The Curriculum

"... teaching and learning are good ... Pupils enjoy learning, and the curriculum provides exciting opportunities for them to learn through interlinked topics." - OFSTED, November 2008.

At Castle Hill the curriculum is designed to offer children a variety of exciting and meaningful learning experiences, and is supported by rich and stimulating learning environments, both inside and out. Children's thinking is developed through an emphasis on investigation and problem solving. Children are encouraged to work both collaboratively and independently and to take on responsibility.

We have high expectations of children and our daily assembly both celebrates achievement and develops children spiritually, morally, socially and culturally.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

"The provision is well led and the leader of the EYFS provides an excellent role model in teaching... Key workers have a good knowledge of the children in their care..." - OFSTED, November 2008.

Learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage for Nursery and Reception children is organised into six areas.

• Personal, social and emotional development.
• Communication, language and literacy.
• Problem Solving Reasoning and Numeracy.
• Knowledge and understanding of the world (a foundation for historical, geographical, scientific and technological learning).
• Physical development.
• Creative development.

These areas of learning lead into the more formal subjects found at the next Key Stages.

National Curriculum Key Stages 1 & 2.

The children in Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) and Key Stage 2 (Years 3, 4, 5 & 6) are taught the National Curriculum and the subjects studied are listed below. Click on any subject to find more details of how they are taught throughout the school.

We teach many of these subjects through a topic based approach which links all areas of the curriculum together in a way which is meaningful to the children. The teachers in each year group plan together so that children in each class have similar experiences and opportunities. The teachers then adjust this planning to meet the needs of the children in their class.

The topics for each year group are chosen carefully so that all areas of the curriculum are covered throughout the school. This includes the key skills of speaking and listening, reading, writing and mathematics.

Educational Visits

"A Stimulating programme of educational visits, clubs and exciting enrichment activities contributes considerably to pupils interest and enjoyment." - OFSTED, November 2008.

Outside visits in connection with the topics the children are learning about in school make a valuable contribution to learning. These include visits to museums, to the theatre, to the local library, Pizza Express etc. Visits from drama groups, puppet theatres, musicians, authors and people from the community also help to widen the children's experience. Residential visits for Year 5 (Osmington Bay) and Year 6 (Kessingland Beach) give the children a valuable experience of a wide range of exciting activities with their friends.

Although there is no obligation for parents to contribute to the cost of visits it would be difficult for many of them to go ahead without financial support.

Enrichment

Each year group in KS2 benefits from a wide range of enrichment activities on one afternoon each week. These include cookery, art, golf, French, disability awareness, basketball, gymnastics, life-saving, drama and collage. The children develop new interests, talents and life skills, within small groups with specialist tuition.

English

Speaking and listening skills are developed in all areas of the curriculum. Role play areas and activities support this and the skills needed for discussion are developed throughout the curriculum. Class assemblies, concerts and school productions give the children opportunities to speak in front of a range of audiences. Children are encouraged to ask and answer questions which require them to think in new ways as well as showing what they have learnt. Speaking, listening, discussion and drama are continuously and carefully assessed.

Reading is crucial in developing learning and we provide a wide range of resources - book corners, library, interactive whiteboards, taped stories - to capture their interest and encourage them to enjoy books. Children are taught the association between sounds and letters through the 'Phonographix Programme'.

We use a structured reading scheme (Oxford Reading Tree) as the core of our teaching programme. These books contain stories about three children called Biff, Chip and Kipper who the children can relate to easily. Do look out for the illustrations which show the adult perspective!

We place great emphasis on children reading for pleasure and, from Reception, a reading book is sent home with each child every week along with a class library book to share with their family. When the children reach KS2 they are expected to read for at least 10 minutes a day. Nursery operate a home library scheme too.

We expect children to learn to recognise 'by sight' sets of words and so word pots are sent home from Reception and the children will bring home spellings as part of their homework in subsequent years. Children are encouraged to 'have a go' at writing for themselves from Nursery age. Through careful teaching and assessment these early marks are transformed into legible, interesting and punctuated writing. In Years 1 & 2 children are expected to complete some written homework every week about their reading book. As children progress through the school the level and amount of written work increases and the children are expected to draft, reflect upon and evaluate their efforts. Children write for many purposes thus having experience of different genres including story writing, poetry and information. Spelling and handwriting are also taught in a planned progression. Work is carefully planned and individual targets set every term.

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Mathematics

We aim to develop in every child a positive and confident approach to mathematics by matching the work to their individual needs and abilities.

We cover three sections of the National Curriculum:

• Using and applying mathematics
• Number
• Shape, space and measures

Children learn through practical and relevant activities with a variety of materials and apparatus, talking and listening with the teacher and other pupils and carrying out mental calculations, and recording their work in appropriate ways. This provides them with a secure foundation of numeracy and mathematical skills. As the children move up the school they are encouraged to use mental arithmetic and are expected to learn their tables.

The work is made more relevant to the children's lives and interest through links to topics where maths is used across the different areas of the curriculum.

We aim to prepare the children for the world in which they live. Investigative and problem solving activities encourage the children to apply their knowledge and skills to everyday situations and to develop as active mathematical thinkers. The use of computers, robots and calculators also help the children to gain confidence and develop skills.

