At St Christopher’s, we believe that a curriculum should be exciting, varied and stimulating in order to meet the needs of children of all abilities. Innovative teaching methods, daily challenges and homework are all geared towards encouraging the children to work in an independent way.
We lay the strongest foundations for the total development of each individual through a nurturing and child-centred approach. This is achieved through creative and integrated learning opportunities in a stimulating environment where children feel valued, confident and independent. All this is underpinned by our commitment to supporting every child’s:
In Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils work predominantly with their class teacher and receive specialist teaching in native or non-native Arabic, Music and PE, enjoying swimming as part of the curriculum. All the classes have timetabled lessons in a fully equipped ICT suite and also have a bank of Chromebooks that we use to enhance curriculum learning within the classroom.
At Nursery pupils learn through a play-based, thematic approach, utilising a range of interesting and creative teaching methods. They have the freedom to explore, investigate, discover, imagine, and to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding through self-chosen activities and adult-led experiences. Our Nursery is bright and spacious with cosy classrooms and exciting corners in which to play and learn. Our pupils benefit from a stimulating, integrated indoor-outdoor environment, which promotes a child’s independence, decision-making and problem-solving.
The curriculum in our Nursery is based around the seven areas of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS):
Early phonics skills are developed through fun activities and pupils are introduced to pre-reading skills. Early number concepts are developed through Numicon, which builds a deep understanding of number and number relationships, developing pupils’ fluency, reasoning and problem-solving.
In Reception, we seek to develop a child’s potential through a stimulating, multi-sensory, broad and balanced curriculum, delivered in a secure, caring and creative environment.
The formal teaching of reading continues with a highly-structured phonics programme and the Oxford Reading Tree reading scheme which further develops early reading skills taught in Nursery.
Creative and critical thinking is encouraged by putting forward and developing the pupil’s own ideas and strategies. And We encourage our pupils to learn actively and to concentrate and persevere when they encounter difficulties, thereby enjoying their achievements and endeavours.
Our learners enjoy a sense of personal achievement, which is celebrated by all. The curriculum taught in Year 1 is challenging and differentiated to ensure all pupils are engaged and work hard, yet have fun. We regard the acquisition of the core skills of reading, writing and maths essential and plan the teaching programme carefully for continuity and progression. Year 1 provides a well-planned and resourced curriculum which takes each child’s learning forward through a continuous provision approach.
The core curriculum subjects of English and Maths receive the greatest time commitment and the pupils experience learning in foundation subjects through a themed approach where they can see explicit links to the different subject areas.
We regard the acquisition of the core skills of reading, writing and maths essential and plan the teaching programme carefully for continuity and progression. Year 1 provides a well-planned and resourced curriculum which takes each child’s learning forward through a continuous provision approach.
In Year 2, we build on the enjoyment and enthusiasm for learning fostered in the earlier Infant School years. Our curriculum takes the best elements of traditional teaching but is not restricted by it. Technology and careful planning encourages an imaginative approach to teaching and learning in all subject areas.
As the oldest pupils in the Infant School, our Year 2 pupils have special privileges and responsibilities. Over the year, four pupils from each of our Year 2 classes are elected to the Infant School Student Council
