Curriculum Statement

At Banks Road Infant and Nursery School, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to flourish, explore and achieve. Our curriculum is rooted in a warm, caring and nurturing environment where children feel safe, valued and confident to be themselves.

We place play at the heart of learning, recognising that children learn deeply through purposeful experiences, curiosity and discovery. Our children are given rich opportunities to play both inside and outside, exploring, creating, investigating and making sense of the world around them. We value adventure and encourage children to take managed risks, develop resilience and learn from both success and challenge.

We want our children to become powerful thinkers and enthusiastic learners. Through carefully planned experiences, we develop their curiosity, independence, problem-solving and ability to think deeply. We provide a broad, structured and well-balanced curriculum that builds strong foundations in reading, writing, mathematics and the wider curriculum. Children develop the knowledge, vocabulary, skills and understanding they need to achieve academically and become increasingly independent learners.

We believe that learning should extend beyond the classroom. Our curriculum is enriched through school trips, visits and experiences that bring learning to life, as well as opportunities to learn in and from the natural world through Forest School and other outdoor experiences. These experiences encourage children to explore, solve problems, and apply their learning in different contexts. We make purposeful use of the resources within our local community, developing links with local businesses, the library, church and other community and charity organisations, helping children to understand and value the community in which they live.

Alongside academic achievement, we nurture the whole child. We support children to develop confidence, creativity, emotional wellbeing, physical development, friendships and a strong sense of self. We celebrate individuality and encourage children to develop kindness, respect, responsibility and an understanding of their place within their community and the wider world. Through meaningful experiences and strong relationships, we help children to become caring, responsible and active members of their community.

Our curriculum is designed to build progressively from Nursery through to the end of Year 2, ensuring that children develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes and independence needed for their next stage of learning. We work closely with our local junior school to ensure that transition is carefully planned and effective. Strong links between staff and children, shared information and opportunities to become familiar with the next stage of their education help children to move on with confidence and excitement.

We carefully consider what children need to know, remember and understand, ensuring that learning is sequenced meaningfully and builds upon previous experiences. Our curriculum provides the right balance of knowledge, skills, creativity, play, challenge and exploration, enabling every child to make progress and develop a love of learning.

Above all, our curriculum reflects our belief that children learn best when they feel happy, secure, challenged and inspired. Through play, adventure, purposeful learning, rich experiences, community connections and strong relationships, we aim to give every child the best possible start and the foundations they need to thrive in the future.