OUR PRIMARY CURRICULUM

  • At Pathfinder Education, we are committed to ensuring every pupil reaches their full academic potential through a tailored and supportive approach. We recognise that each learner is unique, so we provide small group work to foster collaboration, focused attention, and peer learning in a supportive environment. Through personalised learning approaches, we adapt teaching to meet individual needs, strengths, and aspirations, ensuring pupils remain challenged, motivated, and engaged. In addition, we deliver targeted interventions designed to close learning gaps, accelerate progress, and build confidence in key subject areas. Together, these strategies form the foundation of our academic support, enabling all pupils to thrive, achieve ambitious outcomes, and develop the skills they need for lifelong success.

  • Pathfinder Education is committed to ensuring that all pupils receive a high-quality PSHE education that promotes their personal, social, and emotional development. Our curriculum equips pupils with the knowledge, skills, and values to stay safe, healthy, and prepared for adult life. We foster resilience, empathy, and responsible decision-making, ensuring pupils are well-prepared to succeed in modern society and contribute positively to their communities.

  • At Pathfinder Education, we are committed to fostering the social and emotional development of every pupil. Our approach is designed to support pupils in developing strong self-regulation skills and the ability to identify, understand, and communicate their feelings effectively. Through a nurturing and structured environment, we aim to equip pupils with strategies to manage emotions, make thoughtful choices, and engage in positive interactions. By embedding emotional literacy and self-regulation practices across our curriculum and daily routines, we strive to give pupils the tools to build resilience, confidence, and meaningful relationships, laying the foundation for lifelong wellbeing and success.

At Pathfinder Education, our primary phase curriculum is designed to provide every child with a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy, ensuring full alignment with the National Curriculum while meeting the diverse needs of all learners. We believe that the ability to read, write, communicate, and work confidently with numbers underpins all future learning and life opportunities.

Our curriculum intent goes beyond academic outcomes. Alongside teaching of literacy and numeracy, we place a strong emphasis on personal development, PSHE, and the teaching of self-regulation skills. We recognise the importance of nurturing the whole child socially, emotionally, and mentally so that they feel safe, valued, and ready to learn.

We are committed to meeting pupils where they are in their learning journey, understanding that each child starts from a different point and progresses at their own pace. Through personalised teaching approaches, targeted interventions, and adaptive strategies, we ensure that learning experiences are both accessible and challenging, enabling every pupil to achieve their full potential.

Through carefully planned experiences, we aim to:

  • Deliver academic progression in literacy and numeracy, equipping pupils with the essential knowledge and skills they need for the next stage of education.

  • Promote personal growth by embedding PSHE and character education throughout the curriculum, helping children to develop empathy, respect, resilience, and confidence.

  • Support social and emotional well-being by explicitly teaching emotional literacy, self-regulation strategies, and positive mental health practices.

  • Provide inclusive opportunities so that every child, regardless of need or background, can thrive academically and personally.

  • Tailor learning experiences to meet pupils where they are, ensuring progress is meaningful, individualised, and celebrated at every stage.

By integrating academic rigour with personal development and emotional well-being, we aim to prepare pupils for a positive reintegration into their mainstream settings. Our aim is to support pupils to become confident, compassionate, and capable individuals.

Daily Schedule

Our structured daily schedule ensures a balance between focused learning, social connection, and personal growth. Each session begins with a warm welcome in small groups.

Morning Sessions:

9:00-9.10: Welcome and settling in

9.10-9.50: Session 1

9.50-10.30: Session 2

10.30-10.45: Morning break

10.50-11.30: Session 3

Afternoon Sessions:

12.00-12.10: Welcome and settling in

12.10-12.50: Session 1

12.50-1.30: Session 2

1.30-1.45: Afternoon break

1.50-2.30: Session 3

Small Groups

Our small, supportive groups consist of up to 6 children and 2 members of staff. This allows us to provide personalised attention and foster meaningful connections, helping every pupil feel valued and supported.

