At Derwent Primary School we believe all children have an entitlement to a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum. We recognise the diverse needs of our students whilst also recognising the need for them to have access to the basic skills and knowledge.
We have built a topic based curriculum, since we believe that children will be more engaged in their learning if it has a context and theme that runs through it. Our curriculum is planned to provide continuity and progression; with key skills, knowledge and vocabulary identified for each topic and evaluated by pupils and class teachers at the beginning and end of each topic lesson through ‘Preview & Review’ sessions.
We place a strong focus on overcoming barriers to children’s learning through a curriculum designed to address specific areas of poverty and deficit in experiences and aspiration amongst our children.
Our curriculum aim is to:
- Broaden their aspirations, knowledge, skills, understandings and experiences
- Actively promote British values
- Promote a lifelong love of learning
- Equip children with the skills and knowledge for their transition to secondary school
- Help children become healthy and active.
Our curriculum reflects the needs of our community, our local area and national priorities.
At Derwent Primary School staff work together to do our best to make sure that all children:
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- • To ensure that all pupils receive their full entitlement to the whole curriculum through teaching of a high standard.
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- • To provide a relevant challenging curriculum in which pupils will be encouraged to reach their maximum potential.
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- • To provide a stimulating and vibrant curriculum and environment that will not only motivate children but also encourage them to understand the purpose and enjoyment of learning.
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- • To provide an environment where children apply their knowledge, skills and understanding with confidence whilst developing their ability to investigate and problem solve through discussion, prediction and evaluation.
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- • To encourage children to respect and value other cultures and beliefs and ultimately to become caring, confident and educated members of a multi-faith, multi-cultural society.
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- • To develop positive attitudes and an awareness of the needs, strengths and qualities of others in order to work, share and grow socially and emotionally, spiritually and morally, physically and intellectually.
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- • To involve parents in their children’s education and encourage strong links between home and school.
Children in our two year old provision (Little Learners) are given the opportunity to play and explore the world around them both indoors and outdoors. Their learning is focused on the Prime Areas of Learning. They are supported by staff to develop their Personal, Social and Emotional skills. This includes learning to play alongside others and make relationships, learning to follow routines and understand boundaries. They are also encouraged to begin to be aware of the feelings of other people. They are also supported with language development. Staff model vocabulary and provide many opportunities for children to listen to others and to express themselves. This is done through sensitive interactions when children are playing and through singing and story groups. There is also an emphasis on Physical Development. Children are provided with many opportunities to develop their gross motor coordination (big movements such as climbing, riding bikes, throwing and catching, dancing with ribbons, running and making big movements with paintbrushes and chalks.) They are also given the opportunity to develop their fine motor coordination (smaller movements such as being able to fill a small container with a spoon, thread a bead, holding a knife, fork or spoon, completing a jigsaw, cutting with scissors and making a pattern in glitter with a finger.) There is also a strong emphasis on Health and Self Care. Children are taught to become more independent in putting on their own coat, going to toilet and washing their hands.
In Nursery the children continue to develop many of the skills that they have developed in Little Learners. They continue to learn through play and exploration both indoors and outdoors. They have access to continuous provision – paints, sand, water, computers, construction, reading material, role play areas and small world etc. The children are expected to take part in small group activities where they are encouraged and supported in developing their maths and literacy skills. The children learn how to count and recognise some numbers. They also learn about shape. The children are encouraged to make marks and talk about their mark making. The children also begin Phase 1 of Letters and Sounds which enables the children to develop their listening skills and ability to distinguish and respond to different sounds in the environment. The children continue to develop their skills in the Prime Areas of the curriculum.
In Reception (F2) the children take part in larger and sometimes whole class teaching sessions. They continue to build on previously learnt skills and experiences. They begin Phase 2 of Letters and sounds and begin daily phonics lessons to learn about the letters of the alphabet and the sounds made by the letters. They quickly develop their reading skills and by the end of the year many are confident readers and writers. They continue to build their maths skills and begin to problem solve using addition and subtraction methods. They also learn about 2 and 3 dimensional shapes and patterns. Children in Reception continue to learn through play and have access to continuous provision to enable them to develop their ideas through art and design, role play, small world. The children are now expected to become more independent and take responsibility for daily learning tasks called ‘Mr Must Dos’, these enable the children complete reading, writing, and maths tasks linked to recently taught skills. They take part in weekly PE sessions where they are encouraged to get dressed and undressed independently. The children continue to have daily access to our outdoor learning environment.
