Each class has a range of topics over the year which stimulate interest and motivate the children to learn and develop their skills and knowledge across a number of subjects.
Watch each classes page for regular information on what they are learning and some updates on the beautiful work they produce. Classrooms usually become highly decorated around their topic theme.
Parents can use their eschools account to access information on the topics and the work which is set around that topic.
Curriculum Statement -
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Introduction
The Department for Education set out a new framework for the National Curriculum at Key Stages 1 and 2 from September 2014.
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SalwayAsh School Curriculum
We will continue to offer a curriculum which is balanced and broadly based, which promotes the spiritual, moral, social, cultural, mental and physical development of all of our pupils and which prepares them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.
We will continue to provide a daily act of collective worship and to teach religious education to every pupil.
We will continue to provide every pupil with personal, social, and health education (PSHE)
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The National Curriculum
This provides an outline of the core knowledge around which our teachers will continue to develop exciting and stimulating lessons to promote the development of our pupils’ knowledge, understanding and skills.
The Secretary of State for Education has published Programmes of Study for each subject which set out the subject matter, skills and processes to be taught at each Key Stage. Teachers in our school then choose how they organise the school day-example class timetables attached-and how they teach the content of the Programmes of Study.
The compulsory subjects for both Key Stages are as follows:
Core Subjects:
English
Mathematics
Science
Foundation Subjects:
Art and Design
Computing
Design and Technology
Geography
History
Music
Physical Education
A Foreign Language, in our school this is French, is also compulsory at KS2.
In addition, we are required to teach Religious Education plus PSHE and citizenship to both Key Stages.
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Inclusion
Our teachers set high expectations for every pupil and use appropriate assessment to set ambitious targets for individuals and whole year groups.
Lessons are planned to ensure that there are no barriers to every child achieving. Potential areas of difficulty for individuals are identified and addressed at the start of each new unit of work.
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Numeracy and mathematics
Our teachers use every relevant subject to develop our pupils’ mathematical fluency and to increase confidence in numeracy and other mathematical skills.
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Language and literacy
Our teachers develop pupils’ spoken language, reading, writing and vocabulary whilst teaching every subject. Fluency in the English language is an important foundation for success in all subjects.
Our pupils are taught to speak clearly and express their ideas confidently using Standard English.
Our teachers develop pupils’ reading and writing in all subjects to support their acquisition of knowledge.
Our teachers develop vocabulary actively, building systematically on pupils’ current knowledge. It is vital that we introduce our pupils to language which defines each subject in its own right, such as accurate mathematical and scientific vocabulary.
Key Stage 1 follow the Little Wandle Letters & Sounds Revised reading scheme however this is also subsidised by a wide selection of other books and literacy resources.
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Phonics: Phonics is taught daily throughout the Early Years and Key Stage 1. Children then continuously build and apply this phonic knowledge throughout Key Stage 2. We teach phonics using the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised scheme.
Pupils are taught spelling and grammar as laid down by the National Curriculum (September 2014), each year group acquiring technical knowledge and vocabulary relevant to it’s development and building on previous years learning.
Reasons for teaching cursive writing
* Aids left to right movements: through each word and across the page
* Word treated as a unit: a joined style with loops under the line (top loops are unnecessary and not taught) enables the child to go from the beginning to the end of a word without a break
* Eliminates reversals and inversions: the differences in similar letters in cursive writing are differences in appearance and MOVEMENT PATTERN
* More efficient use of movement: continuity of cursive script helps the flow of movement
* Smoother flow reinforces tactile learning: the sound and shapes can blend together as you go along
* No need to change or relearn shapes later: if cursive is taught from the start most children will have mastered the mechanics of writing by the time they are wanting to express their ideas more freely on paper
* Gives spaces between words: they stop when they get to the end of the spoken word
* Gives spaces between letters: automatically with the joining stroke
* Facilitates earlier development of personal style
* Gives potential for speeding up
