Curriculum

Primary Curriculum

At Blanche Nevile, we provide a broad and balanced curriculum which is interesting, engaging, and provides a range of learning opportunities. We have small class sizes, with a high adult to child ratio. This ensures that lessons are tailored to meet individual needs and that every child receives appropriate levels of support and challenge.

Blanche Nevile Primary follows the Highgate Primary Curriculum (our partner school). This is a topic-based approach to learning that provides a cross-curricular, thematic teaching structure designed to engage children of all abilities.

It comprises a range of units of work, each planned to last for half a term. These units of work, or topics, are designed to provide continuity and progression in children’s learning and for children to learn the essential knowledge, skills and understanding of a broad range of curriculum subjects. Wherever possible, all subjects with the exception of maths, are delivered through the topic.

The school curriculum is all the planned activities and experiences that the school provides in order to promote children’s personal development, growth and learning. It includes not only the formal requirements of the National Curriculum, but also the enrichment programmes, community events and range of extra-curricular activities or experiences that the school organises in order for children to achieve well, develop character and be well prepared for the next stage in their education.

These enrichment experiences include:

Forest School and Outward Bound Curriculum
Assemblies
Performances and Concerts
Celebrations, Festivals and Themed Days
Visitors to the school
School visits and trips

KS 1/2 Intent

This ensures that lessons are tailored to meet individual needs and that every child receives appropriate levels of support and challenge.

Wherever possible, subjects are delivered through the topic. This enables children to build on their general knowledge and enquiry skills as well as facilitating the development of their communication, literacy and numeracy skills in a range of cross curricula contexts. Subjects such as Maths, Computing, Science, PSHE, PE, RE are taught discretely allowing for skills development.

The school curriculum is all the planned activities and experiences that the school provides in order to promote children’s personal development, growth and learning.

It includes not only the formal requirements of the National Curriculum, but also the enrichment programmes, community events and range of extra-curricular activities or experiences that the school organises in order for children to achieve well, develop character and be well prepared for the next stage in their education.

These enrichment experiences include:

Forest School and Outward Bound Curriculum

Assemblies

Performances and Concerts

Celebrations, Festivals and Themed Days

Visitors to the school

School visits and trips

In addition to this, as a school for deaf children, we have a strong focus on supporting our pupils to develop a strong deaf identity so they have positive self-esteem and become confident learners as young deaf people.

KS1/2 Implementation

Our pupils develop and grow through learning in a fun and stimulating environment. The holistic approach at Blanche Nevile looks at the whole child, establishing language and communication as well as their deaf identity.

Social and independence skills are developed and peer groups allow pupils to form lasting friendships.

Our young people are based in small groups and taught by Qualified Teachers of Deaf Children and Young People with the support of Communication Support Workers and Learning Support Assistants. The Curriculum is adapted to suit individual needs.

We recognise that our children learn in different ways, and we therefore plan and deliver the curriculum in a multi-sensory, adapted approach to engage all learners using a range of visual, kinaesthetic and auditory (where appropriate) resources and stimuli to maximise their learning.

The curriculum is delivered in bilingually in both BSL and English by staff who are fluent in both BSL and English and this is unique to the school. All pupils have full access to information in BSL as their first language and use this to develop their knowledge and understanding of English as a second language.

Pupils have daily guided reading with staff to ensure they have opportunities to constantly develop their reading skills, and develop their skills in translating from English to BSL.

We use the following Phonics and Reading Schemes:

Floppy’s Phonics through the use of Visual Phonics

Big Cat Collins Reading Scheme

Our school’s bilingual practice in British Sign Language (BSL) and English is central to our curriculum and is the defining characteristic in our philosophy and policy on teaching and learning. The curriculum is designed to enable to enable all our pupils to learn in a fun, meaningful and engaging way and make progress to achieve their full potential. We value BSL and English equally, recognising that for the majority of our children BSL is their preferred and dominant language, which enables them to access the curriculum to maximise their academic, social, emotional, and physical development. We recognise the need to be flexible in our language approaches for pupils with emerging and developing English as a second language, as well as those pupils with additional needs. We aim for all our pupils to become bilingual and achieve fluency in both BSL and English to become successful, lifelong, independent learners in an increasingly global society.

