Our curriculum

The curriculum for children in Foundation Stage

The curriculum for older children: introduction

English and Mathematics

Science and Information & Communication Technology

History and Geography

Art & Design and Design & Technology

Physical Education

Music

Religious Education

Personal, Social & Health Education and Sex Education

The curriculum for children in Foundation Stage

We follow the government's 'Early Years Foundation Stage' curriculum as used by almost all Early Years settings. Therefore, the learning programme we provide for your child in their first year at school builds upon their experiences from pre-school, playgroup or nursery. We liaise closely with pre-school settings and with parents/carers about each child's individual social and learning needs to ensure a smooth transition to school.

 

The Foundation Stage curriculum is organised into 6 separate areas as detailed below. However, these are often combined within each learning activity.

1. Personal, Social and Emotional Development

This area underpins all the other elements of the Foundation Stage curriculum. Its main aims are to help children develop:
> a positive attitude to school and to learning;
> independence and self-confidence;
> concentration and determination when undertaking a variety of tasks.

We also teach the children how to cooperate, work and learn harmoniously with each other in a wide range of different circumstances

2. Communication, Language and Literacy

We provide activities in which the children can communicate in a wide range of situations, where they can listen and respond to adults and each other, and practise and extend their range of vocabulary. We teach reading and writing skills by providing opportunities where the children explore, enjoy and use words in a broad range of contexts, and where they can experience a rich variety of books. Initially, children are taught the sounds that letters (or groups of letters) make and how they combine to form words using the 'synthetic phonics' approach.

3. Problem solving, reasoning and numeracy
The children develop their understanding of number, measurement, pattern, shape and space through practical tasks and discussion. Through these experiences, the children learn to count, sort, match, seek patterns, make connections, and recognise relationships when working with numbers, shape, space and measures.

4. Knowledge and Understanding of the World

The curriculum provides opportunities for the children to solve problems, make decisions, experiment, predict, plan and question in a varied range of contexts - and to explore and find out about their environment and people and places that have significance in their lives.

5. Physical Development

Children's fine and gross motor skills are developed through play and structured tasks. We help them develop an understanding of how their bodies work and what they need to do to be healthy and safe. They also learn how to take part in games and gymnastics-based activities, and have opportunities to play on a range of outdoor apparatus and wheeled vehicles.

6. Creative Development

The children take part in a variety of art, design and technology, music, movement, dance and imaginative and role-play activities to develop their ability to explore and share their thoughts, ideas and feelings.

 

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The curriculum for older children: introduction

 In common with almost all other schools, Deanshanger Primary School follows the National Curriculum. We have long-term curriculum plans which covers all subject areas from Year 1 to 6, and this plan is divided into shorter units of around 6 weeks in which teachers organise a balance of activities for their year group. As well as teaching subjects separately, they are often combined within a single activity in order to provide a more realistic context for learning - such as linking the use of a computer spreadsheet to a maths investigation, or exploring ideas arising from an R.E. lesson through art and music. Every effort is made to match the learning activities to the abilities and interests of the pupils.
  During the school week, teachers will use a range of teaching strategies in their classrooms. These may include whole class teaching, group teaching or working with individuals. Also, children will sometimes work independently, in pairs, or in larger groups. The particular strategy used will depend upon the teacher's judgement of how best to achieve the learning objectives for that lesson.

To further meet the needs of children of different abilities within each class, teachers organise the children into various groups and set suitably differentiated work. Also, our pupils are organised into inter-class ability sets for literacy and numeracy.
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English and Mathematics

  We follow the general framework for teaching English as set out in the government's Primary Framework for Literacy. During literacy lessons - which last about an hour every day - children develop their skills in these areas:

- Speaking, listening and responding;
- Group discussion and interaction;
- Drama;
- Phonic work and other reading skills;
- Spelling;
- Understanding and interpreting texts;
- Writing and organising texts;
- Developing sentence structure;
- Punctuation;
- Handwriting and presentation.
  Literacy lessons normally include a whole-class activity, such as working together to share and discuss a text. Children also do activities as individuals or in small groups to reinforce and extend the areas covered in the whole-class lessons. The lessons usually end with a plenary where the children discuss what they have learnt that day.

