THE CURRICULUM AND RELATED MATTERS The National Curriculum provides Teachers with clear objectives Children with identifiable learning targets Parents with accurate assessment It is set in stages, not ages, that allows for the brightest child to expand. Introduction to the Curriculum There are seven discrete age groups and the curriculum is divided into:- The Core: Numeracy Literacy Science The Foundation Subjects: Information Technology, Welsh, Technology, History, Geography, Music, Physical Education, Religious Education, Art Opportunities are given to teaching the foundation subjects on a regular basis throughout the seven years. Many of the skills your children will require are covered during their school career, e.g. skills taught in year 2 in certain areas would be revisited and extended in year 4. This will ensure that important skills are learnt and built upon over time. The class organisation is by single age groups where possible, but children will be taught in a variety of ways appropriate to the subject matter or skill and their ability. Topic Teaching In order to make our curriculum more relevant to our pupils we have started teaching through topics. We have ensured that we are covering all of the National Curriculum in a rolling programme so pupils will revisit core areas at a higher level as they move through the school. So far, evidence has shown a renewed interest by the pupils. They like the topics and have enjoyed learning in depth, about each topic, through all curriculum areas. Early Years, Desirable Outcomes, Foundation Phase Education In Wales this will cover the time that your child starts nursery until the time they move to year three. Evidence suggests that pressurizing young children to learn about letters or numbers in too formal a way might be counter-productive. Children need space and time to play and discover things for themselves. We are very excited about the changes that are taking place and plan to build on the excellent work that has going on in the nursery. Below is a list of the areas of learning they will cover: Personal, Social Development and Well Being Your child will learn to be self-confident, take an interest in things, know what their own needs are, tell the difference between right and wrong, and be able to dress and undress. Language, Literacy and Communication, Skills Your child will learn to talk confidently and clearly, enjoying stories, songs and poems, hearing and saying sounds, and linking them to the alphabet. They will read and write some familiar words and learn to use a pencil. Mathematical Development Your child will develop an understanding of maths through stories, song, games and imaginative play. They will become comfortable with numbers and with ideas such as 'heavier than' or 'bigger'. They will be aware of shapes and space. Bilingualism and Multicultural Understanding Your child will learn to use and communicate in Welsh to the best of their ability through different types of play, practical activities and a range of stimuli. Knowledge & Understanding of the World Your child will explore and find out about the world around them, asking questions about it. They will build with different materials, know about everyday technology and learn what it is used for. They will find out about past events in their lives and their families' lives. They will find out about different cultures and beliefs. Physical Development Your child will learn to move confidently, controlling their body and handling equipment. Creative Development Your child will explore colours and shapes, trying out dance, making things, telling stories and making music. Key Stage 2 curriculum Literacy Our principle aim is to enable children to communicate clearly and effectively, in written and spoken word. Our core reading schemes are The Oxford Reading Tree in Key Stage 1 and Ginn 360 in Key Stage 2, although children are encouraged to read a wide variety of reading material daily. For the past few years we have taught literacy through the 'First Step to Literacy' approach. This is a problem solving approach involving collaboration and independent research. Monmouthshire L.E.A. has encouraged all its schools to adopt this approach. The pupils enjoy the structure and practical nature of the activities and their enthusiasm is demonstrated in their written work. Children receive weekly reading homework. Numeracy We follow the National Numeracy Strategy and there is a daily maths lesson. The Numeracy Strategy emphasises the need for a child to be able to use a range of approaches in their mathematics. This leads to better mental ability and confidence in maths, as no one method is correct. We encourage the children to learn the multiplication tables as soon as they are able, as this aids them considerably. Science Science themes are taught in a rolling programme, which means that each child will revisit a topic many times in their education at Pembroke Primary School. Each time they revisit a theme, it is at a higher level of understanding than before. We aim to enable children to appreciate and understand their world in a scientific manner. Children learn the skills of observing and measuring accurately, predicting, experimenting, classifying, recording and communicating their experiences. Information and Communication Technology- ICT A vital component