Curriculum information

Foundation Stage - Children in Nursery and Reception i.e. 3 and 4 year olds

Key Stage 1 - children from 5-7years old.

Key Stage 2 - 7-11 years

ENGLISH

Introduction

In the Foundation Stage and in Key Stages 1 and 2 children are taught English which includes all of the following elements:

• Reading
• Writing
• Speaking and Listening
• Spelling and Handwriting

Reading

Our aim is to develop a love of books and to ensure that every child becomes a fluent reader. This is based on a determination that every child will learn to read, together with a step by step approach to teaching reading, writing and spelling systematically through phonics.

Children are supported in their reading by guided reading opportunities in groups, regular reading opportunities with teachers, teaching assistant,, students and parent helpers. (Please talk to your child’s class teacher if you can spare any time for this)

The school has a bright, well resourced library. Children are encouraged to take books home both from the library and from year group resources as part of our home-school reading policy. The reading books cover a wide range of reading schemes including many different genre (fiction, nonfiction, playscripts etc.)and are leveled according to The Book Band Scheme to ensure progression in the formative years.

Speaking & Listening

We offer activities to develop children’s skills in speaking and listening. We aim to make children aware of the need to communicate clearly, to listen carefully and then respond appropriately.

Drama is used to enhance the teaching of all aspects of English.

Spelling and Handwriting

The school follows a specific cursive handwriting scheme. Regular practice is given and emphasis is placed on the need to present work that is easy to read and understand.

Once children in the FS or early in KS1 can recognize the 45 key words for reading then spellings will be sent home for children to learn.

Writing

Children are given practice in writing in the full range of genres with an emphasis placed on the teaching of grammar and punctuation. Wherever possible the teaching of writing is based on the deconstruction of an existing high quality text and then writing is modeled by the teacher (shared writing), prior to the children starting their own writing.

MATHEMATICS

The Curriculum:

Using and applying, and linking maths to real life experiences are crucial in all areas of mathematics. We use flexible groupings throughout the school, sometimes children are in ability groups or mixed ability pairs.

Content:

Each term children will learn skills in:

• counting,
• partitioning,
• calculating,
• securing number facts,
• understanding shape,
• handling data,
• measures
• relationships.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT)

Within the curriculum children use computers  for

• communicating,
• handling  information
• solving problems
• graphic art and design
• researching

Each class has a regular ICT lesson, using either laptops in the classroom or the ICT Suite. In Key Stage 1 this happens in small groups. The use of e-mail and the internet is regulated through filtered access and children are not permitted to use either e-mail or the internet without adult supervision.

MUSIC

We aim to promote confidence in all areas of music. All children are encouraged to perform as musicians.

We have a very enthusiastic choir, both Infant and Junior. Instrumentalists have an important part to play in school assemblies, concerts, and at the annual Carol Concert. Our school orchestra is very popular and grows considerably in size for the Carol Concert, when parents and ex-pupils are invited to join.

Children also learn to listen to music from a variety of traditions, and to discuss and evaluate what they have heard. They are also introduced to creative composition, both in words and music.

The school orchestra, groups and choirs also take part in annual events such as the Borough Singing Festival and the Instrumental Event. In Key Stage 2 termly visits are arranged to hear the London Symphony Orchestra at children’s concerts at the Barbican.

LANGUAGES

The children are taught French in KS2 as our Modern Foreign Language. These sessions are taken by a specialist teacher and each class in Key Stage 2 has one half hour lesson per week. We also offer out-of-hours clubs for both French and Spanish from reception to Y6. Much of the work is oral, building on the children's confidence to speak the language but the children also learn how the language is written and about French life and culture.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

We aim to ensure that pupils can:

• Recognise the impact of religions and religious beliefs and practices locally, nationally and globally
• Make connections between the different aspects of religions including belief, festival, community, worship, morality and service to others.
• Consider different forms of religious experiences

Children will be introduced to religious literature and important figures in major world religions and to rituals and ceremonies of these religions (including stories, language and symbols)

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Sporting Aims:

• To encourage children to be physically active
• To enable children to participate in both individual and team activities, developing good sporting behaviour
• To enable children to be proud of their achievements and always strive for their personal best
• To encourage children to experience a wide range of activities and develop skills that can be further developed in later life
• To develop an understanding of the advantages of regular physical exercise in maintaining a healthy lifestyle
• To expose children to a range of sporting activities

Children receive a minimum of two hours curriculum provision per week. The curriculum sessions are taken by class teachers in Key Stage 1 and in Key Stage 2 by professional sports coaches in addition to the P.E. coordinator and other named staff. This ensures quality of delivery with a range of sporting opportunities delivered throughout the year in all year groups

We have a very wide range of after school sports clubs for the children. Please see our Sport section of this website.

The school is fortunate to enjoy excellent sporting facilities. In addition to the school field, we have two floodlit all-weather courts, a small heated indoor swimming pool, a gymnasium, a further hall for indoor games and a large newly built pavilion with changing area, showers and kitchen.

PHSCE

Pupils learn about themselves as growing and changing individuals with their own experiences and ideas, and as members of their communities. They become more mature, independent and self-confident. They learn about the wider world and the interdependence of communities. They develop their sense of social justice and moral responsibilities and begin to understand that their own choices and behaviour can affect local, national or global issues and political and social institutions.

HOMEWORK

Homework  supports the curriculum and  gets children used to the idea of working at home whilst recognising that children should have plenty of free time after school in which to enjoy their childhood.

As the children progress up the school, homework time increases and more is expected of the children.

USEFUL WEBSITES TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILD'S LEARNING

Please see below a list of useful websites to support your child's learning in mathematics and literacy.