Learning and Curriculum
Curriculum
Our aim is to deliver a curriculum that is outstanding in that it is both excellent and enjoyable.
The curriculum provision is organised in age groups as follows:
Infants
| Reception | The ‘Foundation Stage’ Curriculum |
| Years 1 and 2 | Key Stage 1 National Curriculum |
Juniors
| Years 3 - 6 |
Key Stage 2 National Curriculum |
The Foundation Stage Curriculum
The emphasis of this curriculum is that children experience their learning first hand and are encouraged to develop their curiosity and verbal language skills.
The basic skills are taught within a thematic approach which reinforces the learning and encourages the development and use of the basic skills which form the foundation for future learning.
Children need to be able to listen, ask questions, speak and explain their ideas clearly. Following alongside these skills are the recognisable pursuits of reading, writing and numeracy. We place great emphasis on developing high standards in these areas and children often exceed national expectations for the age group.
Children who enter Reception are assessed in the first few weeks to establish their starting place in developing their basic skills. These findings will be shared with you at your first parents evening in October. Your contribution to this assessment is very important to us and is welcomed.
Key Stage 1 Curriculum
This curriculum is for children in Year 1 and 2. It includes:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Art and Design
- Design and Technology
- Computing
- History
- Geography
- Music
- Physical Education
In addition to the National Curriculum we also include: French and Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE).
Again, we teach the basic skills incrementally and include them in a Thematic approach in delivering the National Curriculum Subjects. Literacy Skills are developed and used across the curriculum to facilitate children with differing opportunities to use and understand language. This encourages vocabulary and concept development. Mathematical skills are taught discretely to ensure a clear progression of learning.
Key Stage 2 National Curriculum
In years 3 to 6 all of the KS1 subjects are included with the addition of a Modern Foreign Language – at Greenmount we continue the teaching of French throughout the juniors. The teaching of PSHE is also included.
Once again literacy is taught across the curriculum.
A comprehensive document which outlines and details the curriculum we teach is available by following the link below.
Assessment
Assessment takes place at frequent intervals throughout the year. This is an ongoing process which children get used to and are not anxious about at all. Teachers are continually assessing to inform the planning of what your child needs to learn next.
Some of the assessment that you may become more aware of are as follows:
- Ongoing observations and assessments as part of the Early Years Profile
- Miscue reading tests which inform teachers of the level children are reading at particularly at the earlier stages of reading
- Statutory Phonics Screening Check (year 1)
- Weekly spelling tests (years 3 to 6)
- Weekly number tests including the times tables (years 3 to 6)
- Termly assessments in Writing, Reading and Mathematics
- Statutory Assessment Tests (SATs) for Year 2 and Year 6
Assessment feeds into the teaching programme for your child and also into the target setting, recording and reporting process.
In October and March, we will share with you the targets that have been set for your child. Whilst children are in reception year your child’s class teacher will contact you to come into school during the spring term and discuss your child’s progress and to be able to spend a short time in the classroom with your child. Parents have found this session very useful and a lovely way to see their child in action in the classroom.
In all other year groups, we hold a parents evening in the spring term to be able to update parent on their child’s progress towards targets set in October.
In July, each year your child’s progress in all areas of the curriculum will be reported to you. If there are any areas of concern you may wish to discuss the report with your child’s class teacher. However, this is not normally necessary.
If however, either your child’s teacher or you are concerned about your child’s learning at any time during the school year then discussion between parent and teacher should take place. Please contact your child’s teacher in the first instance and they will be happy to arrange a mutually convenient appointment.
Homework
Homework continues to be an important part of children’s learning journey. Information about homework routines is sent home at the beginning of each academic year in the class Welcome Leaflet which can be found on each class' individual page.
Reading at School
Children develop their reading skills in school in many different ways:
- As a whole class with the same text
- As an individual choosing library books to read
- As a member of an ability group in guided reading sessions
- As an individual with a teacher or teaching assistant
- As an individual with a reading partner in another class
- As an individual with a Better Reading Partner (Adult support) (Selected Children only)
The emphasis in school is that we are teaching children the mechanics and comprehension skills at levels matched to their abilities.
Library
The school library is available for all children to borrow from. The library is well stocked but we are currently working to renew out of date material. The library is well managed by Year 6 Librarians and one of our teaching assistants. Library books offer an opportunity for children to make their own choice of reading material.
Reception and Year 1 have a weekly “library slot” when children can change their books.
The library is also open at morning playtimes for children in Year 2 to Year 6.
Reading at Home
Reading at home is all about enjoyment and enrichment of the reading experience.
Visits to a library are so motivational to enable children to choose their own reading material. Their choices are so important, whether because of their interests or because they love a particular story. Go with their choices and you will see them develop in time.
You will also receive books from school that are part of our reading scheme. The system is colour coded and children have a good choice within each colour band. Each band has books from a number of commercial reading schemes as we recognise that different styles of texts appeal to different children.
The books are matched fairly closely to the child’s reading ability. Please note that a child may be able to read mechanically – but are they exploring the story sufficiently to really understand the story ? Are they relating it to their own life experience? Sometimes accelerating a child mechanically through books, means that they are reading without meaning or involvement. This eventually dries up a child’s enthusiasm for reading for enjoyment. It is most important to discuss stories. If you would like additional ideas please ask class teachers. They will be only too happy to help.
Children are assessed when we feel they may be ready to move on to another colour band. Assessment includes questions on a child's literal and inferential understanding of a text.
Helping Your Child at Home
The vast majority of parents are keen to help children with their learning at home. Homework is provided by class teachers and more detail will be provided by them.
However, if you would like to find out more about how to help with basic skills there are workshops which are run by school which may assist. (Check Newsletters for dates and topics.)
Special Educational Needs
All children are different and require different support at various stages of their education. Your child may have a medical or educational need for which we need to make additional provision.
Mrs Balmer is our school’s Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) and will be pleased to meet with you should you have any concerns over your child’s development or provision.
Full details about our SEN provision are available via the link below:
Sex and Relationships Education
This is a compulsory part of the school curriculum. Our governing body has established a policy for how this important part of a child’s development is taught in school.
Our school's policy can be found by accessing the Policies page using the link below.
Whenever we plan to teach a lesson relating to SRE, we inform parents who can request that their child does not take part.,
Please note the government is currently revising how SRE should be taught in primary schools.
