School Prospectus - The Curriculum
The Curriculum
We have six classrooms, one for each year group. The teachers plan together within the Key Stages to ensure the National Curriculum is delivered appropriately.
Children may be taught individually, in groups or as a class, and this ensures that each child is working to his or her potential. The themes for study are based, whenever possible, on practical, direct, first hand experiences, and will provide the necessary activities for learning the skills and knowledge needed to solve problems. The school's curriculum plan has been developed in co-operation with the other eight cluster schools that feed
We ensure that the curriculum is broad, balanced and fun! Every child will be taught the National Curriculum subjects - English, Maths, Science (the core subjects), ICT (Information and Communication Technology), Design & Technology, History, Geography, Art, Music and P.E. but these are nor necessarily taught as discrete areas. We aim for an exciting cross-curricular approach through inspiring and creative topics.
Religious Education is also taught to all pupils except for those whose parents wish to withdraw them. In addition we seek to promote skills, knowledge and understanding in the following areas:- The Performing Arts, Citizenship, Economic and Industrial Understanding, Environmental Education, Personal and Social Education. Children will be encouraged to develop positive attitudes towards Our Local Community, Equal Opportunities and Multicultural Communities and Customs. All staff are aware of the importance of enabling children to learn through a multi-sensory approach, and through The Arts, allowing maximum learning to take place.
English Literacy
We seek to develop a 'positive' attitude towards reading and writing in all areas of the curriculum, and especially during the ‘Literacy Hour’. The school has an extensive range of books in classrooms and the library, which we encourage the children to use throughout the school. As the children develop their reading skills they will be able to choose widely from a colour graded book system which provides material for both pleasure and information. This ensures that the children are able to choose at an appropriate level of difficulty, whilst not restricting them to a single scheme. We ask parents to help by listening daily to their child read, by reading along with them, and by discussing their books.
The school has set up a reading record book which acts as a link between parent and teacher. You are asked to record your child's or your own response to his/her reading, and to read the teacher's comments. Visiting the local library or bookshop or just reading to your child helps develop success and an enjoyment for reading.
Children's writing is developed in a variety of ways through the school. We stress creativity in written language, based on as much first-hand experience as possible, and also teach early conventions of grammar as well as spelling and handwriting. Children are asked to learn spellings at home that are relevant and appropriate to their level. The children are taught to join letters from early in Key Stage 1, leading to a natural cursive style and the use of fountain pen, when they are ready, in Key Stage 2.
Speaking and Listening
These are the first two language skills that children acquire. Children will be introduced to a variety of situations in which they can develop their listening and speaking skills. Through valuing children's speech, building on their remarks and encouraging them to listen to others, children improve their knowledge, vocabulary, communicating skills and learn to clarify their ideas. Children also learn to adjust this language and expression to suit the occasion.
Drama
All children enjoy Drama lessons and regularly produce and take part in live performances in school. We invite a variety of live entertainers to perform for the children, as well as making visits to the theatre.
Maths
During Key Stage 1 pupils develop their knowledge and understanding of Maths through practical activity, exploration and discussion. They learn to count, read, write and order numbers to 100 and beyond. They develop a range of mental calculation skills and use these in different settings. They learn about shape and space through practical activity, which builds on their understanding of their immediate environment.
In Key Stage 2 pupils move from counting reliably to calculating fluently with all four number operations. Emphasis is on mental calculation which pupils use when tackling a problem before using any other approach. Pupils are given opportunities to explore features of shape and space and to develop their measuring skills. They are encouraged to discuss and present their methods and reasoning using a wide range of mathematical language, diagrams and charts.
Science
Science stimulates and excites pupils’ curiosity about phenomena and events in the world around them. It also satisfies this curiosity with knowledge. Because science links direct practical experience with ideas, it can engage learners at many levels. Scientific method is about developing and evaluating explanations through experimental evidence and modelling. This is a spur to critical and creative thought.
From Year R the children are taught to observe, to raise questions, to hypothesise, to carry out investigations, to record and interpret their results and to communicate their findings. This process of scientific enquiry counts for 50% of the school’s science curriculum and is related to all investigational and problem solving aspects of the whole curriculum. The children are also taught about Life Processes and Living Things, Physical Processes such as forces, and about Materials and their Properties. They are encouraged to work individually and in groups and to embark on research which has arisen from their studies. The school is continually adding to its science resources so that the children learn from practical experience. They are also encouraged to identify, to find and to use equipment needed for their investigations.
