• 
• 
  • Welcome
  • Staff
  • Governing Body
  • TAFF
  • Woodpeckers
  • Tavistock Charter
  • Gallery
• 
  • General Information
  • News
  • Diary
  • Parents Feedback
  • School Policies
• 
  • Curriculum
  • Special Needs
  • Assessment
  • R.E.
  • Assemblies
  • Equal Opportunities
• 
• 
• 
• 

 

Curriculum

The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum applies to children in the reception year.  The  National Curriculum begins in year 1 although many children achieve the early learning goals of the foundation stage curriculum before this time and will be working within the national curriculum in the reception year. 

Our curriculum is offered in a warm and caring environment where the child can develop as an individual, intellectually, personally, socially, morally and physically.  We aim to provide experiences which will create a springboard from which the child can go on to the next stage of education with confidence.

We aim to ensure that all children can at the appropriate level: 

Enjoy learning for its own sake and develop perseverance and a belief in their own abilities.

Develop a caring attitude towards others and respect differences in individuals. 

Learn to work independently and as a member of a group. 

Gain enjoyment from reading for pleasure and information. 

Communicate effectively with others in writing and speech. 

Listen attentively to a variety of stimuli and carry out instructions. 

Develop study skills and learn how to learn. 

Develop mathematical skills that they can use as tools in meaningful situations and to solve problems. 

Ask questions about the real world and find answers through first hand experience, thus developing scientific curiosity. 

Develop the basic concepts of historical and geographical awareness. 

Develop a caring attitude towards and environment through the use of school grounds. 

Gain enjoyment, understanding, skills and opportunities for self expression through art, music, movement and drama.  Children are offered opportunities to learn the recorder and violin. 

Use information technology to communicate, handle data and explore situations. 

Develop skills in Design and Technology by exploring familiar situations and responding to needs and opportunities through making objects or designing systems.

Enjoy physical activities and develop a wide range of skills in games, gymnastics and dance.

We aim to teach the basic skills required for traditional team games.  Simple games involving these skills are then introduced to the older children in preparation for sport at the junior school.  One and a half hours a week are allocated to developing skills in games, gymnastics and dance.  Children are able to use the large hall and playing field for sport.  The annual Sports Day takes the form of a team competition involving children in a variety of sporting activities whilst developing an enthusiastic team spirit.  Our close proximity to Hart Leisure Centre also enables us to provide children with the opportunity to learn first swimming skills.

Literacy

Literacy takes place on a daily basis and is interwoven into all areas of the curriculum.

Children work in different groups for activities that include:

• shared, guided and individual reading and writing
• speaking and listening
• keyword spellings and handwriting

Reading

Children will learn to read a wide range of fiction and non-fiction fluently and accurately. They learn to express preferences and understand the main points of a text. They are taught to make efficient use of both the school library and class book corners.

The teaching of reading plays an important part in the early learning experiences of a child.  Parental involvement is highly valued and parents are encouraged to be involved in their child’s reading development through the sharing and enjoyment of books.  The school also has an excellent fiction and non-fiction library, which is open at lunchtime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, when children can look at and borrow books. It is also open on Wednesdays 3.15 - 3.40 pm for parents/carers and children to borrow books.

Writing

Children will learn how to write for a variety of purposes including news, reports and stories. They will be taught basic grammar and punctuation.

Speaking and listening

Children will learn to talk confidently about events, personal experiences, ideas and opinions. They learn how to listen with increasing concentration to other children and adults.

 

Numeracy

Our aims in teaching numeracy at Tavistock are as follows:

To present numeracy as a creative and fascinating process in which children are encouraged to use their imagination, initiative and flexibility of mind.

To encourage children to develop their own mathematical strategies and to become confident.

To ensure that all children are extended in each area of numeracy so that they reach their own potential.

To ensure that all children experience appropriate practical and investigative problem solving activities, presented in oral and written form.

In Year R, numeracy takes place on a daily basis, in a variety of forms, including whole class oral and mental sessions, practical activities and group investigative problem solving activities covering early number, shape, space and measure.

In Years 1 and 2, numeracy takes place on a daily basis with more emphasis on oral and mental maths and recording.

Maths Workshop - 1st April 2009

Parents who attended this year’s maths workshop enjoyed 5 different presentations and practical demonstrations of various maths topics. These spanned the age range of Reception class maths to the more advanced problem solving taking place in Year 2. Parents were able to see how to support their child’s maths development at home in ways that are now very different from the way they had been taught at school.

Feedback from parents about the evening have been very positive.

“I just wanted to drop you a line to let you know how much I enjoyed the maths evening. I really gained a lot from the evening and got such a practical understanding of how maths is taught, the variety of methods used, and in particular the language. I was able to share the information with my husband on returning home and he was really surprised at how much we covered.