of today's life. Considerable advances have been made within the school and every child has access to technology, especially computers, through many areas of the curriculum. History and Geography Each year group has different historical and geographical themes to learn about. Detailed planning has ensured that vital skills are taught in preparation for future work. Technology This is a very practical subject, including designing and making in a variety of ways. Children are taught to look carefully around them and see designs and why those designs have become popular. Welsh Their teachers, with the support of the Welsh Advisory Teacher who visits once a fortnight, teach Welsh to all pupils. Incidental Welsh is used in all classes throughout the school. Curriculum Cymraeg In all subjects we try to make links to Wales and the Welsh people. For example we study Welsh artists and musicians. Music Music has great standing in our school and we are fortunate to have the services of a number of music specialists who work with the children on a variety of instruments. If you wish your child to learn an instrument, contact the school for further details. Art We are now well on-line with the National Curriculum requirements. As well as having hands-on experience with various mediums, the children also study the work of great artists. The children's work is highly valued here and displays of their work have enhanced their working environment. Physical Education Children are encouraged to develop their practical skills in gymnastics, games, dance, swimming, athletics and outdoor and adventurous pursuits. We have excellent facilities for physical education, which include a large school field, two netball court, two playgrounds and two large halls with gymnastics equipment. Year 5 pupils are offered the opportunity of attending a residential outdoor pursuits centre. Swimming Children visit the Leisure Centre for swimming lessons. Pupils swim on a weekly basis for a half term at a time and take the appropriate swimming tests at the end of the course. There is a small fee during the term that your child is swimming. Children swim in Year 2 - Year 6. Details will be published in the school newsletter in September. Religious Education Monmouthshire has an agreed syllabus and curriculum guidelines for Religious Education. Our assemblies follow a varying pattern daily and members of staff other than the Head ensure a varied experience with appropriate religious input. Parents are entitled to withdraw their child from Religious Education and from Acts of Collective Worship; requests should be made in writing to the Headteacher. Class assemblies take place throughout the year and parents are invited to attend. Sex Education Sex Education is not be taught as a separate subject but forms part of a programme of personal, social and health education. It aims to develop in the children a respect for themselves and others; a sense of responsibility and an awareness of the physical and emotional challenges of growing up. Personal, social and health education will form part of topic work as an integral part of the curriculum and children will be encouraged at various stages to consider the physical, emotional, philosophical and social aspects of themselves. It has been a mandatory part of the curriculum since September 2001. Pupils in year 6 are shown videos on the birth of a baby and puberty followed by discussions with the class teacher. Parents are given the opportunity to view these videos in advance of the children and comments are welcome. Parents also have the right to withdraw their child from sex education if they so wish. Extra Curricular Activities These vary depending on the interests of current members of staff, but have included cricket, football, athletics, rugby, netball, computer imaging, recorders, Welsh, choir and art. These are mainly for Key Stage 2 pupils and some Year 2 pupils in Foundation Phase. The spirit of a school is very often embodied in what it?s prepared to offer children outside of school hours. A perspective should be maintained and a school should principally be judged on the effectiveness of its teaching. However, we believe it shows a healthy school when it can offer children a variety of extra curricular activities. We are able to run Cycling Proficiency Courses. The school considers this a vital part of school life and potentially life saving. Interested children in Year 6 are given the opportunity to take part in the course and test. Sport The school has a high regard for physical and sporting activities and makes generous provision for training and competition both during and outside the school day. We believe that sport not only allows children to develop their practical skills but also a sense of team spirit and the notion of fair play. Our netball, football and cricket teams play other local schools in leagues or one-off tournaments and have enjoyed success in recent years. We hold a Sports Day every summer, to which all parents are invited, which involves the whole school in a mini-lympics series of activities and events. Homework Children are expected to read daily, and learn tables. Each year group will inform parents more specifically at the start of the academic year of other homework that the children will receive, which is issued each week on Friday. |