Information and Communication Technology
ICT permeates the whole curriculum. The school has 2 or 3 standalone p.c’s in each classroom and there is also a suite of 15 in the library area. All p.c’s have broadband internet access and are networked throughout the school so that children can save and access their work anywhere. The activities include desktop publishing and word processing, handling information and data, control work on a screen and with floor robots and computer simulation activities. Each curriculum area is also supported with a wide range of computer software appropriate to the age and level of the child. The school aims to give the children confidence in using a computer so that it becomes a natural part of learning. The children are encouraged to use the World Wide Web and Email facility. We have ensured in our ‘Acceptable Use’ Policy that the children are protected from undesirable materials and contacts over the internet. We have a school web site and are shortly to develop video conferencing with other schools and organisations. Each classroom has an interactive whiteboard and regular use is made of the digital camera.
Design and Technology
Technology embraces some aspects of the familiar curriculum subjects of Art, Craft, Home Economics, Woodwork and Business Studies. The emphasis is placed upon the children identifying a need for a particular object, drawing up a design, planning and making the object and testing its effectiveness. The need for technological activity should arise naturally from the children's activities. Through these activities the children should take into account the aesthetic qualities of their work and also market forces. Safety education plays a very important part.
Art
As in other curriculum areas, it is through Art that children gain experience of close observation, recording and self expression of their world, through a wide variety of media and materials. Our aim is to develop practical and technical skills such as line, colour, tone and form, as well as aesthetic awareness of original artists' work from our own culture and others, both past and present. The children are encouraged to be creative and imaginative in both 2D and 3D work which is celebrated through display, including art exhibitions both in school and at LEA locations.
Music
Our aim is for the children to be actively involved in listening to, composing and performing live music. The children have weekly music lessons and learn rhythm, melody, pitch and harmony. They are encouraged to write their own compositions based on their musical ability, and these are performed and often taped. Children are also encouraged to play both unpitched and pitched percussion instruments, recorders, handbells and keyboards, individually, in small groups and in class groups. During 2007/2008 we are aiming to introduce whole class instrumental tuition – recorders, guitars, flute and cornet so children can have access to a range of experiences. Older children take part in a First Schools Music Festival. Morning assembly provides another opportunity for the children to listen to both popular and classical music.
The whole school enjoys an annual concert provided by the Instrumental Music Service. Visiting musicians allow the children to experience music from different cultures.
Geography
Geography skills are built into relevant topics. Pupils participate in practical experiences and we make the most of the immediate locality and the surrounding environment. The nearby Cotswold and Bredon Hills are an example of localities where children can learn skills of mapping, identify and describe geographical features, and study rocks, soils and land use. At Key Stage 2 children are also taught about Contrasting Places, Water, Weather, Village Settlement, Environmental Change, Soils & Underground, and News around the World.
History
History is taught through stories and a wide range of experiences which help children relate to the past. We learn to use vocabulary relating to the passing of time, we look for clues to find evidence of the past in our local environment by visiting historic sites, museums etc. We borrow artefacts and old photographs, use documentation and reference books, invite adults to talk, to acquire knowledge and understanding. We teach children to be aware that there may have been more than one cause or consequence of an event.
Physical Education and Games
The children participate in a games session each week. This takes the form of individual learning skills, mini-games and larger team games when older. Skills and techniques are taught progressively through the school. All children will enjoy a wide spectrum of activities using varied equipment. During the summer term the children participate in athletics activities suitable to their age and ability. Extra-curricular activities, for those wishing to take part, include football, netball, rounders, hockey, gym and cricket. Experts are invited in to work with children to improve their skills in areas not offered in school. We have recently attained the Charter Standard Status, as a school recognised by the Football Association for having high standards and achievement in football.
Gymnastics and Movement
Children will be involved in floor, small and large apparatus work. The children will be presented with a variety of experiences and situations encouraging them to explore movement by building on natural skills which progress by stages through the school.
