CURRICULUM

The curriculum is designed to be exciting and full of chances to experience the world. Our curriculum covers the National Curriculum for key stages one and two and the early years curriculum for three to five year-olds. Sometimes we have a “focus week” with special events and visitors. This year the focus weeks were: Inclusion Week, Asia Week, Arts Week and Seaside Week (KS1)

 Reception Class

 

Early Years Curriculum

We have a very good nursery and reception unit with excellent resources. The staff plan together and decide on a topic for each half term. The topic might relate to the time of year e.g. “Autumn” or such things as “Settling in” or “Weather”.

The topic enables staff to enhance the experiences of the children through structured play and activities. This year the foundation stage has made outdoor play better and has continued to work on a new phonics project to help children get a flying start with reading.

 

The foundation stage children work towards the Early Learning Goals as outlined by the Department of Children, Schools and Families. Their achievement is assessed using the Foundation Stage Profile at the end of the reception year. These goals are organised into six areas of learning:

• Personal, social and emotional development
• Communication, language and literacy
• Mathematical development
• Knowledge and understanding of the world (including building and construction, investigating objects, materials, living things, and the environment, past and present, information and communication technology)
• Physical development
• Creative development (including art, design, music, drama, dance and role play)

At certain times of day the nursery and reception classes join together to become one unit and the children have free access to the rich variety of activities on offer in both areas.

 

 

Nursery children and year 6 helpers enjoying pyjama day

 

 

 

 

 

 

English

The school is following the National Literacy Strategy and this means that children will normally have a daily Literacy Hour. Children with English as an additional language are well supported.

Reading

Children are introduced to the Oxford Reading Tree in Nursery and Reception and this and the Collins Big Cat scheme are the basis for their reading work in Key Stage 1.

In Key Stage 2 the children will progress to reading a range of fiction and non-fiction material. There are libraries in both key stages.

There is a home lending library and children are encouraged to read with their parents at home and fill in the reading record. When children read at home they make more progress.

Reading support

 

Writing

We teach children to write in a variety of styles and for different purposes.

Accurate use of grammar, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation is taught as part of our literacy programme.

Joined handwriting will be introduced during year 1 and we expect most children to be using a fluent joined-up script by year 3. Children are taught to write fiction and non-fiction. They are taught to edit and improve their work.

 

Speaking and listening

As children progress through the school they are taught to speak in large and small groups and to discuss and reach agreement. All children will have the opportunity to perform in public in class and seasonal assemblies and year group plays. In key stage 2 the children will do history days in role as Vikings, Tudors, Victorians, and World War 11 evacuees. We often have visiting theatre groups to perform to the children.

 

Parents can support their children by:

• Talking with children and encouraging them to describe their experiences
• Reading to their children and developing a love of books
• Listening to children read and discussing the story
• Encouraging children to write for a purpose e.g. a letter, a list
• Developing an interest in words and helping them to learn their weekly spellings

 

Mathematics

We are following the National Mathematics strategy so the children will have daily mathematics lessons with a strong emphasis on mental mathematics.

In nursery and reception children work on developing mathematical understanding and language. Through practical activity children begin to discuss and record using numbers and simple diagrams.

We use the National Numeracy lesson plans supported by a wide range of published materials. Children are taught in ability groups within classes. Children are expected to learn tables and number facts. Children are taught to develop problem-solving skills and to use calculators wisely.

Parents can support their children by:

• Practising number bonds and tables with their children
• Talking to their children about numbers
• Involving their child in practical maths when shopping, cooking, DIY
• Playing games such as Snakes and Ladders
• Playing matching games such as dominoes
• Ensuring homework is completed

Science

Children follow a balanced science scheme, which covers scientific knowledge and the practical skills of science investigation.

 

Parents can support their children in science by:

• Encouraging their children to be observant and to try to suggest explanations for the things that they see in the natural world
• Encouraging their children to be curious and respect all forms of animal and plant life
• Encouraging their children to grow plants and to care for pets

 

Information and Communication Technology

We have a computer suite with sixteen computers. There are also computers in all classes, which are linked to the National Grid for Learning and have Internet access. We have a set of laptops for classroom work. There are Smart Boards in each classroom. Children are introduced to a wide range of electronic equipment including digital cameras, video, and digital radio. Children are taught about safety on the Internet.

Parents can support their children by:

• Giving them access to tape recorders, cameras and computers
• Talking with them about how machines work.

 

Working in the ICT suite

 

Geography and History

Geography and history are taught mainly through topic work during a term or half term. Research and field trips form an important part of children’s learning.

The area surrounding the school is a rich source of historical and geographical interest and the children study the local area in depth before studying other areas and different countries.

All topics are supported by visits to places of interest or visitors are invited into school. For example in KS1 children visit the art gallery and Thwaites Mill and in KS2 children visit a Viking village (and dress as Vikings) and the Victorian Schoolroom at Armley Mills (where they dress as Victorians).

 

Parents can support their children by:

• Taking their child out and increasing their knowledge of the world around them
• Taking their children to places of special historical/geographical interest
• Making their child more aware of the wider world
• Discussing information broadcast on radio or television or featured in newspapers

 

History at Armley Mills

Creative Arts

We believe the creative subjects are very important to the development of children’s self-expression and confidence. The teaching of the arts is a strength of the school and we offer an enriched curriculum, which involves children in drama, music, art and writing activities. Children perform to their parents at least once a year.

