English
Reading
At Kings Hedges we teach children to read fluently and with understanding. From when they start in the nursery we want pupils to have high expectations of books as sources of information and enjoyment.
Nursery children are taught sound awareness using ‘Playing with Sounds.’
From Reception through to Year 6 we teach phonics, vocabulary and reading comprehension through 15 minute sessions 2 or 3 times every day.
All children are expected to read at home every day and a record of their reading is made in a home/school book.
Speaking and Listening
In the foundation stage we have an ongoing speech and language project to identify and work with children who need extra support in developing their speaking skills. In our school children are taught to speak clearly and to develop and sustain ideas in talk. They have opportunities to develop active listening strategies and critical skills of analysis. In class and group discussions they take different roles, making a range of contributions and working collaboratively. In drama activities they experience improvisation and working in roles, scripting and performing in front of others and responding to performances by others.
Writing
Kings Hedges has developed a writing strategy that focuses on being confident at writing to write accurately a range of different types of writing, with understanding. Writing is promoted from nursery where children develop the fine motor skills and co-ordination needed in order to make marks and begin to explore writing.
As children progress through the school we teach writing using the ‘my turn’ (the teacher modelling), ‘together’ (pupils and teacher write a class version), ‘your turn’ (pupils write independently) approach.
Children use four key skills in their writing (vocabulary, description, sequencing and techniques) and consider if it is clear and meets its purpose, and how interesting it is for the reader. They are taught to improve their work through editing and to apply the grammar, spelling, punctuation and handwriting they have been taught in all writing they do.
Handwriting
Children are taught to write letters with diagonals so it is easier to start joined writing when they reach Year 2. From then we expect all children to use their best joined handwriting whenever they write.
Here are some good websites to help you practise your Literacy skills!
Reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and games:
KS1:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks1bitesize/literacy/
KS2:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/english/
Interactive games about phonics and prefixes/suffixes:
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/interactive/literacy.html
Writing texts, Grammar, Punctuation, Words and Spellings:
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/interactive/literacy/index.htm
Games and Sounds Work:
Numeracy
Kings Hedges Numeracy is split into different parts: shape, space, measures and data handling lessons; problem solving lessons; number work sessions and mental maths. The emphasis changes as the children grow older.
Our Numeracy teaching is intended to help children become confident in basic number work, so they are fluent and quick at adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing. We also aim to teach children to apply their number skills appropriately and effectively in all areas of the curriculum, by linking the number work sessions with other numeracy lessons.
Nursery and Reception
Most of the Numeracy learning takes place in small, adult led groups and is linked to other areas of the curriculum. Children work towards completing the foundation stage profile ready to begin Year 1. Number work is taught as a separate session, and the children learn to rote count, rational count, recognise numbers, write numbers, and skip count in 10s and 2s. By the end of Reception most children are confidently solving plus and minus equations.
Years 1 and 2
The daily number work sessions continue into Years 1 and 2, with children learning how to times and divide, order numbers, and solve number stories, as well as continuing with lots of counting and skip counting. In addition children are taught about shape, space, measures, data handling and problem solving in separate Numeracy lessons. The content of these lessons is often linked to other areas of the curriculum, such as Science, and can be very practical. Children often use computer programs to enhance their learning.
Years 3, 4, 5 and 6
In Key Stage 2 the number work lessons become more challenging, with children being taught to calculate with decimals, find fractions and percentages of numbers, skip count in all numbers under 10, multiply and divide with decimal numbers and solve two-step number stories. In their Numeracy lessons children cover a range of topics such as: finding the area and perimeter of a shape; calculating missing angles in a triangle; drawing and reading graphs; or finding and explaining rules for number patterns. The content of these lessons is sometimes linked to other areas of the curriculum, such as Science, and can be very practical. Children often use computer programs to enhance their learning.
Science
Science lessons at Kings Hedges are based upon practical exploration and understanding of the world around us. This starts in Nursery and Reception where the children explore scientific concepts through play and practical activities. In Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 it is our aim to continue to teach the curriculum in a practical and interesting way, build children’s scientific vocabulary and teach them skills to help them answer questions.
