Core Curriculum

Core Curriculum

Our core curriculum comprises internationally recognized curricula to ensure that our students receive a high-quality education that is on par with global standards. We follow the EYFS curriculum for the Early Years stage and the Cambridge Primary Curriculum for Key Stages 1 and 2.

Early Years

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum forms the foundation of a child's learning journey at Cosmos Primary School. Designed to stimulate the minds of our youngest learners, it covers seven key areas of learning, divided into prime and specific areas.

The prime areas are fundamental to a child's development and lay the groundwork for success in all other areas of learning. They include:

• Communication and Language: This area focuses on developing children's communication skills, including listening, understanding, and speaking. We encourage children to express themselves effectively, interact with others, and develop their vocabulary and language comprehension.

• Physical Development: This involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive, developing their coordination, control, and movement. Children are also taught about the importance of physical activity and making healthy choices in relation to food.

• Personal, Social, and Emotional Development: This area supports children in developing a positive sense of themselves and others, forming positive relationships, and developing respect for others. It also helps children understand appropriate behavior in groups and gain confidence in their own abilities.

The specific areas provide a robust foundation in academic learning, encompassing:

• Literacy: This area involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and begin to read and write. Our educators use a variety of strategies, including phonics, to help children progress towards fluent reading and writing.

• Mathematics: Here, children are introduced to numbers, counting, shapes, space, and measures. We use practical activities and real-life examples to make mathematics interesting and engaging.

• Understanding the World: This involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community. They learn about people, places, technology, and the environment through exploratory play and inquiry-based learning.

• Expressive Arts and Design: This area encourages children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials. They are also provided opportunities to share their thoughts, ideas, and feelings through activities such as art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology.

By adhering to the EYFS curriculum, Cosmos Primary School fosters an environment where children feel safe, engaged, and eager to explore the world around them. We believe that these early learning experiences provide a strong base for children's future learning, behavior, and life skills.

Key Stages 1 and 2

At Cosmos Primary School, our Core Curriculum for Key Stages 1 and 2 merges internationally acclaimed curricula and locally relevant content to ensure a comprehensive education for our students. We cover a range of subjects including English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Computing, and Indian Languages (Hindi/Telugu).

Cambridge Primary Curriculum

The Core Curriculum for key stages 1 and 2 adheres to the internationally recognized Cambridge Primary Curriculum. We cover three main subjects: English, Mathematics, and Science, all following the Cambridge Primary's curriculum frameworks. These frameworks ensure that our students receive a high-quality education on par with global standards. Instruction and assessments are carefully mapped to specific learning outcomes, ensuring a structured and comprehensive learning journey for our students.

• English
  
  The Cambridge Primary curriculum framework for English encourages a life-long enthusiasm for reading, writing, and spoken communication. Learners develop skills in the four (strands) key areas: Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening, and are trained to communicate effectively and respond to a wide range of information, media, and texts. This approach fosters confident communicators, engaged readers, and creative writers who can apply their skills to a range of audiences and purposes. The curriculum provides an integrated approach to teaching these skills, using a broad range of activities that promote experience, reflection, and improvement
  
  

• Mathematics
  
  The Cambridge Primary curriculum framework for Maths focuses on developing a holistic understanding of the subject, emphasizing principles, patterns, systems, functions, and relationships. Students learn to become mathematically competent and fluent in computation, which they can apply in everyday situations. The curriculum is divided into three main strands: Number, Geometry and Measure, and Statistics and Probability, which help students recognize connections of mathematical concepts as they engage in creative mathematical thinking to generate and improve numerical fluency.
  
  At Cosmos Primary School, we blend the Cambridge Primary Mathematics Curriculum Framework and the White Rose Maths program to deliver a comprehensive Mathematics curriculum. The Cambridge Framework outlines our curriculum planning and learning objectives, ensuring students develop a holistic understanding of mathematics and fluency in computation. Despite this, we found that the Cambridge University Press Maths books for Cambridge Primary were insufficient in implementing our commitment to a Maths Mastery approach.
  
  To enhance the Maths Mastery approach, we supplement the Cambridge Framework with the White Rose Maths program, known for promoting deep understanding in mathematics. This approach is further bolstered by our Whole School Program for Maths Mastery- M.A.S.T.E.R, reinforcing our commitment to fostering deep understanding over rote memorization. This combined approach aligns with international standards and effectively fosters mathematical comprehension and mastery, preparing our students for future success.
  
  

• Science
  
  Our curriculum helps learners develop a life-long curiosity about the natural world and enables them to seek scientific explanations for the phenomena around them. It covers six main areas called ‘strands’: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth and Space, Thinking and Working Scientifically, and Science in Context. These strands work together to teach science holistically, ensuring students think scientifically and develop practical skills alongside knowledge and understanding.
  
  

To support our educators in delivering these subjects, we utilize a range of support materials, including assessment materials, curriculum frameworks, online and face-to-face training, schemes of work, and teacher guides. Assessments include Cambridge Primary Progression Tests and Checkpoints.

For Social Studies and Indian Languages (Hindi/Telugu), we integrate the Indian curriculum books. This approach allows us to incorporate local cultural and social context into our teaching, ensuring our students have a strong understanding of their local environment and culture.

• Social Studies:
  
  For this subject, we turn to Indian curriculum books which provide students with a deep understanding of Indian history, geography, society, and culture. This approach ensures that while our students are receiving an education that meets international standards, they are also rooted in their local context and develop a thorough understanding of their own country's diverse cultural heritage.
  
  

• Indian Languages (Hindi/Telugu):
  
  To foster linguistic diversity and proficiency, we use curriculum books from the Indian curriculum specifically for Hindi and Telugu. These curricula not only focus on language acquisition but also introduce students to the rich literary traditions of these languages.
  
  

• Computing:
  
  For this subject, we employ the curriculum framework provided by Code.org, a leader in computer science education. The curriculum is interactive and student-centric, focusing on helping students understand digital technology's workings and encouraging creative use. It covers a wide range of topics, from fundamental coding to internet safety and data privacy.
  
  

Cosmos Primary School's Core Curriculum ensures students develop robust academic skills, a global mindset, and a deep understanding of their own culture and history. Our teaching methodologies are rooted in fostering curiosity, critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills, preparing our students for a successful future in the 21st century.