Curriculum Overview

Throughout DVIS and across the curriculum we want to ensure the children are central to the planning, learning and teaching. We want children to flourish here at DVIS and grow in all aspects of their social, spiritual, moral and cultural lives.

We want to support the children in “Both developing habits and developing reflective wisdom in order to act with freedom and creativity in changing circumstances.” (‘The Fruit of The Spirit – C of E Discussion Paper on Character Education’ Oct 2015). Through our vision, values based on the fruit of the Spirit and our professional insight and response to the children, we develop topics and approaches to learning and life that we believe strikes this balance.

At DVIS, we recognise that the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework and the Key Stage 1 (KS1) National Curriculum are designed differently. The EYFS organises learning into broad areas, whereas the KS1 National Curriculum is structured around discrete subjects.

We acknowledge the strong foundations that the EYFS provides for learning in KS1. However, we deliberately plan and develop skills and knowledge within each framework separately, reflecting their distinct purposes, child development principles and pedagogical approaches. This work has been developed with the professionals who deliver it daily. It is set within a deep understanding and knowledge of early childhood development and education

In Reception, the foundations of National Curriculum subjects are taught through the EYFS areas of learning. While clear links exist between the two, we recognise that learning is often deeper and more cross-curricular than simple subject mapping suggests.

Our whole-school curriculum map ensures that children are well prepared for the next phase of learning, both at the end of Reception and at the end of Key Stage 1 as they move into Key Stage 2. Ongoing formative assessment, alongside end-of-year assessments, informs teachers’ planning, ensuring learning is appropriately sequenced and responsive to pupils’ needs.

Our intention at DVIS is for our curriculum to raise children who are:

• Life-long and active learners

• Aware of how they learn

• Prepared for their future

• Resilient in the face of adversity

• Able to think of others and their community

• Able to take responsibility for themselves and their learning

• Open to seeking challenge

• Confident in who they are and were created to be

• Enthusiastic readers, writers, who love numbers