4, St German's Place

Blackheath

London SE3 0NJ

Tel: 020 8858 0692

Years 1 & 2 Curriculum

In Year 1 and Year 2 we follow the National Curriculum. However, we considerably broaden its parameters. Science, History, Geography, Art, DT, Drama and RE are also included in the curriculum. French, ICT, Music, PE, Dance and Drama are taught by specialist teachers.

Year 1 and Year 2 are fortunate in having highly qualified specialists who offer additional support in literacy and numeracy.

English

Through studying English, our pupils develop a broad range of skills: reading, reading comprehension, spelling, punctuation, grammar, creative and non-fiction writing, speaking and listening. Wherever possible, we find opportunities to develop cross-curricular links so the children write for a wide range of purposes and audiences. We aim to develop each child’s creativity and an enjoyment of reading and writing for their own sakes.

Our teaching programme is based on the National Curriculum and Literacy Framework, but extended and enriched in order to challenge and engage our pupils.

Children are taught English by their form teachers in the Pre-Prep.

We have a beautiful, well-stocked library housed in the school’s former chapel. It is used by all the children. The library is divided into fiction and non-fiction sections and has both a study area for research and a cosy area with sofas and cushions where children can curl up to enjoy a good read.

During the course of the academic year, pupils cover many or all of the following areas of fiction, non-fiction and poetry:

Year 1

Year 2 

Mathematics

We want children to experience Maths as a lively and exciting subject. It offers scope for reasoning and the use of imagination and children learn that problems may be solved in more than one way.

In Maths lessons, basic concepts, skills and operations are taught and practised. There are also many opportunities for creative and investigative activities. We aim to inspire the children to develop their skills and foster their confidence.

The Maths teaching programme is based on the National Curriculum Programmes of Study, the National Numeracy Strategy and the Primary Framework. We also include additional topics as appropriate in order to prepare children for Senior School entrance exams in Year 6.

The Primary Framework is a set of objectives arranged into seven strands of learning in Mathematics. Whilst we use this as a basis for our teaching and our aim is that most children will reach these objectives, there is flexibility for both extension and reinforcement in our teaching. The information below is given to help you to understand the facts and skills your child is likely to be taught in Years 1 & 2. 

Key areas of study are:

·        Counting and understanding number

·        Knowing and using number facts

·        Calculating

·        Understanding shape

·        Measuring

·        Handling data

·        Using and applying Mathematics

Maths is taught from Reception to Year 2 in form groups. Smaller groups are supported by our Pre-Prep Maths specialist and teaching assistants.

Science

In Science lessons we want to harness the children’s natural curiosity. We want them to explore, to experiment and to ask questions. We aim to enable them to apply their scientific knowledge and understanding to solve problems and to make sense of the world.

Younger children in the Pre-Prep are taught Science by their form teachers.

YEAR 1 

We aim to develop a sense of curiosity in the children.  They will be encouraged to use all their senses to explore the world about them and to use this experience to develop their understanding of scientific ideas.

YEAR 2 

The topics will be taught through a series of practical sessions. During the year the children will have the opportunity to make and record observations, present information in charts, begin to plan fair tests, take measurements using a range of measuring equipment and make conclusions.

Information and Communication Technology

Children from Reception upwards are taught by an ICT specialist in a purpose-built modern ICT suite with an individual computer for each child.

The children are taught the basic skills of:

Word processing

Editing

Drawing

Painting

Processing and presenting data effectively

They are introduced to an enormous range of software and other digital technology such as cameras. They learn how to use the Internet appropriately and retrieve information from a variety of sources.

YEAR 1 

YEAR 2 

Design Technology

In DT we want the children to have a positive experience of making and assembling constructions.  Kits, Lego, Knex and other systems are fantastic tools for this kind of thinking and get the children to visualise in three dimensions.  Also there is no substitute for 'Messy Modelling' with junk packaging.

Giving children a problem to solve is an exciting and integrated way of getting a project going – materials and methods usually follow the ideas:  The hamster has to make a long journey (next door) to visit relatives but cannot carry the laptop; design a practical solution.

History

History is a living subject and is ever present in our lives. Our pupils are making history. We want our children to ask questions about the past, to understand it, to have their own opinions of it and to assess its impact on our own lives now.

