CURRICULUM FOR NURSERY AND RECEPTION
(FOUNDATION STAGE)
The curriculum is drawn from the DfES framework for children in the Foundation Stage, which includes both nursery and reception. The curriculum is divided into six areas of learning, each of equal importance:
* Communication, Language and Literature
* Mathematical Development
* Creative Development
* Knowledge and Understanding of the World
* Physical Development
* Personal, Social and Emotional Development
A Foundation Stage Co-ordinator oversees the curriculum for all children in Nursery and Reception. Nursery and Reception staff work closely together and a six term plan has been developed to fulfil the requirements of the Foundation Stage curriculum. This will ensure that children make progress towards the Early Learning Goals over a 2 year period throughout Nursery and Reception.
The Foundation Stage curriculum encourages children to make choices whilst extending their thinking and skills in a range of areas. Opportunities for FREE CHOICE are an integral part of the early years curriculum. GROUP TIME activities are led by an adult, either the teacher or a qualified nursery nurse covering planned activities addressing the six areas of learning.
The Foundation Stage curriculum is mainly taught through play, which is structured and sequenced, observed and recorded in order to ensure progression. A more formal approach is adopted in Reception to suit the needs of the children before moving onto Year 1.
CURRICULUM FOR Y1 AND Y2
(KEY STAGE 1)
At Holland House the staff and Governors believe that the Curriculum is not just the subjects taught, it involves the learning environment and the processes of teaching. As children grow in ability, so the process of learning they can successfully apply develops. This allows different processes of teaching to be adopted. The concepts, which in different subjects can range from imaginative play to more formal learning, are varied and build on the development and skills of the children. Attitudes are explored in relation to current issues. All this is included in the curriculum.
The curriculum involves and enhances all aspects of child development, social and emotional, and includes all races and cultures. We carefully plan our curriculum using advice documents, and our experience and expertise, making sure we conform to statutory requirements. A Key Stage 1 Co-ordinator oversees the curriculum for all children in Y1 and Y2.
The achievements and attainments of the children are recorded and passed on as children move to other schools. Statutory Assessment Tasks and Tests (SATs), completed in Year 2, are a part of these records.
Building on their experiences in our Foundation Stage classes we aim to nurture the whole child intellectually by the planned delivery of a curriculum, which introduces English, Maths and Science as core curriculum areas. The range of other foundation subjects includes History, Geography, Music, Art and Physical Education, as well as Religious Education, Technology, and Information Technology. We follow the Birmingham agreed syllabus for Religious Education. Children's personal growth is also very important and appropriate experiences to develop the children as citizens of the new Millennium are also incorporated into the curriculum.
The curriculum is taught through TOPICS or THEMES, which we like to share with parents. Each term you will receive a curriculum booklet outlining details of the terms curriculum, timetables and homework. We hope you will share the children's interest and broaden their experience by contributing ideas, experience, expertise and, where possible, artefacts. We consider education takes place most effectively when it is seen as a PARTNERSHIP between the school, the children and their families. We welcome parents' contributions whatever they may be.
Children will be assessed throughout their years at Holland House. Again, we will value your comments and contributions concerning their progress and will consult you on PARENT'S EVENINGS. The Standardised Assessment Tasks and Tests
(SATs) take place at the end of the KEY STAGE and we administer these mainly during the summer term to Year 2 children. From Summer 2005 much emphasis will be placed on ‘teacher assessments’. These will be used to influence the decisions made by the teaching staff in determining the levels reached by the children. The results are made known to you at the end of the summer term. We are also required to publish our latest results. |