By Anne Peck, Head of Primary Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Assessment
The need for and importance of a well-sequenced curriculum in all subjects, especially English and maths, has arguably always been a priority for schools. However, since the current Ofsted framework was introduced in 2019, “the national curriculum” has come under even greater scrutiny.
Ofsted’s proposed toolkit, recently consulted on and trialled in selected schools, only serves to reiterate that position. The “secure” judgement in the “curriculum” element of the provisional toolkit includes these words, for example:
“Subject/area curriculums are well designed to build pupils’ knowledge and skills sequentially and cumulatively.”
I suspect most leaders and teachers would agree that if we do not know precisely what we intend for pupils to learn, it is almost impossible to be reassured that that they are making progress. Indeed, in a world without a planned curriculum, children might well be knowing more and remembering more but not necessarily more of what we would want them to know!
To adopt or to construct: that is the question
Back in 2019/2020, in the midst of a new framework, not to mention a global pandemic, many leaders chose to adopt a commercially available curriculum for many or all of their subject areas. Indeed, Ofsted itself suggested (and continues to indicate) that leaders could decide to do either.
Perhaps not surprisingly, leaders were spoiled for choice, and there are still many different curriculum options available. When adopting any curriculum, leaders are likely to ask themselves a number of questions. These should include the following:
Is the content fully aligned to the national curriculum?
Are the roots of the curriculum – the foundational knowledge and skills that pupils will develop and embed – clearly determined?
Does this curriculum meet the needs of our context and cohort?
Can pupils “see” themselves in this curriculum? Does it provide a mirror on their world whilst also opening doors to new horizons and experiences?
It’s not you; it’s me
The answers given in 2019 to these questions above are unlikely to be the same as those given in 2025. Consequently, many leaders are reassessing their curriculum decisions and deciding, where necessary, to make a change. Increasingly, leaders are making that change to HFL Education’s ESSENTIAL curriculums.
The ESSENTIAL brand is, quite simply, essential! It provides schools with a coherently planned and cumulatively sequenced curriculum of carefully chosen content, which not only aligns to the national curriculum but is also designed to regularly and routinely reactivate key learning. The proposed Ofsted toolkit indicates that a “strong” curriculum will embody one that is ‘… expertly designed at each stage to enable pupils to develop secure, deep and fluent knowledge.’ Expertly designed it is. Our subject specialists in English, maths and Early Years have created a family of curriculums that embody “subject-specific rigour” in an easily accessible format for leaders, teachers and pupils.
Meet the ESSENTIAL family
There are four members of our ESSENTIAL family. Each provides schools with carefully planned sequences of learning including clear guidance and support to teachers in the pedagogy underpinning it.
ESSENTIALMATHS V 2.0
Everything you need for great primary maths teaching and learning – all in one place
Carefully crafted single-age and mixed-age ESSENTIALMATHS learning sequences enable teachers to teach a carefully planned, small-step progression through the maths national curriculum, from Reception to Year 6, deepening understanding year on year.
A range of packages and resources options are available, including rehearsal and reasoning sheets and a fully aligned homework suite.
Early Years ESSENTIALWRITING
A brand-new Early Years ESSENTIALWRITING curriculum, designed around engaging bookmaking projects that make writing a joyful, multi-sensory and purposeful experience.
Developed collaboratively by the Early Years and English teams, this curriculum prioritises child development, emphasising foundational skills in communication and language and physical development, before progressing to more complex transcriptional skills. This is our newest member of the ESSENTIAL family and is available now for 3–4-year-olds and 4–5-year-olds.
ESSENTIALWRITING
An innovative writing curriculum built to develop skilled and successful writers.
The ESSENTIALWRITING curriculum is an ambitious and progressive writing scheme, hooked in with high-quality literature, designed to give teachers subject knowledge, pedagogical tools and strategies to teach children how to write for specific purposes and authentic audiences. As a result, children feel inspired and ready to write for high-quality outcomes. Single-age and mixed-age resources are available.
ESSENTIALSPELLING
An innovative and complete toolkit for teaching primary spelling from Year 2 to Year 6.
ESSENTIALSPELLING is a whole-class approach that teaches children spelling patterns, strategies and knowledge, aligned with national curriculum year group expectations for Years 2–6. It can be used as a scheme for spelling on its own or in conjunction with your school’s existing scheme.
This complete teaching resource features a suite of progressive teaching sequences for the academic year for each year group. Sequences have been ordered progressively to review and consolidate prior learning before moving on children’s spelling knowledge and application.
A refreshed version of this resource will be available in the summer term.
More than just plug and play
Crucially, each curriculum provides schools with the guidance and support they need to successfully deliver the programme. Acknowledging the busy workload of primary practitioners, the resources and linked training materials empower colleagues to deliver a curriculum that meets the needs of their pupils and supports effective adaption. Track back materials are available so that staff can readily expose and address gaps in pupils’ learning. Mixed-aged materials provide support for colleagues working in smaller schools.
Want to know more?
There are a range of options available, including different subscriptions and packages of support to wrap around your school. If you are thinking of making a change or simply want to know more, please contact:
earlyyearsteam@hfleducation.org for EY ESSENTIALWRITING
primaryenglish@hfleducation.org for ESSENTIALWRITING and ESSENTIALSPELLING
essential.maths@hfleducation.org for ESSENTIALMATHS