Our mathematics curriculum is based on the government's Primary Framework for Numeracy. Great emphasis is placed on developing confidence in using mathematics and the ability to utilise a wide range of mental strategies for problem solving. Every child has a daily numeracy lesson lasting between 45 and 60 minutes according to age. The key areas of learning are:

- Using and applying mathematical skills and knowledge;
- Counting and understanding number;
- Knowing and using number facts (eg multiplication tables);
- Calculating;
- Understanding shape;
- Measuring;
- Handling data.
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Science and Information & Communication Technology

  Our pupils experience the full range of natural and physical science specified by the National Curriculum. The key areas of study are:
- Methods of scientific enquiry;
- Life processes and living things (including studies of plant life and humans as organisms);
- Materials and their properties (including grouping, classifying, changing materials, and separating mixtures);
- Physical processes (including forces and motion, electricity, light and sound, and the solar system).
 From their earliest days in school, all children have access to ICT. They use computers for word processing, data handling, design, problem solving, control of computer-operated devices, research, and for accessing a range of programs aimed at teaching specific skills. They also learn to use the internet and how to communicate via e-mail. We have two computer suites, and interactive whiteboards are installed in every classroom. Back to top

History and Geography

  In history, we aim to give our pupils a knowledge and a sense of history that will contribute to their general understanding and development. In Key Stage 1, children compare the past with the present (e.g. how toys are different), and they study some famous people such a Florence Nightingale. In Key Stage 2, they study various topics including Romans, Ancient Greeks, Tudors and 20th century Britain.



A group of 'Deanshanger Evacuees'   In geography, we aim to develop our pupils' skills of geographical enquiry, and their knowledge and understanding of places and environments. Initially, the children learn about the immediate locality, and as they progress through school they begin to learn about the wider world. Geographical skills such as map reading are taught through studying places and themes. Back to top

Art & Design and Design & Technology

  Our pupils learn to develop their observational and imaginative skills through working with a variety of two-dimensional and three-dimensional media. By using colour, form, texture, pattern, different materials and different processes the children develop their ability to communicate what they see, feel and think. They learn to evaluate their work, and develop an understanding of the work of artists working in different times and cultures.   In D&T, children combine practical skills with knowledge and understanding of design. They have the opportunity to work with a range of materials and equipment as they are guided through the designing and making processes necessary to construct their own products. Also, they learn to consider the design and effectiveness of a variety of manufactured products. Back to top

Physical Education

  Our PE curriculum promotes healthy physical development, skilfulness in activities, and an understanding of fitness and health. The children participate in a wide variety of activities including gymnastics, games, dance, athletics and swimming. New skills are taught progressively, and our emphasis is on participation and enjoyment for all.   Back to top

Music

  The children are given opportunities to experience a wide range of musical activities, including singing songs, playing instruments, and creating and performing their own and others' compositions. We have various singing groups and a recorder club, and older pupils have the opportunity to receive specialist tuition on a range of orchestral instruments. (Charges are levied for lessons on most instruments.) We give children many opportunities to perform music in front of the school, parents and wider audiences.   Back to top

Religious Education

  Our R.E. curriculum follows the Northamptonshire Guidelines for Religious Education. In keeping with legal requirements, the majority of units of study are based on Christian teachings, but these are complemented with studies of other faiths in which all beliefs are treated with equal respect. The lessons help the children to consider and respond to a range of important questions related to their personal spiritual development, the development of values and attitudes, and fundamental questions concerning the meaning and purpose of life.
  Parent/carers have the right to withdraw their child from religious education, and you should contact the headteacher if you wish to do so. However, as our R.E. lessons do not contain any religious instruction, and as we treat all religious beliefs with equal respect, we strongly encourage all parents to give their children the opportunity to participate. If children are withdrawn from these lessons, they may use a quiet work area to study religious material brought from home.
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Personal, Social & Health Education and Sex Education

  PSHE and Citizenship gives the children the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to lead confident, healthy, independent lives and to become informed, active, responsible citizens. In addition, our pupils take part in a wide range of activities and experiences across and beyond the curriculum, contributing to the life of our school and the wider community. Through these activities, the children develop their social skills, and discover how to make confident and informed choices.
  During their time at primary school, children need to learn about the physical and emotional changes they will experience in puberty. Our sex education lessons form part of our PSHE curriculum (see above). Beginning with a simple study of 'ourselves' in the Reception class, children gradually progress to a growing understanding of life cycles of plants and animals, and the physical, emotional and moral aspects of relationships. They learn about human reproduction in Year 6, and we offer parents the opportunity to see the teaching materials we use in advance of the lessons.

Parent/carers do have the right to withdraw their child from sex education, although we strongly discourage this. Please contact the headteacher if you wish to withdraw your child.
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