Our curriculum is driven by the need to prepare our children for lifelong learning. At Dovecote, we offer a rich and vibrant curriculum, built on solid foundations, which is engaging and challenging while being accessible to all. Through the delivery of our curriculum, we develop the essential knowledge, skills and understanding which are the building blocks for later life.

Our curriculum encompasses the requirements of the National Curriculum but also seeks to take children beyond the classroom to ensure that they are exposed to the richest and most varied opportunities that we can provide.

The curriculum is enhanced by our commitment to spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and diversity. We provide meaningful learning experiences which promote confident, self-motivated pupils, eager for lifelong learning. The 4 key principles that underpin the Dovecote Curriculum are:

1. Life Skills – providing real life experiences through a child’s journey from Reception to Year 6 that enables them to develop transferable life skills. Woven through our curriculum is RSHE and wellbeing, which ensure that pupils learn about the wonderfully diverse world in which they live and have an understanding of equality both in school and the wider world.  The curriculum helps our pupils develop independence, resilience, perseverance, coping strategies and a strong growth mindset.

2. Enrichment – providing opportunities to enhance classroom learning with purposeful and challenging experiences which provides children with a secure understanding of their local area, its features and history. In doing so, becoming more globally aware and knowing how they can contribute to society, positively impacting on their world.

3. High-quality texts - providing fluency in all subjects, with reading at the heart through our thematic curriculum approach. This allows pupils to explore and make authentic links between subjects, enabling them to effectively evaluate and draw conclusions to deepen their thinking. This approach engages and immerses pupils in their learning, which enthuses children to read for enjoyment, thus improving language and literacy skills for all pupils.

4. Ambition – providing pupils with high aspirations through a diverse range of inspiring guests and visitors and carefully planned educational visits. We harness our strong links with the local universities and businesses to give our pupils aspirations beyond school.  We help pupils to explore their personal talents and interests, take risks, celebrate successes, be proud of themselves and be the best that they can be!

Children in nursery and Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework. Please see the Nursery and Reception page for more details.

Children in Year1 to 6 follow the programmes of study laid down in the National Curriculum. 

The core subjects are:

• English
• Maths
• Science

The other subjects are called the foundation or non-core subjects, and these include:

• Art
• Computing
• Design Technology
• Languages (For KS2 children only. At Dovecote we teach Spanish)
• Geography
• History
• Music
• Physical Education
• Religious Education (Nottingham City agreed syllabus)
• PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economics) Education
• RSE (Relationships and Sex Education)

Please see the subject progression plans for more details on each subject.

We try to encourage parents/carers to be partners with us in their child's education. The most important way is through day-to-day contact. We encourage feedback between home and school, and appreciate parents/carers who support their child with learning at home. We regularly share children's success and achievements on MarvellousMe app and on our Dovecote Facebook page.

Have a look at the year group pages to see what children have been learning in each year group. If you wish to know more about a particular curriculum subject, have a look at the progression maps, which are detailed with the knowledge taught in each term.

All subject leaders are happy to speak to parents and carers about their subject or answer any questions you may have. Please call the school office and ask to arrange a meeting with the subject leader.