School Organisation - Teaching Groups
In the Nursery 50 children are registered at each session and taught by two teachers and four full-time nursery nurses. The children work individually and in small and large groups. A profile is kept of each child’s progress and this helps curriculum planning which usually follows a termly theme and aims to cover all curriculum areas. Any areas not covered by the theme are taught separately.
In the infant school the children are taught in mixed ability classes using a range of strategies which includes whole class teaching, small groups and individual teaching. For some tasks children are grouped by ability, on other occasions they may work in mixed ability or friendship groups. Teachers plan in year groups on a termly and weekly basis. These plans include all curriculum areas. Individual teachers then plan and monitor their curriculum coverage on a daily basis and keep records of pupil progress and interests which further informs their planning.
The school is organised into nine classes, three Year 2 classes, three Year 1 classes and three Reception classes. Each class in Years 1 and 2 have a part-time (a.m.) classroom assistant. Each Reception class has a full-time classroom assistant.
Both nursery and infant children are offered a curriculum which aims to increase their knowledge, develop concepts, creativity and skills and encourage positive attitudes towards learning. It encompasses the following areas ~ literacy and numeracy, aesthetic and creative, human and social, linguistic, mathematical, moral, physical, scientific, spiritual and technological.
The Early Years Foundation Stage
The Nursery and Reception classes are part of the Early Years Foundation Stage and therefore follow a highly practical play-based curriculum which will support them to become confident, motivated learners and allow them to develop key skills in all areas of the curriculum. There are seven areas of learning in the Foundation Stage curriculum:
· Personal, Social and Emotional Development
· Communication and Language
· Literacy
· Mathematics
· Understanding the World
· Expressive Arts and Design
· Physical Development
Each of these areas are planned for through a stimulating and structured environment, focused tasks and practical activities and challenges. These involve using both the indoor and outdoor learning environments are available to use equally. There will also be whole group timetabled sessions such as PE and using the ICT suite.
To support children in making links in their learning the curriculum is taught around topics. A topic web is sent home to parents each term to share what will be going on in the classroom and what the children will be learning, as well as to give ideas of how children can be further supported at home.