At our school we provide a broad and balanced curriculum that is accessible for all children. Phonics, English and Maths are taught as discreet subject areas so that children develop the skills and knowledge they will need to apply in school and in the wider world. Our children are given many opportunities to use and apply these skills across the curriculum in teacher led and child initiated activities. We use Letters & Sounds to provide a foundation for the teaching of phonics. Topic umbrellas are carefully planned to ensure learning opportunities are maximised and a broad and balanced curriculum is delivered.
Children and parent/carers are encouraged to engage with learning at school through weekly school newsletters, weekly ECaT letters (Foundation Stage and Year 1), termly year group newsletters, themed days, enterprise weeks and fundraising events. Regular notes and text messages home remind parent/carers of things happening in school and how they can support their child’s learning.
In Foundation Stages 1 & 2 the Early Years curriculum is planned so that each phase of learning has the same topic umbrella. Over the year six overarching themes provide a range of learning opportunities that meet the needs of our younger children through play based activities. Careful planning ensures the children have access to all seven areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum both indoors and outside throughout the whole year.
The National Curriculum
Our school follows the National Curriculum for English Schools. Religious Education is not one of the National Curriculum subjects but is taught in all County schools in England and Wales. Our school curriculum has been carefully designed to provide an interesting and relevant, broad and balanced curriculum which will enable each child to develop as an independent resilient learner, and reach their full potential. Educational visits, visitors coming into school, and whole school themed days enhance and deepen our children’s understanding in relation to specific areas of the curriculum. Each child is considered unique and work is planned to enable children to work at their own pace and level of need. We understand that all children make progress at different rates, and this is carefully monitored to ensure, when appropriate, they receive the correct level of support, and are being challenged appropriately. Children working at age related expectations on entry to Year 1 will have met the Early Learning Goals and attained a Good Level of Development by the end of Foundation Stage 2. Where children are still working towards this, support is provided to help them to meet the expected Year 1 standard by the end of the year. At the end of Year 1 and Year 2 children will be assessed at Working Towards the expected standard, working AT the expected standard, or working in Greater Depth within the expected standard.