We follow the Dimensions Curriculum. This approach encompasses cross curricular themes alongside a focus on developing both subject specific knowledge skills and understanding and transferable life long skills.

English

Work in English is based on developing the children’s skills in oracy, reading and writing. We ensure that we cover all the statutory requirements of the New Curriculum. Work in other curriculum areas provides valuable opportunities for the practical reinforcement and consolidation of work initially taught in English lessons.

Our writing curriculum encourages children to write for a wide range of purposes and in a great variety of styles. We stress the importance of writing legibly and of spelling correctly. The children at all times are encouraged to present their work attractively, as this motivates them as writers. We ask you to help us by using opportunities at home to demonstrate writing to your children.

We, as adults, use writing for a wide range of purposes making shopping lists, writing to friends, communicating at work etc. Seeing their parents writing encourages children to make their own early attempts, which we aim to develop further at school.

Mathematics

It is our belief that children should be led to the discovery that mathematics can be a fascinating and exciting subject to study. It is not simply about learning the rules of arithmetic although this is, of course, important but it includes a wide range of ways in which mathematics can be used as a powerful means of communication. Mathematics can be used to present information in many ways, not only in figures and letters, but also through the use of tables, charts and diagrams as well as graphs and geometrical and technical drawing.

The study of mathematics also increases children’s ability to develop powers of logical thinking, accuracy and spatial awareness. We would hope that through our work in mathematics, children will begin to see it as a tool for working out problems and communicating their findings in a variety of ways.

To enable this to happen the children need to comfortable with some basic skills, which we need your help with on a regular basis. This will include learning of numbers, number bonds, addition and subtraction facts, times table facts and basic shapes.

Reading

We see the development of fluency and comprehension in reading as a major priority in school, and we use a structured approach in order to develop a wide range of reading skills. In reception and KS1 all children are heard read as individuals each week. All children take part in guided reading sessions each week. The school have adopted the Oxford Reading Tree reading scheme. To develop phonic skills that support both reading and writing early years and KS1 children take part in Letters and Sounds sessions daily.

We foster a positive attitude towards reading as we believe that this will make children readers for life, capable of understanding a wide variety of texts and appreciating different types of literature.

You can help us achieve this by listening to your child read each night and encouraging them to listen to stories at home and to talk to you about their experiences which will help to develop a good foundation for language work in school. We can then extend those early skills so that children will be able to speak and write effectively in a variety of situations and styles and to evaluate what they see and hear around them.

Information Technology and Computing

IT is integral to all our lives. With this in mind the governors of the school have consistently taken decisions concerning staffing and deployment of resources to ensure the development of this area.

We boast a top of the range array of iPads, Beebots, laptops, visualisers, interactive whiteboards, printers, flatbed scanners and digital science resources. This hardware is complemented by up-to-date software to provide a wide range of IT and Computing experiences including coding, emailing, word processing, art, blogging and html programming.

Our technical assistant complements the instruction of the class teachers and ensures that hardware and software are kept in good repair, updated and available when required.

Work across wide areas of the curriculum is supported through the use of IT, which continues to be a major priority in the Government’s plans.

Science

The aim of the science curriculum is to develop the child's understanding of the world around them via observation and investigation. Over the courses of study each year, the children will take part in a range of practical activities and investigations where they will make predictions, test ideas and record observations and findings to prove or disprove scientific ideas. They will undertake at least one observation over time each year, looking for patterns in data.

They will incorporate both Literacy and Maths skills in the presentation of their findings and use speaking and listening skills in discussion and during practical tasks.

Religious Education

All schools under the control of any Local Education Authority must provide religious education and collective worship for all pupils and promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. We handle these issues in ways, which are appropriate to the ages and stages of development of our pupils.

Religious Education is integrated into the daily life of the classroom through an approach, which introduces children to the festivals, beliefs, and observances of other religions.

We invite parents into school on a regular basis to take part in our class assemblies, which are delivered by the children.

Personal, Health & Social Education (PHSE) & Citizenship

Through PHSE and Citizenship the school aims to promote pupil’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. We use circle time to help the children express their feelings and opinions as well as understand the points of view of others.

Sporting Provision

In P.E. lessons we aim to promote skill and fitness in a range of games, co-operation and teamwork, competitiveness with fairness and the enjoyment of taking part in sports. Children in KS2 also have the opportunity to take swimming lessons provided by the LA.

In addition, we take advantage of the involvement of a number of Sports Development Resources to give additional sporting opportunities to children throughout the infant and junior classes.

We currently enter teams for leagues or competitions in a number of sports.

Sex Education & Drug Awareness

As a natural link with the work on The Human Body we educate children in the areas of healthy eating, looking after ourselves and so on.

In Upper KS2 we look rather more closely at aspects of the harmful effects of ‘safe’ drugs when taken in the wrong circumstances, substance abuse (such as glue sniffing), harmful addictions, such as smoking and drinking and the problems associated with poor dietary habits – illness, anorexia etc.

We discuss issues related to puberty and sex education in an honest and sensitive way, bearing in mind the age and maturity of the children concerned. Parents are always consulted before this topic is begun. Should you have any concerns about this issue, please do not hesitate to contact your child's class teacher or the Headteacher who will be happy to give you any further information or assurances you may require. You can view our Sex and Relationships Education policy by clicking here.

Keeping Parents Informed of their Child’s Learning

Parents receive a weekly newsletter informing them what their child is learning. Parents are welcome to make an appointment to speak to the class teacher for further information or if they have any concerns.