 

Music - In addition to class music lessons children can learn the recorder and join the choir. All children learn the recorder in year three. We have visiting teachers from Intake High school who teach music, dance and art in KS2. We have a programme of visiting musicians who work with children in their class groups. Children who are talented in music have the chance to attend the Junior Centre of Excellence at Intake High School.

Parents can support their children by:

• Encouraging them to listen to a variety of music and, if they show an interest, to learn a musical instrument
• Taking their children to concerts and musical shows

 

Art and design

Children explore painting, drawing various media, printing, claywork, papier-mâché and collage. Many of the starting points for the work come from observations of works of art. Children use sketchbooks to record their ideas. Visiting artists come to school to work with the children. Children visit Leeds City Art Gallery at least once in their time at school.

 

Parents can support their children in art by:

• Drawing the children’s attention to the beauty of the world around them
• Encouraging their children to look carefully at works of art
• Encouraging children to draw and paint at home
• Taking them to see art exhibitions and art galleries

 

 

Design technology

This is a practical subject that allows the children to design and make artefacts and moving systems. Children are trained to handle materials and equipment safely.

Parents can support their children by:

• Cooking with them at home
• Encouraging them to use construction toys like Lego (boys and girls)
• Encouraging them to make junk models

Design technology challenge

 

Religious education - Religious education is planned as part of our school topics and is also given at assemblies. Parents should tell the school in writing if they wish their child to be withdrawn from this. We aim to develop in our pupils a code of behaviour and self-discipline together with sound moral standards. We also develop a knowledge and understanding of world religions, which will enable them to live successfully in our multicultural society. We visit a mosque in year 6. Close links exist between the school and local places of worship and the vicar of Venerable Bede is a frequent visitor.

 

Parents can support their children by:

• Talking to their children about right and wrong
• Encouraging them to talk about their thoughts and feelings
• Encouraging them to find out about other religions
• Helping them to respect other people’s beliefs especially when they are different from their own

Dance with Northern Ballet

PE - Activemark

We have a rich PE curriculum supported by specialist coaches and visits from organisations such as Leeds Rhinos. We enter teams in many local tournaments and competitions. There are a variety of sports clubs that they can attend before and after school. Children can join in Wake Up and Shake Up, a children’s aerobics activity.

Children have swimming lessons in year 4.

Children should bring a change of clothes for PE. PE lessons are part of the curriculum and children are expected to take part if they are well enough to be at school unless they have a note about a medical reason.

We offer children a residential in year 5 where children can take part in adventurous activities.

Parents can support their children by:

• Encouraging them to throw, catch, balance and jump
• Encouraging them to attend after school clubs
• Taking them swimming, cycling, fishing, walking etc
• Encouraging them to understand fair play in sport
• Taking them to sporting events

Citizenship

We teach a full citizenship programme from nursery to year 6. It covers all aspects of the children’s social, personal, emotional and health education. The children have circle time every week where school council minutes are discussed and most of the citizenship curriculum is covered. There is an ethos statement for every week which children will discuss in class and assembly. Children are taught road safety, water safety and to do basic emergency first aid.

School council

Pupils elect representatives from their class to join the school council which meets regularly to discuss the pupils’ ideas and concerns.

 

 

 

Investors in Pupils

The school has achieved this excellent award which improves the child’s understanding of their role in learning through the setting of individual and class targets. The pupils make rules for the class and they develop an understanding of the importance of teamwork

 

Bramley Elderly Action

We work closely with Bramley Elderly Action. We have a weekly inter-generational group here weekly. We have started a group where children work with older people with early stage dementia. We have performed joint plays at a variety of venues.

 

 

The first meeting of Bramley All Ages was held here in May

 

Health forum

The forum meets regularly to support the school in maintaining the healthy school standard. The forum has representative staff and pupils, parents, the school nurse and members of the community

 

Leeds Healthy School Standard

We are an Advanced Healthy School. This award was established to help schools become healthier places and to raise pupil achievement. A number of successful initiatives are taking place:

• Walking bus-this leaves the Wyther Park estate at 7.50am and collects children at various points on the way to school. Please contact the school office.
• Breakfast club-This is held in the KS2 hall each morning at 8.15am. Children can get cereals, toast, fruit and orange juice for a small charge. Please contact the school office if you wish your child to have breakfast.
• Children in KS1 get free fruit every day
• Water-children have access to drinking water during lessons. We provide a sports bottle for each child which is sterilised regularly.
• There is an after school cookery club
• Children are encouraged to be active at playtimes
• We actively encourage children to eat a balanced diet.
• We take part in the Leeds Healthy Challenge every year.
• The children are made aware of environmental issues and last year we won a prize in the Stan Kenyon Challenge again.
• We hold a health fair for parents and children every year

Climbing on the year 5 Buckden residential

Parents can support their children by:

Encouraging them to talk through problems

Encouraging healthy habits, healthy snacks, regular exercise

Discussing issues that come up from watching television programmes

Praising them when they do something well

Encouraging them to get even better at areas that they are good at.

 

SEX EDUCATION

We plan a curriculum to cover all aspects of healthy living including sex education. Parents will be told when sex education is to take place and given the opportunity to withdraw their children if they wish. Sex education is taught in the context of family relationships. Parents will be invited to see the video used before the lessons.