Learning
We have high expectations of our pupils and ourselves. By providing a broad, balanced and relevant school curriculum for all our children, which covers all the requirements of the New National Curriculum 2014, we are able to recognise individual talents and interests. Aspirations, Independence and Diversity are essential drivers throughout the whole curriculum at Brampton Primary School and are fundamental values that we encourage in all our children. Learning is fun and interactive and children are well supported to reach their personal goals.
Early Years Foundation Stage
The Early Years Foundation Stage is your child’s experience of school between the ages of 3-5 years. At Brampton Primary School we place great importance on giving your child the perfect first taster of school life!
We welcome children into the Foundation Stage at the beginning of the term following their third birthday. Children attend part time Nursery (mornings or afternoons) until the September after their fourth birthday. Children then start in our Reception class full time.
When your child first starts Nursery or the Reception class it is a very big step. We aim to make this transition into school as exciting and worry free as we can for children. We work closely with parents to build a firm partnership between home and school to ease this transition process.
Within our Foundation Stage Unit we provide a range of stimulating, child centred activities on a daily basis. We place great emphasis on learning through play and regard the early formative years as a crucial time in a child’s educational development. All indoor and outdoor activities are centred around the 7 areas of learning set out in the new Early Years Foundation Stage Framework. Children have continuous access to high quality outdoor learning in both Nursery and Reception years. These hands-on activities and experiences provide the springboard for children as they begin their journey through school.
Literacy
At Brampton Primary School we aim for children to develop a love of reading and writing.
The teaching of literacy in EYFS and KS1:
Our pupils learn to read and write effectively and quickly using the Read Write Inc. Phonics programme.
The programme is for:
- pupils in Year R to Year 2 who are learning to read and write
- any pupils in Years 2, 3 and 4 who need to catch up rapidly.
We teach pupils to:
decode letter-sound correspondences quickly and effortlessly, using their phonic knowledge and skills
read ‘tricky’ words on sight
understand what they read
read aloud with fluency and expression
write confidently, with a strong focus on vocabulary and grammar
spell quickly and easily by segmenting the sounds in words
acquire good handwriting.
Have a look at the video links below to find out more about our phonics programme.
Click here for an overview of Read, Write Inc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjlPILhk7bQ
Click here to learn how to say the pure sounds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yln6PpV1G1I
The teaching of literacy in KS2 includes:
- explicitly taught and planned sessions following the guidance and objectives of the Read,Write Inc Literacy and Language programme;
- word level work with explicit teaching of spelling strategies and rules and phonics using ‘Get Spelling’.
- sentence level work led by quality texts to develop grammatical awareness and punctuation skills
- text level work involving reading a range of genres to develop comprehension skills and scaffold writing;
- a range of text types, including cross-curricular writing, modelled to promote sustained composition;
- handwriting and presentational skills taught according to our handwriting policy;
- immersion in a print rich environment that promotes a positive reading culture and develops speaking and listening.
Maths
At Brampton Primary School we use ‘Maths Makes Sense’.
Maths Makes Sense provides a consistent and powerful learning system that bases teaching on the use of concrete objects, exaggerated actions and special vocabulary to engage learners with. It facilitates children in becoming fluent mathematicians and challenges them to able to develop their reasoning skills and develop into confident problem solvers.
Our aims for mathematics are to enable children to:
- develop practical skills and understanding of mathematical concepts, facts and operations as outlined in the National Curriculum
- develop creativity, flexibility and independence of mind to apply their mathematical skills when investigating and solving problems
- build confidence and enjoyment in mathematics
We strive to assist every child to succeed in our school and become a confident mathematician. The combination of objects, actions and vocabulary makes maths accessible to children from the youngest age. The learning system builds and embeds a picture of the maths in children's minds so they progress to thinking without the aid of physical objects; they refer to their mental images instead.
