School Curriculum Aims
Our school curriculum aims are based on our vision and values. Our curriculum aims are as follows:
Early Years
Nursery and Reception
We follow the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage which sets out the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five years. At the end of the Reception year we carry out a statutory assessment of all children. The results of this assessment are reported to parents and carers at the end of the year.We teach phonics using the Little Wandle scheme (see below)
We plan around topics in Reception and Nursery, and we follow the children’s interests and develop learning themes from them. We also join in with the whole school focus areas each term using age-appropriate activities.
The Nursery and Reception staff are always happy to talk to you about your child’s learning, so if you have any questions please ask. Children earn merits if their reading diary is regularly updated by their parent or carer.
The Nursery and Reception staff keep detailed profiles of each child which are available for parents and carers to look at during termly Parents Evenings.
Whole School Themes
Each half term the whole school focuses on a different theme to help us deliver our Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) education programme. In 2020/21 our whole school focus topics will continue to be:
- Autumn 1: Black History
- Autumn 2: Disability Awareness
- Spring 1: Mindfulness
- Spring 2: Women’s History
- Summer 1: The Environment
- Summer 2: LGBTQ+ History.
These themes will be threaded through the curriculum taught in each year group and will be taught through cross curricular lessons.
Phonics
We use Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised as our systematic, synthetic phonics programme.
We use this because it provides:
- A daily 30-minute phonics lesson in Reception and Year 1
- Clear progression with signposting of expected progress
- Planning and supporting resources
- On demand CPD, accessible for all staff
- Half termly assessments and online tracker tool
- Keep up programme for Reception and Y1, SEND programme and KS2 Catch Up
- Parent resources for home learning
- 120+ fully decodable books matched exactly to the progression
Application of phonics to reading
To ensure pupils can apply their phonics to reading, the SSP provides children with three 15-minute reading sessions, with a focus on decoding, prosody and comprehension. In addition to this, pupils are exposed to high quality texts across the curriculum to support opportunities for the application of their phonic knowledge.
To ensure fidelity to the program and consistency throughout the school, leaders ensure that:
- Staff receive regular training
- Half termly assessments are monitored place appropriate intervention planned
- Parents/carers are provided with information throughout the year about how to support their child
- Learning walks provide opportunities for both formal and informal feedback
- We regularly invest in new literature for reading for pleasure
If you are a parent/carer and would like to find out more about Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised or download the supporting resources, please click here.
School Curriculum
Here are our curriculum documents which show the progression in skill and knowledge in each subject from Nursery to Year 6
- Art Progression Document 2023
- Computing Progression Document 2023
- D&T Progression Document 2023
- English Progression Document 2023
- Geography Progression Document 2023
- Mathematics Progression Document 2023
- RE Progression Document 2023
- Science Progression Document 2023
- Spanish Progression Document 2023
Statutory Assessments
Reception Baseline Assessment: Schools must complete the reception baseline assessment for each child in the first six weeks after they enter reception.
Year One and Year 2 Phonics Screening Tests: Will take place in the week commencing Monday 12 June 2023
Key Stage 1 Tests: Will be administered during May 2023.
Year Four Multiplication and Times Tables Test: This will take place in the 3-week period from Monday 5 June 2023.
Key Stage 2 Tests: Will be from Monday 8 May to Thursday 11 May 2023.
The results of these tests and/or assessments will be reported to parents and carers during the end of the year parent/carers evening.
Nursery and Reception
We follow the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage which sets out the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five years. At the end of the Reception year we carry out a statutory assessment of all children. The results of this assessment are reported to parents and carers at the end of the year.
We teach phonics using the Little Wandle scheme (see below)
We plan around topics in Reception and Nursery, and we follow the children’s interests and develop learning themes from them. We also join in with the whole school focus areas each term using age-appropriate activities.
The Nursery and Reception staff are always happy to talk to you about your child’s learning, so if you have any questions please ask. Children earn merits if their reading diary is regularly updated by their parent or carer.
The Nursery and Reception staff keep detailed profiles of each child which are available for parents and carers to look at during termly Parents Evenings.
Whole School Themes
Each half term the whole school focuses on a different theme to help us deliver our Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) education programme. In 2020/21 our whole school focus topics will continue to be:
- Autumn 1: Black History
- Autumn 2: Disability Awareness
- Spring 1: Mindfulness
- Spring 2: Women’s History
- Summer 1: The Environment
- Summer 2: LGBTQ+ History.
These themes will be threaded through the curriculum taught in each year group and will be taught through cross curricular lessons.
Phonics
We use Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised as our systematic, synthetic phonics programme.
We use this because it provides:
· A daily 30-minute phonics lesson in Reception and Year 1
· Clear progression with signposting of expected progress
· Planning and supporting resources
· On demand CPD, accessible for all staff
· Half termly assessments and online tracker tool
· Keep up programme for Reception and Y1, SEND programme and KS2 Catch Up
· Parent resources for home learning
· 120+ fully decodable books matched exactly to the progression
Application of phonics to reading
To ensure pupils can apply their phonics to reading, the SSP provides children with three 15-minute reading sessions, with a focus on decoding, prosody and comprehension. In addition to this, pupils are exposed to high quality texts across the curriculum to support opportunities for the application of their phonic knowledge.
To ensure fidelity to the program and consistency throughout the school, leaders ensure that:
- Staff receive regular training
- Half termly assessments are monitored place appropriate intervention planned
- Parents/carers are provided with information throughout the year about how to support their child
- Learning walks provide opportunities for both formal and informal feedback
- We regularly invest in new literature for reading for pleasure
If you are a parent/carer and would like to find out more about Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised or download the supporting resources, please click here.
Statutory Assessments
Reception Baseline Assessment: Schools must complete the reception baseline assessment for each child in the first six weeks after they enter reception.
Year One and Year 2 Phonics Screening Tests: Will take place in the week commencing Monday 12 June 2023
Key Stage 1 Tests: Will be administered during May 2023.
Year Four Multiplication and Times Tables Test: This will take place in the 3-week period from Monday 5 June 2023.
Key Stage 2 Tests: Will be from Monday 8 May to Thursday 11 May 2023.
The results of these tests and/or assessments will be reported to parents and carers during the end of the year parent/carers evening.