Our Curriculum
All children at North Baddesley have access to a broad and balanced curriculum, regardless of gender, race, religion, age or ability. We believe learning should be fun, relevant and motivating. We firmly believe in the importance of providing relevant, meaningful learning experiences, centred around play and practical investigation. This is supported with elements of formal learning where appropriate. Our curriculum is effectively delivered through cross curricular topics and themes that make learning meaningful and enable children to make links between subjects.
The Early Years Curriculum
Children in Year R experience the Foundation Stage Curriculum and work towards the Early Learning Goals in six areas of learning:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication, Language and Literacy
- Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
- Knowledge and Understanding of the World
- Creative Development
- Physical Development
National Curriculum
Children in Year 1 and 2 will experience the National Curriculum, comprising of the core subjects: English (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening), Maths (Number, Shape, Space and Measure and Data Handling), Science, Information Technology and Religious Education and Foundation Subjects: Art, History, Geography, Design Technology, Physical Education and Music. In addition to this, we teach Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) which includes Citizenship and Enviromental Education.
The content of our curriculum covers knowledge and understanding as well as enabling the children to acquire a range of skills.
PSHE and Citizenship
We believe that PSHE and Citizenship promotes pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and prepares all pupils for opportunities, responsibility and experiences of life. PSHE is a fundamental part of the school life that is not only taught in its own right, but also runs through every part of the curriculum.
English (Speaking and Listening, Reading, Writing)
English is core to all aspects of the curriculum and we provide continual opportunities for the children to apply and develop their language skills.
Speaking and Listening is an essential part of life in an infant classroom and we provide a range of opportunities to develop skills such as explaining, describing, narrating and asking questions in response to a range of stimuli. We always encourage children to develop and use an increasing range of vocabulary. Role play and drama are important aspects of speaking and listening.
Reading is a skill we aim to develop for life. We promote a love of reading, encouraging children to read for enjoyment and information every day. We have a wide range of books that children can take home and share and they are also given the opportunity to listen and respond to a range of texts.
Writing opportunities are varied and stimulating as we encourage children to write for a range of audiences and purposes. Spellings, phonics, sentence structure and grammar are taught in a variety of ways. Handwriting is taught in each class and begins with children being taught how to hold their pencil correctly and how to form and subsequently join each letter in our school script.
Mathematics
We use a broad range of activities in real life contexts wherever possible and teach the importance of selecting from a range of mental strategies to solve mathematical problems.
We emphasise the importance of practical and oral work to engage children and make maths meaningful and fun.
Science
Our children are encouraged to ask questions about the world in which they live. Children participate in practical hands-on activities so that they learn by exploring and "doing".
Information Communication Technology (ICT)
ICT is both explicitly taught and embedded within other subjects. We benefit from interactive whiteboards in each classroom, a bespoke ICT suite, classroom laptops and desktops as well as other resources that support the children's learning such as digital cameras. Children have the opportunity to learn how ICT is used in their daily lives and to develop skills in controlling devices, communicating and data handling. They also communicate with others through e-mail and research using the internet and our Wizkid learning platform.
History and Geography
These subjects are used to help pupils develop their knowledge and understanding of the world, both past and present. Children find out about famous people, places and events from the past as well as studying the local area and comparing it with other localities in Britain and abroad.
Art and Design Technology
Children are given the opportunity to work with a range of media and techniques and plan and evaluate their own work. They also study the work of famous artists and designers.
Music
At North Baddesley, children are given the opportunity to enjoy music through listening, participating and responding. Children have many varied opportunities to compose and make music using both their voice and instruments. At times during the year children will be able to perform in front of audiences and respond to music from a variety of cultures.
Physical Education (PE)
PE can help children’s academic achievement as well as contributing positively to their health and physical development. Children have the opportunity to experience gym, dance and games and the emphasis is on fun and enjoyment as well as improving fitness and performance!
Religious Education (RE)
Religious Education at North Baddesley aims to develop children’s understanding and provide opportunities to reflect on beliefs and moral issues. They investigate traditions and some principal religious faiths represented in Britain. We deliver the content of the curriculum positively, but without imparting religious beliefs on children or compromising the integrity of their own beliefs by promoting one religion over another.
We provide daily collective worship for pupils, either in class, year group or as a whole school. This time enables pupils to reflect on and explore religious, moral and spiritual ideas.
Parents who wish to withdraw their child from collective worship should see the Headteacher.
Intercultural Education
Children are provided with many rich and varied experiences to find out about their own and other cultures within a range of topics and curriculum areas. Our aim is to help children understand and celebrate differences as part of our inclusive ethos.
Environmental Education
The children are encouraged to learn about, care for and use the school grounds and local environment within the topics.
Children will also explore global environmental issues and how they can help to make our world a better place for everyone.
Our spacious and well resourced grounds provide opportunities for quiet reflection, as well as learning through play and sport activities.
Sex Education
The school has clear guidelines for sex education that have been agreed by the Governors. Pupil study human and animal life cycles. If children ask specific questions, teachers will answer as truthfully and appropriately as possible. A full copy of our policy is available from the school office or from our website.