Pear Tree Mead (PTM) dedicates itself to ‘Pupils That Matter’.  We embody this in our ethos, values and curriculum.  Because of this we aim to provide our children with an engaging, exciting and empowering curriculum that equips them for today and tomorrow.

Intent

At PTM the curriculum is designed to ‘help all children grow so that they can reach the branches to their future’.  This is done through:

• Self-belief
• Respect
• Aspiration
• Inquisitiveness
• Resilience and
• Togetherness

The PTM curriculum aims to be broad and balanced and relevant for our Harlow community.  This means that learning opportunities are underpinned by basic life skills along with our strong core values.  As a staff we feel it is important to enable children to be independent, adventurous and develop a growth mindset through all experiences they encounter.

PTM are dedicated to well being and a positive mental health and this is a key feature in the development of the PTM curriculum.  We celebrate and welcome difference, all cultures, diversity, beliefs and most of all ourselves and the beauty in being unique.

Implementation

The PTM curriculum was created through a united desire to provide more for our children and their individual needs.  Therefore we have developed a set of PTM progressions for Foundation subjects that allow us to teach and develop in a more inclusive and child centred way.  We follow the National Curriculum and supplement their division across the year groups with a set of PTM skills.  These skills are what we believe is needed to enthuse and support our community.

We teach on a one year programme of objectives and skills where the ‘focus’, ‘experience’ or ‘approach’ may change.  This allows PTM staff to teach through current affairs, community links, common interests or a philosophical question.  The options are endless!

The one recurring feature for planning is that we have a child’s voice.  The PTM curriculum comes to life through the ‘forward planning sessions’ held every term with the children.  This is where the children discuss and involve themselves in the next stages of learning.

We are very lucky to have extensive grounds and a plethora of opportunities on our door step.  We take advantage of these boasting a forest school, various habitats (pond, allotment, outdoor classroom), outdoor learning opportunities and our own swimming pool.  We involve our community in as many experiences as possible from community days, family visits, workshops, guest speakers and links with the secondary schools and colleges.  PTM staff understand that these are the links to further aspirations and future goals.

PTM have a commitment to inclusion, accessibility and positive self image. We provide a Nurture group, flexible learning mentors and extended school provision that supports all these areas.  PTM staff understand the beauty in being unique and endeavour to provide opportunities to strengthen this.

Subject leaders play an important part in the success of the curriculum by leading a regular programme of monitoring, evaluation and review and the celebration of good practice contributes to the ongoing commitment to evolve and improve further.  All subject leaders are given training and the opportunity to keep developing their own subject knowledge, skills and understanding, so they can support curriculum development and their colleagues throughout the school.

Impact

The innovative practice across the school provides a strong foundation and opportunities for children to collaborate and develop social skills both indoors and out.  This curriculum design ensures that the needs of individual and small groups of children can be met within the environment of quality first teaching, supported by targeted, proven interventions where appropriate.  In this way it can be seen to impact in a very positive way on children’s outcomes.

Enjoyment of the curriculum promotes achievement, confidence and good behaviour. Children feel safe to try new things.  High quality visits and visitors to the school enhance the curriculum and provide opportunities for writing and communicating for a purpose.

At PTM we continue to develop and broaden our outcomes.  We continue to involve the children and their views through the school council, well being team, pupil perception and the family group feedback.  This means we will always know if we are on the right lines!

Our Curriculum Policy can be seen in full by clicking here.

Here is a link to the National Curriculum for Primary schools. This forms part of the structure of our PTM curriculum.

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-primary-curriculum

Life Skills 

Our Learning and Life Experiences

At Pear Tree Mead we believe that every child should have amazing childhood experiences, ones they will remember for life. Throughout their time with us children at Pear Tree Mead are offered the chance to take part in our 70 learning and life experiences, these are:

