Curriculum

Our inclusive curriculum is planned to establish an ethos conducive to learning, self-discipline and positive self-esteem. All children, regardless of gender, sex or creed, are entitled to a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum differentiated to meet their individual needs.

The Education Reform Act of 1988 established a national curriculum for all state schools which consists of 3 core subjects (English, Mathematics and Science), 7 foundation subjects (Design & Technology (D&T), Information and Communication Technology (ICT), History, Geography, Art and Design, Music and PE) and Religious Education.

Teaching and support staff work collaboratively to plan and deliver appropriate activities for the children. This process is underpinned by a philosophy of encouraging all children to take the lead in their own learning; the aim being to enable all learners to become positive critical thinkers.

Pupil assessment is a regular classroom activity. We have formal and informal procedures, which allow us to both track individual progress in subjects and to set high but relevant expectations for future performance. Data from statutory assessments at the end of each key stage is given later.

Our Special Educational Needs (SEN) structure is based on a variety of partnerships, including those between:

• Pupil and teacher
  
• Pupil and parents
  
• Pupil and support staff
  
• Teacher and parents
  
• Headteacher and LEA staff
  
• Headteacher and Governing Body and other agencies (eg health visitors)

If a child requires additional support parents are always consulted and kept informed of subsequent developments.

English
English is about the development of a sensitive, personal and critical response to fiction and non-fiction text, spoken, written and visual. It is concerned with good communication through the development of appropriate and accurate use of spoken and written language for a range of specific purposes and audiences across the whole curriculum. We have successfully implemented the National Literacy Strategy. Our library encourages reading for pleasure.

Mathematics
Mathematics provides a way of viewing and making sense of the children's world through the study and use of pattern. It is used to analyse and communicate information and ideas. Children are encouraged to tackle a range of practical tasks and real life problems. Through exploration within mathematics itself, new mathematics is created and current ideas are modified and extended. We have successfully implemented the National Numeracy Strategy.

Science
Science is a way of looking at the world, which is different from the view provided by other disciplines. Being able to look at the world scientifically and objectively requires the development of particular skills, abilities and attitudes. By looking at the world in this way, a body of scientific knowledge has been produced. We have introduced a new science scheme entitled 'STAR', published by Ginn.

ICT (Information and Communication Technology)
ICT is about encouraging and enabling children to become confident and capable users of ICT in an information rich society. Learning in all subjects can be enriched via critical use of ICT. Our ICT Suite is now fully operational and we have updated our classroom computers. All teaching staff have successfully completed both curriculum (via New Opportunities Funding grant) and personal courses. A group of our parents have enjoyed their ICT training in our suite, with the help of a tutor from Tile Hill College.

Design & Technology
Design & Technology prepares young people for the technological world. It is a practical curriculum which brings together intellectual, creative and technical abilities to resolve problems through the use of a range of materials, components, ICT and control technologies. We aim to enrich the D & T curriculum- a recent example being a liaison with Heart of England Secondary School with a 'K-nex Challenge'.

History
History chronicles, investigates and explains the past. It allows learners to explore their own heritage and to investigate and understand the experiences of other peoples. History promotes methods of enquiry about the behaviour and actions of people in the past. This helps learners make sense of the world in which they live and make more informed decisions regarding the future. Our school enjoys a wonderful relationship with the residents of the court.

Geography
Geography explores the relationship between the earth and its people through the study of place, space and the environment. Relating to many aspects of the learners' lives and of the environment in which they live, geography seeks to develop a sense of place, to describe the location, features and human and physical processes, as well as its resources.

Art and Design
Art is about the visual world. It is concerned with visual and tactile modes of expression in 2 and 3 dimensional forms. It contributes towards developing visual perception and the skills of communication by visual means. Our school was recently commended for its 'Artist in residence' activity. We encourage our children to be creative & self-expressive.

Music
Music is concerned with the organisation of sound, in particular how sound can be used expressively to enable pupils to make sense of the world in which they live. It allows them to communicate with themselves and others on the effective, or feeling, level of response. They achieve this via the skills, knowledge and understanding of composing, performing, listening and appraising. We value the Solihull Music Service and buy in curriculum support. We encourage children to play musical instruments, currently offering guitar, keyboard, string and woodwind tuition. Our school choir sing at a variety of venues including Birmingham Symphony Hall.

PE
Involving pupils in the continuous process of planning, performing and evaluating, physical education promotes physical activity and healthy life styles. It develops positive attitudes towards self, others and the environment. We incorporate outside coaches in our curriculum and club activities, a recent example being a British Olympic Gymnast.

Religious Education
RE enables and encourages pupils to acquire a knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other principal religions. It encourages children to respect all faiths and to develop the capacity to reflect on the issues raised by religion and respond to them from personal experience.

Foundation Key Stage
Foundation key stage education incorporates Nursery and Reception. Our two classes operate an integrated system, whereby planning is a collaborative process and our children have opportunities to work together during the school day. Our children work and play in a stimulating environment alongside excellent teaching staff and enthusiastic parent volunteers.

Collective Worship
Our school works in partnership with St. Mary's Church. A Governor Committee meets regularly to review and plan both the structure and content of collective worship.

School Council
We encourage children to voice their opinions in the school decision-making processes. We have individual class councils (addressing class issues such as expectations, monitors, wet play etc) and an overall school council (addressing whole school aspects such as playground activities, spending of monies which will impact on the children). The school council operates on a two weekly cycle with a Chair and Secretary voted in by other members.

Special Educational Needs, (SEN)
We recognise each child as an individual with particular needs. These are often met within the classroom routine, via careful planning and delivery of the curriculum. There are also children with educational, physical and emotional needs, who would benefit from either short or longer term assistance. These needs are identified via a variety of means, eg: parental comment, teacher observation, and assessment evidence.

The initial support is from the class teacher who will modify the curriculum to better match the needs identified. The 'SEN Co-ordinator', (SENCO), will also be made aware of any issues. If it is appropriate then the school can action a variety of procedures in order to benefit the individual needs of the child, e.g., use of a teaching and learning support assistant; pupil participation in specific learning programmes (such as 'additional literacy strategy' or 'Springboard' for maths); use of LEA learning support staff and/or educational psychologist. Individual or group education plans can be written and implemented, always with full collaboration with parents, and if appropriate with the pupils themselves.

Extra Curricular Activities
We aim to provide a variety of extra curricular activities for our children. These take place at either lunchtime or after school. They vary from term to term; the current timetable being:

Tuesday Choir, Gardening Club and Netball
Wednesday ICT, Football and Chess
Thursday School Council
Friday ICT

We build in relevant educational day trips for our children. Our Year 5 & 6 children will have the opportunity to attend at least one residential trip. Last year we attended Dunfield House; a beautiful residential property set in the Welsh border country. Our year 5 children and staff enjoyed an expressive arts week. Our year 6 children visited the Earth Centre where they focused on teamwork, creativity and innovation.