All children study the core and foundation subjects of the National Curriculum plus Religious Education, with the emphasis on language, mathematics and science. Schemes of work are based on the National Curriculum Key Stages 1 and 2. Our aim is to achieve breadth, balance, continuity and
progression through the school, and the curriculum and teaching resources are under constant review.
All our policies and documents are available for parents to view on request. Copies are also available for viewing on the school’s web site.
Literacy
Speaking and Listening Skills are a vital precursor to success in Literacy. Children at the school take in a wide variety of activities including using tape recorders, story-telling, reporting, discussion, debate, role playing and drama.
Reading is a key skill necessary to achieve success in all curriculum arrears. Children are taught letter sounds and key word recognition from the very start. They have access to a wide range of attractive reading materials; both fiction and non-fiction. We value highly the contribution parents can make
hearing their children read at home across the primary age range. Children take part in a wide range of reading activities within the daily literacy lesson. We hope children will leave the school feeling that reading is a pleasurable part of everyday life, not just something they do at school.
Children are encouraged to write for a wide variety of purposes and audiences and to develop appropriate styles and modes of expression. We attach importance to grammar, spelling and punctuation, and to neat and legible presentation. We hope to inspire children to write with flair and
imagination.
Numeracy
In accordance with the National Numeracy Strategy, there is a daily Numeracy lesson for al classes.
A variety of learning schemes are used throughout the school, supplemented by in-depth studies, real life and Investigative mathematics, problem solving and mental arithmetic. Practical work and discussion help to develop understanding, and calculator skills are also taught.
Science
Science is studied in all classes, with the emphasis on observation, exploration and discovery.
Children are introduced early to the skills of investigation, making predictions, designing and carrying out fair tests, and observing and recording results. As they get older, drawing conclusions and understanding scientific concepts become more important. The school places a great emphasis on practical investigative techniques and “hands-on science”.
Information Technology
Information Technology is used to broaden the range of teaching methods in all subject areas. The school is constantly updating the computer facilities within the school, which at the present timecomprises of a whole school network, a suite of fifteen units including a video conferencing unit. An
extensive range of software is used, including word processing, data-bases, graphics, presentations and publishing, and educational games (which enhance the skills and confidence of the pupils). There are interactive whiteboards in all classes to further enhance the learning environment. Supervised use
of the internet and educational CD-ROMs provide pupils with an extensive range of research material.
All children in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 have an email address. In these year groups ICT is progressively engrained within the curriculum and the children increasingly use the schools ICT facilities to support and present their work in all subjects.
In addition to our main school web site we also have a VLE Virtual Learning Environment which enables us to extend the pupils learning beyond school hours.
History and Geography
In Years R, 1 and 2, these subjects are part of cross-curricular project work, building on pupils own experiences from their local village and surroundings. In Years 3, 4, 5 and 6, the essential skills of finding out information from a wide variety of sources and then evaluating this knowledge, is further developed as history and geography are taught separately through topic work. An awareness of changes that happen over different time-scales is introduced so that pupils begin to develop a sense of historical time. Also, an awareness of place and different geographical environments is introduced.
Educational trips are regularly undertaken as an essential part of the syllabus and greatly enhance the learning experience.
Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)
French is taught to Years R, 3, 4, 5 and 6 for 1 hour a week. Spanish is taught to Years1 and 2 for 40 minutes a week. There are 2 sessions of MFL a week and all are taught by a specialist language teacher. The emphasis is mainly on the spoken language, with reading and writing skills being
introduced in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Our aim is to make languages fun and accessible to all. Much of the teaching is done through songs and games.
Bi-annually in Years 5 and 6, a term is spent preparing for a residential trip to Normandy in France.
Here the pupils can put into practice and experience for themselves what has been taught in the classroom.
Ecological Studies
As a rural school, we take every opportunity to study the local environment as much as possible. Most cross-curricular topics include an element of wider environmental studies, reflecting our belief that children should be aware of what is happening to their world and of possible dangers to it. Enthusiasm
and understanding are increased through the study of our wildlife areas, organic and scented gardens and pond. Children are also encouraged to investigate sources of renewable energy by learning about the school’s eco-warrior, photovoltaic cells, wind turbine and ground source heat pump. Meteorology
can also be investigated via the school’s very own weather station.
Design and Technology
Design and Technology are both part of cross-curricular studies and subjects in their own right. We introduce children to a variety of tools, materials and techniques, encouraging them to design to a set brief, or to choose their own. They implement their design, evaluate it, and then adapt and improve their work. Team work is important in this subject.
Art
Art is taught throughout the school and is used across the curriculum to explore themes and ideas.
The children get opportunities to acquire skills using a wide range of materials and techniques including digital art, work with textiles, sculpture and clay as well developing their confidence in graphics and painting. We introduce the children to art appreciation by studying the works of famous painters and are developing school trips to support the art curriculum.
Music
We have a specialist music teacher who works with all classes, and everyone has the opportunity to sing, read music, play percussion instruments, compose and listen to music. Children can also choose from a range of instruments, including the recorder, violin, flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, guitar and
viola - all taught by specialist peripatetic teachers. We have a school choir and orchestra which take part in local music festivals.
P.E. and Games
Years R, 1 and 2 —introducing and improving movement, balance and basic skills of hand-eye co- ordination in a fun lesson using both outside and indoor environments.
Years 3,4,5 and 6 — introducing skills and rules needed for team games such as football, tag rugby, netball, basketball, hockey, cricket, athletics dance and gymnastics. Improving individual skills of catching, throwing and hitting a ball.
Swimming is taught in the summer term with all classes using the pool at least once a week. It is our aim that all pupils should be able to swim at least 5 metres by age 11.
Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)
PSHE is incorporated in a cross-curricular approach; taking into account the ages, abilities, experience and family background of our pupils. In all areas of school life we aim to develop positive attitudes and values, which promote healthy life styles. There are also specific PSHE lessons which cover a range of topics: staying healthy, drugs, dental care, friendships, etc.
Our sex and Relationships programme is intended to be more than details about biology and reproduction. Our pupils need to be reassured about their body image, behaviour, feelings and relationships. They need knowledge and skills appropriate to their level of maturity and developmental needs. Parents may withdraw their children from all or part of the Sex and Relationships programme. However, we urge those considering doing so to view the materials we use and to read our policy in full before making a decision.
Religious Education and Worship
We hold religious assemblies of a broadly Christian nature each morning, and school work includes non-denominational RE following the Buckinghamshire Agreed Syllabus. Our Vicar takes assembly on a regular basis, and works with the teachers in each class. We regularly arrange trips to see different places of worship and also have visitors of other faiths in to school. Children can be exempted from assembly and RE if parents/carers make a written request to the Head, whereby independent work will be provided.
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