Curriculum Subjects
At Woodlands Primary, we have structured our Million Dreams Curriculum around primary and secondary drivers. This approach reflects our commitment to valuing every subject and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to make progress across the curriculum.
Our curriculum is organised into three overarching themes, with a primary driver guiding each theme. Other subjects are integrated to facilitate interleaved learning, allowing students to make connections across different areas of study. We frequently use these overarching themes as writing stimuli, further reinforcing the interleaving of knowledge and skills.
This holistic approach helps to create a richer, more cohesive learning experience for all students.
Our curriculum is underpinned by research-based pedagogy and explicit instruction, drawing on Rosenshine’s principles and emphasising the importance of building on prior knowledge.
We follow an evidence-led curriculum structure that incorporates key strategies such as:
Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR) Model:
- I Do: Focused Instruction (Teacher models and demonstrates the task)
- We Do: Guided Instruction (Teacher and students practice together)
- You Do: Independent Practice (Students complete the task on their own)
Deliberate Practice: focused, purposeful practice designed to improve specific skills—it is not just repeating something over and over, but actively fixing mistakes along the way.
Spaced Learning: Distributing learning over time to enhance retention.
Retrieval Practice: Actively engaging students in recalling information to strengthen memory.
Dual Coding: combining visual images with spoken or written words to make information easier to learn and remember.
These strategies work together to create a dynamic and effective learning environment that supports every child's progress.
The lesson content is delivered through explicit instruction, free from unnecessary distractions. This clarity helps students easily identify and engage with relevant information. By breaking down concepts into manageable chunks, providing deliberate practice and using thoughtfully chosen tasks, they can effectively process, organise, and integrate new knowledge with what they already know. As a result, students are empowered to do more, learn more, and remember more.
Additionally, students are encouraged to think critically and tackle challenging tasks that have no ceiling, building resilience, curiosity, and a drive to reach their full potential. This approach fosters a deeper understanding and mastery of the material.
