An Inspiring Curriculum

At Westvale Park Primary Academy, our curriculum is carefully designed to place every child at the centre of all we do. It reflects our vision that every pupil should be inspired to achieve, to develop curiosity, and to flourish both academically and personally.

Our educational approach combines an innovative, knowledge-rich curriculum with purposeful connectivity across subjects, personalised learning experiences, and a strong emphasis on high-quality teaching. Staff engage in continuous professional development to ensure that teaching remains reflective, ambitious and rooted in the latest research on how children learn best. The curriculum has been strategically planned and fully resourced from the outset to provide consistency and excellence for all pupils.

We follow the Early Years Framework and the National Curriculum, ensuring that every child gains a broad and balanced education and is well prepared for transition into Key Stage 3. Literacy and numeracy form the foundation of learning, giving pupils the essential skills to access all areas of the curriculum and to succeed in later life.

Curriculum design is carefully sequenced so that substantive and disciplinary knowledge are explicitly taught and built upon over time. Pupils learn not only what to know, but how to think and question within each subject discipline. Key concepts are revisited regularly to strengthen retention and deepen understanding as pupils move through the school.

The Aurora Curriculum has been developed to be ambitious for all. It ensures that every pupil, regardless of background or ability, has access to a curriculum that challenges, inspires and enables them to remember more over time. Teachers adapt materials sensitively to meet the needs of all learners, while maintaining the high expectations that underpin our shared vision of excellence.

Pupils who experience the Aurora Curriculum are well equipped for the next stage of their education and for future success in an ever-changing world.

Please click here to view the The Aurora Curriculum Rationale and Implementation Guide.

The Westvale Way

At Westvale Park Primary Academy, we believe that confident communication is the foundation of learning and success. From the earliest stages, pupils are encouraged to develop strong oracy skills, recognising that being an effective communicator is vital for learning, relationships and future achievement. A language-rich curriculum runs from the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) onwards, giving children frequent opportunities to perform, express ideas and voice opinions. Every child is assessed on entry so that early language development can be supported and extended.

We make full use of our extensive outdoor spaces to enrich learning. By engaging in meaningful learning both inside and outside the classroom, pupils understand that learning happens everywhere, all the time.

High-quality outdoor learning experiences at Westvale Park are designed to develop:
• reflective and inquisitive thinking through real-life problem solving
• resilience, adaptability and awareness of risk
• a love and respect for the natural world and an understanding of environmental responsibility
• self-awareness, confidence and emotional wellbeing
• collaboration, communication and teamwork
• positive physical and mental health
• a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors.

Our Forest School leader ensures that outdoor learning is thoughtfully embedded within our personal development curriculum.

Inside, our learning environment reflects the same philosophy. Calm, natural colours and textures create a sense of focus and wellbeing, while flexible spaces provide optimal opportunities for effective teaching and learning. This design supports our Wellbeing and Promoting Positive Behaviour Policy and reflects our belief that every child deserves a safe, inspiring and inclusive place to learn.

Our approach is underpinned by Growth Mindset Learning Theory, developed by Dr Carol Dweck. We believe that every child can develop their intelligence, ability and performance through effort, reflection and persistence. By nurturing a growth mindset, pupils learn the power of “yet” — they see mistakes as opportunities for growth and understand that perseverance leads to improvement. This approach builds resilience, curiosity and self-belief across the school.

In Year 1, pupils continue to learn through a play-based approach that bridges the EYFS and the National Curriculum. This ensures a smooth and confident transition into Key Stage 1, maximising learning time and maintaining the joy and curiosity of early learning. As pupils progress through Key Stage 1 and beyond, lessons are taught discretely by subject, with clear sequencing that ensures knowledge and skills build securely over time.

To enhance the curriculum, Westvale Park invests in specialist teachers and coaches who deliver weekly lessons in Sport, Forest School and Music. As a musical school, we believe that music is a universal language that nurtures creativity, expression and joy. Pupils learn to listen with appreciation, to perform with confidence and to compose with imagination. Through regular singing, instrumental work and whole-school performances, children experience the power of music to connect, uplift and inspire.

Our specialist practical room provides additional opportunities for hands-on learning in cookery, design and technology, and science.

Reading for pleasure sits at the heart of our curriculum. Each classroom has its own rich, well-stocked book corner that promotes a love of reading and provides access to high-quality, age-appropriate literature. Pupils select books that match their phonics level, alongside texts to enjoy and share with their family, ensuring that reading is celebrated as both a personal and communal experience.

In the core subjects, we focus on early mastery of essential skills to enable every child to succeed. Through continuous assessment, early intervention and daily opportunities for practice, we follow a “keep up” rather than a “catch up” approach, ensuring that all pupils make strong and sustained progress.

Above all, the Westvale Way represents our commitment to making learning engaging, relevant and enjoyable. Our staff go the extra mile to inspire curiosity, creativity and confidence, preparing every pupil for success in the modern world and for life beyond Westvale Park.

To view our Topic Maps and knowledge organisers for each half term, please see our Class Pages link below.

If you have any questions about our curriculum, please speak to your child’s teacher or contact the School Office.