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Curriculum

School sign

The primary curriculum is the basis for what your child learns every day, and it’s probably changed a lot since you were at school! You’ll find lots of useful resources in this section of the site to help you understand what your child is being taught, how and when they’ll be assessed and what the different levels mean, how to interact with the school and what support the school will expect you to be providing at home.

You'll also find information on the curriculum for England, the curriculum in Wales (including the new National Reading and Numeracy tests), the curriculum in Northern Ireland and Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence.

Articles

Number square in the classroom
How maths teaching has changed since we were at school
Bus stops, the grid method, number bonds… Maths in today’s classroom can seem undecipherable. We look at how things have changed since we were kids.
National curriculum in England
The primary school National Curriculum in England explained for parents
TheSchoolRun explains everything parents need to know about the National Curriculum for English primary schools.
Primary school English teaching
How English teaching has changed since we were at school
Feeling out of touch with your child's literacy learning? We look at how times have changed in the classroom since you were at school yourself.
Also see:

What your child learns in every year of primary school

We have information on what your child learns in English, maths and science in each year of primary school, from Reception to Year 6. To find out more, have a look through these:

Essential Guide to the First Years of School
The Parents' Guide to Primary School

Get your child's school days off to a flying start – no worries, no stress, no panic! Created especially for parents of new school starters, our brilliant eBook answers every question you might have about your child's primary education.

This eBook will help you:

  •     Understand what schools do and what their priorities are
  •     Understand what school life is like for your child – from the start of their Reception year, right up until they take their Key Stage 2 SATs in Year 6
  •     Learn more about the different people and initiatives that shape your child’s learning experience
  •     Understand more about how you can help your child to get the most out of their time at school

Inside The Parents' Guide to Primary School you'll find over 220 pages jam-packed with the latest information and guidance on every stage of your child’s learning journey, plus handy hints, tips and at-home learning activities to help them reach their full potential.