Our Curriculum

THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM

The word educate comes from a Latin word meaning to draw out. Each child is an individual with their own interest and talents, rather like a flower inside a bud. Education should have the same effect as the sunshine which stimulates the bud to open and the petals to reach out to their full size.

Our school places a great deal of emphasis on the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of children and provides many opportunities for them to interact with others and to explore experiences that will enable them to begin to understand themselves and their surroundings. We aim to ensure that children are happy, because happy children grow in confidence and confident children become increasingly able to direct their own learning, with adult guidance.

We seek to foster positive attitudes to learning which embrace children's natural curiosity, their eagerness and the trust they and their parents/carers have in us to contribute to, not only academic progress, but all aspects of their learning.

Some Reception Year Topics,
All About Me
Autumn
Colours 
The Seasons
Toys
Shape and Pattern
Stories
Minibeasts

Rhymes and Rhythms

THE EARLY YEARS CURRICULUM

Children in the Reception Year continue to work towards Early Learning Goals which prepare them for the National Curriculum study programmes that begin as they move into Year One.

The Early Years Curriculum places great emphasis on practical and social activities. A lot of learning takes place using play as a vehicle. Play is the child's work and is a very important feature at this stage, providing a strong and essential foundation for more formal learning situations later on.

The teachers in the school work with the Day Nursery staff to ensure that there is a consistency in the fundamental policies of both institutions. We aim always to ensure that there is a smooth transition for those children who enter the school from the Nursery.

Some Year 1 Topics,
Myself and My Family
Harvest
Light and Dark

Feathers and Fins
Our Homes and Our Village
Dinosuars
Sound
Toys

THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM

The school follows the Programmes of Study of the National Curriculum, a copy of which can be found in the school foyer.

The National Curriculum core subjects, English, Maths, Science, Information and Communications Technology, and the foundation subjects, Technology, History, Geography, Art, Music and Physical Education, are all incorporated into the planned teaching programme.

Religious Education is taught according to the locally agreed syllabus, Open Worlds.


Curriculum Content

ENGLISH:

The development of listening, talking, reading and writing as a means of expression and communication. This is central to all learning.

MATHEMATICS:

The ability to understand numbers and their relationships and use this knowledge to solve problems. The measurement of length, capacity, weight, area and time and recognition of shapes and their properties will be part of all children's lives beyond their years in school.

SCIENCE:

An enquiring mind and a scientific approach to solving problems are nurtured by questioning events, observing, devising simple experiments and fair tests. Children begin to interpret findings critically.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY:

Children learn how to use computers, tape recorders, etc. from an early age and how to incorporate these tools into their own learning.

The school is well-equipped with a bank of computer workstations in each classroom and a separate computer suite for timetabled access by all pupils and staff.

TECHNOLOGY:

Children are encouraged to handle and model a variety of natural and man made materials and learn to address design and construction problems.

HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY:

The children begin to understand the world they live in through local study based on first hand experiences where possible. They also learn how to use other sources of evidence and information.

ART:

Children learn to express their feelings and ideas and to respond to their visual environment through the use of a wide range of materials. They begin to appreciate the work of other artists and to experiment with a wide range of techniques.

MUSIC:

Children are taught to listen to and to respond to music. They play percussion instruments and make music for themselves. In Year Two, children are offered the opportunity to play recorders or belleplates and additional music teachers are employed to teach these sessions. Children often perform to a school audience or to parents.

PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION:

Movement is a valuable medium for learning and expression. The school provides a balanced programme of games skills, gymnastics, movement/dance and swimming throughout the year. Country dancing is a feature of the annual School Fete.

The school is able to hire the swimming pool on site during the summer and liaises with the adjoining Junior School to negotiate some access to the playing field when this is not in use by Junior pupils. This provides a wider expanse on which to introduce and practise skills which will support team sports later on, such as throwing and catching, general ball control skills, jogging, running skills etc.

Children are taught about their bodies and the basic principles of leading a healthy life and visitors often contribute to this learning programme.

Sex Education is not specifically addressed but is seen as part of the Health and Social Education programme which incorporates learning about growth and reproduction in the context of the animal world and the cycles of nature. The School has a written Sex Education Policy.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION:

The school integrates the teaching of Religious Education as far as possible into the daily classroom environment where themes and content from the Essex agreed syllabus, Open Worlds, harmonise with life experiences. Religious Education is of a broadly Christian nature with appreciation and understanding of other faiths included. Children are taught to respect the feelings and beliefs of others at all times.

The school gathers together daily for Collective Worship where a planned programme of themed assemblies invites children to reflect upon and to consider a wide range of subjects. Visitors are frequently welcomed to these assemblies to talk to the children.

Whilst we try to ensure that Religious Education and Collective Worship are appropriate for all children, we appreciate that some parents may wish to withdraw their children from these times. In such cases, parents should consult the Headteacher and alternative arrangements will be made.

Some Year 2 Topics,
A Knight's Tale
Famous People Now and Then

The Great Fire
Ancient Stories from Faraway Lands
Pirates' School
An Island Home
The Sound of Music