
Our Curriculum Subjects
Here you can read all about the subjects that your child will study at St Andrews Primary. Click on the subjects name below to expand more information about it…
- Record their work.
- Observe, imagine and develop their ideas.
- Investigate the possibilities and limitations of materials and processes.
- Try out tools and techniques and apply these to materials and processes.
- To reflect on their own and others work, and be able to offer and receive constructive feedback and praise.
- We would encourage children to have experience of exhibitions and galleries both locally and nationally.
- Involve children in open discussions about art, so that they can develop their own ideas about prejudice, assumptions and stereotypes in visual forms.
- To encourage children to collect objects, pictures etc of interest to them and to create a sketch book to aid their visual and observational skills.
- To help children learn to be responsible for the tidying up of activities.
- Don’t be afraid to let your children make a mess!
What is expected?
- Speaking with and listening to their child; encouraging them to talk about their experiences at school, days out, visits etc.
- Helping their child with reading by pointing out words around them; make time to read with their child daily.
- Encouraging their child to write for a purpose, e.g. a holiday diary, a thank you letter, invitations and cards.
- Discussing settings, characters and story outlines of books,
- Encouraging their child to write the opening of a story in the style of their favourite author.
- Spending time helping their child to proofread their writing.
- Establishing a conducive learning environment and routine and focus on the learning process not only the marks.
- Ask your child to recite a rhyme or song they have learned.
- Encourage your child to use simple words and phrases at home (French – merci, s’il te plait, oh la la!).
‘What is our knowledge worth if we know nothing about the world that sustains us, nothing about natural systems and climates, nothing about other countries and cultures?’
- As in history, trips to museums, galleries and sites of geographic interest are invaluable. If you have a chance to visit one of these during the weekend or holidays, then please do so! Photographs and souvenirs are welcomed in school, so your child can share – and consolidate – what they have learned with their friends at school.
- Many local tourist attractions provide a site map. Let your child have a go at pointing out and finding key features on these maps.
- Compiling a scrapbook of a family holiday makes a fascinating memento for your family but can also be a valuable way of reinforcing interesting facts for your child and will give them lots to talk about on their return to school. If you are lucky enough to travel abroad please try to collect as much as possible as back at school we like to hear about it all – boarding passes, receipts and bags, leftover money as well as photographs of all of those exotic locations and the people who live and work there!
‘How do you know who you are unless you know where you’ve come from? How can you tell what’s going to happen, unless you know what’s happened before? History isn’t just about the past. It’s about why we are who we are – and about what’s next.’
What is expected?
- The children are fascinated with their own history and love to repeat stories of their own relatives and families. If you have any treasures at home, such as old photographs or heirlooms, share them with your child. If there is ever anything that would reinforce the current topic in class, please bring it in. We promise to be very careful!
- Trips to museums, galleries, historic buildings and sites are invaluable. If you have a chance to visit one of these during the weekend or holidays, then please do so! Photographs and souvenirs are welcomed in school, so your child can share – and consolidate – what they have learned with their friends at school.
- Whenever possible, help your child tell the time.
- Let them have plenty of opportunities to handle and use money.
- Help your child to learn number bonds (KS1) and times tables (KS2).
What is expected?
-
Exposing children to and discussing a wide range of musical styles from different traditions and cultures;
-
Developing children’s sense of rhythm, this may be through clapping games, dance or singing.
-
Encourage children to make music, be it singing or composing and valuing the process.
-
Encouraging children who learn a musical instrument to practise little and often.
Personal well-being is a key factor in enabling learning and at St Andrew’s we ensure that ‘Every Child Matters’. It is our premise that socially and emotionally literate children access learning better and there is the expectation that PSHCE will permeate the curriculum and the rest of the child’s whole experience at school.
- New Beginnings,
- Getting On and Falling Out,
- Say No to Bullying,
- Going for Goals,
- Good to Be Me,
- Relationships and Changes.
What is expected?
- We value the support we receive from St Andrew’s Church and warmly welcome parents to share our school services with your child. We follow the calendar of the church and the traditions of the Church of England. We have a Harvest Festival, Carol Service, Nativity Play, Christingle Service and Easter Service. In addition, every term finishes with a service of celebration. Mothering Sunday and Education Sunday are also marked and supported by the school, in one of the six parish churches within our catchment area.
- The development of vocabulary is an essential part of your child’s communication development. We encourage the use of correct terminology during visits to churches and religious buildings.
- Children need to be taught to value and respect special places and objects.
- That sense of awe and wonder that children develop is a precious part of growing up……but can’t always be left to chance. Take time to share magical, awe-inspiring, natural wonders with your child. We’re lucky to live where we do – we do not have to look far……
In KS1 we teach phonics following the structure of “Letters and Sounds”. This is supplemented by additional materials that teachers have found motivate the children or provide additional reinforcement when necessary (for example, the EYFS children love the Jolly Phonics songs and actions.)
We follow the Rigby Star Reading scheme, although again it is supplemented by other resources, such as The Oxford Reading Tree.
Read, Write Inc, is used with the children who require additional reinforcement in both KS1 and KS2.
The school has a wide range of differentiated Guided Reading resources which are organised according to colour band and are used throughout the school.