Science
As young scientists, children at Brampton Primary School are taught science on a one year cycle through exciting half termly topics to cover the breadth and balance of the Early Years Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception) and the New National Curriculum 2014. Children are encouraged to explore and investigate through a range of practical investigative activities. There is a balance of knowledge and understanding, enquiry and investigation. Children apply their literacy and maths skills throughout their science learning.
Rising Stars Science is the main scheme that the school uses to teach Key Stage One and Key Stage Two science learning and continuity and progression is ensured through careful planning of differentiated activities.
Wherever possible, links are made between the science learning and class thematic topics, so the children have a clear purpose for their learning and links to everyday life.
Creative Curriculum
We have a creative approach to the foundation subjects at Brampton Primary, combining history, geography, art and D & T skills into an engaging and interesting topic.
Please click on the link below to view the Two Year Curriculum Overview
Y1-Y2 Curriculum Two Year Cycle
Y3-Y4 Curriculum Two Year Cycle
Y5-Y6 Curriculum Two Year Cycle
Computing
At Brampton we recognise that Computing is constantly moving forward and we are highly motivated and committed to developing our expertise and resources to keep ahead in this fast moving world. We aim to provide exciting Computing teaching to all pupils across all areas of the curriculum.
The aims of ICT lessons at Brampton Primary are:
- To stimulate, develop and maintain pupils’ interest in and enjoyment of ICT and other areas of the curriculum;
- To present ICT as a creative process in which children are encouraged to use their own initiative, imagination, reasoning and investigative skills;
- To extend and enhance learning in all subject areas of the National Curriculum and beyond;
- To provide the children with the knowledge of different applications of ICT. This includes: word processing, data handling, control and simulations, multi-media and data logging devices;
- To encourage children to understand the effects and limitations of ICT and to make decisions about its suitability for a particular task;
- To appreciate the relevance of ICT in our society and that they see it as an essential tool for learning, communicating, finding information and for controlling and understanding their environment;
- To work collaboratively and individually using ICT;
- To receive equal opportunity to develop their ICT capability, with the use of ICT being planned for in line with its status as a core National Curriculum subject.
In the Foundation Stage we recognise the importance of teaching ICT skills at the earliest opportunity. We relate the ICT aspects of the children’s work to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals (ELGs), which underpin the curriculum planning for the children aged three to five. All pupils have the opportunity to use computers, netbooks, ipads and additional electronic resources to develop both keyboard and mouse skills and general computer proficiency by using a selection of appropriate quality software. In Key Stages 1 & 2 we are taking a skills based approach, focusing on the following strands: Communication, Collaboration and Publishing; Control; Digital Imagery; Finding Things Out: Handling Data; Finding Things Out: Research; Modelling and Simulations; Multimedia and Music and Sound.
We are highly committed to the teaching of e-safety and each year, through-out school, pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe online. If you would like any support in relation to how to approach e-sfety with your child please see your child's class teacher. The following web-site also have an abundance of high-quality information and advice:
- https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/
- http://www.nspcc.org.uk/help-and-advice/for-parents/online-safety/online-safety_wdh99554.html
PE
OUR VISION
At Brampton Primary School we believe in 'Sport for all'. Through high quality teaching of PE and School Sport we aim for all our children to enjoy and engage in a wide variety of physical and sporting oppertunities and to achieve their full potential.
We hope that through increased particiaption in: 'the 'fun'-damental skills of PE, physical activity and competetive experiences all children will become confident and happy learners, who will have the desire to lead a healthy active lifestyle in adult life.
Aims of PE
Through the teaching of PE we aim to encourage the following:
- To develop skilful use of the body, the ability to remember, repeat and refine actions and to perform them with increasing control.
- To develop an increasing ability to select, link and apply skills, tactics and compositional ideas.
- To develop the ability to work independently and with others in planning, performing and evaluating their work.
- To develop an understanding of the effects of exercise on the body, an appreciation of the value of safe exercise and healthy lifestyles.
- To promote an understanding of safe practice and develop a sense of responsibility towards themselves and to others safety and well-being.
