At Singleton, we are very proud and excited to have our very own bespoke Growth Curriculum, developed to reflect our vision and location and up to date research, reading and experience.

However, beyond our Growth Curriculum and National Curriculum we offer a wealth of opportunities to enable children to fully 'flourish' and be brilliant citizens for the future.

Forest School and Outdoor Learning

Research shows that learning in the natural environment has a positive impact on children's engagement with learning as well as their physical and mental health. We are very blessed to have the most AMAZING outdoor environment on our doorstep.  Every class has between 18 and 24 weeks of Forest School a year. This year this will be led by Chichester Forest School, alongside the teaching team, whilst we train staff within our school to become Forest School Leads. 

We hope this year to build a new Outdoor Forest Classroom on the school field, which will enable lessons to be taught outside in a very different environment. 

All teachers are required to plan at least 2 lessons each week from the curriculum (on top of P.E) to be taught in the outdoor environment.  Our school grounds are large and have a wide variety of opportunities within them. 

Rocking Reading 

We want the children across the school to see the value and importance of reading - beyond their wonderful daily Guided Reading sessions. We have a wonderful Woodland Library which the children are able to access on a weekly basis. We have volunteers who support our youngest children to ensure they read frequently in school which gets them off to a flying start. We have other reading volunteers who support children who may need a little extra help or who are reading at a level which we need to challenge through book chatter.  Every class has an author of the half-term, and we reach out where possible to the authors to communicate with the class - we have had Teams meetings, email contacts and letters from a wide variety of authors. We make sure we use opportunities such as World Book Day, the Summer Library Challenge and Bookfest to further share our ethos that Singleton is Rocking Reading!

Tapping into Talents

The children in Year 3 and 4 have the opportunity every other week to explore the many talents which they or those in our community have. By 'tapping into talents' it is our intention to enable children to learn from others, increase self-esteem, open doors to new experiences, support children to maximise opportunities and encourage children to build lives with a sense of purpose, fun and positive wellbeing.

Primary Futures

The children in Year 5 and 6 have the opportunity every other week to explore the world of careers and work skills. Primary Futures is an organisation which helps primary schools to link to a wide variety of careers and possibilities. It is our intention to broaden children's horizons, challenge stereotypes and raise aspirations.  We want children to see how their education now is central to their future tomorrow. 

Pupil Responsibilities

Across the school ALL children are expected to contribute to their class community. We also look for opportunities for our pupils to contribute to the wider school community. It is our intention for children to see how they can positively impact the lives of others through simple responsibilities. For example, reception children are expected to maintain the front entrance of school with sweeping and gardening, whilst our Year 6 children are expected to lead the House Team meetings. 

Acts of Kindness

Research has shown that performing simple acts of kindness for others, can improve mental health and wellbeing. We want our children to be the type of citizens who actively seek ways to be altruistically kind to others.  Each term one class will be asked to perform an act of kindness within the community.

Cool to be Kind Week

Every Autumn there is a national Anti-Bullying week. We are keen to flip this narrative. Whilst we acknowledge children need to know how to identify, prevent and stand up to bullying, we also want children to know the power of kindness.  From the 15th to 19th November the school will be on high alert for community members displaying kindness. 

Worship and Assemblies for Families

Across the year there are opportunities for families to gather as a community to celebrate and worship together. In 2022 we held our first back in person Nativity after 2 years of producing films - it was wonderful! 

We invite families in for a Class worship, in which a class will take a theme and share their research, bible readings, a prayer and song for families to enjoy.

Music and Singing 

The children across the school may take part in peripatetic music lessons, paid for by families. We currently have children learning the recorder, guitar and piano. Each summer the musicians will showcase their progress for families. 

We love to sing! We have taken part in a variety of singing opportunities both within school (Carol Singing for the community) and outside school (The Big summer Sing with GAS schools). These rich opportunities for our children to perform are a vital part of their holistic development. 

Reaching into our Community

As part of our planning, the team will look for opportunities within each theme to make community links. This year we raised money for Children in Need, Comic Relief and the British Heart Foundation.

Our intent is for children to see the difference they are able to collectively make, to the lives of others. 

GAS schools

Although we know that children from small rural schools always manage the transition to high schools very well, we also recognise the importance of providing opportunities for children to mix socially with children from other settings. 

The locality of schools has a long-standing history of bring pupils together for sporting events and gifted and talented workshops. 

Trips, Visitors and Residential

Across the year children in all classes will experience trips and visits to enhance the curriculum. In October our Year 5 and 6 children went to Cobnor for their residential. This is bi-annual event, and is rotated with a 'camp in school' event and team building activities at a local provider. 

This year the children have made visits to the Weald and Downland Museum, The Recycling Centre, Chichester Cathedral, The Holts farm, Cucumber Farm for an archaeological dig and West's Wood Fair. 

We also welcome visitors into school to enhance all aspects of the Growth and wider curriculum.