Our Inclusive Curriculum
At Five Elms Primary School, our vision is to provide an inclusive and ambitious curriculum where every child is supported to belong, achieve and thrive. We want every pupil to feel valued, respected and represented, while developing the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to succeed.
Our school community is wonderfully diverse, with approximately 70% of our pupils coming from ethnic minority backgrounds. We have a growing Asian community alongside a significant Eastern European community, particularly Romanian, while White British and Black African pupils together represent around 45% of our school population. With approximately 40 languages spoken across our school, we celebrate the rich diversity of cultures, identities, experiences and backgrounds that make Five Elms such a vibrant community.
Our curriculum is carefully designed, sequenced and delivered to ensure clear progression in knowledge, skills and understanding, leading to well-defined end points. As a knowledge-rich curriculum, we place a strong emphasis on vocabulary and concept development, helping pupils to secure important knowledge in their long-term memory. Carefully planned links between subjects enable children to make meaningful connections and transfer their learning across different areas of the curriculum.
We are committed to ensuring that our curriculum reflects and celebrates the diversity of our school community. Through the texts we share, the people we learn about and the experiences we provide, pupils encounter a broad and representative range of cultures, religions, family structures, genders, abilities and disabilities. In doing so, children can see themselves and others reflected positively in their learning.
We value the voice and contribution of every pupil and member of staff, including those with protected characteristics. We strive to create an environment where every child belongs — feeling safe, valued and included; where every child can achieve — receiving the support, challenge and opportunities they need to reach their potential; and where every child can thrive — developing confidence, curiosity, independence and a lifelong love of learning.
At Five Elms, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that when children feel they belong, they are empowered to achieve and given every opportunity to thrive.
Barking and Dagenham is one of London’s most diverse boroughs and we are proud to say that the staff of our school fully reflect the diversity in our local community. Participation in the LBBD Race and Social Justice Project has raised staff awareness and begun a professional dialogue in the school around these issues.
To view the Barking & Dagenham Race & Social Justice Charter click here.
Reading For Pleasure and Core Texts within our Diverse Community
At Five Elms Primary, we have been proactive in making sure the books in our school library and classrooms reflect the community our children live in. We want all our pupils to feel valued and feel a real sense of belonging by seeing themselves in the books they read.
The table shows the core texts which are taught across the school.
For more titles you can view the title suggested by ARISE (Anti-Racism in School and Education). Many of these can also be found within our school library and classroom book corners.
| ARISE Booklist EYFS / KS1 |
ARISE Booklist KS2 |
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Children Dressed As their own Favourite Historical Cultural Figures for History Day
