IMPLEMENTATION
Through quality teaching of knowledge and skills coupled with a strong focus on vocabulary across core and foundation subjects, all children will be challenged to be inquisitive, compassionate, courageous and creative learners. They will have opportunities to influence their own learning through age appropriate and progressive units of learning. Effective learning characteristics including being ambitious, reflective and imaginative will drive teaching and learning.
Phonics
Black Torrington Primary School follows the Read Write Inc phonics scheme. Children will then progress onto the ‘No nonsense’ spelling pathway from Year 2. Phonics will be revisited as necessary throughout the children’s school career and children who need extra support and intervention will have their needs met.
Reading
Reading is a key skill which underpins everything else. Throughout the school we foster a love of reading and model positive reading attitudes.Children will have access to phonically appropriate books then progress through Devon’s book banding scheme. We expect parents and carers to read at home with their child 3-4 times a week. In addition to this, children will take part in guided reading using a range of resources. This group reading activity builds comprehension, vocabulary, prediction, summarising and inference. Adults in classrooms will read high-quality texts to the children daily.
Writing
Children are taught to write across the curriculum. In English lessons, writing teaching will be based around ‘Texts that teach’ and the ‘Talk for writing’ principles. The use of high-quality texts as a basis for writing allows children to experience how good authors manipulate their reader through the use of grammar and vocabulary. This covers fiction and non-fiction and a range of genres. Handwriting is discretely taught until children have clear and legible joined writing.
Maths
Our maths curriculum follows the White Rose maths schemes of work, teaching the mastery curriculum using small steps. Our approach meets the needs of many types of learner – we use manipulatives to physically show mathematics, images to show how maths can be represented, calculations and explanations. Children are challenged to experiment, explore, and investigate mathematical theories and principles to further their understanding. Mental arithmetic is practised as part of our maths lessons. We encourage children to make connections across the curriculum, recognising that maths is a vital skill throughout their learning, including in science, computing and geography.
Science
Our science curriculum meets the needs of the 21st century whilst giving the children core science knowledge. Our science programme of study covers all areas in the national curriculum and beyond. We believe in learning through practical experience so children will have the opportunity to experiment and explore around a wide range of scientific concepts. Children throughout the school will use their ICT and maths skills within science as well as links to other areas of the curriculum such as geography.
Foundation Subjects
Across the curriculum teachers will plan and deliver exciting, engaging and creative lessons. We expect children to make links across the curriculum and link this to their experiences and immediate environment. Trips and visitors are used to enhance curriculum lessons and allow the children to build upon their knowledge and experience. Additional resources such as ‘Real PE’ are used to enhance the teacher’s lessons and provide a support mechanism to ensure constant high-quality teaching.
Religious Education
We use the Devon agreed syllabus for Religious Education. We believe that all children should have the opportunity to explore spirituality and the beliefs and traditions of world religions. RE lessons build upon children’s own experiences and widen their horizons to new ideas, beliefs and festivals.
