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Westgate Primary School Curriculum Statement

 

September 2014 saw the introduction of the new national curriculum.  We have invested a great deal of time and energy to ensure that our new 2014 curriculum is unique to Westgate in that it is specifically tailored towards the needs and interests of the children.  Through the curriculum, we aim to prepare pupils for the opportunities, experiences and responsibilities of adult life and to lay a firm foundation for future learning.  We seek to provide a broad, balanced, differentiated curriculum and offer a wide range of exciting, challenging activities and experiences to all pupils irrespective of ability, background, ethnic origin or gender.

We acknowledge that people learn in many different ways and we recognise the need to develop strategies that allow all children to learn in ways that suit them.  Opportunities are planned to cater for a range of different learning styles to ensure that all children can access the curriculum and learn in a way that is best for them.

 

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

In the Foundation Stage, a variety of structured play and practical activities are planned to help children develop in the following three prime areas of learning:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Communication and Language

Physical Development

The framework can be found here Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) – Schools.  We teach this framework through topics that excite the children; we gather their ideas and plan according to their needs and interests.

 

Key Stage 1 and 2

At Key Stage 1 and 2, children have a daily Literacy and Mathematics lesson.

As a school, we recognise the importance of reading for all children and therefore have a comprehensive and thorough approach to the teaching of reading across the school including daily phonics lessons in KS1.  School follows the Letters and Sounds scheme of work for phonics and uses several reading schemes to ensure they have access to a varied diet of reading. Many reading books are phonics based and all are banded according to the level of difficulty.  Writing is taught through a topic-based approach, as much as possible, in order to provide purpose and audience for the children.  Grammatical accuracy is embedded in the teaching of writing but also as a discrete element of the Literacy curriculum.

The new Mathematics curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils become fluent in the fundamental of Mathematics including the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.  Children at Westgate are taught to reason mathematically, solve problems and apply their mathematical skills in a variety of real life contexts.

In addition to Literacy and Mathematics, children are taught to develop their skills, understanding and creativity in Science, Computing, History, Geography, Design Technology, Music, Art, Physical Education and Religious Education (which is based on the locally agreed syllabus).  Additionally, French is taught from Year 3 onwards.  All children in Year 3 have a weekly music lesson in which they are taught how to play a woodwind instrument, violin and a range of other instruments and tuition is provided for children in Key Stage 2 who demonstrate a musical ability.

Values Education forms an integral part of the curriculum at Westgate.  It helps to give pupils the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to lead confident, healthy, independent lives and to become informed, active, responsible citizens.  All members of staff are committed to encouraging the children to develop an effective knowledge of right and wrong and to take responsibility for their own behaviour.

Children are taught about the community in which they live and are encouraged to work in co-operation with other members of the school community.  Supporting charities, both local and further afield, is encouraged.  All children are expected to undertake appropriate responsibilities within the class and school, e.g. caring for the classroom environment, participating in class assemblies and participating in out of school activities.

We aim to develop children’s enjoyment, confidence and skill in physical activity and introduce them to the pleasures of sport to help develop active children who benefit from a healthy lifestyle.  Through a multi-skills approach, children develop their skills in football, netball, hockey, rounders and cricket, as well as athletics, gymnastics, dance and swimming. Children access a good range of after school clubs in a wide range of different activities to supplement PE time in school and we enhance and enrich the curriculum through a variety of activities including educational visits, school performances, visitors to school, after school clubs and links with local High Schools.

Westgate’s 2015 curriculum has been designed to meet the needs of all our children.  Many topics are brought together, where possible, and taught in a cross-curricular way, to maximise the use of time but also to make experiences more meaningful and provide children with a real context for learning.  The high quality of ICT equipment and software also means ICT is an integral part of many teaching and learning experiences.

 

If you wish to know more about the schools curriculum please contact the school directly on 832747 (01524)