We pride ourselves on providing a learning environment that is safe, caring, supportive and stimulating so that pupils feel challenged, motivated and have high aspirations for the future. The curriculum and learning environment is designed to build positive self-esteem in our children. We use a wide range of resources to suit different learning styles and foster active learning through whole class teaching, small group work, and one-to-one teaching, collaborative work and independent learning activities.

Staff have high expectations of pupils’ achievements, and are always challenged to do better. Learning intentions and outcomes from the curriculum and expectations are matched to individual pupils’ needs to ensure they make progress that is commensurate with their own learning and development potential.

KS1/2 Impact

Staff provide effective and immediate feedback throughout lessons to check, consolidate and progress learning. This is achieved through the high staff to pupil ratios within classes and promotes positive and relevant discussion between staff and pupils regarding their work, this immediate feedback is an effective tool in supporting progress and impact.

End of key stage assessments are completed at the end of EYFS against the Early Learning Goals and at the end of KS1 and KS2 against the expected standards, or pre-key stage standards. These may be Teacher Assessments or the Standardised Attainment Tests (SATS) in KS1 and 2.

We monitor the impact of our whole school curriculum in a range of ways.

Observations

Learning walks

Book/work scrutiny

Teacher/Support Staff meetings

Assessment Data

Moderation both internal and external

Reporting to parents/carers

External Monitoring visits by School Improvement Partners

Monitoring by Governors

Leadership Team development work on SEP/SIP

EHCP Reviews

Pupil Voice

Parent/Carer voice

Staff voice

Multi professional meetings

Pupil progression

Moderation

The impact of our curriculum offer is evident through pupil’s enjoyment for learning.

Pupils are prepared for the next stage in their educational journey and effectively transition into Year 7.

We use the following Phonics and Reading Schemes:

Floppy’s Phonics through the use of Visual Phonics

Big Cat Collins Reading Scheme

Please click on the links below for more information and do contact us if you would like to know more about our curriculum.

Primary National Curriculum

EYFS Curriculum Map 2025 – 2026

Year 1 Curriculum Map 2025-2026

Year 2 Curriculum Map 2025-2026

Year 3 Curriculum Map 2025-2026

Years 4&5 Curriculum Map 2025-2026

Year 6 Curriculum Map 2025-2026

Primary Music Curriculum 2025-2026

Primary Music National Curriculum and Overview

British Values at Blanche Nevile School

Inclusion

Primary Inclusion

As well as their Blanche Nevile class, all our children belong to a Highgate Primary class. Each child’s inclusion programme is designed with their needs and talents in mind. This provides children with ‘the best of both worlds’ and daily opportunities to learn alongside their hearing peers as well as further developing communication skills and friendships. For pupils who attend Highgate Primary for core subjects, they follow Highgate's curriculum maps. You can find more information about the curriculum they follow on the Highgate website .

Secondary Curriculum

At Blanche Nevile, our curriculum is designed to help every child and young person belong, thrive and be proud. We want our pupils to leave us with a strong sense of who they are, a love of learning, confidence in their abilities and the knowledge, skills and experiences they need to flourish in the next stage of their lives. Through our curriculum, pupils develop as successful learners, confident communicators, independent individuals and active members of their communities.

Our curriculum is shaped by our PROUD values: Potential, Respect, Opportunity, Unity and Deaf. These values are woven through everything we teach and the experiences we provide, helping pupils to grow academically, socially, emotionally and personally.

Potential – We believe in the potential of every pupil. We set high expectations and provide the right support, challenge and opportunities for pupils to make progress, achieve their goals and discover what they are capable of. As a result, pupils develop resilience, self-belief and the confidence to aim high in education, employment and life.

Respect – We encourage pupils to understand themselves and others, value difference and develop positive relationships. Our curriculum helps pupils become thoughtful, responsible and respectful members of their communities who can advocate for themselves and show consideration for others.

Opportunity – We believe education should open doors. Alongside academic learning, we provide rich opportunities for pupils to explore interests, develop talents, build independence, take on responsibility and experience success beyond the classroom. These experiences broaden horizons, raise aspirations and help pupils prepare for future study, employment and adult life.

Unity – Our pupils are part of a strong and supportive community. We encourage collaboration, friendship, leadership and a sense of belonging. Through our House Teams, student voice, enrichment and wider school experiences, pupils learn the importance of working together, contributing to their community and understanding their role in the wider world.

