Crindau Primary School
Our Mission Statement and Purposes
Our mission is ‘Hand in Hand to Inspire and Celebrate Success’.
At Crindau Primary School we strive to work in partnership with the whole school community to provide a safe and happy environment where all are respected and valued and diversity and individuality are celebrated. We strive to inspire and create life-long learners, nurturing resilience, tolerance and ambition. Collectively, we will nurture empathy for others and a responsibility for the world around us. It is our aim to create a digitally competent community, providing opportunities and experiences to prepare learners for their future as skilled individuals.
Through realising our vision our children’s will develop the Four Purposes of Curriculum for Wales in a meaningful way that enables them to go on to achieve every future success by being:
Ambitious, capable learners, ready to learn throughout their lives who:
● set themselves high standards and seek and enjoy challenge
● are building up a body of knowledge and have the skills to connect and apply that knowledge in different contexts
● are questioning and enjoy solving problems
● can communicate effectively in different forms and settings, using both Welsh and English
● can explain the ideas and concepts they are learning about
● can use number effectively in different contexts
● understand how to interpret data and apply mathematical concepts
● use digital technologies creatively to communicate, find and analyse information
● undertake research and evaluate critically what they find
Enterprising, creative contributors, ready to play a full part in life and work who:
● connect and apply their knowledge and skills to create ideas and products
● think creatively to reframe and solve problems
● identify and grasp opportunities
● take measured risks
● lead and play different roles in teams effectively and responsibly
● express ideas and emotions through different media
● give of their energy and skills so that other people will benefit
Ethical, informed citizens who are ready to be citizens of Wales and the world who:
● find, evaluate and use evidence in forming views
● engage with contemporary issues based upon their knowledge and values
● understand and exercise their human and democratic responsibilities and rights
● understand and consider the impact of their actions when making choices and acting
● are knowledgeable about their culture, community, society and the world, now and in the past
● respect the needs and rights of others, as a member of a diverse society
● show their commitment to the sustainability of the planet
Healthy, confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society who:
● have secure values and are establishing their spiritual and ethical beliefs
● are building their mental and emotional well-being by developing confidence, resilience and empathy
● apply knowledge about the impact of diet and exercise on physical and mental health in their daily lives
● know how to find the information and support to keep safe and well
● take part in physical activity
● take measured decisions about lifestyle and manage risk
● have the confidence to participate in performance
● form positive relationships based upon trust and mutual respect
● face and overcome challenge
● have the skills and knowledge to manage everyday life as independently as they can
Effective Teaching and Learning at Crindau Primary School
At Crindau Primary School we ensure effective teaching and learning is achieved by aiming to ‘Inspire and Celebrate Success’. To achieve that aim we provide a curriculum that is led by the Four Purposes and include the six Areas of Learning and Experience.
The Areas of Learning and Experience are:
● Expressive Arts
● Health and Well-Being
● Humanities
● Languages, Literacy and Communication
● Mathematics and Numeracy
● Science and Technology
At Crindau Primary School we also deliver the cross-curricular responsibilities of literacy, numeracy and digital competence alongside the integral skills of creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem-solving, personal effectiveness and planning and organisation. We aim to enable our learners to develop competence and capability in both the cross-curricular responsibilities and integral skills by providing opportunities to extend and apply them across all Areas of Learning and Experience.
Within the Curriculum for Wales we will also teach Relationships and Sexuality education, Rights and Values education, Rights of a Child, Human Rights and Diversity. The Curriculum will be taught through local, national and international contexts and also related to careers and work related experiences.
What the curriculum means to us:
At Crindau Primary School we are designing a curriculum that will inspire and stimulate our pupils to achieve success. They will develop their skills, knowledge and abilities across areas of learning and experience that will be meaningful and of interest to them. Pupils will be involved fully in considering how they learn, why they need to learn and what matters to them.
Project headings 2022/2023
Newport, Where I live
Croeso i Gymru!
What a Wonderful World
Pedagogical Principles
Effective teaching and learning through our curriculum support the twelve Pedagogical Principles from Curriculum for Wales that:
● maintains a consistent focus on the overall purposes of the curriculum
● challenges all learners by encouraging them to recognise the importance of sustained effort in meeting expectations that are high but achievable for them
● means employing a blend of approaches including direct teaching
● means employing a blend of approaches including those that promote problem-solving, creative and critical thinking
● sets tasks and selects resources that build on previous knowledge and experience and engage interest
● creates authentic contexts for learning
● means employing assessment for learning principles
● ranges within and across Areas
● regularly reinforces the cross-curricular skills of literacy, numeracy and digital competence, and provides opportunities to practise them
● encourages learners to take increasing responsibility for their own learning
● supports social and emotional development and positive relationships
● encourages collaboration.
