At Bawnmore our curriculum fosters curiosity, creativity and resilience to encourage every child to become independent lifelong learners. At the core of our broad balanced curriculum is the belief that children learn through enquiry and stimulating, exciting experiences. This supports the development of the whole person ready to take the next steps in their education and lives beyond Bawnmore.

Foundation Stage

The Early Years Foundation Stage is the period of education from birth to 5 years.  During this stage children work towards the “Early Learning Goals”. We believe that every child is unique and we strive to provide them with learning experiences that allow them to reach their full potential.

The Early Years Foundation Stage guidance divides learning and development into three prime and four specific areas. It also includes characteristics of effective learning.  

Prime

· Communication and language

· Physical development

· Personal, social and emotional development

Specific

· Literacy Development

· Mathematical Development

· Understanding of the world

· Expressive arts and design

The majority of pupils will achieve these goals by the end of the Foundation Stage and will be at the ‘expected’ level.  Some pupils may still need to work towards some of the goals at the end of Reception and will be ‘emerging’.

Throughout the Foundation Stage, pupils experience an exciting curriculum  both indoors and outdoors, designed to meet the needs of young children.  This is fun, creative and play-based, challenging each child to achieve their own individual potential.  Children are assessed continually throughout the year  and their progress is shared with parents/carers on a termly basis.

National Curriculum, Key Stage 1

In Year One and Two class teachers plan and deliver a theme based curriculum in accordance with the 2014 National Curriculum. This cross-curricular approach to learning encompasses all the National Curriculum subjects at the appropriate levels for individual children. Each theme will either have science or humanities as its main thread. The teaching of English and Mathematics are given priority on the timetable, and the skills and basic concepts are carried through all subjects. In addition to this, Mathematics concepts are taught in isolation if they do not fit with the theme. History, Geography, Music, Art, Technology and Computing are taught in a thematic context. The children also study Physical Education, Religious Education and Personal, Social, Health Education and Citizenship. 

Teachers plan co-operatively to ensure structure and progression is in place across the school, and that the appropriate programmes of study are covered and attainment targets achieved. The children’s learning is continually assessed in order to plan for progression through the next steps of learning.

English

Our English curriculum is based on the national curriculum for Key Stage 1 and Early Years Foundation Stage for Reception pupils. Teachers endeavour to offer  opportunities to develop the skills of speaking and listening, reading, and writing for a variety of  different purposes and audiences across all areas of the curriculum.  We recognise the need to make our lessons active, fun and meaningful to meet high expectations. Importance is placed on the correct use of language, with teachers striving to maintain high standards of written work in all subjects.

Inter-active boards are an integral part of literacy teaching throughout the school and the children make good use of IT in lessons by using literacy programs on laptops or IPads.  All areas of literacy are inter-related.  The skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening reinforce and support each other, and with this in mind literacy units are taught in a structure that will develop the relationship between all three.

Speaking and Listening

Our vision for speaking and listening –

To create an ethos of unconditional mutual respect where everyone’s voice is heard and valued.

Resulting in –

• careful, considerate listeners
• confident, articulate speakers
• effective communicators

Good communication skills are vital in life, so we aim to give all children the ability to communicate confidently.  Children are encouraged to express ideas and feelings and describe and report accurately.  They are encouraged to ask open questions to extend their learning.  Pupils take part in a variety of listening games, drama, presentation and discussion across all areas of the curriculum.  Story telling skills are promoted by the development of oral storytelling through traditional and popular tales. We promote listening and debate skills through our School Council (however the impact of the pandemic means that we have not been able to run our School Council recently, we hope to have this up and running again soon) and Philosophy for Children (P4C).

Reading

Our vision for reading –

To develop a life-long love of reading by immersing children in inspiring, quality texts.

Resulting in –

• confident, fluent readers with the skills to decode unfamiliar words and the ability to make sense of what they have read

Literacy units comprise of modelled, shared, guided and independent reading sessions. We recognise the impact that the teaching of phonics can play in reading and spelling and use 'Floppy's Phonics', a synthetic phonics approach linked to our core reading scheme.

