Curriculum
At Brookland we access a broad and balanced education that is adapted to meet varying needs. The curriculum is based around: Numeracy, Literacy, Science, IT, PE and Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development, with a range of subjects from humanities being taught at a cross-curricular level through a creative curriculum.
Where a child shows an interest, or talent, we will enable the child to pursue further studies in that subject. We place a distinct emphasis upon developing and maintaining key social and personal skills to enable our children to become active and valuable members of British society.
Curriculum
At Brearley Hall we access a broad and balanced education that is adapted to meet varying needs. The curriculum is based around: Numeracy, Literacy, Science, IT, PE and Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development, with a range of subjects from humanities being taught at a cross-curricular level through a creative curriculum.
Where a child shows an interest, or talent, we will enable the child to pursue further studies in that subject. We place a distinct emphasis upon developing and maintaining key social and personal skills to enable our children to become active and valuable members of British society.
Through a well-planned and organised curriculum, effectively taught by qualified and enthusiastic teachers, children are helped to:
Gain a joy and commitment to learning that will last a lifetime.
Develop the essential literacy and numeracy skills they need to learn.
Foster their creativity.
Develop lively, enquiring minds.
Develop personal values, qualities and attitudes and be respectful of other people and their views and opinions.
Develop appreciation and concern for the environment.
Work co-operatively with others.
Work toward achieving their potential and having self worth.
Through a well-planned and organised curriculum, effectively taught by qualified and enthusiastic teachers, children are helped to:
Gain a joy and commitment to learning that will last a lifetime.
Develop the essential literacy and numeracy skills they need to learn.
Develop the essential literacy and numeracy skills they need to learn.
Develop personal values, qualities and attitudes and be respectful of other people and their views and opinions.
Develop lively, enquiring minds.
Work toward achieving their potential and having self worth.
Work co-operatively with others.
Foster their creativity.
Develop appreciation and concern for the environment.
Teaching during the morning sessions focuses on the development of Literacy and Numeracy skills. Other subjects are taught separately, or where coherent cross-curricular links exist between subjects, as part of a thematic approach.
A variety of organisational strategies and learning techniques operate within each classroom. On occasions, it will be appropriate for whole class teaching, and on others mixed ability or friendship groups will operate.
In studying English, children develop skills in speaking and listening, reading and writing. It enables them to express themselves creatively and imaginatively and to communicate with others effectively.
The effectiveness of literacy teaching determines the success of the whole curriculum. Language is cross-curricular – it is an essential element of learning in all areas of the curriculum.
At Riverbank, our aim is not only to teach children the skills to read with confidence, fluency and understanding but, also to foster a genuine desire to read for pleasure and purpose. We want our children to become enthusiastic and critical readers of stories, poetry and drama as well as non-fiction and media texts.
Children are helped to develop the ability to express their thoughts and ideas and communication skills through the written word.
Opportunities are provided for children to develop the necessary writing skills required for different purposes and audiences. The link between reading and writing is strongly emphasised.
This area helps pupils to make calculations, to understand and appreciate relationships and patterns in number and space and to develop their capacity to think logically and express themselves clearly. Their knowledge and understanding of mathematics should be developed in a variety of ways, including practical activity, exploration and discussion.
Teaching and learning in science reflects our belief that children have a natural sense of awe and wonder in the world around them. We aim to provide the children with a science knowledge base, and encourage them to ask questions, make predictions and then to test these to discover more about the world around them. We hope also to foster responsible attitudes towards the environment and all living creatures.
We aim to foster inquisitive minds.
IT prepares children to participate in a rapidly changing world in which work and other activities are increasingly transformed by access to varied and developing technology. Children use tools to find, explore, analyse, exchange and present information responsibly, creatively and with discrimination. Children learn how to employ IT to enable rapid access to ideas, information and experiences from a range of sources, people, communities and cultures. Increased capability in the use of IT promotes initiative and independent learning, with children being able to make informed judgements about when and where to use IT to best effect, and to consider its implications for home and work both now and in the future. We teach e-safety and so enable the children to keep themselves safe online and in the virtual world.
