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Curriculum
The Infant Curriculum
Personal,
Social, Health and Citizenship Education
The Infant Curriculum consists of the Foundation Stage and National Curriculum Key Stage 1. The Foundation Stage is for children aged three to six. Children start this stage in pre-school settings and the final year is in Reception. Key Stage 1 is for children aged five to seven and covers Year 1 and Year 2. At the end of Key Stage 1 children have SAT's which assess their attainment in English, mathematics and science.
This stage finishes when children are at the end of the Reception year.
The children then move onto Key Stage 1 of the National Curriculum.
There is some overlap between the two stages and most children will be working at a
National Curriculum level as they approach the end of the Foundation Stage.
1. Personal, social and emotional development English is taught mainly through the National Literacy Strategy. This involves a literacy hour each day and a further two and a half hours of English during the week. Year R (Reception) work through a modified approach to the above hour. It is split into shorter sessions and includes structured play. In the summer term before Year 1, Year R will be working in almost the same way as the rest of the school. The additional time for English is spent on activities such as spelling, handwriting, extended writing and drama. We have a colour coded reading scheme to ensure each child is reading a book at an appropriate level to develop their reading skills and fluency. Reading books are taken home every night and we encourage parents to write in the Home/School contact book any comments arising from hearing your child read.
A school library book is chosen once a week and we have strong links with the library service. This is to encourage good reading habits for life. Library books may be books to share with your child rather than be read independently.
Year R work on an integrated approach to mathematics as part of the Foundation Stage curriculum. Oral work and mental calculation may take place separately from the main teaching activity which can be spread throughout the day.
In Year 1 and 2 children work in maths ability groups. This means that children may have a different teacher for maths from their class teacher. We introduce maths groups into Year 1 after the first half term. Children’s progress within their group is monitored carefully and there may be some movement between groups if it is felt to be appropriate to enable the child to make the best possible progress.
Children have a natural curiosity about the world around them. Science stimulates this curiosity and satisfies it with knowledge. Through science children begin to understand how it has an impact on technological change and the world they live in. It also gives children a sense of awe and wonder in the world with its many natural and man-made phenomena.
The science curriculum has three main strands; living things, materials and physical processes. Underpinning each strand is scientific enquiry which encourages an active and hands-on approach to learning. In Reception science forms part of the ‘Knowledge and Understanding of the World’ strand of the Foundation Stage curriculum. In March the school celebrates National Science Week by holding a series of scientific challenges. Parents are welcome at this enjoyable event.
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ICT
is a core curriculum subject and is used throughout the school as an important
tool in developing skills and supporting
the achievements of all the children.
ICT is used throughout the school with guided access to the internet, digital photography, scanning technology and the use of a video camera to enhance both delivery of lessons and presentation of children’s work. We have networked PC platform computers throughout the school. We have interactive whiteboards in six classrooms. Each year we collect Tesco vouchers enabling us to purchase additional ICT equipment. Fundraising by the Friends has also allowed us to upgrade our interactive whiteboards for multimedia sound. Children in Year 2 took part in an e-writing project with four other Norfolk schools. An e-book was written by the children on our local area and was formally presented to the town mayor at a big presentation at Norwich City Football Club. Click here to see their book.
History fires children’s curiosity about the past. Children learn more about themselves and their place in society as they develop a sense of chronology as well as an understanding of the significance of past events. In history children find evidence, weigh it up and reach their own conclusions. To do this they need to be able to research, sift through evidence and argue for their point of view – skills that are prized in adult life. Children in school make good use of their own family and the local area to find out about the past. History topics at various times of the year will focus on changing lifestyles and the impact on the environment. It also gives the children the opportunity to explore cultural diversity within their own society and beyond. We are fortunate in Wymondham to have a town steeped in history on our doorstep. Children make frequent visits into the town. The Abbey, the museum and the war memorial are some of the places regularly visited.
Geography provokes and answers questions about the natural and human worlds. It inspires children to think about their own place in the world, their values, their rights and their responsibilities to other people and the environment. Barnaby Bear is our wonderful geography bear in school. With Barnaby the children explore places all over the world. We celebrate his birthday on 1st November.
Barnaby Bear at Binham Priory Our wildlife area provides many opportunities for developing environmental awareness. The children also make regular visits to the town for their geography topics.
Art and design stimulates children’s creativity and imagination. Children will use colour, form, texture, pattern and different materials and processes to communicate what they see, feel and think. They explore the work of other artists and designers past and present and art and design from other cultures.
Children are given opportunities in their work to experiment and are taught the skills needed to develop their ideas. They will be given opportunities to work independently, in small groups or on whole class activities. Each year we hold a special Arts’ Week when visiting artists work with the children and a range of special activities are arranged.
DT prepares children to take part in our rapidly changing world. Through DT children learn to think creatively working as individuals and as a member of a team. Children will be taught skills to enable them to carry out DT projects. They will learn to use simple tools safely. These range from scissors to hand drills. They will learn about a variety of materials, how to cut and join them and how to combine skills in projects. In the Foundation Stage the children cover DT through Knowledge and Understanding of the World and Creative Development. At Key Stage 1 the children will undertake a variety of projects. Each year one topic will use fabric and one food technology (cooking).
Religious Education and Spiritual Development Through RE children
are introduced to the six main religions and religious life in At
RE is also about the child’s own spiritual development. It shows how religious beliefs suggest answers to their own personal existence. Spiritual development is concerned with the development of ideas, beliefs and values within the context of each individual being part of a wider community. It also involves developing a sense of awe and wonder in children about the world around them. There are opportunities in all areas of the curriculum for spirituality to be explored. Spiritual development is embedded in our schemes of work for all curriculum areas and is given other opportunities for development eg. in drama and through circle time.
Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHEC) PSHEC The children work on a range of topics in PSHEC. Many of these are integrated into other curriculum areas, particularly science. These topics include work on medicines and drugs, sex education, personal safety, diet and exercise, belonging to a community and making choices.
Our sex education policy is linked into health education. Children’s questions are answered honestly, at their own level of understanding, as and when they arise. An important part of the children’s citizenship education is the class councils throughout the school and School Council. Class councils and School Council have an important voice and contribute to decision making in the school.
From September 2005 we are introducing French throughout the school. We believe it is important that children are introduced to a modern foreign language at the earliest possible age. French will be taught in an interactive way with lots of games, singing and activities.
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