At Pathfinder Education, our primary curriculum is deliberately adapted for pupils whose starting points, experiences and confidence may differ from mainstream expectations. Across KS1 and KS2 we prioritise safety, wellbeing, core literacy and numeracy, and rich, hands-on learning that builds curiosity and resilience.

English (KS1 & KS2)

KS1 English

Our KS1 English pathway focuses on secure foundations in phonics, early reading and simple writing:

  • Phonics & early reading: Daily SSP phonics, decoding CVC/CVCC words, oral blending and segmenting.

  • Sentence building & handwriting: Capital letters, full stops, finger spaces, and secure letter formation.

  • Storytelling & non-fiction: Sequencing familiar stories, labels, lists and simple instructions.

  • Poetry & performance: Rhyme, rhythm and performing simple patterned poems.

  • Transition skills: Consolidating phonics and building stamina for short recounts and personal writing.

KS2 English

KS2 English builds on this with a strong focus on functional reading and writing:

  • Reading foundations & decoding: Phonics recap where needed, high-frequency words, decoding strategies and guided reading.

  • Writing sentences for purpose: Notes, lists, captions and short paragraphs using connectives and vocabulary banks.

  • Reading comprehension: Literal retrieval, sequencing and basic inference, supported by vocabulary work.

  • Narrative writing: Beginning–middle–end structures, adjectives and simple dialogue, often rooted in pupils’ own experiences.

  • Non-fiction: Instructions, recounts and reports with clear organisation and headings.

  • Speaking & listening: Turn-taking, role-play, presentations and expressive reading to strengthen communication.

Maths (KS1 & KS2)

KS1 Maths

KS1 maths is practical, visual and heavily scaffolded:

  • Number & place value: Counting forwards/backwards, numbers to 20, comparing quantities and subitising.

  • Addition & subtraction: Combining groups, using +/– symbols and number bonds to 10.

  • Shape & space: Recognising 2D/3D shapes, position/direction and simple patterns.

  • Measurement: Length, weight and capacity using non-standard then standard units.

  • Multiplication & division (early concepts): Grouping, sharing, doubles and halves.

  • Fractions, time & money: Halves/quarters, o’clock and half-past, recognising coins.

KS2 Maths

KS2 maths emphasises number sense and functional application:

  • Number sense & place value: Tens and ones, ordering and comparing, rounding and estimation.

  • Addition & subtraction: Mental strategies, written methods and contextual word problems.

  • Multiplication & division: Times tables, grouping/sharing, arrays and short written methods.

  • Fractions & decimals: Halves, quarters, thirds, fractions of amounts, equivalent fractions and tenths/hundredths.

  • Measurement & geometry: Length, mass, capacity, time, money, shape properties, angles and symmetry.

  • Statistics & problem solving: Pictograms, bar charts, tables and multi-step problems across number, measure and data.

Science

Our Science curriculum helps pupils explore the world through simple, hands‑on investigations that build curiosity and confidence. Learners make predictions, test ideas and talk about what they discover using clear, accessible language.

  • Light and Shadows: Light sources, transparent/opaque materials, how shadows form and change.

  • Forces and Motion: Pushes/pulls, friction and simple gravity.

  • Materials and Their Properties: Hard/soft, flexible, absorbent, waterproof, reversible/irreversible changes.

  • Plants and Living Things: Plant parts, growth needs, habitats and simple food chains.

  • Sound and Vibrations: How sound is made, vibrations, pitch and volume.

  • Earth and Space: Day/night, Sun–Moon–Earth basics and simple seasons.

Religious Education (RE)

Our RE curriculum is values-led and accessible, focusing on kindness, community and simple introductions to world beliefs:

  • Kindness, respect & community: What kindness looks like, respecting others and how actions affect people.

  • Festivals & celebrations: Diwali, Christmas, Eid, Hanukkah—similarities, differences and cultural traditions.

  • Signs & symbols: Religious and non-religious symbols, their meanings and why they matter.

  • Friendship & conflict: Qualities of a good friend, helping others and resolving conflict simply.

  • Helping others & charity: Why people help, what charities do, local and global examples.

