Our overwhelming desire is that at the end of a seven year association each child should leave with a portfolio of rich and happy memories. The curriculum is designed to:
Curriculum Intent
Our curriculum is designed to inspire every child and enable every member of staff to flourish and achieve their very best. Rooted in the values of the Mulberry Schools Trust, we are committed to equity, excellence and empowerment for all.
We recognise and build upon children’s prior learning, providing rich first-hand experiences that deepen understanding and foster curiosity. Through our curriculum, children develop strong interpersonal skills, resilience, and the confidence to become creative and critical thinkers. We aim to nurture compassionate, articulate and socially responsible young people who are prepared to contribute positively to their communities and wider society.
Curriculum Implementation
We offer a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum that builds progressively on the knowledge, understanding and skills of all pupils, regardless of their starting points. Our curriculum meets the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum while being carefully designed to reflect the diverse needs and lived experiences of our school community.
In line with the Mulberry Schools Trust’s commitment to excellence and social justice, our curriculum promotes high expectations for all and ensures that every child has access to powerful knowledge and meaningful learning opportunities. It is delivered through an integrated, theme-based approach and assessed using Sonar curriculum statements linked to carefully sequenced knowledge frameworks, ensuring clear progression across all subjects.
Curriculum planning is mapped across the whole academy, with year groups adapting delivery to meet the needs of their pupils. Adaptive teaching ensures that all learners can access the same ambitious curriculum: higher-attaining pupils are appropriately challenged, while those requiring additional support receive targeted scaffolding to succeed.
We recognise every child as a unique individual and celebrate diversity within our inclusive school community. Learning is underpinned by the development of core skills, key concepts, and shared values that reflect the Mulberry Schools Trust’s vision of developing confident, compassionate and successful learners.
Our “Happiness Ninjas” approach supports children to develop six key learning dispositions: ambition, courage, determination, resilience, inspiration and dynamism. These align closely with the Trust’s values of empowerment, leadership, creativity and excellence.
We enrich our curriculum through partnerships with external specialists and providers, enhancing pupils’ experiences across a range of subjects. Subject leaders are supported through ongoing professional development, enabling them to drive curriculum innovation and support colleagues effectively.
A wide range of enrichment opportunities—including theme weeks, educational visits, performances, and after-school clubs—further enhances learning. Our commitment to high-quality teaching is supported by strong whole-school approaches and a well-resourced learning environment, including high-quality texts and technology.
Curriculum Impact
Through our curriculum, pupils develop into confident, capable and socially responsible individuals, ready to succeed in the next stage of their education and beyond. In line with the Mulberry Schools Trust vision, they are empowered to lead, achieve and make a positive difference.
Ambition
Pupils are encouraged to aspire highly and believe in their potential. They are equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to pursue their goals and contribute meaningfully to society.
Courage
We foster a culture where pupils feel safe to take risks, express themselves and challenge themselves. They develop confidence and resilience through embracing new experiences.
Determination
Pupils understand the value of perseverance and hard work. They demonstrate commitment to their learning and are supported to overcome barriers with resilience and focus.
Dynamism
Our curriculum prepares pupils for a rapidly changing world. They develop adaptability, creativity and problem-solving skills, enabling them to respond confidently to new challenges.
Inspiration
We nurture curiosity and a love of learning. Through exposure to diverse role models, experiences and ideas, pupils are inspired to explore their interests and think beyond their immediate environment.
Resilience
Pupils develop emotional strength and a positive mindset. They learn to manage challenges, reflect on their experiences and grow from setbacks.
Together, our pupils leave as confident, articulate and empowered young people. They embody the Mulberry Schools Trust values and are well-prepared to lead fulfilling lives, contribute to their communities, and continue their journey as lifelong learners.
Art and Design
Computing
Design and Technology
Phonic scheme
Reading is at the heart of our curriculum at Mulberry Silverdale. We place a strong emphasis on the teaching of reading to ensure that every pupil develops the knowledge, skills and confidence to become a fluent, accurate and enthusiastic reader. We believe that all children should leave primary school with a lifelong love of reading, able to comprehend a wide range of high-quality texts and apply their reading skills across the wider curriculum and beyond.
Early reading is taught through a systematic, synthetic phonics programme using Pearson Bug Club Phonics. The programme provides a clearly structured progression in the teaching of phonemes, graphemes and decoding skills, enabling children to develop secure word-reading strategies from the outset. Daily phonics lessons are carefully sequenced and delivered with fidelity to the programme, ensuring that pupils build confidence and fluency as they progress through the phases of learning.
Alongside phonics teaching, pupils engage in a rich language and literacy curriculum that develops speaking and listening, vocabulary, comprehension and a love of stories. Children have regular opportunities to read high-quality fiction, non-fiction and poetry, helping them to become thoughtful, confident readers who can read for both pleasure and purpose.
At Mulberry Silverdale, the teaching of early reading focuses on developing three essential skills:
- Blending – the ability to combine individual sounds (phonemes) to read unfamiliar words accurately.
- Segmenting – the ability to identify and separate the individual sounds within words to support accurate spelling and writing.
- Automaticity and Fluency – the ability to recognise words quickly and accurately, allowing pupils to read with increasing confidence, expression and understanding.
Bug Club Phonics provides a carefully planned progression that supports children in developing secure phonics knowledge, fluent decoding and strong comprehension skills. Decodable reading books are closely matched to the phonics taught in class, enabling pupils to apply their learning successfully and experience regular success in reading. As children’s confidence and fluency develop, they move beyond fully decodable texts to a broad range of high-quality literature that promotes reading for pleasure and supports continued language development.
Assessment is ongoing throughout the programme, allowing teachers to identify pupils who require additional support or challenge. Timely intervention ensures that all children are given the best possible opportunity to become confident, fluent readers by the end of Key Stage 1 and continue to develop these skills throughout Key Stage 2.
Geography
Personal, Social and Health Education
