Curriculum

Our vision

Our Curriculum Intent

At Tilstock CE Primary School, our curriculum is underpinned by our Christian vision and values of Hope, Joy, Achieve, Aspire, Respect and Nurture. It is designed to ensure that all pupils gain strong foundations in reading, writing and mathematics, alongside a rich and ambitious wider curriculum.

Our curriculum is knowledge‑rich, carefully sequenced and inclusive, so that pupils build secure understanding over time and are able to know more and remember more.

We prioritise:

Early reading and phonics as the gateway to learning
Mathematical fluency and number sense
Strong language development and vocabulary
High expectations for all learners

Leaders ensure curriculum decisions are informed by evidence and educational research, particularly in securing early foundations and long‑term retention of knowledge.

Curriculum Implementation

Teaching ensures that:

Learning builds logically on what pupils already know
Key knowledge is revisited and practised
New learning is clearly explained and modelled
Teachers check understanding and address misconceptions promptly

Assessment is used to inform teaching. Teachers adapt learning to meet the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND and those who are disadvantaged.

Curriculum Impact

Pupils:

Achieve well from their starting points
Develop confidence, resilience and enjoyment in learning
Show secure understanding and recall of key knowledge
Are well prepared for the next stage of their education

Reading and Phonics

Early reading is a priority at Tilstock CE Primary School. We ensure that:

Phonics is taught consistently using an approved systematic synthetic phonics programme – Read, Write, Inc
Reading books are closely matched to pupils’ phonics knowledge
Pupils who fall behind are identified quickly and supported effectively
Reading for pleasure is actively promoted across the school

This approach enables pupils to become confident, fluent readers who can access the full curriculum.