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Curriculum Overview

CURRICULUM

At St. Andrew’s we give children a broad and balanced curriculum that provides rich, stimulating learning experiences enhanced through first hand experiences, visits and visitors. We make great use of the local area to tailor the curriculum to meet the needs of the children. We provide a curriculum that develops children academically, physically, socially, and spiritually based in a strong Christian foundation. Our enrichment teachers provide expertise in their field, giving the children the best possible learning experiences.

We use the National Curriculum programmes of study as the basis for the children’s learning, but we enhance this by planning in the non-statutory requirements of the curriculum and areas where we know that children have missed out during whole school closure. We follow a two-year rolling programme using a theme-based approach that links different areas of the curriculum enabling learning to build upon prior knowledge. Each aspect of the subject is then differentiated to meet the needs of the children. We provide a curriculum map each half term showing the learning planned in all aspects of the curriculum. If parents require more detailed information about the curriculum, we invite them to ask the class teacher, who will always be more than happy to give further information.

Curriculum Intent

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. You can find information for parents on the Foundation Years website. We use Development Matters to help plan, assess and observe children in order to support their development. At the end of the Reception year we carry out a statutory assessment of all children using the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile. The results of this assessment are reported to parents and carers at the end of the year.

We teach phonics using the RWI scheme.

We plan around topics in Reception and PreSchool, and we also follow the children’s interests and develop learning themes from them. We also join in with the whole school Christian core values 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. Homework is introduced in Reception which is to practise phonics and reading every week at home.

The Nursery and Reception staff keep detailed profiles of each child through Tapestry which are available for parents and carers to look at online.

Years 1 and 2

At the start of Year 1 we teach the National Curriculum by incorporating continuous provision to ensure a smooth transition. Children are set ambitious targets and are taught in differentiated phonics and maths groups so that they can continue the excellent progress they made in Reception.

In Year 1 we continue to expect children to read regularly with an adult at home every week. We also expect children to practise their phonic sounds and maths skills.

At the end of Year 1 children are tested on their phonic knowledge using the statutory Year 1 Phonics Screening Test. The results of this are reported to parents and carers at the end of the year.

We teach phonics using the RWI scheme.

In Year 2 children follow the National Curriculum. In Year 2 we continue to expect children to read regularly with an adult at home every week. We teach phonics using the Read Write Inc scheme.

At the end of Year 2 children are assessed using statutory tests and tasks in reading, writing and maths, along with the teacher’s assessment of their work in class. The results of these assessments are reported to parents and carers at the end of the year as part of their end of year report.

Years 3 and 4

In Year 3 the children continue to follow the National curriculum which is planned by teachers to cover all curriculum areas. We use a 2-year rolling curriculum cycle to ensure coverage before the children move to Years 5 and 6.

The children complete the multiplication tables check in Year 4 which assesses their times tables knowledge up to 12x12. We use Times Table Rockstars as a fun way of practicing these tables.

Years 5 and 6

In years 5 and 6 the children learn through a 2-year rolling curriculum to ensure coverage of all curriculum areas. Through this broad and balanced approach the children are well prepared for life after primary school.

In Year 6, the children transition to secondary schools and undertake the SATS. These tests do not put pressure on the pupils and are simply to assertain if the school has taught the children well in KS2.