Our Integrated Curriculum at Cumberland Infant School

Over the last ten years Cumberland Infant School has worked tirelessly to develop an
engaging integrated curriculum that makes us unique! There is always a buzz of excitement
when a year group, whatever the age is approaching the start of a new project.
All our children are hooked into their projects to promote their curiosity and wonder of
wanting to find out more. A circus skills workshop hooks the children into a D.T based project called The Greatest Show on Earth on their first day in the Autumn term.

YR find a box, spacesuit, a colander and a teddy bear to hook them into the project 5,4,3,2,1
Blast Off which leads them to the story ‘Whatever Next’ by Jill Murphy.

In Y2 they arrive at a crime scene with their classrooms being taped off due to Mr Potato
Head’s facial features going missing. They discover a pile of potatoes and a ransom note
demanding the children design new jacket potato filings in a D.T project.

The only subjects that are taught discretely in all year groups are phonics, maths and P.E.
All other subjects are integrated into our projects. Each project has a lead subject which is
the main driving force of the project and heavily contributes to the project outcome which has
an audience of some kind. The children love to share the outcome of their projects, whoever
the audience is.

Y1, create a circus wagon show for their parents to evaluate the circus wagons they have
created. YR create telescopes to take part in star gazing with their families and Y2 create
their own Cumberland Zoo at the end of their Zany Zoo Keeper project for the YR and the
Pre-School child to visit.

Each project lasts from three to six weeks and during this period they are expected to
complete a home learning challenge. These are shared with their class through Tapestry or
by physically bringing it into school to share. The home learning challenge has a joint parent
and child challenge to promote collaboration, a parent challenge to keep them involved and
a child challenge to promote independence. The children are always so proud of their home
learning and can’t wait to share it with their class.

For example, YR create an amazing range of farm animals for their All Creatures Great and
Small project, Year One design and produce a house from 1666 for their London’s burning
project and Y2 create fascinating Top Trump cards all about members of their families for
their Guess Who project which starts their Year Two experience.
We always try to celebrate the children’s home learning by sharing it to others via a display,
live presenting or Tapestry.