At Peartree  Primary School we have thought carefully about how to adapt our curriculum in light of the impact of the pandemic. We have referred to the DfE's 'Guidance for full opening: schools'. The DfE have asked schools to:

• Teach an ambitious and broad curriculum in all subjects from the start of the autumn term, but make use of existing flexibilities to create time to cover the most important missed content. Up to and including Key Stage 3, prioritisation within subjects of the most important components for progression is likely to be more effective than removing subjects, which pupils may struggle to pick up again later. In particular, schools may consider how all subjects can contribute to the filling of gaps in core knowledge, for example through an emphasis on reading.
• Aim to return to the school’s normal curriculum in all subjects by Summer Term 2021. Substantial modification to the curriculum may be needed at the start of the year, so teaching time should be prioritised to address significant gaps in pupils’ knowledge with the aim of returning to the school’s normal curriculum content by no later than summer term 2021.
• Plan on the basis of the educational needs of pupils. Curriculum planning should be informed by an assessment of pupils’ starting points and addressing the gaps in their knowledge and skills, in particular making effective use of regular formative assessment (for example, quizzes, observing pupils in class, talking to pupils to assess understanding, scrutiny of pupils’ work) while avoiding the introduction of unnecessary tracking systems."

Below you will find an outline of the Recovery Curriculum Peartree Primary School has planned for its pupils.

Mathematics

From the Autumn term, we have purchased the 'Back on Track' materials. These materials have been carefully planned to address the maths topics that would have been taught during lockdown, to both cover missed learning, whilst also teaching at age-related expectation. 

English - Talk 4 Writing

Teachers will be carefully planning sequences of learning using their T4W texts, adapting them to cover missed learning whilst making sure content is pitched at ARE. 

English - reading

All children from Year One upwards have been assessed using 'Star Reader,' an online reading assessment. This will give them a reading age and a ZPD. Class teachers will then analyse data from these tests to identify the skills they need to cover in their daily reading lessons.

Phonics and spelling

At the beginning of term, all staff had training on 'Letters and Sounds' and the use of a new spelling package, 'Essential Spelling.' These will be implemented from the second week back. Teachers will teach the age-related sequence, regularly assessing children and covering any missed learning.

Wellbeing assembly

Every Thursday in which there is not a virtual class assembly, classes will have a virtual wellbeing assembly. These assemblies are planned by teachers and will cover any wellbeing issues that arise in conversations with their classes.

PSHE

As well as teaching their normal PSHE through the 'Jigsaw' materials, teachers have been asked to give children time to talk about lockdown experiences such as loss (e.g. of experiences, school etc), loneliness, missing their friends and family, boredom etc as well as to celebrate the positive experiences they enjoyed.

Science and the foundation subjects 

Teachers spent lockdown creating knowledge, skills and vocabulary documents for their subjects. These will inform teachers' planning. Teachers will plan to age-related expectation in all subjects, but will look carefully at the previous year group to cover any relevant missed material.

Memory retrieval activities

Time is built into every class timetable from year two and above for a range of memory retrieval activities, to help to make children's learning stick. These activities will cover a different subject every day and will recap recent learning using a range of games and fun activities.