Additionally, through effective teaching and learning we will develop a curriculum that is:
● authentic
● empowering
● evidence-based
● responsive
● engaging
● inclusive
● ambitious
● manageable
Effective Teaching
To ensure effective teaching we apply the following:
• Planning is designed to ensure learners are extended or supported as necessary within lessons in order to ensure progress.
• Differentiation is planned for but also adjusted within a lesson as learners demonstrate their level of understanding.
• Quality marking and feedback during and at the end of a lesson enable learners to identify next steps and adults to support next steps.
• Authentic learning ensures real life contexts to make learning more purposeful.
• A developing range of teaching methods are employed by staff.
• Pupils use their voice to influence the learning in classes.
• Data and other evidence is used to support decisions about provision.
• Staff professional enquiry questions are linked to the needs of the class and provide a focus for improving standards through evidence based research.
• The use of cross-curricular themes are routinely employed and whole school topics are broad in order for classes to take learning in different directions.
• The teacher promotes and facilitates collaborative opportunities for learners
Effective Learning
To ensure effective learning we apply the following standards:
• Learners take growing responsibility for their own learning and can articulate the way their organisational skills are developing.
• Learners have an influence and can reflect upon authentic experiences which reinforce prior learning and provide context for further development.
• Leaners can reflect upon learning and identify next steps.
• Learners have a love of learning.
• Learners have high expectations of themselves and show resilience when faced with challenge.
We acknowledge that evaluation is crucial to learning and assisting progress in learning. Assessment serves three key purposes: to help individual learners on an ongoing day-to-day basis, to identify, capture, and reflect on individual learner development over time, and to comprehend group progress to determine future steps for learning.
Our staff members use effective formative assessment tools to advance learning and provide daily support where needed. Staff members often use teaching techniques to gauge their pupils' understanding of new material, including Think Pair Share, Cold Calling, and Show Me Boards. Planning is then modified going ahead to accommodate specific learner needs and responses.
Roles and Responsibilities
School staff support the aims of the school through:
• Promoting positive relationships between all members of the school community including; children and children, children and staff, children and their parents/carers and staff and parents/carers;
• Providing a secure, stimulating environment where all children are supported in responding to the challenges involved in moving towards their full potential;
• Providing a broad, balanced and engaging curriculum which is appropriately differentiated according to the needs of the children;
• Rewarding children for all the good things they do both in school and in the wider community;
• Promoting a positive self-image whereby children are encouraged towards a sense of responsibility for themselves and others;
• Providing the skills which encourage children to become confident, independent learners.
Children support the aims of the school through:
• Promoting positive relationships between all members of the school community including; children and children, children and staff, children and their parents/carers and staff and parents/carers;
• Attending school regularly with a positive attitude, eagerness to learn and to behave in a way that allows themselves and others to learn;
• Working well independently and collaboratively; remembering what they have learnt and having the confidence to apply skills and knowledge in new contexts;
• Persevering with their learning and knowing that when they find it difficult they can ask for help;
• Taking pride in their work, always trying their best and aiming to get better all the time.
Families support the aims of the school through:
• Promoting positive relationships between all members of the school community including; children and children, children and staff, children and their parents/carers and staff and parents/carers;
• To be understanding and supportive of our aims in learning and teaching and sign the School’s Home-School Agreement;
• To attend and contribute to Teacher Consultation Meetings;
• To support their children with their home learning activities, including reading and helping their children improve skills
• To praise their children for the good things that they do in school;
• To communicate and work with the school whenever their child needs further social or emotional support or to develop their child’s skills and understanding
Governors support the aims of the school through:
• Promoting positive relationships between the Governing Body and all other members of the School community including; children, their parents/carers and staff;
• To appoint link governors who will:
• ○ meet with the school staff regularly;
• ○ review the school’s systems for planning work, supporting staff and monitoring
• progress;
• ○ review the allocation, use and appropriateness of resources which support
• teaching and learning;
• ○ visit School and talk to children about their learning experiences;
• ○ promote and support the positive involvement of parents within the school;
• ○ attend training and other related events;
• ○ report to the governing body with recommendations; and
• ○ work with Senior Leaders to review the School’s Learning and Teaching Policy
Stakeholder Voice:
Our pupils have told us that they want their education at Crindau to be:
• Fun and exciting
• Challenging
• Creative and artistic
• Engaging
and to have confident teachers. Pupils have the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and lead change through the following pupil voice groups:
School Council
Heddlu Bach
Criw Crindau
Our families have told us that they want their children to:
• Know how to take care of themselves
• Have self-discipline and self confidence
• Compare and learn about the cultures of different countries and adopt the better things from them
• Improve their knowledge by teaching them about morals and value based education
• Know more about online safety and the bad impacts of digital media
• Have life skills e.g. cooking, diy, hygiene
• Learn about history that has helped shape the world today
• Have sports teams
• Have team and leadership skills
• Know about modern history that has relevance to our society
• Have practical experiences: organisations/companies coming in, school working within the community, links with other schools
• Have a voice within their curriculum
• Have digital learning underpinning lessons
• Learn about mental health
• Have good relationships with peers
• Develop independence
• Defend their own point of view
Our curriculum has been developed including all stakeholders: pupils, staff, parents, governors, wider community
Principles into Practice
At Crindau Primary School we aim to:
• To provide an inspiring and challenging curriculum that reflects our community and meets the need of every child.