- To understand the importance of fair play, both in friendly and competitive situations.
Olympic swimmer – Ross Davenport- visited our school and he gave all the children three rules he believes should be followed when performing any sport in life. He said: “Always give 100 percent, have a smile on your face and support each other.”
Ex Paralympic swimmer Martin Mansell told all the children at Brampton, after teaching them all how to play the brilliant game of Boccia: “In sport you need the following attributes: Self Belief, Honesty, Respect, Teamwork, Dedication and passion!”
We are sure that everyone at Brampton can follow these 3 simple rules from Ross and try to demonstrate the attributes described by Martin; not just in our PE lessons but in everything we do and this will help them all 'Be The Best That They Can Be!'
PSHE
The health and wellbeing of pupils is at the heart of what we provide as Brampton Primary School and their PSHE curriculum is a crucial part of the broad and balance curriculum provided. PSHE education gives our pupils the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to keep themselves healthy and safe and to prepare them for life and work in modern Britain. We follow the PSHE Matter curriculum to provide drug education, financial education, sex and relationship education (SRE) and ensure pupils understand the importance of physical activity and diet for a healthy lifestyle.
Click HERE to see which topics will be covered each term.
Music
At Brampton Primary School, we value the importance of music because it is a powerful and unique form of communication that can influence the way pupils feel, think and act. Music encourages creativity, whereby children are given opportunities to use a variety of instruments, including the voice, for composing, improvising and performing, whilst developing listening and appraisal skills of their own work and that of other musicians and composers.
Special Educational Needs
At Brampton we believe children do not have a disability but different abilities.
Brampton Primary School aims to provide a broad and balanced curriculum for all children and when planning, teachers set suitable learning challenges and respond to children’s diverse learning needs. Some children have particular learning requirements that could create barriers to learning and we as a school endeavour to overcome any potential barriers to enable inclusion for all. Special education provision means educational provision which is additional to, or otherwise different from, the educational provision made generally for children of their age
The Four Broad Ares of SEND are:
Communication and Interaction
Cognition and Learning
Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties
Sensory and/or Physical Needs
Aims
To value each child
- Identify the needs of children as early as possible
- Identify the specific needs of each child in order that they can receive extra provision to achieve alongside their peer group
- Access the progress and attainment of the children to provide appropriate targeted support
- To maximise the opportunities for children with SEND to join in with all the activities of the school
To provide a happy, stimulating and secure environment
- Ensure that the children can achieve targets by making them S.M.A.R.T. (Specific Measured Attainable Realistic Timed)
- Ensure that children do not feel embarrassed, humiliated or threatened because of their needs
- Ensure that there is a clear structure to the children’s day and that they are able to achieve success and build their self esteem
To offer equality of opportunity
- Enable the children with SEND to participate and be included fully into the life of the school regardless of need
- Enable the children to have full access to the National Curriculum Programmes of Study at their level
- Ensure all children in school achieve their full potential in line with Every Child Matters (ECM)
To encourage respect in all areas
- Respect the abilities of the children by praising and celebrating their successes and progression
- Concentrate on ability of children rather than disability
- Encourage the rest of the class to respect and encourage the children with SEND
To develop and encourage the desire to learn
- By using SMART targets and praise, encourage the children with SEND to assess themselves against the teacher’s and their own targets
- When possible making lessons multi-sensory, suiting different learning styles and using a range of resources
- Discussing feelings and targets with the children in order to develop a desire to self-improve
To promote independence and responsibility
- Provide individual targets within the Individual Education Plan (IEP) and encourage the children to assess their own progress against the targets
- Enable the children to be responsible for their own equipment and resources
To provide clear and concise communication within the school and the wider community
- Inform parents and governors about changes to SEND provision and policy via the prospectus, individual letters to parents of SEND children and regular governors meetings
- Inform the Local Authority (LA) about the progress of children who have statements of SEND
- Provide clear notice of annual and interim reviews
- Inform parents about the progress of their child on the SEND register