1. Make a special potion
2. Fly a kite
3. Post a list to Father Christmas
4. Rescue an animal in danger (ice cube challenge)
5. Dress up as a book character
6. Find something that is lost
7. Bring a teddy to school
8. Jump in muddy puddles
9. Make a mud pie
10. Roll down a hill
11. Be transported to another world
12. Have a speaking part in a play/assembly
13. Climb a tree
14. Hunt for something
15. Have a picnic
16. Work with a senior citizen
17. Hunt for bugs
18. Hatch an animal
19. Paddle in the sea
20. Build a sand and shell sculpture
21. Play the drums
22. Make something that moves
23. Visit a castle where real Kings and Queens have lived
24. Design and make a game to play
25. Watch a Pantomime
26. Visit a zoo
27. Feed an animal
28. Learn to sing a new song
29. Learn a different language
30. Learn a song in sign language
31. Visit some ruins
32. Ride the train
33. Discover London
34. Enter a competition
35. Visit a library
36. Experience life from a time in the past
37. Discover what is in a pond
38. Send an invite
39. Visit a museum
40. Walk and play with a dog
41. Experience 3D art
42. Go star gazing
43. Experience secondary school
44. Make and fly paper aeroplanes
45. Sleepover at school
46. Sing songs around a campfire
47. Go on a nature walk
48. Try foods from around the world
49. Visit a place of worship
50. Float along a river
51. Navigate the London underground
52. Find your way with a map and compass
53. Enjoy a pool party
54. Create natural art
55. Order food and eat out of school
56. Have a story published
57. Pose for a professional photograph
58. Go on a trip away for 2 nights or more
59. Take part in team building activity
60. Talk to professionals from a range of industries
61. Ride a rollercoaster
62. Build a life size structure
63. Do something for charity
64. Learn how to ride a bike
65. Join a school club
66. Hold a position of responsibility in the school
67. Perform at the O2
68. Attend and watch a sporting event
69. Spend time with other primary children from a different school
70. Make something and sell it

 

Life Skills

At Pear Tree Mead we believe every child needs to have a set of core skills that will help them to be independent in everyday life. To support this, we have Life Skill Challenges which are:

Pre school

1. I can listen to a book I like  
2. I can talk about things I like  
3. I can say sorry  
4. I put things in the correct places  
5. I can wash my hands correctly  
6. I can say please and thank you  
7. I can take off my shoes 
8. I can sit at the table for snack time 
9. I can use the toilet in my classroom 
10. I can say mine and a friends name 

 

Nursery

1. I can share a book I like with an audience 
2. I can talk about things I like and do not like
3. I can calm myself down when I am sad or angry
4. I put things in the correct places 
5. I can brush my teeth
6. I can say please and thank you 
7. I can change my shoes on my own 
8. I can choose materials to be recycled and place them in the recycling bin 
9. I can use the toilet on my own

Reception

1. I can say please and thank you
2. I can dress myself on my own and look after my own belongings
3. I can use the toilet and wash my hands after
4. I can blow my own nose
5. I can use cutlery to eat
6. I can show I am sorry
7. I can write my own name
8. I can name healthy foods
9. I can resolve conflicts I have with my peers
10. I can choose materials to be recycled and place them in the recycling bin

Year 1

1. I can use a knife and fork to cut up food
2. I can alert somebody to an emergency 
3. I know when my birthday is
4. I can work in a team
5. I can make a simple sandwich
6. I have fire safety awareness
7. I know how to cross a road safely
8. I can describe how someone else feels
9. I can resolve conflicts I have with my peers
10. I can choose materials to be recycled and place them in the recycling bin

Year 2

1. I know my left and right
2. I know my address
3. I know how to make an emergency phone call (999)
4. I can point to where I live on a world map
5. I can pay someone a compliment
6. I can describe what makes a healthy meal
7. I can set myself a target
8. I know what to do if I am lost
9. I can resolve conflicts I have with my peers
10. I can choose materials to be recycled and place them in the recycling bin

Year 3

1. I can tie shoelaces
2. I can roll pastry and grate food safely
3. I can check the weather forecast
4. I know how many days there are in each month of the year
5. I can carry out research using a search engine
6. I can teach something to someone else
7. I can make bread
8. I can measure, choosing the appropriate equipment
9. I can resolve conflicts I have with my peers
10. I can recycle materials and know why we turn off lights and things that use power

Year 4

1. I can read and follow a map
2. I can calculate the change from £1.00, £5.00 and £10.00
3. I can give directions
4. I can write and post a letter
5. I can swim a length
6. I can peel and chop fruit and vegetables
7. I can tell the time on an analogue and digital clock
8. I can follow a simple recipe
9. I can resolve conflicts I have with my peers
10.  I can recycle materials, know why we turn off lights and things that use power and know what sustainable and renewable resources are

Year 5

1. I can send an email
2. I know how to behave appropriately on line and on social media
3. I can fill in an application form
4. I can prepare for an interview
5. I can use a compass
6. I have an awareness of basic first aid
7. I can give a presentation to an audience
8. I understand the changes that happen during puberty
9. I can resolve conflicts I have with my peers
10. I can recycle materials, know why we turn off lights, know what sustainable and renewable resources are and explain the impact of plastic on earth and in our oceans 

Year 6

1. I can prepare and cook a simple meal
2. I can take part in a debate
3. I know basic first aid
4. I can find out about a range of careers
5. I have an understanding of drug and alcohol misuse
6. I can sew different stitches
7. I can read a timetable and follow a schedule
8. I know how to manage money
9. I can resolve conflicts I have with my peers
10. I can recycle materials and can explain the impact of plastic on earth and in oceans and suggest different materials which are more environmentally friendly