Curriculum Continued...

Design and Technology

This subject requires children to apply knowledge and skills from a wide range of subjects to solve practical problems. Our aims are:
To enhance and extend learning across the whole curriculum.
To give confidence and capability to use technology in later life.
To identify needs, generate ideas, plan, make and test to find the best solutions to meet the challenges and changes of the 21st Century.

Geography

The study of Geography encourages children to think about the world around them.
Children should be taught mapping and fieldwork skills and develop their knowledge and understanding of places in local, national, international and global contexts by understanding the distinctive features that give a place its' identity. They should also understand the similarities and differences between these places. Children should develop their understanding and knowledge of Rivers, Weather, Settlement and Environmental Change.

Music

Music affords a kind of pleasure that human beings cannot do without - Confucius.

We aim to give all our pupils experience and enjoyment of a wide variety of musical activities to develop a love of music as a lifelong interest.

The children are encouraged to develop the skills, concepts and knowledge necessary to understand music while expressing and communicating their feelings and ideas through music.

Opportunities to sing, play create and listen to music are offered in all classes and some children choose to learn instruments or sing in a choir.

Religious Education

Religious Education is often linked into the History and Geography syllabus and incorporated into those schemes of work to reflect the teachings of Christianity in combination with an understanding of other faiths. Children will experience a variety of Bible stories leading to in-depth studies of the Old and New Testaments.

Children will look at themselves as individuals, as part of the family, the needs of the family, families in the past, as part of a wider community and families in other cultures. They will consider themselves in relation to the concept of the Family of God.

Major Festivals, Celebrations and the phenomenon of pilgrimage will be studied, as well as similarities and differences in the Act of Worship of various faiths.
Collective Worship
Children take part in a daily collective worship, which may be in the form of a whole school assembly, class assembly or departmental assembly. These are led by a member of staff, the children or a visitor. One of our local Clergy leads an assembly once a week and we involve the school in the life and work of the Church whenever possible. Worship is non-denominational though we maintain close links with St Dionysius, our Parish Church and attend a service there at the end of every term.

As a parent/carer, you have the right to withdraw your child from Religious Education, or Collective Worship. If you wish to do so you should discuss such arrangements with the Headteacher.

History

Children develop an ability to acquire information from a variety of historical sources which are evidence of the past and learn to form judgements about their reliability and value. We believe the use of various artefacts, music and drama makes history come to life. Therefore we encourage visits and hands-on experiences play an important role in stimulating investigation.

In Key Stage 1, children begin to look at history through an understanding of Myself, My Family and then towards the more distant past through stories of people and events. Topics covered include:- Our Grandparents, Birthdays, Toys, Homes. Children in Stories, Shops and Shopping, Under the Ground, History in the News, etc.

In Key Stage 2, children study Ancient Greece, Romans or Anglo-Saxons or Vikings, Life in Tudor Times, Victorian Britain or Britain since 1930, Local History and Ancient Egypt.

Art

We aim to develop the childrens' ability to become visually literate, as well as participating in creative activities using a variety of media and drawing upon a range of art and design traditions.

The children are encouraged to develop their powers of observation and description of man-made objects.

In Key Stage 1, the children gain experience by using a variety of techniques and tools and explore texture and colour. The older infants also work with felts and other textile materials and learn simple embroidery skills.

In Key Stage 2, the children encounter different materials and methods of producing artwork, clay modelling, pencil, crayon and ink drawing, carving and the creation of 3D models. These children are also taught more complex sewing techniques, toy making and collage work.

Physical Education

Physical education forms an important part of the total education of children, having an effect on their physical and mental performance and their social development.

At various ages and levels of development different activities are emphasised and children are encouraged to be as proficient as they are able in all aspects of movement.

In Key Stage 1, activities include:- music and movement, hand and eye co-ordination skills (throwing and catching), simple gymnastic work on apparatus, playing simple games and working in groups.

In Key Stage 2, games, gymnastics, dance, swimming, outdoor and adventure activities take place.

Assessment

The children's work is regularly assessed against National Curiculum criteria. Staff are always happy to discuss your child's progress both informally and by appointment. Formal parent interview evenings are held in the autumn and spring terms. During the summer term we hold an Open Evening and a written report on each child's progress is sent to every parent.

At the end of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 (Yr 2 and Yr 6) children undertake the Standard Assessment Tests (S.A.T.s).

Special Educational Needs

As a child progresses through the school his/her class teacher will regularly assess development. Our Special Needs Coordinator, Miss Gogerly, will also monitor the situation and give advice on planning individual programmes of work.
Where it is considered that a child may have more serious learning difficulties then, further advice may be sought from the LEA Support Agencies in consultation with the Parents/Carers.

Homework

Children are encouraged to share learning experiences with parents and to practise their reading at home. They are also encouraged to practise spellings and multiplication tables and undertake research for class or individual project work.

Out of school activities

In addition to the work done within school hours, we do offer some after-school clubs. Timetables of clubs can be collected at the school office.

Musical Instrument Tuition

Enthusiasts can learn to play a variety of instruments under the instruction of visiting teachers from Leicestershire Arts. If you would like your child to be considered for music tuition in the future, please contact Mrs Claire Walker through the school office.

Complaints

If you have any concerns or complaints please contact the school as soon as possible to discuss the matter with the Class Teacher or the Headteacher.

If the matter is of such that it cannot be resolved then there is a specific County procedure which must be followed. This involves the Governing Body and details are available from the school office.

Governors Policies

Equal Opportunities

As a Church of England School, our teaching is based on Christian principles, but we realise that changes in the local community may mean that many children may come from non Christian backgrounds.

Christianity draws its beliefs from the life and examples of Jesus Christ. He taught that we should value, respect and care for others regardless of sex, race, creed, colour or capability and it is in recognition of these principles that we wish to develop.

We declare that we are unequivocally opposed to racist and sexist attitudes and believe that we must all work together to challenge this type of behaviour whenever it occurs. Every opportunity will be taken to promote both self and mutual respect and non-judgmental attitudes throughout the school.

Sex and Relationships Education

Sex and Relationships Education, at our school, is presented as a normal part of the Health Education programme. Opportunities are given for the childrens' questions to be dealt with factually but sensitively, to meet their appropriate stage of development.

Parents are notified when the subject is being formally broached in Yr 6 and parents/carers will be invited in advance to see videos that are used with the children. The importance of a caring family relationship is stressed throughout.

Our School Nurse is actively involved in promoting Health Education throughout the school.