Phonics and reading schemes

We place a great emphasis on reading and the school aims to make reading meaningful by introducing children to a communication friendly environment – using notices, messages, posters and explanations around the school. Pupils become successful readers by learning to use a range of strategies to decipher words and understand the meaning of fiction and non-fiction text. Above all we want children to enjoy reading and develop a love of books.  

Pupils become successful readers by learning to use a range of strategies to decipher words and understand the meaning of fiction and non-fiction text.  Above all we want children to enjoy reading and develop a love of books.   Although we have a structured core scheme – “The Oxford Reading Tree” with books matched to pupils’ phonic ability- we ensure that a wide variety of texts, from numerous genres are read.  Teachers also find opportunities to read across all areas of the curriculum.

Click on the link below to hear how each letter of the alphabet is produced as a sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iRCiMypucN8

Writing

Our vision for writing –

To provide a language rich environment which inspires children to become young authors and poets.

Resulting in –

• high quality writing across a range of genres and subject areas
• well-presented written work of which pupils are proud

As soon as they begin school, pupils are encouraged to write through a range of stimuli, role play, puppets, games and drama.  We place great importance on making writing enjoyable and strive, wherever  possible, to give children a real audience in order to give a purpose to their compositions. As they progress through the school, pupils will begin to understand that their writing will be read by other people and therefore needs to be accurate, legible and organised in an appropriate way.  Correct letter formation is important.  A cursive hand writing scheme is taught throughout Year 1 and 2.  Writing is modelled, shared, guided and carried out independently. The children are taught to write in a variety of different styles including imaginative writing (poetry and stories), recounts, explanations, letters and instructions.  The pupils are encouraged to plan their work carefully and emphasis is put on the use of interesting and appropriate vocabulary.  

Spelling, punctuation and grammar

The national curriculum has a more focused emphasis on the correct use of grammar in both written and spoken language. We aim for the children to use correct punctuation and accurate spelling within their writing in addition to  creativity. 'Spelling Shed' is used for blended learning to support the development of spelling both in school and at home. Children will be taught to use the correct terminology e.g. noun, adjective.                            

Mathematics

Our vision for maths –

To foster a deep conceptual understanding of maths and its significance in everyday life.

Resulting in –

• fluent, accurate recall of key number facts
• a secure understanding of mathematical concepts underpinning the ability to reason and problem solve

Although set out as distinct programmes of study in the national curriculum, we strive to enable our children to make rich connections across mathematical ideas. The principal focus of our teaching is to ensure that pupils develop confidence and mental fluency with whole numbers, counting and place value. This involves working with numerals, words and the four operations using practical resources. We have been working with a Maths Hub for a number of years on developing mastery in maths. This year we are taking part in a 'Numbersense' project across the school, designed to develop pupils' deep understanding of number.  

Pupils develop their ability to recognise, describe, draw compare and sort different shapes and use the related vocabulary.

In the context of measures pupils compare quantities such as length, mass, capacity, time and money. Opportunities are provided for the application of knowledge in new contexts to involve children in higher order thinking skills, such as reasoning and conjecturing. Problem solving provides the opportunity for our children to communicate their results and findings to others. We believe that perseverance, flexibility and resilience are qualities that enable our children to be successful mathematicians. Above all else we want our children to enjoy the challenge of mathematics.

Science

Our vision for science –

To stimulate children through first-hand experiences to develop curiosity about the world around them.

Resulting in –

• a secure understanding of scientific knowledge and processes
• a rich scientific vocabulary to allow them to explain and question

We provide the children with a balance between working scientifically and learning scientific facts.  Pupils are given opportunities to experience and observe the natural and humanly-constructed world around them with access to our outdoor classrooms and visits off the school site. They learn the knowledge, skills and understanding related to the area of science explored, which centres around a Learning Challenge.  This learning is progressive and continuous throughout the school, starting with exploration in the early years.  Our teaching starts with finding out what the children already know which helps to make the teaching of science exciting and interesting, as well as fun.

We encourage children to ask questions about what they observe and help them to develop their understanding of scientific ideas, allowing chances to form hypotheses, investigate and draw conclusions.  Opportunities are given to develop the use of simple scientific language and to talk about what they have found out through scientific enquiry, observation and recording. 

Most of the scientific learning is done through first-hand practical experiences supplemented by secondary sources, such as books, photographs and videos. The school is well equipped with scientific apparatus including digital microscopes and cameras. Links are made with other subjects to make a relevant and interesting curriculum.

