Curriculum
Pre-Prep (Lodge)
We believe children should be happy, secure and confident at school, and that this is the best starting point for all success. By offering a greater degree of practical lessons with the latest learning resources, teaching at Lodge goes beyond the guidelines set by the National Curriculum. There are frequent off-site visits and activity days giving every child the chance to broaden their horizons.
13 subjects are taught in Lodge, and these are explained in more detail below. Music, Physical Education and French are taught by subject specialists, and History, Georgraphy and Science are covered in the children's topic work.
English
Literacy follows the broad outline of the National Literacy Strategy. Time is spent discussing stories and encouraging the children to offer ideas and opinions of their own. Each child reads to an adult every day. In School, the scheme used is the Oxford Reading Tree, which is augmented at home with a reading book from a variety of other schemes and sources, and recorded in a home library book. Our aims are to foster a love of reading, learning for oneself and sharing with others, communicating confidently when speaking and developing a growing awareness in writing skills. Phonics is the basis of reading and part of each day's lessons, leading to a wider range of strategies as each child develops his or her skills and makes progress. Speaking and listening skills are of great importance and opportunities are given in class and to wider audiences to develop clarity and confidence. It is a source of pride to see children perform in assemblies, take part in collective worship and participate in annual Nativity plays and concerts. This also helps provide a focus for their enthusiasm, curiosity and imagination.
Each week a spelling list of phonic and high frequency words are learned and tested as part of home learning. Children are awarded stars for effort and/or attainment.
A cursive style of handwriting is introduced in Year 2. Children are taught and encouraged to take pride in the organisation and presentation of their own work.
Assessment
All children are assessed with nationally produced, standardised materials. This is to help ensure that they are making appropriate progress and to diagnose particular strengths and weaknesses. (Of course we also place great weight on the evidence from children's day-to-day work, as a test result may not always be the best indicator of his or her ability.)
All children are special, but some have particular skills that are developed early to an unusual degree, and others need additional help to master some aspects of their learning. For both groups we aim to provide a range of materials and teacher support in the classroom.
In reception and Years 1 and 2, we are often able to provide additional specialist help in the classroom so that children have extra support for their class work. The class teacher and learning support teacher work on common targets, which the children understand they are aiming to achieve.
Back to Top
Mathematics
Mathematics is a key part of the curriculum. With the National Numeracy Strategy as a guideline, carefully planned and structured lessons are taught on a regular basis from Reception to Year 2. Children are introduced to numeracy through practical, mental and written mathematical activities differentiated according to their age and ability. We recognise that it is essential for children to make sense of what they are being taught in order to develop a sound understanding of Mathematics.
Throughout Lodge we use the New Heinemann Maths scheme as a teaching resource. We supplement this with teachers' own materials and other relevant and appropriate publications. Computers and CD ROMs are used to provide additional stimulus and mathematical skills and understanding are explored in all curriculum areas. Within our teaching, there are open-ended activities that focus upon mathematical processes providing the children with a stimulating diet of exploratory and practical activities. An emphasis is put on realistic and everyday situations when children, through role-play or investigations, can develop confidence and enjoyment while learning and reinforcing mathematical concepts.
We pay particular attention to the development of mental skills in Mathematics. At all ages our pupils are taught with mental strategies before moving on to written algorithms. Most of our lessons start with a session of mental maths as an introduction to the concept to be taught. We usually teach a topic to the whole class and children follow this up by working independently or in differentiated pairs or small groups.
Parents are encouraged to practise, develop and extend their children's experience of number and Mathematics at home. Teachers may ask a parent to help children at home with a specific activity. One piece of Maths homework is set each week for Year 2 pupils.
Back to Top
Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education
Lodge children are encouraged to abide by a set of simple 'Golden Rules' that are displayed in all classrooms.
- Be kind and gentle
- Be helpful and polite
- Look after property and share with others
- Listen to people
- Be honest
- Work hard and 'reach for the sun'
- Have fun!
The PSHCE programme enhances this code of behaviours still further, and aims to:
- Raise self esteem
- Develop communication and social skills
- Empower children to make responsible choices and decisions
- Enhance concentration and the ability to learn
- Teach positive ways of resolving disruption and conflict
- Reduce bullying and antisocial behaviours
- Create a safe, calm environment
- Improve the links between home and School
Each week, PSHCE runs in all classes through a dedicated circle time. We encourage the children to behave thoughtfully and with great consideration for others. Ways of solving conflicts are discussed and the ability to empathise is nurtured.