Investigative Skills
The children will be taught to;
- plan a fair test to answer a scientific question
- predict what will happen
- Write a method to say how they did the investigation
- Use a range of tools to measure their results
- Record and interpret their results
- Write a conclusion to explain what happened
Knowledge
The children will study topics from these main areas;
- Life Processes and Living Things
- Materials and their Properties
- Physical Processes
In Science we aim to enrich the curriculum by;
- Using a variety of ICT software and equipment such as digital microscopes, cameras and data logging equipment
- Using our own outdoor spaces and trips to places like the Botanical Gardens.
- Dedicating a week to Science where the children spend everyday carrying out practical investigations and gaining a deeper knowledge of their topic.
Making use of talks and workshops provided by Cambridge University as part of Science Week
ICT
The ICT (Information Communication Technology) curriculum at King’s Hedges aims to equip your child with the skills needed in an ever changing technological world.
We focus on teaching children skills in research and presentation using ICT, exchanging and sharing information and how to make things happen. The ICT teaching is supported in other curriculum areas where children have opportunities to apply and practice the skills and knowledge they have been taught.
King’s Hedges has a wide range of ICT resources and is dedicated to providing children with the latest equipment. Each classroom is equipped with 4 computers and access to high quality laser printers. There are interactive whiteboards in each classroom with data projector and DVD facilities. The hall has recently been equipped with a data projector and screen paid for by our PSA. We have a range of digital recording equipment including digital still and movie cameras and Digital blue movie cameras specially designed for children. We have a set of three laptops that are used to support small group work. The children are given opportunities to use Bee-bots and digital microscopes.
Internet safety
At the beginning of each year all children will complete a unit on how to use computers safely. Each class writes a set of rules to guide children when using computers in the classroom, including the internet. They produce a range of creative work including posters, leaflets, photos and videos that are shared in a whole school assembly. Children in key stage 2 are given guides to take home and all parents receive a CD ROM about keeping children safe at home.
For help at home try:
Art
As our gold Artsmark award suggests, we value all aspects of the Creative Arts highly here at Kings Hedges. Every year we offer a varied and vibrant Art curriculum which delivers key technical skills and the opportunity to use diverse media via a different theme. These themes then become the focus for our spectacular annual Art exhibition, where the pupils’ work is exhibited and celebrated. This enables pupils to develop critical responses to their own work and that of others. Through working with artists and gallery visits we provide our pupils with rich artistic experiences and a wealth of inspiration.
In the 2007 Ofsted inspection the Art at our school was recognised as ‘outstanding’
King’s Hedges School Council
Who are we? We are a group of elected children from Year 1 to Year 6 who are keen to keep our school running as well as we can. Our class voted for us because we have several useful skills for the role-including listening, speaking clearly and being organised! We also have what is called ‘the pupils voice’, which means we represent all the children in our class, bringing their ideas to each meeting.
Some of our recent work has been to do with improving recycling within the school, and campaigning to switch off unnecessary lights. For the BBC Children In Need appeal this year we raised just over £200. We were also pleased to welcome the School Council from St. Lawrence’s School for a meeting with us to discuss how School Councils can have a positive impact on their schools.
This year we are working with ‘Safer Routes to Schools’, collecting information about our journeys to school and looking at how safe the roads are around the school building. We have also begun to research how our playgrounds feel during breaks; we want to make sure everyone is happy!
Our School Council representatives are always ready to listen! Dates of meetings and minutes of past meetings are all on the School Council notice board, along with our own very lovely photos!
Geography
Geography is concerned with the study of places; the human and physical processes which shape them; and the people who live in them. Pupils study their local area, and contrasting localities in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world.
In our teaching of geography at King’s Hedges we aim to…
- Stimulate the interest in and curiosity about their surroundings
- Create and foster a sense of wonder about the world
- Inspire a sense of responsibility for the environments and people of the world we live in
- Develop pupils competence in specific geographical skills
- Increase the pupils knowledge and awareness of the world
- Help pupils acquire and develop the skills and confidence to undertake investigation, problem solving and decision making
We hope that children will increase their knowledge and understanding of the changing world and will want to look after the earth and its resources. We hope that they will begin to develop respect and concern for, and an interest in, people throughout the world regardless of culture, race and religion.
