At St Thomas’ CE Primary Academy, we develop children’s character through our vision of ‘Encouraging each other and overflowing with hope’ alongside the behaviour curriculum. In order to build character, we define the behaviours and expectations that students demonstrate so all of the school community have a clear understanding. We want to support our pupils to grow into adults who are polite, respectful, grateful and who always consider others through the eyes of God. We believe that as pupils practice these behaviours, over time they become natural routines that positively shape how they feel about themselves and how other people perceive them.

Teaching the curriculum

The curriculum is taught explicitly during the first week in Autumn term alongside the traditional National Curriculum subjects including PSHE. Children will learn the content of the curriculum so that they can recall the routines and expectations and follow them. At the start of each term, the behaviour curriculum is revisited with pupils and will continue to be reinforced throughout the year within the classroom and Collective Worships. As with other curriculum content, this will be taught using explicit teaching based on principles from Rosenshine including regular questioning to check and strengthen retention. Teachers will also demonstrate these behaviours and ensure pupils have time to practice these (particularly in the first few days of term). For example, a lining up order should be taught in the classroom but must be reinforced in different locations and times throughout the school day e.g. at lunchtime. It is expected that all pupils will know this content.

Adaptations

While this curriculum is for all pupils, it will be applied differently in different year groups depending on pupils’ ages and may be applied differently depending on individual pupils’ SEND needs. Sensitivity must be applied at all times when teaching the curriculum.