Areas of Learning
Numeracy
We follow the National Numeracy Strategy New Framework. In Key Stage 1 (5, 6 & 7 year olds), the children have 45 mins of Numeracy daily, and in KS 2 they have an hour.
The Numeracy hour is carefully structured so that a mixture of teacher presentation, practical and written tasks, and oral work is provided.
We use the Abacus scheme by Heinemann to assist with planning and delivering lessons. The children learn about numbers and number patterns. The work on addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. They measure length, weight, time and capacity. They explore shape, pattern and sequences. They collect and interpret data in graphs and charts.
Literacy
Literacy is delivered in accordance with the National Literacy Strategy New Framework. A variety of materials is used to cover the different areas of learning. Phonics, word level, sentence level, and whole text work are taught in the daily Literacy lessons.
Language development is promoted across the curriculum as well as in timetabled sessions. We encourage the children to express themselves imaginatively and factually and respond appropriately to others. Reading is given very high profile. As well as weekly or twice weekly group reading sessions, the children have individual reading books which are teacher directed. We use Ginn 360 as a basis for our reading, but other schemes are used, and a range of high quality fiction and non-fiction texts. Parents are encouraged to read daily with their children and record progress in the child's reading record.
We aim to get the children writing independently as early as possible. They begin with emergent writing, where they express themselves with marks on paper, and progress to writing words and then sentences as their skills improve. We teach spellings from the end of Year R and the children are expected to learn their weekly spellings and try to use their knowledge in their writing.
Science & Technology
We aim to develop the curiosity of the children and encourage them to question and explore their environment. We help them to solve problems and communicate their findings in a variety of ways. A different topic is studied each term and the children are able to build on knowledge and skills already acquired.
Information & Communications Technology
We have a computer suite with 16 PC's and an internet capability. The computers are used to support and enrich all curriculum areas. Pupils learn to present and communicate information, to control models, to word process and to search for information.
History & Geography
In History and Geography we aim to draw upon the child's experience of his or her environment. We begin from their experience and then gradually widen their knowledge to include elements from the past, from different cultures and different parts of the world.
Physical Education
Physical Education includes gymnastics, dance, games, outdoor education and health education. We stress the importance of exercise in keeping fit and healthy and encourage children to participate in all of the above areas. Children have an opportunity to play team games and games they have invented themselves. We have several after school clubs including football, hockey, table tennis and tag rugby.
Art & Craft
Children work with a wide variety of materials to create representations of what they see and feel. A range of skills and techniques for drawing, painting, working with clay and collage are explored.
Music
The children sing and experience practical music making. They explore rhythm and pitch and listen to a variety of different styles of music. Some children are able to learn to play the recorder. We are fortunate to have a visiting teacher, who provides tuition in violin, clarinet and piano for a limited number of children. Parents pay for instrumental lessons.
P.S.H.C.E.
We believe that much of what takes place in school contributes to the personal and social development of the children. P.S.H.E. permeates the whole curriculum and explores the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of the pupils and prepares them for the opportunities and responsibilities of family life. Each class has a time set aside every week when a topic from the P.S.H.E. programme is discussed. We call this circle time.
Sex Education
We do not have specific lessons of sex education but if children ask us questions we answer as honestly as we can. This is a subject that is possibly best dealt with within the security of the home and we would advise parents to buy one of the many very sensitive explanatory books available from booksellers such as W H Smith.
Religious Education
As a Church of England Voluntary Aided School we aim to provide a Christian Education based upon biblical and historical examples. We attempt to make the children aware of their own feelings as well as those of others. Our teaching follows the guidance issued by St Albans Diocesan Education Authority, "Christianity in Church Schools". We compare and explore other major religions, their festivals and customs.
Under Section 9 of the Education Reform Act 1988, parents may exercise their right to withdraw their child from religious education or instruction.
There is a daily act of communal worship
Values education
In all areas of the curriculum and in assemblies we promote Christian values. Each month we focus on a different value and use it as the basis for our assemblies. We try to incorporate the value into Personal, Social, Citizenship and Health lessons and into circle time. In the hall we have a “values tree”, on which are leaves which have been earned by the children for demonstrating behaviour which reinforces one of our values.
Creativity in the curriculum
Planning incorporates opportunities for the children to be independent and creative in their learning. Key Stage one classes adopt a thematic approach when teaching humanities and science. Cross curricular links are utilised throughout the school to allow topics to be studies in depth, for example by writing about or acting out something the children have covered in history or geography.