We aim to make learning exciting and in a meaningful context for children. Subjects are linked cohesively, giving meaning and purpose to pupils’ learning through a cross-curricular approach. Where this is not achievable subjects are taught discretely. Numeracy and Literacy are the key elements of our curriculum. These subjects are both taught discretely with links to the class’ current Learning Challenge where this is appropriate.
Should you require any further information regarding our curriculum, please speak to your child's class teacher.
Reading
At Annesley, we believe that the teaching of reading is integral to a child’s understanding and appreciation of the world around them; a platform that allows our children to see beyond what they know, share in cultural experiences and develop the vocabulary they need to effectively express themselves. Our reading curriculum strives to foster a lifelong love of reading. We cultivate the behaviours that they will need to be discerning readers as they read frequently and widely using self-regulation strategies and discuss what they read. This curriculum is delivered through synthetic phonics, a linked approach to shared and guided reading, home reading, reading across the curriculum, regular opportunities for independent reading and hearing quality texts read aloud every day. All of these are essential components as they offer the range of opportunities needed to develop fluent, enthusiastic and critical readers.
It is important that children are motivated to read at home regularly; when their reading opportunities increase, so does their fluency and stamina which in turn increases their enjoyment of reading. Therefore, the link between children’s motivation to read and reading for pleasure is reciprocal. Furthermore, we know that reading pleasure is beneficial not only for not only reading outcomes, but for wider learning enjoyment and mental wellbeing. Thus, we work hard to foster a love of independent reading and build communities of engaged readers. We understand the significance of parents and carers in supporting their children to develop both word reading and comprehension skills so we endeavour to build a home-school partnership which enables parents and carers to have the confidence to support their children with reading at home.
Reading is at the very heart of our curriculum. We are committed to promoting a love for reading.
Writing
Writing, given the right environment and stimulus, is an aspect of literacy that can give enormous pleasure. We aim to enable our pupils to consider themselves as ‘writers’, to encourage confidence and the motivation to want to write and to have sufficient control over the mechanics of writing to allow for skillful development of the writing process. We aim to ensure a balanced mix of approaches to writing so that our pupils achieve the skills required, a positive attitude, confidence as well as creativity and a love of writing. We aim to set high expectations of pupils and to give writing a high profile in all its forms.
Maths
At Annesley Primary and Nursery School, we believe that children should be equipped to solve problems; develop ways of looking at patterns; discover efficient strategies and make links between the different areas of maths. We believe maths is a universal language; it helps us to describe, make sense, investigate, understand and respect our ever-changing world. We believe all children can achieve in mathematics, and teach for secure and deep understanding of concepts through fluency, number sense and reasoning. Where possible, we try to make our maths ‘real maths’, making our learning and experiences relevant to everyday life. We use mistakes and misconceptions as an essential part of learning and provide challenges through rich and varied problems. We encourage children to use approaches, which work for them, by equipping them with a range of efficient strategies and ensuring an understanding of them. At our school, the majority of children will be taught age related content and will be supported in understanding this through pre-teaching and close the gap teaching when necessary. We aim to make maths an exciting and varied experience to enable children to flourish and achieve.
Our medium and long term plans and sequencing of lessons follow the White Rose mastery approach (FS2 through Year 6) where the goal is to deepen understanding so that each lessons builds upon the last. Mathematical concepts and skills are broken up across the key stages. A concept is taught and will be revisited the following year, but in greater depth in order to build upon prior knowledge. We start with number (place value, addition/subtraction, multiplication/division - KS2) which is consolidated first before moving on to measurement, statistics and geometry. This is important as the children will them be able to use their number skills and then apply it to the other mathematical disciplines. A progression map has been provided to all teachers so that they understand where children are coming from and where they are headed. We tailor our sequential plans to individual cohorts. As the pupils enter UKS2 we build in more opportunities to access material that is above their age level, in preparation for the 11+ and continuation on to secondary.
Science
At Annesley we have a clear vision for science. Our vision is to make all of our pupils into little scientists combined with ‘Achieving Together’. We aim to ensure a balanced mix of approaches to so that all of our pupils can achieve the skills required, a positive attitude, confidence as well as interest and a lifelong curiosity for the world around them.