Design Technology

Our vision for Design Technology -

To nurture imaginative thinking, innovation and an awareness of the impact of technology on everyday life.

Resulting in:

• enjoyment, creativity and purpose in designing and making.
• enhanced practical and problem solving skills and an interest in how things work.

Pupils are given the opportunity to work on textile and construction projects as well as food technology.  Work is threaded through the ‘Learning Challenges’, allowing teachers to develop cross curricular links and provide the children with the chance to practice their literacy and numeracy skills within D.T.  The pupils are taught how to plan and construct, devise and design using both structured apparatus and kits and non structured materials.  Emphasis is placed on teaching specific practical skills which are then applied to problem solving.  To this end the process is as important as the product and children are  encouraged to evaluate and improve upon their designs.  Importance is put on the safe use of tools and equipment.  We aim to nurture children who are innovative and confident in their work.

Computing

Our vision for computing and ICT -

To enable children to find, explore, analyse, exchange and present information.  

Resulting in -

• fluency in communicating and using information in a discriminating and effective way
• successful participation in a rapidly changing world which is increasingly transformed by technology
• transferable computer literacy

We plan engaging and stimulating sequences of lessons using the Purple Mash scheme of work and Mini Mash in EYFS which are aligned with the ELGs and National Curriculum 2014 objectives. We place a huge emphasis on online safety, launching it right at the beginning of each academic year as part of our transition ‘How do I feel?’ topic. We then revisit how to be safe online throughout the year, ensuring it is taught in context and our children truly understand its relevance and importance. We have an online safety policy which ensures that children are taught how to use the internet safely. Internet access is closely monitored and we have the appropriate filters and inappropriate usage reporting systems in place. Parents/carers will receive a copy of our e-safety charter which outlines the rules we expect pupils to follow when using the internet. We strongly encourage you to apply these rules at home too.

Teaching and learning opportunities for computing, and especially ICT, are incorporated within our creative curriculum, making cross-curricular links with each topic where possible. This supports our children to engage with the subject in a meaningful way where they are immersed in thematic learning. We have a set of 16 laptops and 10 i-pads which can be used in any classroom for whole class teaching, or for small groups or individual pupils to work on. They operate as part of a network in School and each pupil has their own folder within this network where they can store their work.  We also have networked PCs within each classroom which are also linked to an interactive board for whole class teaching. Children are encouraged to develop their basic skills and a level of independence when navigating around and using a range of programmes across all aspects of the curriculum.

Humanities

Our vision for geography –

To promote a fascination about the world and its people, and the interaction between the two 

Resulting in –  

• a secure knowledge about diverse natural and human environments from a local to a global level 

• a deep understanding of the earth’s key physical and human processes 

Our vision for history –

To inspire curiosity to know more about the past and understand how this is relevant to our own time 

Resulting in –  

• a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world 
• critical thinking about different perspectives and forms of historical evidence 

History and geography are taught across the school through cross curricular learning challenges. Children will gain knowledge and skills to help them compare their own lives with those of people in the past and with those living in different parts of the world. We aim to give every child the  opportunity to learn through a range of challenging and stimulating activities, including role play, drama and exploration of our local area. The children will learn about the location of human and physical features of the world and develop the skills of observing, recording and researching. They will learn about historical events and explore ways to find about the past using a range of artefacts, books and educational visits.

Geography and history is covered in the Foundation Stage through their work on knowledge and understanding of the world. 

Music

Our vision for music –

To provide a creative, exhilarating environment which engages and inspires a love of the universal language of music

Resulting in - 

• enjoyment and appreciation of a range of musical genres from a variety of cultures 
• joyful singing and opportunities to perform and celebrate 
• musical exploration and composition

In music, we aim to provide all children with activities that will enable them to develop the skills so that they may participate with confidence and real enjoyment.  We use the 'Charanga' music scheme which engages pupils by exposing them to a wide variety of musical genres. They are provided with opportunities to sing, play classroom percussion instruments, listen and reflect to music and perform to their peers. We aim to provide pupils with opportunities to hear live music by arranging visits from musical ensembles in partnership with Rugby School. For many years, children in Year 2 have been invited to join an after-school song club "Bawnmore Nightingales" where they have taken part in a variety of musical activities and performed at different events in and out of school during the year. However, during the pandemic this was unable to take place and we are not currently running the club but hope to do so again in the future.

