In delivering the curriculum we need to keep our objectives and aims as simple and broadly based as possible. Our aim is to develop each child�s full potential, physically, socially, emotionally, mentally, morally and spiritually and to enable each child to meet the challenges of the next stage of his or her education and ultimately of adult life. We expect our children to work hard and to aim high. They should leave us with a strong command of the basic learning skills and an eagerness to move onward. They should have learned how to learn.
The National Curriculum lays down the areas of study which should be covered at each stage of a child�s education (known as Key Stages), and the levels of achievement which should be expected (known as Levels). Clear targets have been set out covering the range of knowledge, skills and understanding which pupils should be expected to master at each Key Stage (known as Attainment Targets).
The total period of a child�s education is split into four key stages. At Wimborne First we cover Reception (which has its own curriculum, the �Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 (Year 1 and 2) and the first half of Key Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4).
While monitoring and assessment of your child�s progress is constantly carried out by the class teachers, the children can also undergo standardised testing (SATS) during Year 2 and QCA tests Years 3 and 4. You will receive a full report of your child�s progress in the summer term of each school year, and the school holds regular parent-teacher-child consultation sessions and open afternoons.
The majority of our children leave us to attend Allenbourn Middle School and a close liaison is maintained with them to ensure a successful and happy transition.
All children follow a programme of study as outlined in the National Curriculum. This curriculum comprises the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science with the addition of RE and ICT. The on-core subjects are History, Design Technology, Geography, Music, Art and PE.
The Literacy and Numeracy Hours are taught every day, and both Science and Information Technology play an important part in the timetable. These subjects will often be taught on their own, or they can be drawn in under the umbrella of a topic heading where all the National Curriculum subjects are explored in depth. You will receive information on your child�s current topic with suggestions of how you can best support their learning.
The staff plan carefully to ensure that all the learning is purposeful and connected. It is usually delivered through a termly topic where many subjects are connected through The Primary Strategy.
At Wimborne First, in common with other First Schools in the area, we run a two-year cycle in each Key Stage covering the Attainment Targets in each subject from Level 1 to Level 3. At times Level 4 can also be an appropriate target for some children to work towards. The detailed planning of the curriculum is available in school if you wish to see it. The teaching staff devote a good deal of time to planning appropriate work for each year group, and within each year group, for children of different ability levels. This is particularly important when the classes are made up of mixed year groups. Organisation includes whole class teaching and discussion, enrichment group teaching and small group or even individual tuition. We aim to use the most effective organisation with a mixture of teaching techniques (teacher with whole class, teacher with small groups, pupil to pupil interaction, teaching assistant with teacher support, parent with teacher guidance) to ensure that we reach our learning targets.
Every effort is made to make full use of the locality to support the curriculum; in these ways the curriculum is enriched and brought to life for our pupils, ensuring genuine pleasure and a greater depth of learning and understanding. |