Primary curriculum
Mrs S Bush Headteacher of Crayford Temple GroveThe primary phase is organised as 3 distinct areas, The Early Years Foundation Stage for children aged 3-5, Key Stage 1 for children aged 5 – 7 and Key Stage 2 for children from 7 – 11. All children are taught all the subjects by their class teachers. Numeracy and Literacy is taught through the use of the Primary Strategy. Emphasis is given to providing a safe and supportive experience that encourages high achievement and personal growth. The Primary phase is fully coeducational with boys and girls together in the classroom as well as all other aspects of school life.
In the Early Years Foundation Stage the children follow the learning and development requirements of the statutory framework. All children are given equal access and opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills in the six areas of learning:
- Communication, Language and Literacy
- Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Physical Development
- Creative Development
- Knowledge and Understanding of the World
All children learn through play with a mixture of child initiated and teacher led learning opportunities. Learning takes place both indoors and outdoors.
Reading and writing is taught through the use of synthetic phonics and supported by a structured reading scheme.
Children are assessed throughout their time through observations, questioning and guiding using the Early Learning Goals in the Nursery and the Foundation Stage Profile in Reception.
The children in Key stage 1 follow the national curriculum as well as the DCSF guidance on RE, PSHE and Citizenship. The wellbeing curriculum is also introduced in Year 1. The transition from Reception to Year 1 is dealt with sensitively, especially in the first term where Year 1 children learn through play and have daily access to outside activities. Year 1 teachers use the Foundation Stage Profiles to build an accurate picture of children’s learning and progress. All learning and teaching in KS1 is based on termly themes with children exploring subject knowledge through an overarching topic. English and Maths are taught daily and children have a weekly guided reading session with their teacher.
Reading and writing continues to be taught through the use of synthetic phonics and supported by a structured reading scheme.
Key Stage 1 ends with children taking SATs, along with teacher assessment making up their attainment level.
In Key Stage 2 all children continue to follow the National Curriculum with the same subjects taught as at Key Stage 1. In Years 5 and 6 more specialist teaching is introduced through the teaching of French, PE, Music and ICT. Teaching of the Foundation subjects is thematic and wherever it is possible cross-curricular links are made between all subjects.
Maths and English are taught daily and there are 2 hours per week of Science and PE.
Most teaching is whole class based, but there is ability setting in Mathematics in Year 6 and 5 and PE for this group is taught in single gender groups.
At the end of Year 6 children’s attainment is assessed through the SATs tests in Reading, Writing, Maths and Science.