The teaching and learning of geography and history is through planned themes which are incorporated into an overall curriculum framework. Through the study of geography, children are given opportunities to develop an awareness of their immediate surroundings, other places and how people have used their environment. Through this they will be introduced to the techniques necessary to undertake fieldwork and geographical enquiries. Children are encouraged to broaden their knowledge of places and environments throughout the world; develop an understanding of maps, and a range of investigative and problem-solving skills both inside and outside the classroom. As children study geography, they encounter different societies and cultures.
History fires children’s curiosity about the past in Britain and the wider world. Children consider how the past influences the present, what past societies were like and what beliefs and cultures influenced people’s actions. As they do this, children develop a chronological framework for their knowledge of significant events and people. In history, children find evidence, weigh it up and reach their own conclusions.
Religious Education (RE) is provided in accordance with the Calderdale Local Authority Agreed Syllabus. Over the last year, we have moved away from teaching Religious Education each week to focused, themed RE days, which children and staff say is more meaningful. Through RE we aim to enable children to understand the nature of religion: its beliefs and practices and respect all forms. Friday assemblies are special because we celebrate children’s achievement both in and outside school. Each year children across the school visit a local Church to take part in a celebratory service. We also visit places of worship from other religions to foster respect for other cultures and traditions.
Physical Education is concerned with the promotion of positive attitudes towards physical activity and well-being. Children are helped to acquire the skills needed to participate with confidence and enjoyment in a range of activities at school and in the wider community (when possible) and to appreciate the place of regular exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle. All children take part in a minimum of 2 hours of high quality PE and sporting activities each week provided by class teachers and/or a professional sports coach. A range of outdoor and adventurous pursuits are offered here including abseiling, climbing, kayaking, orienteering, cycling and archery. We value these opportunities for our children to participate in physically challenging land and water-based activities, believing they can make an important contribution to children’s personal and social development.
For Year 5 and Year 6 Sex Education is provided by class teachers with the support of health professionals in a way that encourages children to consider morals and the value of family life. As a school, we have a legal duty to ensure that children are protected from teaching and materials which are inappropriate, having regard to age, religion and cultural background of our children.
Parents/carers and social workers are informed in writing prior to the teaching of Sex Education and will be given opportunity to see teaching material
To be used, and receive explanations of the way in which it is proposed to use them in a classroom. Parents/carers have the right to withdraw their children from all or part of any Sex Education provided, but not from teaching of the biological aspects of human growth and reproduction necessary under National Curriculum Science. If a parent/carer wishes to withdraw their child, they should put their requests in writing to the Lead Teacher – a reason for this decision is not necessary.
SMSC is an important area of the curriculum that helps children grow and develop as individuals and as members of families and communities. Through SMSC children will have the knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes they need to lead confident, healthy, independent lives and to become informed, active and responsible British citizens, who value British life and culture and are aware of the dangers of radicalization.
The personal and social development of children is a central aim of our curriculum and is delivered through a carefully planned programme, supported by all who work in or with the school. We want our children to leave Riverbank Primary School able to:
Think critically
Express opinions confidently
Be self-reliant
Be self-motivated
Be self-disciplined
Take responsibility
Make good choices
Have clear values and attitudes
Co-operate with others
Make and sustain good relationships
Have a healthy lifestyle
Be safe in the real and virtual world
Whole school systems emphasising praise, recognition and reward exist to promote and celebrate positive behaviour and sustained effort and hard work.
Perhaps most importantly, we want children to leave our School with feelings of self-confidence, self-worth and high self-esteem.
We have a Student council that we call Student Voice, recognizing the importance of children having a say in decisions that affect them. The Council is made up of members of the class, and the staff. It represents the children and puts forward new ideas, suggestions and ways of solving issues. This is done as part of our weekly assembly.
Whilst we strive to ensure that the children follow the National Curriculum and make progress in line with National expectations, we also place a high value on other aspects of learning.
Whole-school Theme Days are held over the year. These have included Community Day, Health Day, World Book Day, Science Day, Safety Day, and Public Service Visits. The curriculum is further enhanced and enriched through the involvement of outside speakers, including artists, authors, health partners & representatives from the local community.
Our children:
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Experience a wide range of outdoor activities, sports and experiences
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Participate in community events and activities
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Foster individual interests and hobbies
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Try sports and activities that they might not have tried before
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Participate in the end of the week and end of term reward activities
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Attend Forest School and explore their natural environment
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Have Art, DT, Cooking and Drama
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