I now feel so much clearer and will really enjoy talking about some of these things with my daughter. She already excitedly drew me a number line at breakfast this morning!!

(Year 1 parent)

 

Maths Powerpoint Presentation

Maths vocabulary

 

This is a good website which has lots of links to maths websites: http://www.topmarks.co.uk

 

Science

Our aims for science in our school are as follows:

To develop the children's interest and understanding of the world around them.

To offer children the opportunity to explore and learn about their own environment, particularly through the use of the school grounds.

To encourage children to develop a questioning attitude whilst exploring the world around them.

To develop the skills of planning and carrying out investigations in order to answer questions.

Class lessons led by the teacher may introduce an area of study or new concepts. Investigations may be carried out in mixed ability or same ability groups. Other opportunities may arise for children to work in pairs or individually. Topics will cover three main areas of science: living things and life processes, materials and their properties and physical properties.

The children in Mole Class were asked to describe how these materials felt.

They drew clothes to put into the washing machine and described how they felt
and what they were made from.

 

History

Through the teaching of history we aim to give children an interest in the past, a vocabulary related to the passing of time, an understanding of how things have changed and the ability to use different sources of information.

History is part of our topic work with at least one topic per year having a strong history emphasis. Children look at artifacts and photographs, listen to stories, use books and talk to people. Work may be done as a whole class, in groups or individually and may take the form of writing, art, dance, drama and models.

Topics covered include:

• Toys, old and new
• Guy Fawkes
• Washday
• Florence Nightingale
• Going to the seaside

Victorian Day October 2009

 

Geography

Through the teaching of geography we aim to give children an interest in and an enthusiasm for their own surroundings and the world beyond, an understanding of the differences between places, a sense of responsibility towards their environment and a range of skills to carry out geographical enquiry.

Geography is taught as part of the class topic work. At least one topic per year has a strong geographical emphasis. Work starts with what children know and moves further afield with practical experiences and fieldwork being most important.

Children use a range of resources including maps, computers, pictures and books. They learn about the geography of the school and its grounds, the weather, the local area and the use of land.

 

Religious Education

Through the religious education curriculum we hope to enable children to develop an awareness of themselves and a positive attitude to their emotions, help children develop an awareness of how to get along with others, and give them an interest in the world and its diversity of people and cultures.

The content of R.E. is drawn largely from Christianity, although comparisons are made with Judaism. Christian festivals, such as Easter and Christmas, are covered.

R.E. often forms a part of the class topic work. Children explore and reflect on their own experiences and feelings. They discuss people, objects, places and events around them. They listen to stories, look at artifacts and buildings and listen to music.

Each school day has a non-denominational assembly or class worship. Parents who wish to withdraw their child from assembly or any direct religious education, e.g. bible stories, may do so by informing the head teacher in writing.

 

Music

We aim to help children develop an enjoyment of a variety of music from different cultures, eras and styles, through listening and practical music making experiences.

As a whole class, in small groups, or individually they learn to compose, perform, listen and appraise.

Music often supports the topic work for the term.

A wide variety of tuned and untuned percussion instruments are available.

Children in Year 2 can learn the recorder and/or join the choir.

Visiting musicians perform regularly for all the children. These may be professional performers or children from All Saints Junior School, Court Moor or Calthorpe Park schools.

 

Design Technology

Design and technology is about designing and making products of quality. Children are encouraged to look at the world around them and ask questions about how things have been made.

The children work in small groups, pairs or individually. They may explore, draw, talk about, design and evaluate existing products. They learn practical skills including how to join materials together.

The children are required to use sheet materials, textiles, food, construction kits and items that can be assembled to make products.

They are given opportunities to use their knowledge to develop a product that meets a need. These include pop-up cards, moving vehicles, party food and puppets.

They are taught how to use tools and materials safely and are always under supervision.

Design and technology is often developed as part of the topic work taking place in the classroom and has links with many other subjects such as Science, LIteracy and Numeracy.

 

Art

The following experiences are offered to children in art - painting, printmaking, collage, drawing, sculpture and construction.

Work in art is linked to the class topic for the term. The skills needed to work in all these areas are developed as the children progress through the school. They record what has been experienced, observed and imagined, they experiment with tools and techniques, they explore pattern, texture, colour, line, tone, space and form. They also review and reflect on their own and others' work.

Children are introduced to the work of artists, crafts people and designers from a variety of cultures from the past and present. Local artists are invited into school. Looking at the work of different artists may act as an inspiration to children for their own work.

 

Personal, Social & Health Education

We aim to enable children to be effective learners, value themselves and others, understand their rights and responsibilities towards the rights of others, develop self respect, self confidence and self discipline. Also to develop a regard for equality and respect for different ways of life, respect non-violent ways of resolving conflict and develop some understanding of the world of work.