Key Stage 1 plan a creative curriculum that emcompasses the Year 1 and Year 2 national curriculum. Also it enhances pupil’s social, moral, spiritual and cultural experiences in school. We strive to ensure that pupils have excellent experiences that nurture their EYFS learning and also prepares the pupils for a successful Key Stage 2 career.
From Year 3 upwards pupils follow the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum and study all subjects. A modern foreign language (French) is introduced in Key Stage 2.
Year 3 children go to swimming lessons once a week, throughout the year.
See our Long Term Plan for our wider curriculum.
We all know that reading opens the door to all learning. A child who reads a lot will become a good reader. A good reader will be able to read challenging material. A child who reads challenging material is a child who will learn. The more a child learns, the more a child wants to find out.
It is, therefore, vital that your child finds learning to read and write a rewarding and successful experience. As a school we have introduced Read Write Inc to encourage every child at our school to read. Read write Inc is designed to teach children how to become fluent and confident readers. It is hoped that this will in turn help the children to access other areas of the curriculum to help them to become confident learners who are eager to expand their own knowledge.
Read Write Inc was developed by Ruth Miskin and more information on this can be found at https://ruthmisking.com/en/find-out-more/parents
Parents – Ruth Miskin Training
Read Write Inc. Phonics – information for parents Our films show how we teach children to read and write with Read Write Inc. Phonics. If your child is in a Read Write Inc. school or if you have bought a parent pack, the films will help you and your child practise together at home. If you have a question for us, please get in touch via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Homework
Foundation stage:
A book to share at home. Children are also expected to practise reading the letter sounds and Read Write Inc ditties sent home in their phonics books.
Year 1:
Children are expected to read their reading book at home, their story book like a storyteller and to share their library book together with a grown up.
Year 2:
Children are expected to read their reading book at home, their story book like a storyteller and to share their library book together with a grown up. Children will also need to practise reading their common exception words and their weekly spelling words. They will also learn their x2, x5 and x10 tables.
Year 3:
Children are expected to read their reading book at home. They will also need to practise their weekly spellings and learn their x3, x4 and x8 tables.
Year 4:
Children are expected to read their reading book at home. They will also need to practise their weekly spellings and learn their x6, x7, x9, x11 and x12 tables.
Years 5 and 6:
Children are expected to read their reading book at home. They will need to practise their weekly spellings and learning their tables up to 12x
Derwent Primary School is non-denominational. RE and assemblies are in accordance with Derby City ‘Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education’.
Health and Drugs Education is taught throughout the school: children also have sex education and relationships are taught throughout the school.
We have adopted a new ‘Mastery Maths’ scheme called ‘Maths No Problem’. It is proving to be a great hit with the teachers and pupils alike. It is a highly structured approach to Maths and is designed to deepen understanding.
Maths- No Problem is a comprehensive series that adopts a spiral design with carefully built up mathematical concepts and processes adapted from the Maths mastery approaches used in Singapore. The concrete, pictorial abstract approach forms an integral part of the learning process through the materials developed for this series.
To find out more about how this new series aids your child’s mathematical development, please follow the link below.
The teaching of English across school is matched to the pupils’ abilities. In the Foundation Stage the pupils are encouraged to speak, listen and represent ideas in their activities. Communication, language and literacy is at the heart of the whole curriculum and the pupils are immersed in an environment rich in print and possibilities for communication.
At Key Stage One (Years 1 and 2), children learn to speak confidently and listen to what others have to say. They begin to read and write independently and with enthusiasm. They use language to explore their own experiences and imaginary worlds.
At Key Stage Two (Years 3-6), children learn to change the way they speak and write to suit different situations, purposes and audiences. They read a range of texts and respond to different layers of meaning in them. They explore the use of language in fiction and non-fiction texts and learn how the structure of language works.
