Curriculum Overview
OUR CURRICULUM
The curriculum at Embleton emphasises activity and experience whilst incorporating Statutory Guidelines of the National Curriculum. We value the use of our natural resources very highly, and spend one day a week teaching at the beach.
At Embleton the children are taught as individuals, in groups and as a class. Children's needs vary according to their age, ability and the subject being taught. We endeavour at all times to teach to the needs of the child.
EYFS Curriculum
Much of the children's learning will be through play where children are offered a range of experiences and resources. Play is the means by which the children explore a variety of experiences in different situations for a variety of purposes. It is a process which provides for children a way of learning about the world around them. Staff plan activities and experiences that promote children's development and learning based on the ‘Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage.' The majority of our learning is based upon a strong focus on high quality traditional and contemporary literature.
Curriculum for KS1 and KS2
English
We follow the recommended guidelines of the National Curriculum. English lessons are structured around units of work, which include learning in reading, writing and speaking and listening. We base the majority of our learning around high quality texts using a wide range of genre and authors.
The children read individually with staff in school each week. Books are carefully matched to the phonic ability, or reading level, of the child. Your child may be asked to complete a set amount of reading for homework. Once your child has read his / her reading book, they should be encouraged to read a library book or a personal reading book. We have a large array of books suitable for all abilities for the children to choose from. We set great store by children being able to read, and encourage our children to read for pleasure and enjoyment. Parents are asked to share in their child’s reading development by reading to them and hearing them read regularly. The continuous link between home and school reading is much valued and beneficial to the child, even after they are able to read independently. We use the Boom-Read app as a reading record to share what has been read by each child. This gives opportunities for comments by parents and staff, as well as encouraging a personal response from the child. Please add comments onto Boom-Read each time you hear them read.
We have a wide range of materials to support reading, including Read Write Inc and Oxford Reading Tree. In addition we have a wide variety of fiction and reference books within each classroom and in the reading area. Emergent readers have a Reading Eggs log in to support phonics practice at home and at school.
Children’s speaking and listening skills are developed through the whole curriculum. We use drama to explore ideas, and children learn how to make their own presentations to their class, the school and the wider community. We encourage good listening, and children take part in conversations, debates and council meetings.
The children are taught to write in a range of styles and for a variety of purposes. Writing skills learned in English lessons are reinforced through writing across a range of other curriculum subjects. Once children have mastered the basics of letter formation (usually in Year 2) they are taught to write using a joined handwriting script (Read Write Inc). They are actively encouraged to improve their written work by redrafting or correcting spellings and handwriting.
Spelling patterns are focussed upon in school and are supported by individual progress using Spelling Shed, which can be accessed at home. For those children with Reading Eggs accounts, appropriate spellings can be accessed as part of the games.
We follow the ‘Read Write Inc.’ phonics scheme.
Mathematics
The approach to teaching mathematics is that recommended by the Guidelines of the National Curriculum and is based on four key principles:
dedicated mathematics lessons and practice time;
direct teaching and interactive oral work with the whole class and groups;
an emphasis on mental calculation;
fluency in, and mastery of, learned concepts before moving on to new areas.
The children are encouraged to apply the knowledge and understanding they have learned to solve every day problems and carry out investigations.
Our maths lessons are framed around the National Curriculum objectives for each year group and use a range of Big Maths lessons to practise mathematical fluency, and White Rose maths to support using the concepts in a range of different questions. All children have a Times Table Rockstars and Numbots log in to practise their times tables and maths fluency at home and at school.
Science
Through a range of topics each child has opportunities to investigate and develop essential scientific skills such as observing, classifying and fair testing as well as developing good attitudes to their work such as curiosity, perseverance and co-operation. These skills and attitudes enable a child to acquire an informed and critical understanding of the world. Much of the science teaching is supported through learning outdoors in our local environment. We use Developing Experts to support our learning.
Humanities
History and geography are taught through detailed investigations into the topics covered. We aim to give the children as much hands on experience as possible through trips and visitors, including time in our local area as part of our Beach School sessions. Areas of learning are based on guidelines from the National Curriculum. We use Kapow to support our learning.
Design Technology
This subject calls for pupils to become creative problem solvers, both as individuals and members of a team.
The children will be asked to investigate ideas, dissemble and evaluate objects. They will be taught how to build structures or components and will learn new skills. Finally the children will be asked to ‘design and make’ something based on knowledge and skills gained. Children will be asked to evaluate their work and the work of others; considering what improvements could be made.
Children are taught to make and use a range of joins and mechanisms, and how to choose and use a variety of materials e.g. wood, card, paper, food, clay, together with appropriate tools. Time is taken to familiarise the children with the tools. The safe use of the equipment is stressed at all times.