Dance
Each year all children experience dance lessons, allowing each child to develop their own natural expression in movement through a variety of movement experiences. The imaginative and creative aspects of movements will often be linked to other curriculum areas such as creative writing or music.
A keep fit / dance club is run as part of our extra-curricular activities programme.
Swimming
Over the year, each class will swim for ten weeks at the
It is advisable for children to wear swimming caps to avoid returning to school with wet hair. Good discipline is expected at all times at the pool, and any child misbehaving may be withdrawn from swimming.
Goggles
The Local Authority strongly discourages the wearing of goggles during swimming, and advises staff that children should not wear goggles unless there is a medical reason. Any parent who still insists on their child wearing goggles must put that request in writing (a form is available from the school office), stating that they accept all responsibility for any injury caused through the wearing of goggles to their child or any other person. The County guidelines are in school if any parent wishes to read them.
Personal, Social and Health Education including Citizenship
PSHE sets a climate in which pupils learn and develop as people. It provides a context in which they can explore values and develop respect for themselves, their families, their school and the wider groups to which they belong. It can provide the basis for the development of the personal and social skills they need to participate fully in the life of the school and community. We aim to create an atmosphere in which there is:
· Respect for individuals
· A space for everyone to listen and be listened to
· A time and a place for reviewing and reflecting on what has been learned
· A shared and developing language for describing one’s own and others emotions
· A feeling of community and responsibility
Citizenship provides real opportunities for pupils to understand what it means to belong to society and its constituent communities. It equips pupils with the intellectual tools, the skills and the attitudes to understand what it means to have rights and duties and to exercise them responsibly. In our school we strive to:
· Establish the importance of pupils having a positive and active role
· Provide the opportunity for pupils to be able to express and develop their beliefs, opinions, values and attitudes whilst respecting the views of others
· Encourage the development of skills in working with others to inform their thinking about social and moral issues
· Provide opportunities for pupils to understand how they can reflect on and influence those social issues which they encounter within the community and the wider responsibilities they have in society.
We have a School Council which is a forum for all children to influence the way our school is managed. Each class elects two members to serve on the Council. They bring to the Council any issues which are of concern to their classmates. All areas of school life are open for debate and each class uses Circle Time discussions to inform their School Council members of their opinions on current issues. All children are divided into Owl Groups across the Year groups, to foster social interaction and team spirit.
Sex Education
Some Sex Education in school will arise spontaneously from children’s questions. The major part will be delivered through a carefully planned scheme. The scheme covers:-
Key Stage 1:
In the early years the children are encouraged to find out about themselves, their bodies and the world around them.
Key Stage 2:
Sex Education is integrated into the general curriculum where possible, with the main segment being taught in Year 5. The children will be taught by their class teacher and parents will be informed when their child will be given sex education tuition, so that they can contribute at home by openly discussing with their child any questions that may arise. Boys and girls will be taught together and will be taught all aspects of physical and biological difference. The school will use a range of techniques including the use of videos, short talks, discussions, a question box and visits from outside agencies. Parents have the right to withdraw their child from part, or all, of the sex education syllabus.
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Religious Education
Religious Education is incorporated into our topics in accordance with the requirements of the LEA syllabus and the Diocesan syllabus, where we make use of the QCA units as appropriate. We aim to develop pupils knowledge, understanding and awareness of Christianity, as well as introducing customs and beliefs of other religions. Key Stage Two hold multicultural / RE days to support Citizenship and multicultural education. We aim to promote pupils spiritual, moral and cultural development. At some time during the day the whole school takes part in a collective Act of Worship. The children visit the church for a service on the last Friday of each half-term, to which parents and friends are invited. Requests for withdrawal from Religious Education and religious services should be made in writing to the Headteacher.
Extra-Curricular Activities
A variety of activities take place at lunchtime and after school, and the choice of activities changes termly. These may include hockey, rugby, netball, football, cricket, recorders, art, dance, gardening, music, crafts, computers, handbells, keyboards, library skills, musical and physical theatre, gymnastics and French.
Margaret Flanagan, lay preacher from Childswickham, who regularly takes assembly, runs JAM Club (Jesus and Me). The children enjoy games, fun, craft work and Bible stories.