Physical Education

Our vision for P.E. –

To provide a fun and varied Physical Education curriculum that inspires a life-long enjoyment of physical activity

Resulting in -

• a positive attitude to physical activity that nurtures resilience
• children that can work and play together happily and co-operatively
• a structured approach to learning physical skills that can be easily transferred

We are proud to be a real legacy school and we are we on a mission to get our children more active by developing the fundamental physical skills that are so often overlooked, our PE lessons are centred around the child to enable them to be successful in the classroom and in later life. Our PE lessons follow a holistic approach to develop children's physical, personal, social and emotional skills. The development of physical skills promotes confidence and co-ordination. Our P.E. curriculum covers gymnastics, athletics and games skills both indoors and outside.  The children also take part in traditional and creative dance.  We aim to promote physical exercise and an understanding of why this is beneficial to health and learning. 

Art and Design

Our vision for art – 

To provide opportunities for children to explore their natural creativity and access the cultural richness and diversity of the visual arts 

Resulting in -  

• self-expression in wide range of visual and tactile forms 
• the informed critical appreciation of their own and others’ work 

Art is an essential element in the development of young children.  It provides a means of communicating ideas and emotions and is an important and exciting way of developing co-ordination.  Work is threaded through the ‘Learning Challenges’, allowing teachers to use art as a stimulus for other subjects, such as science and literacy, in order to develop links across subject areas.  Children are introduced to a wide range of media and techniques, including the use of I.C.T.  Their work is displayed in school to acknowledge its value.  Pupils study the work of well-known artists to develop an appreciation of art and design.  We value creativity and aim to foster an  interest and enjoyment of the subject.

PSHE & RSE

Our vision for PSHE & RSE -

To provide a whole school approach enabling pupils to develop the qualities and attributes they need to thrive as an individual, a family member and as a member of society both now and in the future

Resulting in –

• children who understand and can manage their own feelings and behaviours
• growing levels of self-confidence and resilience
• a secure understanding of the importance of physical and mental health and wellbeing

We plan an engaging and stimulating sequence of lessons using the Jigsaw 3/11 programme which includes schemes of work for each year group including EYFS. These are aligned with the ELGs and National Curriculum 2014 objectives and the updated Guidance February 2020. We deliver the PSHE curriculum by utilising first hand experience and sharing good practice. However, we are aware that the delivered curriculum must reflect the needs of our pupils. We expect teachers to use a PSHE programme to equip pupils with a sound understanding of risk and with the knowledge and skills necessary to make safe and informed decisions. We believe that PSHE plays a vital part of a child’s education and needs to be taught at least weekly. This enables staff to ensure full coverage of PSHE, RSE and our 'Taking Care'  Protective Behaviours curriculum. There are always occasions where teachers may feel it necessary to teach PSHE as a result of an issue arisen in their own class. PSHE is integral to the development of children values in order for them to become positive citizens in a forever changing community. PSHE is an important part of school assemblies where children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural curiosity is stimulated, challenged and nurtured.

Religious Education

Our vision for RE – 

To nurture a child’s respect for and curiosity about others’ beliefs and values, whilst being happy to voice their own ideas

Resulting in -

• a developing knowledge and understanding of the principle religions and worldviews
• knowledge of some key subject specific vocabulary
• a growing ability to ask questions and express their own opinions

Religious Education is provided for all children and is part of the broad balanced curriculum, which is integral to the ethos of the school. It is taught through a Learning Challenge approach using key questions.

The teaching is based on Christian principles and values, encouraging each child to have respect for themselves, each other and the environment around them.  Our policy reflects the traditions and   beliefs of a multicultural society within a Christian culture.  It will include common themes of world religions, which help children to become aware of the hopes, fears and aspirations we all share.  It is in accordance with Warwickshire’s Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education  and encompasses all aspects of equal opportunities.

Our assemblies are of a broadly Christian character but not distinctive of any one denomination.  We have members of local churches who visit to lead assemblies.  Parents may exercise their right to withdraw their child from R.E. and collective worship after consultation with the Headteacher.