Children cook regularly in school as part of the curriculum. A cooking club is regularly available as an after school activity.
We use Kapow to support our learning.
Art and Design
Art and Design is taught as a subject in its own right, and is also used to support work across all areas of the curriculum. Children are given the opportunity to explore a range of materials and techniques. We have mixed aged art projects and welcome visiting artists into school to help enhance their skills.
We use Kapow to support our learning.
Computing
We use computer work as an integral part of the curriculum. Children will gradually develop a variety of skills and use computers to enhance work in all other curriculum areas. As children progress through the school, they will have experience and growing expertise in many basic ICT skills. We embed ICT throughout the curriculum using multi media computer programmes to enhance our learning. All children in KS2 have access to individual chromebooks to support their learning.
We take part in Safer Internet Day each year.
Music
Our aim is for children to enjoy listening to and making music and for this to be a positive, enriching and creative experience.
Through listening, appraising, performing and composing children develop an understanding and appreciate various styles of music.
All children learn to sing songs together that are appropriate to their age and interest. They sing together during worship and whole school productions, a tradition that enhances the community feeling in the school. Children learn how to use a wide range of percussion instruments. All KS2 children learn to use a glockenspiel.
Children learn to appreciate the music of other cultures through discovery of multi-cultural instruments from around the world.
We use Kapow to support our learning. Our Music Development Plan can be accessed below.
Physical Education and Physical Activity
The children participate in a diverse and wide range of PE lessons. All Key Stage 2 children go to the Willowburn Sports Centre in Alnwick for swimming lessons for half the year. We make good use of local sports clubs, qualified coaches and teaching specialists giving the children a wide variety of sporting experiences e.g. football, rugby, and cricket within the curriculum and after school clubs. This year we have specialist teachers for dance. Newcastle United Foundation support the school in providing high quality PE lessons.
One PE lesson each week is held at Beach School, where the children take part in a range of activities from orienteering and cross-country to tag rugby and cricket.
Children at the school take part in inter-school competitions, and the school has achieved the School Sports Gold Award.
Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE)
Through PSHE the children learn the knowledge, skills and understanding that they need to lead confident, healthy, independent lives and to become informed, active responsible citizens.. During RSE, children learn about healthy relationships with others in an age-appropriate manner. We use 1decision to support our learning.
We use Kapow to support our learning.
Religious Education (RE)
Pupils will gain knowledge and understanding about Christianity and other world faiths. Children will be taught in a way that respects and maintains the integrity of all religions. As a church school we follow the Diocesan syllabus for RE (Understanding Christianity).
Parents have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of RE. Please liaise with the school if you would like to do this.
Foreign Languages
We aim to foster an interest in language learning by introducing children to other languages in a way that is enjoyable and accessible to all pupils. French is taught to all Key Stage 2 pupils. It is taught through interactive resources, speaking and listening activities and games. We use Kapow to support our learning.
Daily Act of Worship
Our school has a daily act of worship. Parents may, if they wish, withdraw their children from these assemblies and RE. Such requests should be made to the Headteacher in writing.
Arrangements for the act of Collective Worship are made by the school in accordance with requirements of the 1944 Education Act and the Education Reform Act 1988.
In accordance with our Trust Deed and statutory requirements, Collective Worship and RE are placed at the centre of the school life.
Beach School
As a school we go down to the beach each week. Each session is carefully focused on curriculum elements, where the environment is used to enhance learning. See our Beach School pages for some of the things we get up to.
Extra Curricular Activities
Instrumental Music Lessons
If enough pupils are interested we are able to support individual music lessons in school.
School Clubs
Out of school clubs are an important part of school life and we see these as important learning opportunities for the children.
Clubs are available Monday to Thursday each week, and change each half-term allowing for a wide range of different activities dependent upon the interests of the children in school.
Wraparound Care
The school offers wraparound care for all children in the school, from 7.30 am and until 5.30 pm. During this time children access the after-school clubs, are heard reading, or read to, complete homework and enjoy a range of other activities. Children within the EYFS continue to follow the EYFS curriculum whilst in wraparound.
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
Children who have difficulty accessing the curriculum have programmes of intervention work specifically planned to meet their needs as well as receiving additional support so that they can access the curriculum and reach their full potential.
We firmly believe that the partnership between teachers and parents working together is paramount in best supporting and helping the child concerned. It is hoped that the child will overcome his/her difficulties, but sometimes it may be necessary to call in outside agencies, such as the Educational Psychologist who will make further assessments and suggest other strategies to be used.
In the case of children who are specially gifted, classroom work is carefully planned to ensure that their talents are both developed and challenged.