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The Curriculum
Foundation Stage
The Nursery and Reception classes follow the Foundation Stage Curriculum. We plan to provide a well-balanced, planned programme of activities tailored to each individual child by providing suitable equipment in safe, nurturing surroundings. This will encourage the child’s natural curiosity and allow them the valuable opportunity to progress at their own pace in an educationally stimulating environment enabling them to achieve their full potential.
Our curriculum for the Foundation Stage reflects the areas of learning identified in the Early Learning Goals. Our children’s learning experiences enables them to develop competency and skill across these learning areas.
Personal, Emotional and Social Skills
Children are encouraged to develop an awareness of others, learning how to co-operate, work alongside each other and develop friendships with adults and peers. Independence skills are fostered, encouraging enthusiastic and confident attitudes as well as improving concentration and persistence.
Communication, Language and Literacy
Speaking and listening are essential life skills and children are given encouragement, support and opportunity to develop confidence in this area through a variety of different situations. Children are read a broad range of books and are introduced to pre-reading skills and simple texts when appropriate. They begin writing for a variety of purposes and develop phonic knowledge. Letter formation is practiced through informal and fun gross and fine movements.
Mathematical Development
By providing a broad range of experiences, the children are able to explore and learn mathematical concepts. These opportunities help them to practice and understand number, pattern, shape and space and measuring.
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
Children are given the opportunity to experience the world they live in. They explore a range of environments and discover the freedom to experiment, predict, make decisions and solve problems. These experiences help them to develop and stretch their knowledge further.
Physical Development
Running, climbing, riding trikes, throwing, kicking and striking balls all help to develop a child’s gross motor skills. Children have the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of activities and to make use of our outdoor and indoor facilities. Individual and team activities help to develop a child’s physical skills as well as their social skills. Opportunities to develop fine motor skills are diverse and range from doing jigsaws, using paintbrushes and pencils to mastering scissors, buttons and zips. There are always times to learn about how their bodies work and what they need to do to keep fit and healthy.
Creative Development
Children are given the opportunity to explore new textures and means of creating pictures and art forms. They are encouraged to express their thoughts and feeling through music, drama, art and technology, and through a wide variety of role-play activities.
The school makes full use of the outdoor classroom, where a planned programme of appropriate activities takes place at all times of year.
Key Stage 1
Our Key Stage 1 classes, Years 1 and 2, broadly follow the National Curriculum. English and Maths are taught as distinct lessons, occupying half the available teaching time, with the rest of their work based around a topic theme. Topic incorporates Science, Geography, History, Art and Design Technology. Music, Physical Education, Religious Education, ICT, French and Drama are also taught.
English
Reading and writing is the foundation for all subjects with communication the key to language. Children are nurtured to develop confidence in speaking and listening, to concentrate and to ask and answer questions. Pupils discover a range of writing styles and develop their use of language, grammar and spelling. Being able to read opens up an exciting new world and children have the opportunity to explore a wide range of literature individually, as well as within the class and smaller groups.
Mathematics
Maths is a life skill and we nurture the children to have confidence to ‘have a go’. Games and activities provide a practical medium for children to learn and implement new skills. We monitor the children carefully as the building blocks for future mathematical development are put in place. Opportunities are available for them to explore, discover and explain within our nurturing environment.
Topic
Through our topic approach, the children are encouraged to become fully involved in their learning. It provides depth and broadens a child’s learning, allowing their interests to be followed. There are opportunities for independent learning and the pupils are taught a wide variety of skills: observation, exploration, investigation and awareness. It is an enriching experience linking scientific concepts, geographical themes, understanding of the past and creativity and imagination.
Music
Music plays an important part in our school life and our pupils are encouraged to experience a wide variety of styles. They explore rhythm and sounds, and have the opportunity to play individually and as part of a group. Singing is highly valued and the children regularly sing together.
There are extra curricular activities for those who are interested.
PE
All children are given the opportunity to develop their physical competence through a range of activities. Personal development in co-ordination and physical agility is fostered. Children enjoy taking part in dance, gymnastics, tennis, swimming, ball skill activities including striking and catching, and team games and use both the indoor and outdoor environments.
ICT
During ICT lessons, the children are taught the skills they will need in their future lives. They are taught technical skills beginning with mouse control and familiarity with the keyboard, which leads into manipulation of data and word processing. The children then practise these skills in their other lessons.
RE
Our RE lessons help the children to be aware of themselves and the world around them. They find out more about the Christian religion and its ceremonies and begin to develop an understanding and tolerance of other religions.
French
All children have the opportunity to learn about France, its language and culture. Role-play, games and songs feature highly in our French teaching and children are encouraged, in a relaxed atmosphere, to ‘have a go’.
Drama
Our weekly Drama lessons are focused on developing the children, both individually and as part of a group, to dramatise stories and develop the role of characters. Concentration is improved through warm up activities and games. The children work on clear speech and voice projection, which is highlighted when the children work towards their summer production. They also develop their confidence to perform to an audience. Their lessons are linked with their topic and literacy work.
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