The School curriculum provides a rich educational experience within a stimulating, safe, caring and happy environment where children are encouraged to fulfil their potential. A strong emphasis is placed on ensuring children acquire literacy and numeracy skills from an early age and in these core areas, our children are well in advance of the national standards. See separate section detailing our curriculum for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

We work closely with parents and children are helped on an individual basis to develop their abilities and personality.

READING
The teaching of early reading skills is undertaken on an individual level working closely with parents. The school has always used phonetic reading schemes and children achieve reading ages well in advance of their actual age.

ENGLISH
Written and verbal language skills are encouraged with a curriculum that progressively builds knowledge and understanding through grammar, spelling, comprehension, poetry and creative writing exercises. The children practice handwriting skills regularly and they develop well formed and neat cursive handwriting.

MATHEMATICS
From an early age children are encouraged to enjoy mathematics using structured play. As they progress, our activity based approach ensures that they become numerically confident; learning ‘Tables’, the four rules of mathematics and the ability to solve problems.

HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY AND SCIENCE
The activities and topic work for these subjects are designed to stimulate their knowledge and understanding of the world. These are subjects where the children enjoy developing projects and learn to work in groups.

FRENCH
Learning languages should be fun and French is introduced to children via songs and simple stories.

RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Religious Studies are in accordance with the principles of the Christian faith but are non-denominational. The children follow Bible stories linked to morality topics. Other Religion’s festivals are introduced to the children as part of our multi-cultural topic work.

CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
In order to encourage creative development Art, Music, Drama and Movement are also on the curriculum. The whole school participates in the annual Christmas Play.
Children explore sound, materials and colour in a variety of contexts. Imaginative play is encouraged via role-play, dressing up resources and educational toys.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Each class is equipped with computers. Children learn keyboard and mouse control skills through a variety of software resources. I.T. activities also support the acquisition of literacy and numeracy skills.

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY
Children are introduced to simple mechanisms and structures. They develop model making skills – ‘design & make’ and prototyping skills. Working models are made which demonstrate levers & pulleys, gears, axles and inclined planes, and pneumatic mechanisms.

We review the effectiveness of our curriculum in relation to the Key Stages of the National Curriculum for children over 5 years of age.

Additionally our Curriculum takes children on to the standard necessary for gaining success at 8 + examination level. Our record is outstanding with many Scholarships being gained.

EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE CURRICULUM

Our curriculum for the children from 2 to 5 years of age follows the statutory requirements of the Department for Children, Schools and Families ‘Every Child Matters’ Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

We provide learning opportunities that cover the following 6 principals of the EYFS:-

Our children benefit from a well planned, carefully resourced and organized classrooms and an extremely stimulating outdoor environment. Our well qualified staff operate effective systems for planning, assessing and recording children’s progress. High staff to pupil ratios ensure that our children receive excellent care and attention that focuses on their individual needs.

Communication, Language & Literacy

In this area we cover Listening, talking, reading, writing, expression, reasoning, stories & poems/ rhymes. By the end of the foundation stage most children will be able to:-

Creative Development

This area is about Representation, interpretation, awareness of colour & design, experimenting, creating, and selecting materials. By the end of the EYFS most children will be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding of the World

Here we cover Observing, investigating, asking questions, hypothesising, testing, analysing, communicating and predicting. We look at energy, forces, ourselves, the properties of materials and living things. By the end of the EYFS most children will be able to:-

Mathematical Development

This area lays the foundation for strong numerical ability and covers Counting, sorting, conservation, sequencing, measurement, comparisons, ordering, symmetry, weighing, problem solving, shapes, matching, data collection. By the end of the foundation stage most children will be able to:-

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

In this aspect we provide opportunities for children to – act independently and as part of a group, learn to share; express their feelings and needs while also being aware of the feelings and needs of others. Understand their position in the world and the need for agreed values and codes of behaviour. Learn how to be healthy and how to form good relationships with others.

The Spiritual and moral Development aspect will cover the – meaning of life, cultural & religious awareness, faiths and festivals, respect for self and others. By the end of the EYFS most children will:-

Physical Development

This aspect deals with body coordination, agility, balance, spatial awareness, manipulation and hand eye coordination. By the end of the EYFS most children will be able to:-