We teach our pupils the skills of a detective so that they are able to investigate the past by building up a picture of what might have happened using different clues. This historical evidence is taken from a wide range of sources – books, the internet, historical maps, architecture, stories, documents, art, photographs, films, videos, pictures and artefacts.

We are fortunate to live in an area rich in history. We have easy access to an enviable choice of suitable places to visit in and around London.

YEAR 1

Unit 1 looks at similarities and differences between toys today and toys in the past. It introduces children to the concepts of 'old' and 'new', and encourages them to think about the changes in their own lives and in those of their family or adults around them. Unit 2 looks at similarities and differences between homes today and homes in the past. Features of buildings, household objects and stories about home life are used to enable children to develop criteria to distinguish old from new, and to learn about life at a time beyond living memory. Later in the year the children explore the life of Florence Nightingale, why she went to Turkey to help soldiers injured in the Crimean War, and what happened as a result of her work.

YEAR 2

In the Autumn Term the children explore an event that has been commemorated annually for nearly 100 years. They investigate the origins of Remembrance Day and how its significance has grown to incorporate conflicts up to the present day. Unit 2 links an important event beyond living memory in British history, the Great Fire of London, with a famous person, Samuel Pepys. Children develop their sense of chronology and consider why the Great Fire happened, its results, and the different ways in which it is represented. In the Summer Term the children compare seaside holidays in the recent past with those taken a long time ago.

Geography

YEAR 1

The local area will be studied frequently during a child's time in primary school and therefore Unit 1 focuses on aspects of local features, land use and environment. Unit 2 asks children to investigate a local issue common to most schools - parking. It involves children in observational fieldwork, which leads to a simple decision-making exercise about improving the quality of their immediate environment. Unit 3 uses a first-hand object - Barnaby the teddy bear - to enable children to learn about other countries and places. Barnaby travels with different people connected to the school as well as on school visits, creating a sense of personal involvement for the children.

YEAR 2

Unit 1 shows how a storybook can be used to develop children's understanding of geographical features and ideas while at the same time developing their literacy skills. This story is about an imaginary Scottish island, Struay. It also offers opportunities for children to express their own views about people, places and environments. The theme of the seaside is set mainly in a geographical context but uses a historical perspective to help children understand how seaside places have evolved over time. Unit 3 introduces a distant locality through aspects of life that will be familiar to children such as housing, cooking and going to school. The study is based on a small area; this allows children to compare it more easily with their own local area. 

Religious Education

The ethos of the school is based on Christian principles. The Religious Education curriculum reflects the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian. However, a significant part of our religious education focuses on the history, beliefs, teachings and practices of the other principal religions. In this way our children learn tolerance, respect and understanding. Children are encouraged to develop a sense of care and consideration for those around them, preparing them for life in a multi-faith, multicultural society.

Children will learn to recognise the principal buildings and symbols of different faiths, to understand the significance of some religious texts and to appreciate the rich variety of customs and celebrations associated with these religions.

YEAR 1

Children will draw on their understanding of belonging and relate this to what Christians from different traditions understand about belonging. They will explore the Christian belief that Jesus is God’s gift to the world. The children will also learn about the key beliefs and practices in Judaism. Children will have opportunities to express their own beliefs about these beliefs and practices. The children will be introduced to the church, as a special place where Christians worship.

YEAR 2

The children will be introduced to the Sefer Torah, which is the focal point of Jewish worship. They will learn about how the Torah is regarded and treated and why it is so precious to Jewish people. The children will be given opportunities to learn about the beliefs of different religions through festivals celebrated around the world. They will also learn about stories from the gospels and how important it was for Jesus to tell stories as a means of teaching about God. Their knowledge about beliefs and practices will be extended by enabling them to experience a place of worship first hand. This will allow them to consider the importance of special places in their own lives and those of others.

PSHE & Citizenship

In Personal, Social and Health Education and Citizenship, children learn about taking responsibility for their own health and well-being.  They also learn not only about their own rights, duties and responsibilities but also about the rights and responsibilities of others.  The teaching aims to help them respect and value the richness and diversity of our society.

