Rawmarsh
Sandhill Primary

Curriculum by Subject



English

APPROACH TO ENGLISH
At Rawmarsh Sandhill Primary School, we teach our Literacy through the Success for All approach. Success for All (SFA) teaches children to become strategic readers and writers, starting from when they are in Foundation right up to Year 6. It also covers all aspects of literacy – reading, phonics, comprehension and fluency, and writing.

FOUNDATION
During their time in Foundation, children are exposed to a range of phonics activities which train the eye and hand so children learn how to read and write the letters that represent the sounds they have learned.

Once children have learned the basic sounds and can blend some words, they are ready to be introduced to the KinderRoots Shared Stories. These are short phonetically regular books that the children learn to read through a structured process. Foundation phonics is not the only way children are exposed to reading; we also read aloud a wide variety of children’s literature through the story tree time. Furthermore, we provide phonetical- awareness activities, especially through rhymes and songs which  allow ample time for children to explore books of their choice and engage in creative writing.

KEY STAGE 1/KEY STAGE 2
Reading is a fundamental life skill and is at the heart of our curriculum. We aim to give children opportunities to become critical, thoughtful readers through using relevant and inspiring texts within our SFA sessions. We encourage our children to access a wide range of quality texts (fiction, non-fiction and poetry) both independently and as material related to the wider curriculum. We believe that a love of reading can open minds, inspire and encourage our pupils to dream big.

During SFA sessions, children will have the opportunity to delve into a range of high quality texts which match their reading ability. Children are exposed to ‘treasure hunts’ where they are developing their understanding of how to answer a range of comprehension questions. There will be plenty of opportunities for the children to discuss the texts with peers or as a group to further their understanding.

All children in school have an individual reading book which can be changed regularly and taken home. Partnership with parents is important; the reading diary helps us to maintain links and continuity between home and school. Reading books in school are organised through the ‘book banding’ system to enable children to choose books at an appropriate level of difficulty and to make progress through the bands.

Teachers’ assessments of reading are based on their professional judgments and evidence from SFA sessions, as well as standardised materials. We want the children to be avid, enthusiastic readers, so Reading for pleasure is promoted in school through events and activities such as Book Week, book fairs, displays, assemblies, author visits and competitions. We are committed to giving children time to read and be immersed in reading.

Maths

We feel that it is essential to build up a positive attitude towards Mathematics. We believe that all children can and will succeed in mathematics. We have adopted the mastery approach to the teaching of mathematics with emphasis on fluency, reasoning and problem solving. We see it as essential that all children have a deeper understanding of the subject.

A wide variety of mathematical resources are used throughout school. To support the mastery approach. At Rawmarsh Sandhill. All children receive a daily maths lesson. As well as this, mathematics is also incorporated into the wider curriculum as much as possible.

Science

The purpose of Primary science is not to teach a whole range of scientific facts and data, but to try to develop an enquiring mind – a way of finding out about the environment in which we live, a way of finding out answers and a way of thinking logically.  We encourage the children to develop their natural curiosity, devise suitable experiments, collect and observe, check and investigate, record their findings, draw conclusions, become actively involved in science and communicate their findings. There is an expectation that children should carry out a science investigation fortnightly.

Physical Education

Physical Education helps to develop co-ordination, strength, stamina, as well as a range of skills.  We try to build upon our children’s enjoyment of, and need for, physical activity and movement.  We provide the children with a variety of physical activities such as movement, apparatus work, small apparatus games, indoor athletics and games lessons. The school hall is used for indoor PE and either the playground or field are used for outdoor games. Specialist coaches deliver some of our PE sessions alongside the class teachers.

Swimming

Year 4 children receive swimming instruction as part of their physical education.

Music

Music is an important part of our school life.  Lessons include singing, creative music, instrumental work, percussion and music appreciation. Expert music teachers deliver brass and recorder lessons in KS2. Individual tuition is also available for KS2 children, where members of the peripatetic music staff give the guitar and violin lessons.

Art

Art is a valued subject of the Curriculum in our school and great emphasis is given to the presentation of children’s work.  The children are given the opportunity to undertake a balanced programme of Art, Craft and Design activities. The children are also given opportunity to evaluate their own and others work.

Design Technology

Design Technology aims to develop those skills and abilities in children which enable them to interact with the man-made environment.  We give them opportunities to design and make products for a variety of purposes.  Children are encouraged to choose the most appropriate materials and then evaluate the finished product.

Religious Education

The school offers Religious Education as part of its broad and balanced curriculum and is broadly Christian in its outlook – but the school has no affiliations with any specific religious denomination.

The children learn about the many different faiths from around the world and follow a locally agreed syllabus. RE is taught through a number of themes common to each religion including places of worship, celebrations, holy books, stories and religious artefacts. The aim is to develop and foster a better understanding and empathy for the views and faiths of other world religions. RE in school is supported by the local ‘RE Team’ who deliver half termly, whole school assemblies on Christian themes.

Sex Education in Year 5/6

We do not deal with this as a separate issue in school.  However, there is a member of staff who has particular responsibility for Personal Social and Health Education.  At the primary level, particular care and sensitivity is needed in matching teaching to the maturity level. Teaching should aim to help pupils cope with the physical and emotional changes of growing up. After consultation with parents, arrangements are made for films to be shown or talks to be given to the children, dealing with various aspects of Health Education.

Assemblies

The whole school meets four times per week for joint assemblies which include stories with a moral or spiritual theme. On Monday, a Special Mentions Assembly is held, in which we celebrate children’s learning from the previous week. We also find out which class has won our attendance award. On Friday, we celebrate our Stars of the Week. During this assembly, the Star receives a trophy from the previous week’s Star which they keep on their desk all week.

Curriculum Home

If you would like to find out more about our curriculum or have any queries please contact Mrs N Ainsworth, Headteacher using the details on our contact us page.