Curriculum

Maths

Our aim is that all children become fluent mathematicians who have a deep and lasting understanding of both mathematical concepts and processes.

Our curriculum design teaches principles of mastery and follows a coherent and detailed sequence of essential content to support sustained progression over time.

Mastery explained

GLOW Maths Hub

In EYFS and KS1 we use the Glow Maths Hub Mastering Number approach which aims to develop solid number sense and to strengthen the understanding of number, and fluency, with number facts. Continuous provision activities after teaching input in EYFS provide the children with further learning opportunities. In the summer term, children prepare for moving to KS1 by starting to follow and use those lesson structures and types of questions.

In KS1 and KS2, children are taught in their own year groups so they can focus on their own specific sequence of learning. The lessons are structured to give children the opportunity to use concrete and pictorial resources to deepen their understanding, to develop their mathematical thinking and to increase their fluency. Children are encouraged to use mathematical vocabulary to explain their reasoning, to make connections between their learning and to apply their understanding to problem solving tasks.

Reading

Our aim is that all children become confident and fluent readers who see themselves as readers for both pleasure and purpose.

English, particularly reading, is at the heart of our curriculum, as it is through their use of English that our children communicate, connect and can access the wider curriculum.

Children in EYFS and KS1 have daily phonics lessons in their year groups using the English Hub's Unlocking Letters and Sounds scheme. We use the actions from Unlocking Letters and Sounds to support children’s learning until they are sufficiently confident with their phonic knowledge to stop using them. Pupils also enjoy regular guided reading sessions in small groups.

All children take home reading books matched to the phonic phase they are working on before they become ‘independent readers’ choosing books to borrow from their class libraries or our school library.

Lessons in KS2 focus on developing the fluency and expression of the children’s reading by exposing pupils to extracts of a wide variety of texts, discussing vocabulary and using a range of comprehension questions to develop skills such as retrieval, inference, summarising, prediction and explanation skills.

Children continue to take books home to enjoy, choosing from their class reading corners and the school library.