‘The school curriculum comprises all learning and other experiences that each school plans for its pupils. The National Curriculum is an important element of the school curriculum.’
The National Curriculum Handbook, Key Stages 1 & 2, 1999.
At Foxton we place particular emphasis on the development of children’s creative thinking and enquiry skills; a key element of learning is ‘knowing how’ as well as ‘knowing what’ and ‘asking why?’ Within our school we aim to provide children with both the skills and the knowledge set down in the National Curriculum thus allowing them to make informed choices. Our aim is to hear what children have to say.
Through the curriculum subjects we provide opportunities to promote children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Specific opportunities to promote learning in these areas are provided in Religious Education and Personal, Social and Health education (PSHE) and Citizenship. Our ethos and the quality of relationships within the school community also contribute significantly to these areas.
Embedded in the National Curriculum are the Key Skills of Communication, Application of number, Information technology,Working with others, Improving own learning and performance, and Problem solving.
Since September 2000 there has been a Foundation Stage Curriculum, which covers your child’s education from their third birthday until the end of their first year in school (Reception year). These are important years in a child’s development especially your child’s first year here at Foxton.We continue the programme started by Preschools and nurseries, thus ensuring a successful transition for your child both academically as well as socially. The Early Learning Goals provide stepping–stones 7 for children from the ages of three to five. Once these have been completed we are able to embark on the first Key Stage of the National Curriculum. Nearly all children will have successfully completed all of the Early Learning Goals by the end of their Reception year. Those who do so earlier or later will have their individual needs catered for.
To ensure high standards in Literacy and Numeracy the government has put in place two strategies both with specific objectives for planning and teaching within these two areas. Our planning at Foxton follows these frameworks.
Planning is essential for ensuring a broad, balanced and purposeful curriculum which allows for progression. Our long term planning ensures coverage and continuity of all aspects of the curriculum across the Foundation Stage and both Key Stages. This is achieved for the latter by a two–year topic cycle. More details concerning these are sent to parents annually in the class information sheets. In the Reception Year the children cover the Early Learning Goals and selected areas of the National Curriculum syllabus.
The following sections provide an indication of the scope of each subject and the approach that we adopt to teaching them.
Overview, English, Maths, Science, Design Technology, ICT, Religeous Education, Geography, History, Art, Music, PE, Swimming