We aim to provide a high quality science education that provides children with the foundations they need to recognise its importance in every aspect of daily life. We give the teaching and learning of the subject high prominence with regular weekly learning.Teachers will ensure that all children are exposed to high quality teaching and learning experiences delivered through questions to inculcate a love of learning. These will hook the children’s interest, enabling them to develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They will be encouraged to ask questions about the world around them and work scientifically to further their conceptual understanding and scientific knowledge. Children will be encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes. It will provide opportunities for the critical evaluation of evidence and rational explanation of scientific phenomena as well as opportunity to apply their mathematical knowledge to their understanding of science, including collecting, presenting and analysing data. Children will be immersed in key scientific vocabulary, which supports in the acquisition of scientific knowledge and understanding. All children will be provided with a broad and balanced science curriculum which reflects the equality and diversity policies and practice in school.
Computing
It is our intention enable pupils to develop the skills needed to utilise technology effectively. We intend to build a computing curriculum that prepares pupils to live safely in an increasingly digital British society where pupils can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems. Computing is an integral part to a child’s education and everyday life. Therefore, we intend to support our pupils to access and understand the core principles of this subject through engaging and cross-curricular opportunities. Our computing curriculum is built around the four core pillars of: basic computer skills, word processing and presentation skills, programming and e-safety.
Citizenship and RSE
For our Citizenship sessions, we follow a scheme called Jigsaw. Jigsaw holds children at its heart, and its cohesive vision helps children understand and value how they fit into and contribute to the world. With strong emphasis on emotional literacy, building resilience and nurturing mental and physical health, Jigsaw 3-11 properly equips schools to deliver engaging and relevant Citizenship and RSE within a whole-school approach. Jigsaw lessons also include mindfulness allowing children to advance their emotional awareness, concentration, focus and self-regulation.
Religious Education
In Religious Education, we intend to provide children with a well-rounded view of the different world religions. We aim to guide them in their understanding of the key elements within each religion, how these are celebrated and to promote tolerance and understanding towards all religious beliefs. In doing so, we promote self-reflection and aim for all children to understand how their own beliefs and ideas are both similar and different to others around them. We encourage questioning both of their own ideas and of the world around them.
Every student should leave Annesley Primary & Nursery School with a deeper understanding of their own opinions/beliefs and tolerance and respect for the opinions/beliefs of others.
History
Annesley Primary School is situated in an area rich in History, both ancient and recent. As a school, we provide children with the chance to learn and appreciate the importance of their historical past.
We use the teaching of history to stimulate the children’s interest and understanding about the life of people who lived in the past.
History teaching will be used to foster in children an interest in the past and to develop an understanding that enables them to enjoy all that history has to offer, whilst enabling children to know about significant events in British history and to appreciate how things have changed over time and also to develop a sense of chronology.
We intend to contribute to a child’s citizenship education through helping them understand about democracy, help them understand how Britain is part of a wider European culture and to study some aspects of European history, develop skills of enquiry, investigation, analysis and evaluation and help children understand society and their place within it, so that they develop a sense of their cultural heritage.
Geography
Geography is essentially about understanding the world we live in. It helps to provoke and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world. At Annesley children are encouraged to develop a greater understanding and knowledge of the world, their local area, as well as their place in it. The geography curriculum enables children to develop knowledge and skills that are transferrable to other curriculum areas. Geography is an investigative subject, which develops an understanding of concepts, knowledge and skills. At Annesley our intent, when teaching geography, is to inspire in children a curiosity and fascination about the world and people within it; to promote the children’s interest and understanding of diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes.
Art and Design
The intent of our art and design curriculum is to engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art and design. We want pupils to develop an understanding of art and design. They will know how art and design has shaped our history, culture and nation.
Design and Technology
D&T is a study of man-made objects/systems/environments for the purpose of solving particular human needs.
It involves 3 elements:
Music
At Annesley Primary and Nursery School, we recognise that learning music is a statutory entitlement for all pupils. Our intention is first and foremost to help children feel that they are musical, and to develop a life-long love of music. We focus on developing the skills, knowledge and understanding that children need in order to become confident performers, composers and listeners. Our curriculum introduces children to music from all around the world and across generations, teaching children to respect and appreciate the music of all traditions and communities.
MFL
We recognise that learning a modern foreign language is a statutory entitlement for all pupils and we are committed to the principle that learning another language helps foster a curiosity and deeper understanding of other cultures and the world in general. We believe that learning to understand, speak, read and write another language during Key Stage 2 will provide the basis for learning other languages, which in turn will provide important opportunities for future study and work in other countries. In our school we teach French.