Deaf – Deaf identity is at the heart of our curriculum. We celebrate BSL, Deaf culture, history and the achievements of Deaf people, helping pupils develop pride in their identity and confidence in who they are. We want every pupil to understand that being Deaf is an important part of their identity and something to celebrate. By learning about Deaf role models, history and culture, pupils develop a positive sense of self and the confidence to navigate both Deaf and hearing worlds.

As a specialist Deaf school, we recognise that communication is the foundation for learning. Our bilingual approach values BSL alongside spoken and written English, giving pupils the communication skills they need to access learning, express themselves, build relationships and participate fully in school and beyond. Strong communication skills empower pupils to become confident learners, self-advocates and active participants in society.

Our curriculum is carefully developed across the school so that learning builds from one stage to the next. We make sure that pupils have opportunities to develop important knowledge and skills, revisit and deepen their understanding, and apply what they have learned in meaningful contexts. Where pupils face barriers to learning, we adapt our teaching and provide specialist support so that every pupil can participate, make progress and experience success.

We also believe that education is about much more than academic achievement. Our curriculum supports pupils' wellbeing, confidence, independence and personal development. Through our PSP curriculum, PSHE, Skills for Life and Preparing for Work, pupils develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to make informed choices, manage relationships, stay safe, maintain healthy lifestyles and prepare for adulthood.

Learning extends beyond the classroom. Deaf Studies, careers education, enrichment opportunities, leadership roles, trips, sport, creative activities and community experiences help pupils discover their interests, develop new skills and understand the wider world. These experiences build confidence, independence and cultural capital, ensuring pupils are well prepared for life beyond school.

The impact of our curriculum is that pupils leave Blanche Nevile as confident Deaf young people who are proud of their identity, able to communicate effectively, and equipped with the knowledge, skills and qualifications they need for their next steps. They are ambitious for their futures, resilient when faced with challenges and ready to contribute positively to their communities and society.

We are proud to offer a curriculum that is ambitious, inclusive and empowering. Above all, we want our pupils to leave Blanche Nevile knowing who they are, what they can achieve and that they have a valuable place in the world.

Bespoke pathways at KS4

At Blanche Nevile, we recognise that every pupil, and every cohort, is different. We therefore offer a bespoke pathway that reflects pupils’ individual strengths, interests, aspirations and next steps.

Our curriculum pathways provide a range of qualifications and courses, including GCSEs, Functional Skills, Entry Level Certificates, BTECs, WJEC courses and other accredited programmes. This breadth enables us to build a pathway that is appropriately challenging, meaningful and suited to each pupil, ensuring that every young person has the opportunity to achieve and develop their potential.

In Year 9, pupils are supported to explore their options and think about their interests, strengths and future aspirations before making their Key Stage 4 choices. We work closely with pupils and families to ensure that their pathway is carefully considered and provides the right balance of challenge, support and opportunity.

Our partnership with Fortismere further extends the opportunities available to our pupils. Where a pupil has a particular interest or aspiration that sits beyond Blanche Nevile’s core offer, they may have the opportunity to study that subject at Fortismere, with appropriate support in place. You can find out more about Fortismere’s KS4 options.

This flexible approach means that our curriculum can respond to the needs of each cohort rather than following a one-size-fits-all model. We want every pupil to have a pathway that is right for them, enabling them to achieve qualifications, develop their strengths and move confidently towards their future.

Please contact the school if you have any questions about our KS4 offer.

Curriculum Booklets

Please see the individual subject curriculum booklets below for further details about each curriculum area and the pathways on offer.

English Curriculum Booklet Science Curriculum Booklet Maths Curriculum Booklet BSL and Deaf Studies Curriculum Booklet Skills for Life Curriculum Booklet Humanities Curriculum Booklet Physical Education Curriculum Booklet Art & Design Curriculum Booklet Personal Social Development Curriculum Booklet Careers Curriculum Booklet

Computing Curriculum Booklet

Technology Curriculum Booklet

British Values at Blanche Nevile School

Secondary Inclusion

For pupils who attend Fortismere on a full-time timetable, they follow Fortismere’s curriculum maps and curriculum pathways. You can find more information about the curriculum they follow on the Fortismere website.