Personal, Social and Health Education
Our aim is to help to prepare all children for life through recognising their own value and uniqueness, and to foster an awareness of social responsibility to the school, the local community and to society at large. We also encourage children to be motivated and independent learners who show care and consideration for themselves and others, growing into healthy young adults still motivated to learn, care and achieve many successes.
Objectives:
- To recognise their own value and raise self-esteem
- To raise confidence
- To recognize skills and achievements
- To know how to identify risks and keep safe
- To develop independence
- To develop rights and responsibilities
- To develop a feeling of commitment
- To develop an awareness of others
- To develop a respect for others
- To develop a respect for the environment
- To enable children to live with others co-operatively in a variety of situations
- To caring for each other
- To form relationships and show care
- To set and then work towards realisitic goals
- To recognise and enjoy a healthy lifestyle
Some activities which help us with the above are:
- Classroom rules drawn up by children
- Individual merit charts and merit assemblies and
- Celebrations – Achievements
- Positive lunch times and other occasions for eating together
- Playtime leaders/Buddy system and lunchtime activities
- Lunch time club
- Our School charter
- Chat cards and individual targets
- PSHE lessons
- Talk time with Karen
- Visits from health professionals
- Extra-curriculum clubs
- I-behave system
We encourage children to be motivated and independent learners who show care and consideration for others
You might want to look at www.directgovkids.co.uk
Sex and Relationships Education
It is lifelong learning about physical, moral and emotional development. It is about the understanding of the importance of marriage, stable and loving relationships, respect, love and care as the foundation of family life. It is also about the teaching of sex, sexuality, and sexual health. It is not about the promotion of sexual orientation or sexual activity.
Sex and Relationships Education has three main elements:
Attitudes and Values
- Learning the importance of values and individual conscience and moral considerations;
- Learning the value of family life, marriage, and stable and loving relationships for the nurture of children;
- Learning the value of respect, love and care;
- Exploring, considering and understanding moral dilemmas; and
- Developing critical thinking as part of decision making.
Personal and Social Skills
- Learning to manage emotions and relationships confidently and sensitively;
- Developing self respect and empathy for others;
- Learning to make choices based on an understanding of difference and with an absence of prejudice;
- Developing an appreciation of the consequences of choices made;
- Managing conflict, and
- Learning how to recognise and avoid exploitation and abuse.
Knowledge and Understanding
- Learning and understanding physical development at appropriate stages;
- Understanding human sexuality, reproduction, sexual health, emotions and relationships;
- Learning about contraception and the range of local and national sexual health advice, contraception and support services;
- Learning the reasons for delaying sexual activity, and the benefits to be gained from such delay; and
- The avoidance of unplanned pregnancy.
Assessment
Assessment at Kings Hedges involves everybody.
The children
We use ‘Chat Cards’ from Year 1 to Year 6. ‘Chat Card’ time takes place every half term. This is time allocated to each child when they can talk to their teacher about the areas of their learning which they feel are going well, and decide on the next target to reach to develop their learning. We set targets together for Literacy and Numeracy and have these available in class as reminders.
The parents
Parents with children from Nursery age to Year 6 can become involved with their child’s targets through their child’s ‘Home/School Partnership Book’. They can keep in touch with their child’s progress by reading teacher comments in the ‘Chatline’, by helping their children practise their targets, which are regularly recorded in their books and by meeting their child’s teacher at the end of the day and at parent’s evenings.
The staff
From Nursery to Year 6 the teachers at Kings Hedges regularly assess all areas of the curriculum through a variety of methods. We assess both formally through testing and informally. Informal assessment takes place in several ways and is our main way of assessing progress. We observe children working, listen to answers given during discussion times, use questioning techniques to draw out knowledge of different areas, set work for children which gives them opportunity to show what they have learnt and help children improve their work through careful comments when marking.
Assessment is integral to the working and success of Kings Hedges Primary School and helps us provide a supportive and personalised curriculum for every child as they make their way through our school.