Curriculum Overview

Curriculum Overviews

Our Curriculum at Barcroft Academy

Unlocking Potential Today for a Brighter Tomorrow

Is your child a future scientist, an inspiring musician, a creative artist, an inquisitive historian, a talented sportsperson, an imaginative writer or a confident mathematician?

At Barcroft Academy, we believe that every child has unique talents, interests and potential waiting to be unlocked.

Our curriculum is designed to inspire curiosity, raise aspirations and develop a lifelong love of learning. We are committed to providing an ambitious, broad, balanced and inclusive education that enables every child to flourish, achieve and be well prepared for the next stage of their education and beyond.

An Ambitious Curriculum for Every Child

Our curriculum is carefully planned and sequenced to ensure that children progressively build their knowledge, skills, understanding and vocabulary as they move through the academy.

Learning builds upon what children already know, making meaningful connections across subjects and providing opportunities to revisit, practise and apply their knowledge in different contexts.

We have high expectations for all pupils, recognising that every child learns differently. Through high-quality teaching, appropriate adaptations and additional support where needed, we strive to ensure that every child can access, participate in and succeed within our curriculum.

Bringing Learning to Life

We believe that learning should be engaging, purposeful and memorable.

Alongside high-quality classroom teaching, our curriculum is enriched through educational visits, visitors, practical experiences, outdoor learning, creative opportunities, sporting activities and links with our local community.

These experiences help children develop their interests, discover new talents, broaden their horizons and make connections between their learning and the world around them.

We place particular importance on language, vocabulary, reading and communication, recognising that these are essential foundations for learning, confidence and future success.

Developing the Whole Child

At Barcroft Academy, education is about more than academic achievement.

Our curriculum reflects our academy values and supports children in becoming confident, resilient, respectful, independent and thoughtful individuals.

We actively promote British Values, celebrate diversity and encourage children to appreciate different cultures, beliefs and perspectives.

Through opportunities for pupil leadership, personal development and enrichment, we help children develop a strong sense of belonging, responsibility and pride in themselves and their community.

Our ambition is for every child to leave Barcroft Academy not only with secure knowledge and essential skills, but also with the confidence, character and aspirations to embrace future opportunities.

Curriculum Organisation

Our curriculum incorporates the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum in England, the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework and the locally agreed syllabus for Religious Education.

In the Early Years, learning is developed through a carefully planned combination of purposeful play, exploration, adult-led teaching and high-quality interactions.

From Year 1 to Year 6, our curriculum is structured to ensure clear progression within and across subjects, enabling children to develop secure foundations and deepen their understanding over time.

Find Out More

We welcome parents, carers and members of our wider community who would like to learn more about our curriculum.

Further information about individual subjects, curriculum content and progression can be found on the relevant pages of our website.

If you have any questions or would like further information about the curriculum your child is following, please speak to their class teacher or contact the academy office to arrange a discussion with a member of our leadership team.

You can also find further information about the statutory curriculum here:

National Curriculum in England – Primary Curriculum

At Barcroft Academy, we believe in providing every child with the knowledge to succeed, the confidence to aspire and the opportunities to shine.

Unlocking Potential Today for a Brighter Tomorrow.

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) Development

At Barcroft Academy, we believe that education is about developing the whole child. Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development is woven throughout our curriculum, academy values and everyday experiences, helping children grow into confident, respectful, thoughtful and responsible individuals.

We provide opportunities for pupils to reflect on their beliefs and experiences, develop a strong sense of right and wrong, build positive relationships and appreciate the rich diversity of the world around them.

Through assemblies, curriculum learning, pupil leadership, educational visits, community partnerships and wider enrichment opportunities, we encourage children to celebrate differences, respect others and make positive contributions to their academy and wider community.

Our commitment to SMSC development is closely linked to the promotion of British Values, ensuring that all pupils develop an understanding of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.

At Barcroft Academy, we want every child to feel valued, develop a strong sense of belonging and have the confidence to make a positive difference in the world.

Find Out More

If you would like further information about SMSC development or how it is promoted through our curriculum and academy life, please contact the academy office. We will be happy to help.

Making a Difference – Inclusion for All

Every Child Belongs. Every Child Can Succeed.

At Barcroft Academy, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that every child, regardless of their background, abilities or individual needs, deserves to feel valued, included, supported and challenged to achieve their very best.

Our commitment to inclusion is rooted in our belief that every child can make progress, experience success and reach their potential when provided with high-quality teaching, appropriate support and meaningful opportunities.

We recognise and celebrate the uniqueness of every child, ensuring that our academy is a welcoming, nurturing and ambitious learning community where everyone has a strong sense of belonging.

High Expectations, Opportunities for All

We are committed to providing an ambitious, broad, balanced and inclusive curriculum that is accessible to all pupils.

We recognise that children have different starting points, strengths, experiences and barriers to learning. Through high-quality, adaptive teaching, appropriate reasonable adjustments and targeted support, we strive to ensure that every child can participate fully in academy life and achieve success.

