What will my child study?
Primary education
When your child starts in the reception class (Year R) he/she will still be in the Foundation Stage of education. This covers the period from your child's third birthday to the end of Year R. The childminder network, day nursery, independent/private school or pre-school your child attended will have started them on a balanced programme helping him to achieve the Early Learning Goals through structured play. At the beginning of Year 1, we will start the National Curriculum.
The National Curriculum
Primary schools give specific attention to developing children’s skills in literacy and numeracy. Schools will draw on the literacy and numeracy strategy materials. The subjects taught include:
- English, mathematics, science and information communication technology (ICT)
- design and technology
- history
- geography
- music
- art and design
- physical education (PE)
- religious education (RE)
The National Curriculum covers all the subjects above and includes a framework for personal, social and health education (PSHE), and citizenship.
The Primary National Strategy encourages schools to plan their curriculum so that it promotes excellence and ensures children enjoy their learning.
Assessment
Staff working with children in the reception class make judgements about children’s progress through observing children at work and play. The Foundation Stage Profile is a way of summing up each child’s progress and learning needs at the end of the Foundation Stage. Information about each child’s progress on the Foundation Stage Profile is given to parents, carers and Year 1 teachers.
Schools regularly assess children’s progress during the school year. At ages seven and 11, they are set formal assessment tasks (SATs) in mathematics and English. At 11, they are also tested on science.
The school keeps a record of your child’s progress and achievements. You will receive a written report at least once a year.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) will publish 2008 Key Stage 2 SATs results for all Hampshire schools in a booklet in December 2008. Last year’s results are available from the DCSF www.dcsf.gov.uk/performancetables/
Able and Talented Children
Schools encourage all children to achieve their full potential. Those who are very able or have special talents are supported through an enriched curriculum offering extra opportunities in a range of subjects. Your child’s school will be happy to discuss this with you.
Sex education
In primary schools, the prospectus will state whether and how sex education is covered. If you do not wish your child to receive sex education (apart from that required by the National Curriculum for science, which is compulsory), you will need to discuss this with the school. You have the right to be consulted on the materials and approach to be used and to withdraw your child from any sex education not included in the National Curriculum.
Religious education (RE) and collective worship
In community schools: children follow the agreed syllabus for RE. This reflects the fact that the religious traditions in the UK are in the main Christian, while taking account of the other main religions in the country. There is daily collective worship, most of which is of a broadly Christian character.
In voluntary controlled schools: children follow the agreed syllabus, but you can ask for your child to receive religious education according to the founding principles of the school.
In church voluntary aided schools: RE is in keeping with the religious tradition of the school in accordance with the school’s Trust Deed. You can, however, ask for your child to receive religious education according to the locally agreed syllabus.
In church voluntary aided and church controlled schools: daily collective worship is provided in accordance with the founding principles of the school. All schools should be able to give you a copy of their policies for RE and collective worship.
If you do not wish your child to receive RE or to take part in collective worship in part or entirely, you will need to discuss this with the school.
Rights Respect and Responsibilities
Many schools in Hampshire follow a unique Hampshire initiative called Rights Respect and Responsibilities. This is a well researched programme that takes a whole school approach to developing responsible, participatory, democratic children and young people. It is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The UN Convention is introduced to children as a set of fundamental principles agreed by countries across the whole world. It sets out the rights they have (rights they have now, not rights they have to wait for until they are adults) whoever they are and wherever they've come from.
Children are taught to distinguish between rights and wants, and progress to understand that, as they have rights, so does everyone else, especially other children and adults in the class and school. They learn they have a responsibility to respect their own rights, and those of others. Schools reinforce these principles in assemblies, in wall displays, in the way lessons are conducted and in the language they use to describe relationships between people and to resolve conflicts.
Recent inspection reports on those schools where this approach is taught have praised the work very highly. Their view is that, it makes a significant impact on children's personal development.