Their individual experiences are used as starting points. This could include discussion about bullying, feelings, other cultures and celebrations. The Tavistock Charter is used as a basis for helping children to learn how to manage their behaviour and understand the need for rules. They take part in events such as Walk to School Week and other national awareness raising events. They are encouraged to care for the environment. Through topic work they think about keeping healthy and have opportunities to be involved in visits into the community.

An average of half an hour a week is spent covering this work directly although there are many opportunities throughout the school day to tackle these issues. Children may work as a whole class, in teams, pairs or as individuals depending on the activity.

 

P.E.

 

One and a half hours a week are allocated to developing skills in games, gymnastics and dance. We aim to teach the basic skills required for traditional team games.  Simple games involving these skills are then introduced to the older children in preparation for sport at the junior school.    Children are able to use the large hall and playing field for sport.  The annual Sports Day takes the form of a team competition involving children in a variety of sporting activities whilst developing an enthusiastic team spirit.  Our close proximity to Hart Leisure Centre also enables us to provide children with the opportunity to learn first swimming skills.

 

ICT

All children have weekly lessons taught by their class teacher in the ICT Suite.

Last year they practised their keyboard skills using the BBC Dance Mat www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing, and used search engines to research topics, such as their class animals and healthy food. They learnt how to input digital images into their work and to use tools within various art packages and publishing programs independently. Children in Years 1 and 2 learnt how to control a programmable robot by carrying out a sequence of instructions.

 

The children in Badger Class learnt about the different parts of the computer and labelling a computer using 'Espresso'. They used 'My World 3' and also an art package to create Autumn trees and firework pictures. In class they used Talking Textease and Clicker 4 to make sentences. They coloured in Elmer using 'Paint' and designed Diwali Rangoli patterns.

 

Rabbit Class used My World 3 and concentrated on mouse skills. They painted some fantastic firework pictures with Mrs Lees (see Gallery) and they used Espresso to learn about shapes and made posters and pictures using 2Publish.

 

Computer Club is run by Mr Gadd (governor) at lunchtime on Wednesday and Thursday for Year 2 children

 

Homework

Regular opportunities to spend time with your child working together are invaluable. He/she will benefit enormously from being close to you, in an atmosphere which is relaxed, where you can give praise and show that you are interested in his/her work.

In the Reception class, sharing and enjoying books together and learning new words as requested by the class teacher, will form the basis of the homework activities.

As children progress through the school additional homework will be set, which will include mathematical activities as well as spellings and topic related tasks.

Class teachers issue clear guidance at the start of the year to ensure parents know what to expect and how to help. Parents are encouraged to support children with homework tasks, especially as this will often form the basis of work in class.

In Year 2 the homework is set fortnightly through Education City, a website to which we have subscribed, in order for the children to practise their literacy and numeracy skills, as well as use their scientific knowledge and understanding.  A range of colourful, animated activities are selected each fortnight. If internet access is problematic for whatever reason, the activities can be undertaken during lunchtime.

 

Enrichment

Children take part in a programme of eight different workshop sessions in Years 1 and 2 designed to enrich the curriculum. These sessions are designed to provide enjoyable new experiences that offer the chance for children to learn team skills, solve problems and be creative, develop their language and enjoyment of music and dance and work on their computer skills. A new development this year has seen the introduction of a set of sessions to help children understand how money impacts on the choices we can make and allows children to make decisions about what to buy in a variety of situations.

In July 2009 OFSTED Inspectors reported that “The children particularly like their weekly enrichment afternoon when they have the chance to discover new talents and skills, such as making music in the copse or making a newspaper about sports week in the ICT suite”.

This term:

Art

Year 1 are developing their creativity and imagination by exploring visual, tactile and sensory qualities of a variety of art from other cultures.

 

Music & Singing

The theme is 'Transport' and activities for Year 2 include listening to a piece of rhythmic American music, composing a seascape and recognising fast and slow rhythms.

Conflict Resolution Skills

These skills aim to help children understand the notion of conflict and communicating the feelings around it.

Country Dancing

The children are introduced to some traditional dances of the British Isles.

 

Library Skills

The children in Year One are taught how to find both fiction and non-fiction books in the library. They learn where to find the contents page, the index and who the author is.

Children in Year Two are taught how to find information books and get interesting facts from them. They also learn how to link this information to other books.

 

Spend and Save - Personal Finance Education

This is to help children develop money management skills, understand the concept of money, making choices, saving for the future and develop awareness of the impact of decisions on themselves and others.

 

ICT

This term Year 1 are learning about parts of the computer, how to access a program from the desktop, use 2Publish to paint a picture, save and retrieve it.

 

Speaking and Listening

The children practise listening with sustained concentration, to listen and follow instructions accurately and to speak with clarity and use intonation when reading and reciting texts.