Back to Top
Science
Through Science, children learn about the varied aspects of the world and how it works. They will develop scientific concepts and carry out investigations. Lessons in all year groups involve much discussion in order to develop skills of enquiry, a bank or scientific vocabulary and to initiate curiosity. Children are involved in teacher-led and hands-on activities, and are encouraged to ask questions. Ultimately, with support, they will plan investigations from start to finish. They will learn about a wide variety of subjects varying from animals to forces, from habitats to light materials to electricity.
Back to Top
History
History at Lodge is viewed as very much part of every child's life and learning. It is important that they start with people, places and events they themselves are familiar with, in order to be able to make comparisons and see change where it happens.
In the early years, historical studies largely takes the form of discussion between the children and the teacher, using artefacts and photographs to encourage ideas and begin to engender the concepts of chronology, continuity and change, cause and effect, and similarity and difference.
Children are always encouraged to bring to school any artefacts, photographs or books that might be of interest regarding a particular history topic. History is enhanced by relevant school visits.
Back to Top
Geography
The geography syllabus is designed to allow the children to explore aspects of human and physical geography that affect their surroundings locally, nationally and worldwide. They will develop their geographical skills by investigating places and themes using a variety of reference books and resource materials including maps, atlases, globes, information technology, the Internet and videos. We also use the local environment as a focus for fieldwork enquiry.
Back to Top
Information and Communication Technology
All children use the computer suite once a week for the whole class teaching. Their learning is also supported by the use of the classroom computer. All lodge computers are networked and fully integrated with the Dragon System.
The aim is to improve and develop the children's confidence and dexterity in the basic use of Information Technology. The emphasis is on cross-curricular activity exploring the use of ICT in other subject areas. Children safely access the Internet as a resourse and research tool, protected by our school filters. There is a range of software available to encourage the progression of communicating and handling information skills as well as controlling devices such as roamers and digital cameras.
There is one dedicated ICT lesson per week in the ICT laboratory, and cross-curricular work throughout the week in form rooms.
Back to Top
Design and Technology
The syllabus of work sets out the development skills needed for using a variety of tools and materials, and for planning, making and evaluating a number of products. Children practice these skills in different subject areas and work within their classrooms. While Reception and Year 1 work with their class teacher and support assistant, Year 2 has a specialist teacher.
Back to Top
Art
The children participate in a wide range of activities to develop their creative talents including painting and drawing, printmaking, collage, model making, and a variety of other media and processes.
Back to Top
Music
Pre-Prep children enjoy weekly music lessons with a specialist music teacher. They are introduced to a wide range of tuned and un-tuned percussion instruments in their class music and enjoy singing a variety of songs as well as working on listening skills, composing and performing. The Year 2 pupils also benefit from recorder lessons with a specialist teacher.
Back to Top
Physical Education
Arrangements vary with the age of the children, but for all the children there are several aspects to their work - athletics activities, games, gymnastic activities, swimming and dance. Everyone has time in the gym and we use our own courts and pitches. Swimming lessons begin in Year 1.
It is commendable that the national curriculum lays stress on the need to develop positive attitudes in the sporting context in particular. Children are to be taught for example, “to observe the conventions of fair play, honest competition and good sporting behaviours as individual participants, team members and spectators.”
Back to Top
French
We introduce French in Year 1 through a weekly program of oral work involving role play, songs and games.
Back to Top
Religious Education
Religious Education is taught in specific lesson time each week, and relevant issues are developed and discussed further in class assemblies, whole school assemblies and PSHCE/ Circle times.
The aim is for the children to grow in their understanding of Christianity, while encouraging an attitude of mutual respect and awareness of different views and opinions.
The lessons introduce the children to what the bible has to say about God, Jesus and ourselves so that the events, characters and turning points in the old and new testaments become increasingly familiar. Children learn about the story and from each story. During their time at Lodge, children will also be introduced to the other world faiths. Lodge parents are invited to visit our assemblies, participating in and sharing their faith.
Discussion, questioning, story and drama are considered the most valuable approaches to the subject at this age.
Back to Top
|