St. Mary’s Curriculum Information
Dear Parents/Carers,
At St Mary's we follow the statutory guidance of the New National Curriculum for all subjects. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum .
Each child is assessed termly in reading, writing and maths against the end of year expectations using the Assertive Mentoring system. http://www.assertivementoring.com/primary/primary-assertive-mentoring/ this informs all the adults working with your child what the next steps in their learning are.
For all of our foundation subjects we use the Cornerstones resources; these are fun and exciting and the children love learning through these topics.
Please see below an overview of our curriculum; with hyperlinks detailing each topic broken down into yearly objectives for each year group.
St Mary's CE Curriculum Statement:-
Literacy
At St. Mary’s, we recognise that language is a key building block in child development and we aim to equip each and every pupil with the literacy skills they need. This will allow them to enjoy reading for knowledge, as well as pleasure and enjoyment, and to write with a sense of purpose and audience. We also encourage our children to express themselves effectively and to listen and learn from each other.
As well as a school library, each class has an inviting book corner and the school has reading schemes for beginning readers. Whole class reading takes place daily across school with Early years and Key stage one having additional reading opportunities in their daily phonic session.
All children are taught to read through the Read write Inc programme of phonics in Reception, Year one and year 2 through to Autumn 2 . Parents are invited to take part in workshops to learn how we teach phonics in order for them to support and help their child at home with their reading. Reading with your child every day hugely improves their reading success and this is something we actively encourage at St. Mary’s. We use Oxford reading scheme across KS2 in order to support reading and assessment of children's comprehension skills and ensure a consistent progression through leveled reading books. Along side reading schemes and phonics St Mary's instills a love for reading through quality text and whole class reads.
Through daily lessons, children learn the essentials of the English language such as phonics, spelling, grammar, punctuation and sentence construction, together with the skills to help shape and organise texts. However, English is not just taught as discrete lessons but as part of our whole school curriculum approach. We try to make learning fun, relevant and memorable by linking activities and experiences to other areas of the curriculum such as: history, geography or science using knowledge previously gained to build on and cement understanding.
At St. Mary’s, children are taught to listen well, speak clearly, read enthusiastically and write effectively for a wide range of purposes and audience. Children are supported and encouraged as they learn to express themselves creatively and imaginatively on their way to becoming enthusiastic and independent learners.
Maths
At St. Mary’s Primary School mathematics is taught in a daily lesson. Aspects of numeracy such as number and algebra, shape and space and measures, handling data and applying maths are covered through the mastery approach of Power Maths. The use of Numicon manipulatives encourage and support children to understand number and fluency. Cross-curricula links to other subjects are an important feature of numeracy , From Reception to Year 6, we strive to develop an imaginative and creative approach to all forms of mathematics.
Science
At St. Mary’s we teach science in very hands-on way, allowing the children to explore the wonders of the world around them through investigation. We foster open minded thinking and encourage the children to make links in their knowledge and understanding, we do this by the use knowledge organisers, Global questions and children's involvement in what they want o know and what they have learned at the end of the Topic. This is then revisited through the use of our knowledge chests to capture previous learning. This promotes discussion and allows children to express their reasoning to the rest of the class.
Wherever possible the children learn from first-hand experience and develop the ability to design an investigation and predict its outcome; to interpret the results; to become aware of making a test “fair”; to sort, group and describe objects according to their similarities and differences. The children are given opportunities to develop their skills in measurement and to record their results systematically.
We are well resourced and are fortunate that our playground has an allotment and a wilderness walk which we are developing.
Computing
The ICT in St. Mary’s covers a wide range of disciplines from basic word processing to creating simple computer games, algorithms and apps. The children have access to class laptops and ipads. Computing is taught discretely, with opportunities for integrating those skills in all subjects across the curriculum.
History
History is planned and taught as part of our creative, cross curricular approach to learning through the exciting Cornerstones scheme adapted to fir with school vision and values. During their work in history, children develop, use and apply the national curriculum key skills across a range of contexts. Educational visits form a vital part of engaging children through our half termly WOW days.
Geography
Geography is planned and taught as part of our creative, cross curricular approach to learning. During their work in geography, children develop, use and apply the National Curriculum key skills across a range of contexts. They are also given opportunities to carry out surveys and fieldwork. Children learn about and compare features of different localities and use this knowledge to answer a global question at the end of each half term. We encourage our pupils to think as global citizens and to take responsibility for their impact on the environment through reducing waste, reusing and recycling.
Music
At St. Mary’s, Music has an important part to play in giving children opportunities to express themselves and develop new skills. Music is taught by a music specialist weekly; supported by teaching staff. Children are taught to the national curriculum skills expectations with many opportunities for children to perform, compose and learn about a range of classical composers. Whole school singing and a free weekly choir develop children's aural skills.
Design Technology
Design Technology allows us to use our creative and scientific mind to produce pieces of DT that have a purpose. We learn through experimenting, designing, drawing and testing to make fantastic working end products. At St. Mary’s Design Technology curriculum intent ensures that the National curriculum expectations are met through topic and discreet lesson. Children can evaluate purposefully - linking it where ever possible through the global questions at the end of each half term.
Art
The children are taught a wide range of skills and techniques with a variety of media. Through art our children gain an understanding and appreciation of the art forms and styles from other cultures and times. We encourage our children to develop their skills of observation and self -expression, children’s art work is displayed prominently within the school and we seek out opportunities, within the local community to exhibit our children’s art.
Religious Education
We are proud Church of England Primary School and we have very strong links with St. Mary’s Church. At St Marys we use the Questful RE syllabus supported by the Understanding Christianity resource.
We teach the world’s major religions: Christianity, Sikhism, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism. Our aim is that our children develop a respect for other people’s beliefs and gain a broad understanding of the world’s religions.
RE is taught in class and assemblies and lived through the school values and vision.
RE Overview Key Stage One.docx
RE Overview Key Stage Two.docx
Personal, Social, Health Education (PHSE & RHE)
A strong emphasis is placed in developing children’s personal and social skills and promoting safety. This is done through aspects of topic work, visiting speakers, circle time in class and assemblies. In PSHE time we encourage children to listen to each other and respect each others point of view. At St Marys we use the 3 D dimensions scheme covering all current national curriculum objectives. A parent consultation group has supported the school to implement the new national curriculum statutory expectations around relationship,health education and extremism. An E aware resource enables teachers to be informed around possible misconceptions by children on how to stay safe on line. The resource provides informed learning support through anonymous assessments and online teaching for children and parents to develop a better understanding of e safety.
St. Mary’s Garden has a very active School Council who play an important role in the school.
RHE Statement for Schools (002).docx
PERSONAL WELLBEING SKILLS LADDER.pdf
PERSONAL WELLBEING SKILLS LADDER yr 1 and 2.pdf
Substance Related Abuse Curriculum.docx
Physical Education and Games
We aim to give our children a varied programme of athletics, dance, netball, cricket, football and karate. We have visiting coaches who teach the children specific skills. PE helps to show children how to maintain a healthy lifestyle alongside having a healthy diet.
Children in KS2 have the opportunity to go swimming with additional opportunities given for children not meeting National expectations by the end of year 6. We have a successful annual school sports day to which parents are invited with children competing in house teams alongside staff. All year groups have an opportunity to visit a local water sports centre in order to engage in an extensive range of activies. year 4 also have a residential and access a variety of exciting activities and tam building opportunities.
Modern Foreign Languages (French)
French is taught in school in KS2 using the Catherine Cheetham progression resource. Class teachers across school use every opportunity to develop spoken French within an every day context.
