All children’s learning experiences are provided by guidelines set out by the Scottish Government under “Curriculum for Excellence.”
What is Curriculum for Excellence?
Curriculum for Excellence aims to achieve a transformation in education in Scotland by providing an improved, more flexible and enriched curriculum for all children and young people from 3-18. The curriculum includes all of the experiences which are planned for children and young people through their education, wherever they are being educated. All schools and nurseries in North Lanarkshire are working hard to raise standards so that children and young people will develop all of the skills necessary to continue to be successful when leaving school and entering the world of higher education, training or work.
Curriculum for Excellence is underpinned by the values inscribed on the mace of the Scottish Parliament – wisdom, justice, compassion and integrity. The purpose of the Curriculum for Excellence is encapsulated in the four capacities – to enable each child or young person to be a successful learner, a confident individual, a responsible citizen and an effective contributor.
What are the curriculum areas in Curriculum for Excellence?
There are eight curriculum areas:
Expressive Arts Religious and Moral Education
Health and Well Being Sciences
Languages (Literacy) Social Studies
Mathematics (Numeracy) Technologies
Class composition is arranged according to age and stage. However, where appropriate, classes in the same year group may be formed into groups arranged according to ability, e.g. in the context of phonics programmes or the Development of Writing Programme.
The pupils follow an Additional Support Plan which incorporates targets for each pupil. These are based on learning outcomes from Curriculum for Excellence. In line with national and local policy, long and short term targets are set within each pupil’s programme in the areas of Literacy, Numeracy and Health and Well Being. These targets are monitored termly.
Literacy and Numeracy are given added importance because these skills are so vital in everyday life. All teachers will have responsibility to teach literacy and numeracy. Where appropriate, published literacy and numeracy schemes are used. These are supplemented by a bank of materials which teahcers have developed to cater for the specific needs of our pupils. PM Readers, Link Up and Oxford Reading Tree are used for the teaching of reading. TJ Maths, S.P.M.G. and Heinemann together form the core Mathematic scheme throughout the school.
We are currently following the North Lanarkshire Active Literacy Programme and are focusing on providing experiential learning through active maths. Through this, pupils experience a traditionally broad Scottish Curriculum that develops skills for learning with a focus on literacy and numeracy. It also aims to encourage an active, healthy lifestyle and builds an appreciation of Scotland and its place in the world. It also provides learning and teaching experiences that strike a better balance between equipping young people with the skills for passing exams, skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work. Curriculum for Excellence promotes active learning and a cross curricular approach which is taught through Inter Disciplinary Learning (IDL)