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Science

The science curriculum is linked to every day experience and to practical work. Science is therefore made relevant to the children's lives as they begin to question and find out about the natural and physical world around them. The children's curiosity and enjoyment in finding out is extended and guided by a wide variety of experiences. They are encouraged to observe, to predict what may happen, to talk about their ideas, to test things out and to experiment with different ways to measure and record their findings. The school site has a Woodland Walk which includes an ancient hedgerow and this is used by the children for their environmental studies.

The four National Curriculum attainment targets include:

• Experimental and investigative science;
• Life processes and living things;
• Materials and their properties;
• Physical processes.

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Information Technology

The school has laptops available for the children to use as a class and an ICT suite. Interactive whiteboards are connected to the internet in every classroom where the children can be taught as a class and can practice their ICT skills.

Every child has access to a computer, printer and tape recorder and cameras in their classroom. They are given opportunities to use this technology to support and extend their work enabling them to take greater responsibility for their own learning. They are able to develop confidence and familiarity with data handling and processing, graphics, control of programmable devices, e-mail and the use of the internet.

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History

The History curriculum provides the children with opportunities to develop an awareness of the past and the ways in which it differs from the present.

The curriculum is approached through relevant topics, developing from the child's own personal history in Reception to more distant times in Years 2-6. As part of the curriculum the children also have the opportunity to participate in 'themed days' in the Juniors e.g. 'Victorian Day' and 'Greek Day'.

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Geography

The Geography curriculum gives the children the opportunity to investigate the physical and human features of their surroundings and to become aware that the world extends beyond their own locality both within and outside the UK.

The children find out about the school and the local area of Chessington and compare this to other places in the world.

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Design Technology

We enable children to experiment and to be inventive in designing and making products. Some of this work may arise from imaginative play, or as part of a planned topic. Children are given the opportunity to practice and develop skills, and to use all tools safely. A special DT Day allows children time to develop more complex structures.

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Music

We introduce children to music through activities which develop their understanding and enjoyment. We value the performing and composing aspects of musical development and children are encouraged to listen to music from different time and cultures, giving them an awareness of a wide range of music. The annual Music Day gives children an opportunity to experience a variety of music and musical instruments provided by visiting musicians. A number of children also receive tuition on instruments such as violin, flute, clarinet, trumpet or guitar. Children at KS1 and KS2 participate in the annual RBK Music Festival. The KS2 choir performs at community events.

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Art and Design

This is a very important aspect of every child's education. Art is evident in all areas of the curriculum, stimulating the imagination and developing hand-eye co-ordination.

Children are given the opportunity to use creative, imaginative and practical skills needed to express ideas and feelings. In order to develop an appreciation of our diverse cultural heritage, the children are introduced to the work of famous artists and designers and to art work and artifacts from around the world. The annual Arts Week allows the children to develop skills and celebrate their achievements through special events and workshops provided by staff, parents and visiting specialists.

Artwork produced by the children is displayed throughout the School, contributing to the learning environment.

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Physical Education

Physical Education is an integral part of the total education process. In school we develop physical competence and coordination through a range of activities. We teach children through a wide range of experiences. We stress the importance of exercise in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Self-confidence and self-esteem are promoted and children are encouraged to express themselves through movement. In Year 2 children are offered the opportunity to participate in country dancing. Swimming is an important part of the curriculum for children in Years 2-6 and we have access to a swimming pool on the Moor Lane site. Children also have the option to participate in a number of lunchtime and after school sports activities such as dance, football, cricket and table tennis. In KS2, we encourage competitive sports as well as learning the skills of good team work and sportsmanship. We enter teams in local competitions and leagues. We also enjoy working with coaches from outside sporting establishments. KS2 children are escorted to the Moor Lane site to use the large sports field for outdoor PE lessons. The school has a substantial open space for Reception and KS1 children to participate in sporting activities.

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Religious Education

Many religious values are implicit within the curriculum as children are encouraged to think about right and wrong and to develop a sense of self-worth and respect for others.

The children learn about the beliefs and traditions of Christianity and other religions through stories and discussion. School assemblies are a central part of this. Parents are invited to attend class assemblies.

In accordance with the Law parents have the right to withdraw their child from the school's religious education programme. Any parent who is considering this step is invited to make an appointment to discuss the matter with the Headteacher in the first instance.

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Personal, Social and Health Education

The school has opted to include this subject in the curriculum to help the children to develop independence and self-confidence and to take responsibility for themselves and others. We encourage them to consider the needs of others and to share, co-operate and get on well with both children and adults. We also emphasise the importance of keeping healthy through eating healthy food and through good personal hygiene and regular exercise.

PSHE activities may take the form of circle time in which subjects such as 'class rules', 'school expectations', making friends', 'what is right and wrong' are discussed with the children and are often linked to topics such as 'People Who Help Us', 'My Family', 'Healthy Eating'.

Sex Education

Sex education is covered implicitly through topic work relating to growing and changing, the senses and healthy living.

Examples of topics which are used in this area of the curriculum in the Reception and KS1 are:

• Ourselves/ All about me.
• Families/ Relationships.
• Friendship and caring for one another.
• Personal Hygiene.
• The caring for and life cycle of animals and plants.

In KS2 topics relating to the children's senses and personal hygiene are covered. In Years 5 and 6, this includes some aspects of sex education, including personal relationships and human reproduction. Parents have the right to withdraw their child from the school's sex education programme. Any parent who is considering this step is invited to make an appointment to discuss the matter with the Headteacher in the first instance.

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Environmental Education

Children learn about their responsibility in caring for the environment in many ways, such as saving water and taking part in the school recycling project.

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