Children are taught personal skills, such as how to:

·        be more independent, confident and mature

·        recognise their own achievements and mistakes

·        share their views and discuss what’s fair and unfair, right and wrong

·        set themselves goals and try to achieve them

·        keep themselves safe and healthy as they grow

Children also learn social skills such as:

·        thinking about how the choices they make affect other people and the environment

·        considering the different groups in society and how to get on with them

·        thinking about how and why rules are made

Children become aware of the social and personal issues facing them and as they develop these skills are able to make informed choices about their conduct both within school and in the wider world.  A weekly Circle Time with form teachers offers children the opportunity to discuss these issues in a safe and supportive environment and to celebrate successes and achievements with their peers.

French

We aim to provide children with the opportunity to develop skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing.  For younger children, speaking and listening will be the main focus of the lessons as they are encouraged to communicate and have fun with language. 

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

By the end of the Pre-Prep, the children will be avid learners of French.  The main focus of French lessons is to enjoy learning a different language and gain confidence in speaking French at the children’s own pace. They will be able to understand and answer basic questions in French and answer if they feel confident enough.  They will know a few words from each topic, understand and answer basic questions.  Activities suit a range of learning techniques.  The children learn French words from drawings, flashcards, rhymes, songs and various games both indoors and outdoors.

Art

During Art lessons, children explore and develop ideas.  These can be stimulated by observing the art and artefacts from a variety of cultures and periods of time, by working from direct experience or from their imagination.  Skills and techniques are developed using a wide variety of media.  Work includes drawing, painting, collage, print making, model making, fabric work and clay modelling.  Children are encouraged to investigate, create, evaluate and modify where necessary in order to develop their understanding and enjoyment of art as much as possible.

Lessons take place either in the children’s form room or in the Art room where the children are able to use a wide range of materials.  Work is sometimes linked to other curriculum areas, particularly History, enriching the experience in both subjects.

YEAR 1

YEAR 2 

Children will investigate the work of artists and other cultures, such as Georgia O’Keefe, Elizabeth Blackadder and Mexican Art.

Art is a major learning tool.  It is used to communicate ideas, express feelings and record experiences.  During the year, children will develop skills in the main areas of Art listed above.

Music

Music is concerned with the creative, aesthetic, intellectual and emotional response to sound.  It is a subject that is highly valued and is provided for the education and enjoyment of all pupils regardless of ability.

Through a wide range of activities we aim to build confidence so that children find a lasting sense of purpose, achievement and fulfilment in musical expression.  Pupils learn to sing, play a range of tuned and un-tuned instruments, and to listen carefully to music made by others.  In doing so, the imagination is stimulated, co-ordination skills are developed and bonds are made with other music makers and audiences.

Both performance and composition are taught.  Children are encouraged to explore ideas, improve their work and use notation where possible.  By investigating the range of sounds made by a wide variety of instruments pupils learn to create moods and effects, developing a musical vocabulary.  They also learn to appreciate music from their own and other cultures.

There is a strings teaching programme for Year 3 with free tuition on either the violin or ‘cello, in small groups and as a class.  Similar tuition for woodwind/brass instruments was introduced for Year 4 in September 2008.  Recorder tuition is offered to all Year 2 as part of their music curriculum.

There are four choirs, including a Boys’ Choir, and the school has enjoyed considerable success in local music festivals.  A String Orchestra and Wind Band meet at lunchtimes with all children playing an instrument encouraged to belong to one of these.  Flute, recorder, clarinet, piano, violin and ‘cello are taught by peripatetic teachers.  The completion of a new Music Suite allows brass instruments and percussion to be added to the peripatetic lessons on offer to the children.

Music is taught throughout the school by a specialist music teacher. All children in Year 1 and Year 2 are encouraged to join the Pre-Prep choir.

YEAR 1

In Year 1, the aims are to get the children to listen attentively to different types of sounds, memorising songs and achieving a good tone.  They will be exploring long and short sounds on percussion instruments and discussing the different effects. They will also be playing a rhythm against a steady pulse with use of ‘rhythm flash cards’.

YEAR 2

In Year 2, the aims are to identify changes in pitch by playing simple tunes accurately on the glockenspiels and chime bars.  The children will draw symbols to represent sounds.  They will also investigate the different ways in which instruments make sounds and how these can be changed.  They will also be taught basic recorder technique and notation and learn to play simple tunes.

