part in special curriculum events.
• We encourage parents to work alongside their children, strengthening learning both at home and in school.

Curriculum Frameworks

• Reception – Follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework.
• Years 1- 6 – Follow the National Curriculum.

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