Key Stage One

Children, aged 5-7, in Year One and Year Two, follow the programmes of study for Key Stage One of the National Primary Curriculum.

Our aim is to give each child a good, well-balanced, cross curricular and creative education, which is carefully structured and progressive, ensuring a smooth transition from the Early Years Foundation Stage to Key Stage One of the National Curriculum, preparing children for Key Stage Two. Curriculum documents are available in school for parents to view and the school has its own long term plan, medium term plans, policies and schemes of work for each subject to ensure continuity and progression. These are published on the school website.

Speaking and Listening

We aim to help children speak clearly, fluently and confidently, taking into account the needs of their listeners. We encourage children to listen with growing attention and concentration to what other people are saying and to remember the key points. All our children are given opportunities to take turns at speaking and listening and to make appropriate contributions in class and group discussions. Children are encouraged to use language in imaginative ways, to express their ideas and feelings.

Reading

We follow a structured programme for teaching reading called ‘Read Write Inc’ which is based on synthetic phonics. Children learn to listen carefully for the sound, say it, read it and write it down. As this programme is very structured, the children are grouped by ability and taught every day at the level most appropriate for their stage of phonic and reading development. As children progress through the school they will widen their range of reading material, develop comprehension skills and learn to discuss characters, plot and preferences.

We hope to stimulate children’s interest in books and encourage the habit of reading for pleasure, which will last a lifetime.

Writing

Emergent writing leads eventually to a more structured approach in which our pupils will have frequent opportunities to write for different purposes and audiences. As the children become familiar with the conventions of writing, they are introduced to the most common spelling patterns as well as simple punctuation, capital letters and proper spacing between words. Children are taught to focus on the sight and sound of words and are encouraged to use ‘Fred Fingers’ when learning spellings using Read Write Inc. They are shown how to identify words within words, word families, letter strings, rhymes and patterns. They are also taught the alphabetical order and how to use dictionaries. Emphasis is placed on grammar, punctuation, spellings and handwriting so please support your child with any spelling or written work which has to be completed at home.

Mathematics

We follow a Math’s Mastery approach based on the White Rose scheme. We also use the NCETM Mastering Number. Children are encouraged to talk about their work, ask questions and make predictions based on experience. Initially they work practically, tackling problems with concrete materials. Later they are given experience in doing calculations, measuring and comparing using non-standard and standard units, sorting and classifying shapes and patterns and recording results. Priority is given to ensuring that children have opportunities to use and apply their mathematical skills to solve ‘real life’ problems.

Science

Our teaching of Science is directed towards increasing our children’s knowledge and understanding of the world around them. They progressively develop a knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and facts through practical “hands on” activities, linked to a cross curricular theme or topic. We aim to introduce our children to the skills of observing, sorting, grouping, comparing, asking questions, predicting, evaluating, communicating and recording through investigation. Children are encouraged to use appropriate scientific language to discuss and explain their findings and thoughts to others.

Sex Education

The teaching of RSHE (Relationships, Sex and Health Education) is encapsulated within PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) and is designed for every child to be able to recognise and form healthy relationships and know what to do if a relationship does not feel safe or healthy. We enable our children to be confident in their choices, allowing them to keep themselves safe and healthy and knowing how to seek help for themselves or their friends and to experience positive support and strategies for their mental wellbeing.

The Governors and staff of Burlington Infants School agree sex education will be provided by this school to the extent that it is required by the National Curriculum Science orders for Key Stage One; this is a statutory requirement. Formal teaching of sex education is taught as part of the Key Stage 2 (Junior) RSHE curriculum. Should a member of staff, however, be asked a direct question about sexual relationships, they will try to give a simple and honest answer, using their professional judgement and discretion, and taking account of the age of the child. If the member of staff has concerns, they will consult with the child’s parents. A full copy of the policy is available on request.

Religious Education

The school is not affiliated with any particular religious denomination but is broadly Christian. We are legally obliged to teach R.E. The school’s Religious Education curriculum therefore follows the guidelines given in the East Riding’s Agreed Syllabus and aims to develop the child’s knowledge about religious experinces, customs, places, people and artefacts connected with religious lifestyles.

Assembly

The children meet together for a daily collective Act of Worship. This is of a broadly and mainly Christian character. Children listen to a story, sing hymns or songs and say a prayer. Parents have the right to withdraw their child from religious education and/or collective worship. Please see the Headteacher if you would like to exercise that right.

British Values

At Burlington Infant School, we actively promote British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, through our curriculum and school ethos. These values are reinforced on a regular basis and in a variety of different ways. Details are available on our school website or by request.

Physical Education

The P.E. curriculum is taught through the Rising Stars Champions scheme, which meets the National Curriculum requirements. This is used to aid teaching staff in their subject knowledge. Teachers are able to adapt and improve lessons to tailor them to the needs of their children but the scheme provides a strong basis of what is expected. In addition, First Steps Sports Group, a leading physical activity & training provider, deliver lessons to some of our children. Where applicable, P.E. is also integrated within other curriculum areas/topics.

Each class has access to high quality P.E. lessons every week. These are taught by the class teacher and in some cases specialist First Steps sports coaches.

Children are given the opportunity to practise skills in a variety of ways and each lesson builds upon the previous skills, allowing them time to embed them. Different skills are recapped throughout and across the years, each time they are being built upon, allowing children to know more and remember more.

We facilitate a range of After School/Lunchtime Clubs which enhance the P.E curriculum and provide different sports ‘taster’ sessions for children who might not have experienced some sports at such a young age.

Activate

‘Activate’ is an enjoyable music and movement programme designed to help develop balance, co-ordination, thinking and concentration skills.

Music

The children have regular opportunities to sing together and to play percussion instruments. We follow the ‘Charanga’ Music Scheme which meets all the requirements of the National Curriculum, and ensures progression and continuity of learning across each year group. We are very fortunate to have a talented pianist, local musician and grandparent, Dr Jim Gillespie, who plays for us in our assemblies.

Computing

We follow the Teach Computing scheme of work which meets all the requirements of the National Curriculum, ensuring carefully sequenced units of work, linked to prior learning and future learning. This ensures our children develop a secure knowledge and love of computing and are well prepared for the next stage in their learning.

At Burlington Infant School, we take online safety extremely seriously and have made this a focus within the school. This is to ensure all pupils are aware of how to use technology safely both in and out of school and know who to approach if they have any worries or concerns about anything they have seen online.