School Curriculum

Children follow a 2 year topic cycle. Topics include many subject disciplines and children learn more effectively because they find their work relevant and meaningful. Learning is also supported by our effective use of the school grounds and the  local area, all of which add to our rich envronment .

Year	Date		Autumn	Spring	Summer	pesentation
Rec	A		Ourselves & Toys	Growth & Change	Animals
	B		All About Me	Places & People    Around Us	Water
Year 1-2	A	2013	Ourselves	Light and Sound	Toys	Topic   book
	Year long study		ANIMALS – which seeds make the best   animal feed?			Video diary grps DVD
	B	2014	Food	Hot and cold	Seaside	Topic   book
	Year   long study		GARDEN –how can we   grow tall sunflowers?			Video diary grps DVD
Year   3-4	A	2013	Selsey famous local people	Contrasting   locality place/sch in London or abroad	Farming	Topic   books+ Pop up book
	long study		GARDEN – sell   vegetables to parents			Brochure + photostory
	B	2014	Water  – how effective  are our sea defences?	How green is our school?	Romans -	Topic   book + zig zag
	long   study		Weather			Topic book
Year   5-6	A	2013	Structureshow did Brunel’s engineering skills ?	weatherincl   comparisons with other localities	Britain during the 1940s	Web   design + email links to ..Australia?
	long   study		Weather- more   children come to school when its warm and sunny.			Web record of daily   weather + highs lows
	B	2014	Transport – how did Brunel’s engineering skills ?Year 5 what was the Selsey tram ?	Animation	changes+world cup & olympics	display/audio,   video
	long   study		Pond & animals			Power point+ pamphlet

English

The teaching of reading is given a high profile and we aim for children to become confident and accomplished readers who appreciate books, and read for pleasure. A variety of strategies and resources are used in the teaching of this aspect of Literacy. We have structured reading scheme (Oxford Reading Tree ) and also a wide variety of stimulating texts, both fiction and non-fiction, to promote a positive attitude to reading. A home school reading scheme operates throughout the school. This encourages parents to work together with teachers to support their children.

Children are taught the skills to enable them to write for a variety of purposes and audiences. Children are encouraged to plan, draft and refine their written work and opportunities are given  in literacy and topic work to apply these skills. Children have individual targets which they use to improve their literacy skills. Word processing skills are taught, as is joined up (cursive) handwriting. Children are encouraged to take a pride in the presentation of their work.

Maths

We aim to teach children the mathematical skills they require for everyday life and develop their confidence and ability to apply these skills in practical situations. Like English, children have targets to improve their understanding of maths and these targets form the basis of teacher planning.  We believe children need to develop quick recall of number facts, including multiplication tables, to enable themto tackle problem-solving activities with confidence.

Science

We use our rich local environment to encourage a child’s natural curiosity, awe, and wonder about the wonderful world around them. We want to stimulate their interest in finding out why things happen in the way they do. By encouraging them to ask scientific questions to enquire and investigate, we hope they will begin to appreciate the way in which science will affect the future on a personal, national and global level. Science gives children the chance to reflect on the way people care for the planet and how science can contribute to the way in which we manage the Earth’s resources. Children have many opportunities to learn through extended topics using the school grounds including; our animals, pond , gardens and weather station.  

PE

P.E is a vital part of school life. The children are encouraged to develop their physical competence and confidence and how to apply this to a range of activities. The varied Curriculum provides the opportunities for children of all abilities to be creative and competitive and learn how to work both individually and to co-operate as part of a team. Pupils learn how to plan, perform and evaluate actions, ideas and performances to improve their effectiveness, as well as developing the skills of feedback and response to others’ work. Above all, through regular participation in physical education at school, pupils realise regardless of their level of skill, they are able to enjoy a range of activities and improve their confidence and awareness of the importance of physical activities to promote a healthy lifestyle.In KS2 we monitor fitness levels by using the Bleep Test.

During the school year, we offer different after school sports clubs including football , rugby and keep fit.

ICT

Computers are in regular use throughout the school. The school system as a whole is networked and all classes, including the Nursery, have a computer work station and appro­priate programmes for each class. Children are taught and apply word processing, data handling and research skills.We have invested heavily in our computer infrastructure and have one computer for every three children as well as an intereractive whiteboard in every class.

History

History is taught through areas of study dating from the ancient Egyptians to World War 2. The children are encouraged to interpret a variety of historical sources to help gain knowledge and understanding of the past. The children also gain the ability to communicate their knowledge in a variety of ways enabling them to develop their understanding of the past and links between time periods.

Geography

In Geography, children find out about their local environment, the national and international scene through studying a range of topics, including physical, human and environmental geography. They consider contrasting localities, developed and economically developing countries. Children acquire knowledge and information about the world and they are encouraged to understand and appreciate the differences and similarities between different cultures and places. Where possible we work from first hand experience and try to use the immediate locality as well as further afield.

Music

We seek to develop in each child a lifelong appreciation and enjoyment of music.  During music lesson, children experience the two key areas of musical development; (a) performing and composing and (b) listening and appraising. There are a wide variety of untuned and tuned percussion instruments to use in the lesson. Older children have the benefits of a music teacher who teachers recorder to year 4 and singing to KS2.

 Art

 Art and design enables children to understand and appreciate the visual world through observation and analysis. Technical skills are developed alongside imagination and creativity. Studies of famous artists’ work are undertaken and visits to galleries made at times. All the children have access to a full range of materials for drawing, painting, print-making, graphics, textiles and natural materials including clay.

PSHE

Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) is an intrinsic part of the curriculum. It is concerned with establishing a sense of personal responsibility, self-esteem, sensitivity to the needs of others and being part of a community both within the school and beyond it. Children will also learn to value themselves and grow in self-confidence, and behave with care and understanding for others. Pupils will also learn about personal health issues including sex and drugs education.

Teachers  often use the  SEAL programme (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning) which aims to develop:

•     self awareness
• ·     ability to manage feelings
• ·     motivation
• ·     empathy
• ·     social skills

Technology

We teach the children  the key technological skills of design, construction and evaluation.   Our objectives in the teaching of design and technology are:

• ·     to develop imaginative thinking in children and to enable them to talk about what they like and dislike when designing and making things:
• ·     to enable children to talk about how things work, and to draw and model their ideas:
• ·     to encourage children to select appropriate tools and techniques for making a product, whilst following safe procedures:
• ·     to explore attitudes towards the made world and how we live and work within it:
• ·     to develop an understanding of technological processes and products, their manufacture and their contribution to our society:
• ·     to foster enjoyment, satisfaction and purpose in designing and making things.