EV Policy V1.2.1 FINAL 10.05.23
Wider Curriculum Opportunities & Cultural Capital Rationale
Our curriculum extends beyond the National Curriculum and includes a wide range of enriching experiences and opportunities both within and beyond the school day. This includes a programme of after-school clubs and visits that support the core curriculum offer, as well as those which develop specialist skills, whilst also extending the range of children’s experiences (Cultural Capital). A primary focus of our curriculum is to raise aspirations, engender a sense of personal pride in achievement, and provide a purpose and relevance for learning.
In addition to our exciting and stimulating cross-curricular themes in our day-to-day learning, we also provide further opportunities to enhance children’s learning wherever possible. These include:
Whole School Theme Days/Weeks
Throughout the year, themed days/weeks are woven into the curriculum to extend the breadth and balance of opportunities we offer our pupils. These include: Anti-bullying Week, Internet Safety Day, World Book Day, Black History Month, Sport & Health Week, Road Safety, Gypsy Romany Traveller month, Science Day, Community Day, European Day of Languages (French focus) and many more. Year groups will often launch a class topic with a themed dress up day or experience (Evacuees, Greek Gods, real life superheroes).
Educational Visits and Residential Trips
School trips and visits are an integral part of the education of children at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School. We value the opportunities such visits offer our pupils and the commitment of staff undertaking them. Trips include class visits aimed at bringing learning alive and providing first-hand experience; extra-curricular outings such as sporting events and attending or taking part in performances or competitions.
As well as a whole school trip to the Pantomime at Christmas, each year group have at least one other visit planned during the year linked to their topic. This includes the following:
F1 and F2- Twycross Zoo/ Gullivers Valley
Year 1 and 2- Tropical Butterfly House, Perlethorpe, Yorkshire Wildlife Park
Year 3- Cresswell Crags
Year 4- Heights Of Abraham
Year 5- National Coal Mine Museum
Year 6- National Holocaust Centre
We also apply each year for the UK Parliament visits, if successful we bring School Council to London and include visits to Natural History Museum and Westminster Abbey in the same day.
Children from Year 2 upwards are offered the opportunity to attend a residential visit. These are planned to provide new and exciting experiences. Pupils in Years 2, 3 and 4 attend a 1 night sleepover on a rolling cycle that includes The Deep, Gullivers Valley and Twycross Zoo. Children in Year 5 take part in a three day residential taking part in series of outdoor and adventurous activities and team building games. Our Year 6 young people take part in full 5 day adventure week at where they experience orienteering, climbing, abseiling, raft building, archery and lots more at Walesby Forest for 4 days, then travel to Warner Bros Studios to tour the making of Harry Potter.
To support EYFS ratios, we invite parents to attend trips for children in F1 and F2. From Year 1 upwards, the trips are fully supported by school staff and due to financial constraints and ensuring safeguarding procedures, additional adults are not permitted for any other trips. Should consent not be attained for a school trip, arrangements will be provided in school for the child to remain in school.
