How we Teach

Maths

Our aim is that all children become fluent mathematicians who have a deep and lasting understanding of both mathematical concepts and processes and who are able to reason and solve a variety of problems by applying what they have learned in a range of contexts. We encourage pupils to have a positive mindset and advocate that all children can succeed in mathematics.  Our curriculum design teaches principles of mastery, https://www.ncetm.org.uk/teaching-for-mastery/mastery-explained/the-essence-of-mathematics-teaching-for-mastery/, following a coherent and detailed sequence of essential content to support sustained progression over time and is supported by the GLOW Maths Hub https://www.glowmathshub.com/.

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 and are able to understand a wide range of reading materials and develop the start of a lifelong love of reading.

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.

Writing

Our aim is that all children become confident writers who write clearly, coherently and appropriately; planning, adapting and editing how they write to suit the purpose for which, and the audience for whom, they are writing.

There are two elements to writing:

• transcription – phonics, spelling, grammar, punctuation and handwriting; and

• composition - developing, organising and writing down ideas.  

Children in EYFS start to develop their writing skills by mark making and activities using fine motor skills. They are taught how to form letters and begin to learn spellings in their phonics lessons. English lessons focus on developing their communication skills, storytelling abilities and sentence structuring.

Writing is taught in KS1 & KS2 as part of the English Learning Journey. 

We start with the building blocks of grammar and punctuation the children need to learn and know to construct sentences – ‘The Place Value of Punctuation and Grammar’ (PVPG). This means they understand what makes a sentence before they try to write one. We then apply our knowledge and move on to writing.

Children learn to write in a range of forms for four key purposes – to discuss, entertain, inform and persuade. Varied, high quality texts are chosen to engage and inspire the pupils in each class at the time, to support their learning, to link with areas of study and to include wide-ranging vocabulary.

Children learn comprehension and analytical skills, grammar, punctuation, planning and proof reading.

Children in Key Stages One and Two also have spelling lessons which focus on spelling rules.

Oracy

Our aim is that all children become confident, articulate and effective communicators able to speak and listen to others, tackle complex issues and understand the news and wider world.

Oracy, the skill of speaking and listening, is a key component of learning at Isbourne Valley School. Good communication is a key life skill. Strong oracy skills improve outcomes across the curriculum, help children form secure relationships with adults and other children, and reduce the likelihood of young people suffering mental health challenges.

We include talk in our lessons to allow children to discuss ideas, thoughts and judgements collaboratively. This helps children take responsibility for their own learning and enables them to develop their skills in presenting information, actively listening, thinking about how to respond, question or probe further, evaluating information and reaching and sharing conclusions.

Developing a wide vocabulary is a key element of having strong oracy skills. Our lessons in all subjects include progressive key vocabulary including new words, phrases and concepts that children need to really understand a topic, link it to their prior learning and be able to explain their learning.

Additional support

Children all learn and develop at their own rates. From time to time there may be something they find particularly difficult or a bit of a hurdle. We want to help them overcome these as quickly as possible. We provide a range of specific planned interventions and support and give children the opportunity to practise previously learnt concepts to fully secure and embed their understanding.

Useful documents

Our How I Can Help My Child booklet, Resources booklet, reading question stems, How we teach and learn mathematics booklet and links to online resources can be found in the documents tab.