Our Approach

The curriculum at Arthur Bugler involves a creative and thematic approach to learning that is mapped to the Primary National Curriculum to ensure comprehensive coverage of national expectations.

Our curriculum is delivered through Imaginative Learning Projects (ILPs) which provide a rich menu of exciting and motivating learning activities that make creative links between all aspects of our children’s learning.

We believe children learn better when they are encouraged to use their imagination and apply their learning to engaging contexts. Our curriculum provides lots of learning challenges throughout the academic year that will require children to solve problems, apply themselves creatively and express their knowledge and understanding effectively across the curriculum.

The curriculum is based on a progressive essential skills framework that outlines the end of year expectations in all subjects. These essential skills are tied to activities and are age-related so that staff can track children’s progress and identify their individual learning needs. Staff access the skills each half term based on what the children have been taught. This is then fed back to parents in the child’s end of year report.

Cornerstones is a vibrant and creative curriculum that puts children at its heart. We believe Cornerstones excites children's imaginations, inspires them to learn, extends their horizons, deepens their understanding and meets their intellectual and personal needs.

The curriculum has been adapted from the Cornerstones four-stage teaching and learning philosophy:

Engage
Start with a memorable first-hand experience; Begin observations, research and setting questions; Fully engage with the new topic.

Develop
Improve knowledge and understanding; Develop and practise new skills; Explore, make and do.

Innovate
Apply skills and knowledge in real-life contexts; Solve real or imagined problems through learning; Gain inspiration from creative activities.

Express
Become performers, experts and informers; Link learning back to starting points; Share and celebrate achievements.

More information about Cornerstones for parents and carers

For further information about Cornerstones, please read our parent/carer information presentation document: