Beyond the Classroom Rationale

Here at Oldmixon, we are really proud to be able to offer so much more outside of the curriculum to all of our children.  This is an extension to the curriculum. High quality activities and experiences are an essential part of school life. They provide opportunities to enrich and deepen children’s learning beyond the curriculum and are an excellent medium to foster good relationships between staff, pupils and parents. They develop children’s social skills by providing a forum of interaction between children across different ages and schools.  These opportunities are matched to our staff’s expertise and interests and make the most of the resources we have in school. We are constantly striving to improve our extended curriculum and, to this end, we are in the process of remodelling our provision for the children through the year.

Our extended curriculum aims to:

• give our children life-long skills in supporting their mental and emotional well- being through our mind-up programme.
• develop a positive attitude in children towards sport where competitive games are encouraged and carefully balanced with activities that provide enjoyment for all.
• provide our children with practical knowledge and experiences (meal planning, cooking, gardening and growing fruit and vegetables) so that can make positive choices for a healthy lifestyle.
• give them an appreciation and deeper understanding the natural world (linked to the national curriculum) in which we live and develop team building skills through weekly forest school sessions.

Through our extended curriculum, we want ensure that knowledge, creativity and problem-solving, which are highly-valued can be put into practice in. These, coupled with our values such as resilience, responsibility, determination and kindness, as well as physical development, emotional well-being and mental health, are key elements that support the development of the whole child and promote a positive attitude to learning and life.