• To teach children how to be a good learner so that they are empowered to lead their own learning.
• To develop a culture where children and staff believe in their own ability, take risks and challenge themselves to be better.
• To create an inclusive, caring and happy environment in which children feel safe, secure, valued and respected.
• To place pupil voice and participation at the heart of learning and school life.
• To provide a variety of social, emotional, cultural and spiritual opportunities to ensure that each child becomes a responsible citizen.
• To develop an emotionally intelligent community with self-awareness, professionalism, self-motivation, respect and empathy at the core.
• To foster a sense of belonging to the school and wider community.
• To celebrate achievements and instil a sense of pride in children and our community.
Behaviour
• It is a primary aim of Crindau Primary School that every member of the school community feels valued and respected, and that each person is treated fairly and well. We are a caring community, whose values are built on mutual trust and respect for all. The school Behaviour Policy is therefore designed to support the way in which all members of the school can live and work together in a supportive way. It aims to promote an environment where everyone feels happy, safe and secure, and to help children to become positive, responsible and increasingly independent members of the school community.
• The school has a number of school rules, but the primary aim of the Behaviour Policy is not a system to enforce rules. It is a means of promoting good relationships, so that people can work together with the common purpose of helping everyone to learn.
Wellbeing
• The wellbeing of all children and staff at Crindau Primary School is of the utmost importance. As a school, we promote high levels of wellbeing and encourage children to have confidence, embrace new challenges and feel secure enough to take risks. We ensure all children display good attitudes to their learning, demonstrate high levels of engagement and sustain concentration on tasks. They are encouraged to develop the skills and ability to reflect upon their own learning and the learning of their peers. We expect all children and staff to show high levels of respect, care and concern for others.
• The curriculum at Crindau Primary provides a wide variety of learning experiences which encourage children to communicate effectively, solve problems and develop their thinking skills. We are committed to igniting a passion for learning, create conditions to thrive, whilst growing together with the community and becoming ethically informed citizens.
• Children are encouraged to continually express their views and opinions, which provides them with a real sense of belonging. Pupil Voice is embedded in all aspects of school life and it influences the strategic direction of our school.
• From time to time, children may face difficulties which may impact on their wellbeing. As a school, we work with parents and families to support children and fully believe in the importance of working as a team.
• As a school in the Shaftesbury community we strive to develop community cohesion. We have an understanding that everyone is working towards equality of opportunity providing all children with a sense of belonging and similar life chances, regardless of their backgrounds. Through recognising and celebrating success, we encourage every child to view themselves as healthy, confident individuals.
Communicating and engaging with families
We communicate effectively with families on an ongoing basis to foster positive relationships and to create a strong home, school partnership that enables us to work together. We recognise how crucial parental engagement is to ensure all our pupils achieve their full potential and are excited to have relaunched parent workshops and engagement programmes across the school. We have developed and implemented effective means of communicating with families through a variety of means to include digital platforms such as Google Classroom, email, Schoop and Twitter as well as paper letters where necessary and regular face to face discussions
Progression and Assessment
Progression and assessment is indistinguishable from teaching and learning, ensuring all learners make appropriate progress during their time at Crindau. We use a range of assessment tools that builds a holistic picture of learner progression and wellbeing. All stakeholders are engaged with learner progress. Learners are active participants in their learning by reflecting on their progress throughout the year, which they share with parents / carers in their end of year reports.
We work closely with the schools in the Newport High School cluster sharing a vision and understanding of the curriculum to support transition to the High School.
Areas of learning and Experiences (AoLE)
When planning at Crindau Primary School, we aim to make the learning purposeful with meaningful contexts for our pupils. We consider the interests, culture and community to influence our planning. Learners are given time to acquire, practise and apply their knowledge and skills across the Areas of Learning and experiences, as outlined in the links below. Each Area of Learning and Experience has ‘Statements of What matters’ which inform us of the big learning projects and key concepts. These form the basis of our planning for progression, depth and breadth of skills, knowledge and understanding to ensure our pupils fulfil aspects of the four purposes.
Expressive Arts, Health and Well-being, Humanities, Languages, Literacy and Communication, Mathematics and Numeracy Science and Technology
