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English
The teaching is designed to encourage reading, writing, oral and listening
skills. We aim to give children confidence in communication and in
creative expression. An
hour for Literacy is provided each day and is at the core of our
English Curriculum. Emphasis is placed on reading for meaning at
all times and a combination of reading schemes is used to provide
language progression and reinforcement.
Part
time teachers take groups of children of all abilities throughout
the school to develop their skills in English.
Children
are taught ‘joined-up’ writing starting in Reception
Class, and high standards of presentation are aimed for.
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Mathematics
The Numeracy Strategy is integrated into our teaching of the Mathematics
Curriculum. There
is a structured framework using a variety of schemes and practical
apparatus.
The
emphasis is on basic numeracy, mental arithmetic, developing and
applying a range of strategies, as well as using an investigative
approach to real life problems.
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Science
The teaching enables children to explore the world in which they live
while providing them with the essential practical skills to interpret
data for themselves.
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ICT
The use of ICT throughout the school provides every child with the
opportunity to broaden their range of experiences across the whole
of the Curriculum and to develop their skills to cope in an increasingly
technological age.
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Design
& Technology
Children are encouraged to experience design and technological activities
through investigation. A special room provides a focus for Home Economics
including cookery.
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History
This is generally taught through topics in Key Stage 1, but as discrete
subjects in Key Stage 2.
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Geography
This is generally taught through topics in Key Stage 1, but as discrete
subjects in Key Stage 2.
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Art
In addition to painting and drawing, children gain experience in pottery,
woodwork, 3D modelling, needlework, knitting, tie dye work and screen
printing. Some of these activities take place in the Art Room.
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Music
We encourage performance, listening and composition throughout the
school. Children sing and play instruments for assemblies and concerts.
Peripatetic
teachers teach flute, clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, trombone, cello
and violin.
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Physical
Education
The development of physical skills and co-ordination is stimulated
through indoor and outdoor games, together with gymnastics, movement
and dance. All
children from Year 3 upwards have the opportunity to play netball,
football and hockey. At present, Year 3, Year 4 and Year 5 have
a term’s swimming at the Chiltern Leisure Pool in Amersham.
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Sex
Education
This is taught, sensitively and in the context of family life, as
part of the programme on the study of the human body mainly in Year
6. The
BBC’s sex-education programmes are shown to the children and
the School Health Service acts in an advisory capacity.
Prior
to the teaching of this module of work, an open evening for parents
is arranged to outline the areas to be covered.
Parents
may withdraw their children from all or part of the sex education
programme provided they inform the Class Teacher in writing.
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Religious
Education And Collective Worship
The school is non-denominational and religious education is based
on the Buckinghamshire Agreed Syllabus. Collective
worship reflects the requirements of the Education Reform Act in
being “mainly of a broadly Christian character”. This
allows for a wide variety of religious traditions to be reflected
during the school year. Children meet for collective worship in
various groupings.
Every
effort is made to devise collective worship that is sensitive to
the needs of all pupils, whatever their background of belief and
faith.
Parents
have the right to ask for their children to be withdrawn from RE
and/or collective worship.
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French
There is currently no statutory obligation to teach a modern foreign
language. However, we offer French in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6.
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Personal,
Social, Health and Citizenship Education
This may well be integrated into other parts of the curriculum within
our Infant department and taught discretely with Years 3 to 6. Our
aim is to develop in our children an understanding and appreciation
of responsibility for themselves, others, the society and the environment
in which they live.
Testing and Assessment
Children are assessed throughout their development in accordance
with procedures and requirements of the National Curriculum. Current
results are shown in the Appendix.
NFER verbal reasoning tests are given to pupils
in Year 3, 4 and 5. The school uses a variety of other tests to
aid teacher assessment and provide information for interested parties.
QCA tests are used as formal end of year assessment
in Year 3, Year 4 and Year 5.
Homework
All children in Key Stage 1 are encouraged to take their reading
books home daily and read widely. As they progress they will be
required to learn spellings, tables and to do simple research.
Homework is set in Key Stage 2 to prepare the children
for their entry into secondary schools.
A system of Homework Diaries is introduced in Year
3.
Home Liaison Reading Record books are in use in
the lower part of the school.
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