  • Beliefs around the world: Very simple introductions to Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism and Hinduism, with shared values.

History

History is taught through big questions that connect directly to pupils’ lives and sense of justice:

  • Heroes and villains in history: What makes someone a hero or villain, exploring key figures and consequences.

  • Crime and punishment through time: How punishments changed, reasons for change and examples across periods.

  • Explorers and adventurers: Motives, journeys and impact on countries and peoples.

  • Castles, power and medieval life: Purpose of castles, medieval society and power structures.

  • Birmingham through time: Industrial change, migration and community development, with local relevance.

  • Significant people who changed the world: Rights, equality and individuals who influenced global change.

Geography

Our geography curriculum builds from the immediate environment outwards to the wider world:

  • Our school and local area: Where we live, local features and basic maps.

  • Weather and seasons: Types of weather and seasonal changes, linked to science.

  • The United Kingdom: Countries, capitals, flags and human/physical features.

  • Hot and cold places: Equator, poles and simple climate differences.

  • Oceans and continents: Seven continents and five oceans, using globes and maps.

  • Homes around the world: Different homes, environments and materials, with care to avoid family-based tasks that may be sensitive.

Art

Art is project-based, practical and designed to give pupils a sense of achievement and identity:

  • Graffiti & street art: What graffiti is, who street artists are (e.g. Banksy), stencils, bold lines and colour blocks.

  • Portraits & people: Facial proportions, basic shading and emotion in portraiture.

  • Collage & mixed media: Texture, layering and combining materials.

  • Patterns around the world: African, Islamic and Aboriginal patterns, repeating shapes and symmetry.

  • Nature art & sculpture: Natural forms, simple sculptures and photography of outcomes.

  • Printmaking basics: Mono printing, stamp printing and simple relief printing.

Personal Development (PSHE, RSHE & British Values)

Personal Development is a core strand at Pathfinder and is fully mapped across KS1 and KS2, with clear progression and strong safeguarding links.

KS1 Personal Development

Across KS1, pupils explore:

  • Keeping safe (home, school, community): Trusted adults, dangers in the environment, road safety, stranger danger, school rules and emergencies (including calling 999).

  • Healthy lifestyles: Healthy/unhealthy foods, balanced diet, exercise, hygiene (handwashing, teeth brushing) and sleep.

  • Friendships & kindness: Feelings, being a good friend, sharing and turn-taking, kindness in action, solving problems and celebrating friendship.

  • Online safety & media: Safe online use, personal information, device rules, unsafe content, asking for help and kind online behaviour.

  • Risk-taking & choices: Safe/unsafe choices, everyday risks, saying no, peer influence and responsibility.

  • Transition & resilience: Understanding change, feelings about moving on, coping strategies, confidence, new routines and resilience.

KS2 Personal Development

KS2 Personal Development deepens these themes with age-appropriate RSHE content:

  • Keeping safe: Trusted adults, community safety, online safety basics, saying no, everyday risks and fire safety.

  • Health & wellbeing: Personal hygiene, exercise, healthy eating, sleep, managing feelings and staying healthy over winter.

  • Recognising risks: Safe/unsafe substances, assertiveness, fire safety, outdoor hazards, water safety and road/cycling safety.

  • Healthy relationships: Good friendships, bullying, personal space and consent, family diversity, handling disagreements and celebrating diversity.

  • British Values & community: Rule of law, respect and tolerance, helping others and charity, democracy, caring for the environment and celebrating national diversity.

Assessment, Differentiation and Pathways

Across all subjects, pupils are placed on clear pathways (Early/Developing/Secure or Lower/Middle/Higher) based on baseline assessments such as NGRT, PTM and teacher observation. This ensures:

  • Accessible entry points for pupils with gaps or disrupted schooling.

  • Coherent whole-cohort themes each half-term, with tasks pitched at different levels.

  • Ongoing formative assessment through practical tasks, quizzes, journals and role-play.

  • Summative checks at key points in the year, feeding into pupil profiles and QA.