Our approach is built upon high expectations rather than limitations. We focus on understanding each child's individual needs and strengths, removing barriers to learning and promoting independence, confidence and resilience.

We believe that inclusion is not simply about providing additional support; it is about creating an environment where every child is empowered to learn, contribute and flourish.

Understanding and Meeting Individual Needs

At Barcroft Academy, we recognise that children's needs may change throughout their educational journey. Some pupils may require additional support for a short period, while others may have more complex or longer-term needs.

Our staff work closely with our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo), pastoral team, families and external professionals to identify needs early and respond effectively.

We pay particular attention to ensuring positive experiences, participation and achievement for all pupils, including:

Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Children learning English as an Additional Language (EAL).
Disadvantaged pupils and those facing barriers linked to socioeconomic circumstances.
Children who are looked after or previously looked after.
Children with social, emotional or mental health needs.
Young carers and children experiencing challenging family circumstances.
Children who demonstrate particular talents or require additional academic challenge.
Children from different cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic backgrounds.
Children experiencing difficulties with attendance, engagement or access to education.

We recognise that every child's circumstances are different and that effective inclusion requires understanding the individual rather than making assumptions based on labels or diagnoses.

Promoting Independence and Belonging

We are passionate about helping children develop the confidence, skills and independence they need to succeed.

Our approach encourages pupils to become increasingly independent learners, make choices, develop positive relationships and take an active role in their own learning.

We aim to provide the right support at the right time, whilst ensuring that additional adult assistance promotes independence rather than unnecessary reliance.

Through our academy values, nurturing relationships and positive learning environments, we promote respect, kindness, fairness, resilience and a strong sense of belonging.

We want every child to feel safe, accepted and proud to be part of the Barcroft Academy community.

Specialist Support and Inclusive Provision

Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in the range of support and provision available across the academy.

This includes our Willows Provision, which provides a carefully adapted learning environment and personalised approaches for pupils with additional and complex needs.

Through specialist strategies, communication support, sensory approaches and appropriately adapted learning experiences, we aim to support pupils in developing their communication, engagement, independence and wider learning skills.

Where appropriate, children are supported to access learning, relationships and experiences alongside their peers, ensuring that they remain valued members of our wider academy community.

Our wider pastoral support also plays an important role in helping children and families overcome barriers to learning, wellbeing and attendance.

Working Together to Make a Difference

We recognise that successful inclusion depends upon strong relationships and effective partnerships.

We work closely with parents and carers, recognising that families have invaluable knowledge of their children's strengths, needs and experiences.

Through regular communication, early identification, shared planning and ongoing review, we aim to ensure that provision is responsive, purposeful and has a positive impact.

We also value the views and experiences of our pupils, ensuring that children have a voice in decisions that affect their learning and wellbeing.

Our Commitment

At Barcroft Academy, inclusion is not an additional initiative; it is a fundamental part of our culture, curriculum and everyday practice.

We are committed to:

Belonging: Every child feels welcome, safe, respected and valued.
Ambition: Every child experiences high expectations and opportunities to achieve.
Access: Barriers to learning and participation are identified and addressed.
Independence: Children develop the confidence and skills to become increasingly independent.
Partnership: Families, staff and professionals work together to secure positive outcomes.
Achievement: Every child's progress, contributions and successes are recognised and celebrated.

At Barcroft Academy, we do not expect every child to learn in the same way, but we are determined that every child has the opportunity to succeed.

Unlocking Potential Today for a Brighter Tomorrow.

Our Inclusion Objectives

At Barcroft Academy, we are committed to providing an inclusive, ambitious and nurturing environment where every child feels valued, supported and empowered to succeed.

Our key objectives are to:

Promote equality and belonging – Ensure every child feels safe, respected, included and able to participate fully in academy life.
Maintain high expectations – Provide an ambitious, broad and balanced curriculum that recognises individual strengths, needs and aspirations.
Remove barriers to learning – Use high-quality adaptive teaching, reasonable adjustments and targeted support to enable every child to succeed.
Identify needs early – Monitor pupils' progress and wellbeing, responding promptly and effectively to emerging needs.
Develop independence and resilience – Encourage confidence, self-help skills and independent learning, avoiding unnecessary reliance on adult support.
Celebrate diversity – Promote respect, equality of opportunity and an appreciation of different backgrounds, cultures and abilities.
Value pupil and parent voice – Involve children and families in decisions about learning, support and progress.
Develop inclusive practice – Support staff through professional development and effective collaboration with external professionals.
Prepare pupils for the future – Equip children with the knowledge, skills, confidence and independence needed for their next stage of education.
Continually improve – Regularly evaluate the impact of our provision to ensure positive outcomes for all pupils.

Our Statutory Responsibilities

Barcroft Academy is committed to meeting its duties under the Equality Act 2010, Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Regulations 2014 and SEND Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years.

We strive to ensure equality of opportunity, make reasonable adjustments and provide appropriate support so that every child can access learning and participate fully in academy life.

Every child belongs. Every child can succeed.