School Curriculum

CURRICULUM SUBJECTS

English (Literacy)

English consists of speaking, listening, reading, writing, handwriting, spelling and drama. Emphasis is placed on developing speaking and listening skills so that the children can use these effectively. We strongly believe in reading as the basis of literacy and we have created an extensive range of resources and books to develop reading skills. We have a small school library and classroom book areas, but we also extensively use loans from the Wiltshire Resource Library for books, audio visual aids and artefacts. The creation of a more suitable library space is a priority on our Development Plan. We follow the National Literacy Framework. We use “Letters and Sounds” and the National Curriculum Key Words to support reading, writing and spelling. For more details of this method please talk to your child’s teacher.

All children in Key Stage 1 and 2 undertake literacy work every day, which is frequently linked to other curriculum areas. The structure laid out in the National Literacy Framework is followed, and adapted to meet the needs of individual classes. Reception classes begin working on Letters and Sounds immediately, then gradually introduce elements of the literacy hour as the children develop awareness.

The children are set targets by the teacher, based upon current needs. These are discussed and negotiated with the child. Targets are recorded in individual assessment books, which are kept in the classroom. Parents are invited to share these targets and to work on them with their children at home.

In the early stages, the children are given a number of words a week with which to practise spelling and reading. As the National Literacy Strategy states that children at the end of Key Stage 1 should be reading and spelling a large number of high frequency words, these words have been split into groups for special focus by Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children. Children in Key Stage 2 build on their knowledge, develop their skills and learn a wider range of strategies in order to independently spell and read unfamiliar words.

Mathematics

Mathematics is another core subject which children study. The National Numeracy Strategy and Framework provide the structure for lesson planning. The lesson is split into sections, the first of which is mental and oral work. This part of the lesson is very important, as it gives the children the opportunity to build up strategies for manipulating numbers in their heads, so that they do not become over-reliant on paper methods. Other parts of the lesson require children to work on a variety of activities in groups, pairs or individually. Not all the work is to do with numbers; it also covers measures, shape and space. Problem solving skills are developed to ensure that the children can apply their maths skills in real life activities. In all areas of maths we want children to be able to enjoy their work and not to be afraid of it. Maths can be fun! As with literacy the teachers set maths targets for the pupils to steadily improve their skills.

Science

Science is one of the core subjects, which is taught weekly through a range of topics. During the Reception year children are introduced to skills and knowledge through the Early Learning Goals, whilst in Yr 1 and Yr 2 they follow the National Curriculum, developing knowledge, skills and understanding by exploring living things such as humans, other animals and green plants, materials and physical processes, including electricity, forces and light and sound.
 

History

In History we aim to enrich and extend the children’s knowledge of how the past is different from the present, both in lifestyle and buildings. We use the local area, which is rich in historical sites, to ensure relevance. The lives of renowned people and significant past events will be studied through visits, museum displays, stories, drama, films and The Internet. Study of the past helps the children to understand our cultural heritage.

 

Geography

Throughout their stay at King’s Park children will be encouraged to investigate their own surroundings. In Foundation they learn about their immediate surroundings and the natural and manmade objects within it. In Key Stage 1 they explore the locality of the school and its environment including the town. They compare this with a contrasting locality, such as a seaside environment. In Key Stage 2 the children will develop their knowledge of the wider world and learn how a range of changes can impact on people’s lives. They are encouraged to find out things for themselves and relate cause and effect.

Children will be following directions, making and using maps, fieldwork studies, and will back this with sound geographical terminology. Key Stage 2 pupils have an opportunity to go on residential visits funded by parental donation. Plenty of notice is given and parents are able to pay in instalments. Parents who are experiencing hardship should see the Head Teacher to discuss payments.

 

R.E.

Religious Education is an educational entitlement, providing a personal search for meaning, purposes and values, and encouraging understanding of, and respect for, the beliefs and values of others.

The children will be taught a broad and secure base of skills, which underpins the ability to think, reason, reflect and articulate ideas. These skills include interpretation, communication, analysis and evaluation. Christianity is the main focus, however the children also learn about other religions and beliefs in order to understand other groups.

Worship

The Law requires that worship is mainly Christian and that we should congregate for it on a daily basis. Bible stories, stories from other religions, moral tales and exemplary lives are used to exemplify religious and moral ideas.

PE

We believe strongly in helping children to develop their physical skills. We aim to provide a wide range of opportunities for children to undertake physical activity. The children participate in dance, gymnastics. There are indoor and outdoor games lessons. Key Stage 2 pupils take part in outdoor challenges, which for older pupils will include a range of orienteering and problem solving activities.

Sports and Sporting Achievements

At Key Stage 1 the children learn the skills that are a pre-requisite for the more competitive sports that they learn and develop in Key Stage 2. Older children take part in competitive games such as football and netball. They also do Cross Country Running in the park nearby. The fastest runners participate in Cross Country Competitions.

We strongly feel that children should be taught to swim. All children in Years 3 and 4 attend weekly swimming lessons at the Melksham Blue Pool for at least four terms a year. Year 3 pupils have their weekly swimming lessons subsidised by a grant. Please note that pool staff ask that children tie back long hair or wear swimming caps, and that earrings should not be worn on swimming days

 

 

Music

Children will have opportunities to listen carefully and respond physically to a wide range of different kinds of music. They children play musical instruments and sing a variety of songs from memory, adding accompaniment and creating short compositions with increasing confidence, imagination and control.

Year three and four children are taught to play the recorder and Year 5 and 6 a funded peripatetic music teacher, teaches them to play brass instruments.

In essence music is a subject in which all can respond in very different ways at their own ability. It is also fun.

Music forms a significant part of the various performances for parents, to which you are invited throughout the year.

Art

During a child’s time at King’s Park Primary School, we ensure that they experience a wide range of media and techniques to explore and develop their creativity. The children will create artwork focusing on colour mixing, observation drawing, imaginative drawing, printing, collage and computer graphics in 2D. They will explore weaving, clay sculpture, paper/3D object modelling and papier mache to create 3D work. We involve free mark making, painting and drawing into our planning in Nursery and Reception, and develop this in sketchbooks in Years 1, 2, 3 and 4 as we believe it is important for children to explore controlling images and colours autonomously. Exploring ideas and techniques and explaining them to others are important aspects of art work, as well as looking at the work of a range of artists and expressing their own views. The school has an Arts Week once a year and the children in Key Stage 2 are given an opportunity to attend an Art Club after school.

Information Communication Technology

Information Communication Technology (ICT) is a core subject. It incorporates the use of computers, concept keyboards, cassette recorders and programmable robots (Roamers). Children complete activities based on the handling of data, using the computer to communicate information and controlling and programming the Roamer.
We have an ICT suite which we are planning to expand and laptop computers for use in the Key Stage 2 classrooms. ICT is playing an increasingly important role in all our lives and it is essential that we prepare our children for this. All but one of our classrooms has an interactive whiteboard. These are used extensively in lessons across the curriculum. There is a programme to ensure that the final classroom has one as soon as funds allow.

Design Technology

In Design and Technology studies the children work through a process of designing and making whilst investigating objects around them. The children plan their ideas and use a range of materials and tools to carry them out. An important part of the process is to develop the skills of evaluation, which is an integral part of the process.

French

The children in Key Stage 2 are introduced to French in an interactive way through activities, games and conversation. Modern Foreign Languages are taught more comprehensively in Key Stage 3.