Cornerstone Curriculum

What is the Cornerstones Curriculum?

The Cornerstones Curriculum is a creative and thematic approach to learning that is mapped to the Primary National Curriculum to ensure comprehensive coverage of national expectations.  Our curriculum will be delivered through Imaginative Learning Projects (ILPs) which will 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.

How it works?

Children will progress through four stages of learning in each ILP- Engage, Develop, Innovate and Express.

 Engage- At the 'Engage' stage, children:

• gain memorable first-hand experiences, such as going on a visit or inviting a special visitor into school
• enjoy 'WOW' experiences
• get an exciting introduction to a topic or theme
• begin researching and setting enquiry questions
• get lots of opportunities to make observations
• develop spoken language skills
• take part in sensory activities
• have lots of fun to fully 'engage' with their new topic.

Develop-At the 'Develop' stage, children:

• improve their knowledge and understanding 
• develop and practice their new skills
• compose, make, do, build, investigate, explore, write for different purposes and read across the curriculum
• research their own questions and those set by others
• follow new pathways of enquiry based on their interests
• complete homework activities that support their learning

Innovate-At the 'Innovate' stage, children:

• apply skills, knowledge and understanding in real-life contexts
• solve real or imagined problems using everything they've learnt
• get inspired by imaginative and creative opportunities
• revisit anything not fully grasped at the 'Develop' stage.

Express- At the 'Express' stage, children:

• become the performers, experts and informers
• share their achievements with parents, classmates and the community
• evaluate finished products and processes
•  link what they have learnt to where they started
• celebrate their achievements!