Subject Areas

English

Children come to school with a background of language, and building on this, we provide children with the opportunities to extend and develop the essential skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. We base our English teaching on the National Literacy Strategy which involves a daily Literacy session of one hour.

Reading

We help children to develop a love of reading, as well as helping them to be good readers. A crucial factor in reading success is confidence-building, and the child's knowledge that parents are supporting his or her progress, in partnership with the teacher. To support this, each day we send home with the reading book, a reading record book in which parents may add to a teacher's comments after hearing their child read. There are a wide variety of books available at Padbury which encourage our children to develop as readers. We use a wide range of approaches to the teaching of reading, including Jolly Phonics and Look and Say. Oxford Reading Tree is our main reading scheme.

Writing

Children are encouraged to write in a variety of styles and for different reasons, e.g. poems, stories, lists, instructions, and descriptions. Factual writing may arise from another curriculum area such as history or science; imaginative writing may be stimulated by other stories children have read, or from their own experiences. Children are sometimes asked to re-draft their work to include improvements in grammar, punctuation, phraseology and handwriting, appropriate to their individual progress.

Speaking and Listening

We encourage children to be confident speakers and attentive listeners. Through the many opportunities for conversation, discussion and drama, we give praise and encourage respect for others' viewpoints and sensitivity to feelings.

Mathematics

Our mathematics programme ensures that children know, understand and can apply the concepts and skills necessary to work like a mathematician. It is important that the basic foundations of mathematics include real understanding, and that these foundations are approached through real life situations and problem solving.

Mathematics is a process where one mathematical idea builds on another, and each has to be constantly reinforced and revisited in different situations.

Throughout their spiral of learning and understanding, children at Padbury School are motivated and encouraged to think systematically and persevere with a task; success helps to build their own self-confidence.

Cross-curricular approaches provide opportunities for investigation and practical work, as well as the opportunity to practice and consolidate the basic skills of number. A variety of teaching styles is employed to ensure that all children progress at their own level. They learn and use number bonds, multiplication tables, and recognise relationships between, and patterns in, number.

We help children to realise that mathematics is challenging and that it is fun. Activities include puzzles, games, problem solving and practical tasks, together with a variety of ways to record, calculate and communicate. Calculators and computers are used whenever these are relevant, and provide extension to learning.

Science

We aim to begin to develop the skills, processes and attitudes of a scientist, so that children are able to bring a scientific approach to bear in issues and problems they will encounter in life. Children need to know that science is an important and relevant part of their lives, and to be aware of the contribution it makes to us all.

Through scientific enquiry children also develop a range of scientific knowledge, as laid down in the National Curriculum. The graded accumulation of scientific knowledge, skills and concepts is built up through the first hand experiences to which the children will be introduced, and also through the use of books and reference materials.

Science is taught in a way that provides meaningful links with other curriculum areas. Scientific skills and attitudes are developed through investigations which promote observation, questioning and discussion skills. Children learn to predict, hypothesise, recognise and carry out a "fair test". The attitudes of curiosity, respect, interest, open mindedness and enthusiasm engendered during science activities are relevant in all learning.

Information Communication Technology (ICT)

Computers form an integral part of all our work. Every child is given time to use the computer for word-processing, data handling, generating databases and control technology. I.C.T. is used to develop children's ability across a range of curricular subjects. We have computers in all the classrooms.

In 1998/99, we joined the National Grid for Learning. Our development plan focuses on our commitment to I.C.T. throughout the school.

Humanities / History and Geography

Our own school environment and the village of Padbury provide many historical and geographical experiences necessary for young children. These are a stimulating ‘classroom', an irreplaceable resource in conveying a sense of time and place. They give our children the first hand experience needed on which to base future learning. Local study immediately beyond Padbury is integrated into our cross-curricular themes, although there are occasions when particular historical periods and environments are studied.

In history children are encouraged to appreciate similarities and differences between life today and the past, and to recognise continuity and change. An interest and enthusiasm to find out more, comes about through the use of our environment and its' people, artefacts, visits and visitors and its' real documentation.

We use our own environment to develop geographical knowledge and skills. Map skills, identifying locations, recognising major features, are some of the activities in which the children will be involved.

Children will also be introduced to other environments and life styles which encourage comparison, and discuss reasons for differences.

Art

Art activities help children to observe closely, and so gain knowledge and investigate forms, patterns and shapes and to represent these in various ways.

We provide a range of exciting materials and experiences so that each child can develop skills, a sense of achievement and a willingness to experiment.

Drawing, painting, collage, printing and modelling are some of the activities that children are involved in. Children are taught to select and use materials appropriately and use tools safely and effectively.

Our expanding library of pictures enables children to learn about the techniques and styles of well-known artists.

Design Technology

Design Technology is concerned with designing and making artefacts to meet a human need and discovering how things work. We give the children the opportunity to design, make and evaluate models and systems, recognising the appropriate and safe use of tools and materials. This work includes the development of many skills such as manipulative skills, measuring, sequencing, language, construction techniques – these offer challenging and purposeful learning. The activities are structured to allow pupils of all ages and abilities to respond positively. Children observe artefacts and both the man-made and natural environment from which there is a chance for children to promote their own ideas.

With the help of parents, Design Technology is extended into the kitchen, where cooking takes place in small groups on a regular basis.

Religious Education

RE is approached through the children's immediate experience (the older children are stimulated to think beyond this) and we help children to reflect on and talk about their understanding of:

• Themselves ... their thoughts, feelings, emotions
• Their relationships with others
• Responsibilities for being part of a community
• The natural world
• The world of imagination
• Special occasions
• Religion in and beyond the local community

We use the challenging R.E. Syllabus of Religious Education when planning the children's curriculum. Work is planned in themes such as Relationships and Celebrations. Children hear stories from the Bible and world religions, and everyday experience is enriched and extended through pictures, songs, visits and visitors, music and drama.

Collective Worship

A religious assembly takes place each day. We plan our assemblies to take account of Christian festivals and important celebrations of other faiths. Our assemblies are also linked to themes or topics our children are studying. Our local vicar leads a Thursday assembly and we hold a Praise assembly every Friday. In these assemblies individual children are praised for effort, progress and attainment and good behaviour and relationships.

A child may be withdrawn from Assemblies and Religious Education and any request for this should be made in writing to the Headteacher.

Physical Education

The children participate in a variety of sports and movement activities. Gymnastics, dance and drama take place in the school hall. Our outside amenities allow games skills, and for the older children, visits to other schools to take part in Small Schools Partnership events.

Music

We all enjoy music at Padbury School – children, parents and visitors. Although the emphasis is on the enjoyment of making music, we also provide opportunities for listening and performing. Parents and friends of Padbury are always ready to be entertained by the children.

Busy Fingers Mother & Toddlers Group

Every Monday afternoon during term time, we are host to the Busy Fingers mother & toddler group, which offers an opportunity for mums in the village and elsewhere to get together and have a cup of coffee whilst their children enjoy a structured and themed afternoon of art, craft and music.