Drama

Drama is taught as a subject in every year group. It initially focuses the children’s raw energy into organised and structured drama.  Children are encouraged to engage with the characters and roles using improvisation, mime and story-telling to create their own simple texts and scenes.  They are also encouraged to look at their work from the perspective of the audience and to practise constructive criticism.  They learn to express themselves in a clear thought-out manner, working on articulation and diction as well as clarity of movement.

Drama lessons are taught by a specialist teacher.  By the time children reach Year 6, the aim is to be able to create and perform effective pieces of drama using a variety of skills and techniques.  Children work with scripts, understanding and performing set texts.  Performance techniques enable children to feel confident and at ease with an audience.  A major production takes place in the pupils’ final year at school, combining work from the Music and Drama curricula.

Physical Education

Our aim is to enable all our children to achieve their potential through physical activity.  The programme of study supports this by offering a variety of sports which help to highlight the importance of fitness for activity as well as for life.  Through competitive and co-operative games we are able to nurture confidence in pupils and instil the values of sportsmanship and fair play as well as the intrinsic desire to win.  Maximum participation is encouraged and effort is praised at every level.  Most importantly though, we aim to give our children a real desire to take their sport into the next part of their lives whether it be recreational or highly competitive. We hope that they enjoy the challenges ahead and reflect back with fondness to their early memories of sport.

The school is very fortunate in having playing fields accommodating football/hockey pitches, a cricket wicket, cricket nets, a 200m athletics track with 30m sprint area and throwing areas as well as rounders pitches.  There is also a hard court area which can be used for tennis, netball, hockey or football.  In front of the school lies the Heath which we are able to use for cross country.  A multi-purpose hall and fully equipped gymnasium completes the excellent facilities available for PE.

A wide range of fixtures in a range of sports ensures that there are plenty of opportunities for children to represent the school.  Large squads are chosen when we play other schools competitively although there is a clear distinction made between friendly matches and actual competitions.  Care is taken to explain why pupils are included or excluded from teams and how to cope with success as well as disappointment.  All children will experience competition through the programme of house matches played in several sports during the year.

The programme of study is broadly based on the National Curriculum and includes Athletic Activities, Dance, Games, Gymnastics and Swimming (at Woolwich Waterfront Leisure Centre).  Outdoor Adventurous Activities are being developed through our residential visits programme.  Children are taught by specialist PE teachers throughout the school.

Additional activities are also arranged after school throughout the week allowing children to enhance their learning in football, rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis, table tennis, netball, gymnastics, badminton, dance, rounders and athletics.  Activities are run by teachers with an interest and often an expertise in the sport and some sessions are fortunate to receive tuition from expert coaches from local clubs.  Every Saturday morning there is also a free sports club, with seasonal activities, available to any child who is willing and able to participate in an active two hour PE session.  For a number of years a successful skiing trip has been organised allowing children to spend a week away from home learning new skills.

YEAR 1 BOYS

YEAR 1 GIRLS

YEAR 2 BOYS

YEAR 2 GIRLS

In Year 2, swimming is introduced as part of the PE curriculum. The children will be taken by coaches to The Waterfront in Woolwich on Monday afternoons. They return to school for 3.30pm.

Learning Support

Our children’s academic progress is carefully monitored from their first term in Reception when we use Early Years Standardised tests. These assessments enable us to identify any problems a child might have.

General learning support will be provided throughout the Pre-Prep by our team of teaching assistants and classroom assistants.

The Head of Learning Support and the Learning Support teacher are able to offer additional support to pupils who may be experiencing particular difficulties. Able, intelligent children may experience learning difficulties for one reason or another. These may be caused by problems with vision or hearing or conditions such as Dyslexia of Dyspraxia. Some of these difficulties may not become apparent until the age of 6 or 7. As soon as we suspect a problem, parents will be invited to school to discuss a strategy to address it. After consultation with the Head of Pre Prep and Head of Learning Support, extra support either in small groups or 1:1 may be recommended. This will be delivered by a member of the learning support team. Occasionally we may advise a more formal assessment from an Educational Psychologist, who would identify the cause of the difficulty and recommend detailed guidance as to the best way to provide appropriate support. The school has a written SEN policy which is available on request.