“We saw stimulating activities with enthusiastic children eagerly participating in learning. The interactions between adults and children are delightful” (Ofsted 2019)
Reception Curriculum
In English the children will be using the Letters and Sounds scheme to introduce them to and take forward their Phonic work. By the end of Reception the children will be writing independently and this is a process that begins with overwriting, underwriting, using copy books and copying from the board. Their letter formation will be consolidated using the Nelson Handwriting scheme. They will be writing news, re-telling stories and beginning to understand sentence construction using full stops and capital letters. Reading books will be sent home twice weekly. In Maths the children will recognise and form their numbers, count accurately and do addition and subtraction using number lines. Other practical topic work in Maths will include weight, length, capacity, time and money. A series of topics across the year will be followed and Drama, RE, Music and working in the Outside Area will reflect those. There will also be plenty of time for play, construction, creative activities, Computing, sand and water.
Year 1 Curriculum
In English creative writing will include stories and poems and the children will apply their grammar knowledge, sentence construction and punctuation skills. Phonics will continue and be applied in reading and spelling; spelling words will come home for homework to be learnt for a weekly spelling test. They will continue with the Nelson Handwriting books and develop a neat joined-up script. Comprehension is taught and will also be included as a homework task. Reading will come home daily. In Maths the children will be using and applying, calculating and understanding number. They will complete written problems using number facts. 2, 5 and 10 times tables will be learnt and also be part of the homework during the year. Maths topic work will include money, shape, measuring and handling data. Topics in Science are Materials, Forces, Ourselves, Light and Dark, Sound and Hearing and Growing. Drama, Music, Computing, Art and French complete a rich and varied curriculum.
Year 2 Curriculum
As Year 2 is at the end of Key Stage 1, it is a time of transition for many children, while they are developing at different rates. There is much emphasis on reading aloud to an adult, which we encourage daily, also at home. Reading is underpinned by the phonics scheme Letters & Sounds. Moreover, reading is the foundation for developing creative writing, so we write for a range of purposes. The English curriculum also covers grammar, and comprehension. In Maths the emphasis is on addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. These are then applied to problem solving. We foster both gross motor skills – in games and PE – and fine motor skills – in handwriting, in art activities (like cutting and sticking) and in self-help skills, such as changing into PE or games kit. We are always aware of ‘time to be six’ as these young children progress and mature.