The Curriculum
THE CURRICULUM
The School curriculum has been updated to meet all current National Curriculum requirements, the Foundation Curriculum for the Early Years, and the Curriculum 2000 for Key Stage 1. Each child is treated as an individual and the School aims to ensure continuity and progression is met by a curriculum that is as individual as is possible and practical. With this in mind, the curriculum is designed to support groups or individuals within the class. It is our aim to develop each child's potential in academic, physical, social and aesthetic experiences, developing lively enquiring minds and the ability to question and argue rationally, and to apply themselves to tasks. The curriculum aims to develop the acquisition of knowledge and skills relevant to adult life and a fast changing world. Very careful attention is paid to the teaching of reading and the basics of numeracy, but the children also work at written English, Technology including Information Technology, Religious Education, Music, Humanities, Art, Science, and Physical Education. A topic or thematic approach is used to develop scientific knowledge and may be used to encompass the Humanities, History, Geography and Religious Education. These are also subject-based, as appropriate.
The school curriculum includes the delivery of the new Primary Strategy.
THE FOUNDATION CURRICULUM
The new foundation curriculum came into force in September 2000. It contains early learning goals which set out what most children are expected to achieve by the end of the Reception year.
The curriculum is organised into six areas of learning, namely: communication, language and literacy; mathematical development; personal, social and emotional development; knowledge and understanding of the world; physical development; and creative development. The curriculum documentation also includes principles for early years education and features of good practice. An outdoor area is currently being developed as part of the building project to provide an additional learning environment.
Since the ability to read is the most vital part of a child's education, considerable time and care is spent upon the teaching of reading. The School uses a variety of approaches and techniques tailored to individual requirements. The core reading schemes are Ginn 360, The
WRITTEN ENGLISH
Unless a child can express himself verbally in full sentences he is unlikely to make much progress in reading and writing. We therefore spend as much time as possible talking with the children and encouraging them to talk to us. They then learn how to form their letters, and are able to write sentences of their own which can be read independently of the child and are encouraged to express themselves on paper through experimental writing. This leads to writing stories, poems and factual accounts for themselves. Alongside this, attention is paid to spelling and handwriting. A cursive style of writing is taught from the Reception Class.
SCHOOL LIBRARY
A School Library system is in operation. All children have the opportunity to take home a book from the main library each week and also a class library book. Storysacks are also issued on a regular basis.
MATHEMATICS – ABACUS EVOLVE
This Maths scheme is used throughout the school and is well supported by other mathematical resources. Care is taken that the child's progress towards numeracy is logical and thorough. In most cases work is done with the help of apparatus of all kinds and in as meaningful a manner as possible. Mathematics is linked to real life situations wherever feasible and careful records are kept as to which concepts a child has mastered. The Primary Strategy provides opportunities for oral and mental work and children formally record appropriate activities.
TECHNOLOGY
Technology, including Information Technology, is integrated into the curriculum, and all children have the opportunity to use computers, and design and make items, including modelling, sewing and cookery.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
This is taught using the
Parents have the right of withdrawal and the school would provide supervision for those who have been withdrawn.
MUSIC
All children have the opportunity to develop musical skills through singing and percussion work.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
SPORT
Within the physical education curriculum, children have the opportunity to develop the skills needed for traditional team sports such as football, rounders, unihoc, and netball. After experiencing these opportunities for repeating movements the children participate in simple games situations, developing the ability to cope with success and failure in competitive and co-operative activities. Mrs E Ramm is the PE Co-ordinator and a specialist in this subject.
The children have both indoor and outdoor lessons incorporating movement and apparatus work. The School has outstanding facilities for these activities, providing a beautiful playing field and large surfaced playground adjoining it. A hall provides excellent facilities for indoor physical educational activities. Extra curricular sports activities are provided by our School Sports Partner.
DANCING
Country Dancing and Maypole Dancing is a tradition of the School and dancing displays are given annually.
SEX EDUCATION
This is not taught as a separate entity but as part of the Personal, Social and Health Education Policy. The school encourages the acquisition of skills and attitudes which allow pupils to manage their relationships in a responsible and healthy way.
HOMEWORK
Children in the reception class initially take home games to develop a sight vocabulary for reading. They are also encouraged to look for small items for a sound table. All children in years 1 and 2 take home a list of spellings to be learnt for a test each week. They will include “high frequency” and phonetically spelt words which are part of the Literacy aspect of the Primary Strategy. Children are expected to read regularly at home, reading core scheme books sent home by the school, but children should also be encouraged to share/read a wide variety of books both fiction and non-fiction. Children also receive homework activities related to the Numeracy aspect of the Primary Strategy, following up work done in class sessions. These activities include playing mathematical games which parents and children can share and also worksheets.