CURRICULUM BY SUBJECT/YEAR

Fellside places prime importance on mathematical understanding and practical application of what is learned. We acknowledge that mental ability is of great importance, and we therefore teach a variety of strategies to improve mental performance, from the Early Years Foundation Stage through to Year 6. Children are encouraged to calculate accurately and efficiently both mentally and with paper and pencil. Computers and calculators are used in various and investigative ways to support our teaching of mathematics and motivate children’s learning. Knowledge and understanding of multiplication tables and number bonds is also an integral part of our mathematics scheme. From Early Years Foundation Stage, children learn to explore number, use mathematical vocabulary and work with shapes and measures. Practical application of number and shape skills are developed as children measure and learn to interpret data. Children are encouraged to investigate, and are given open-ended tasks to promote their mathematical thinking. Ultimately, work covering number, calculations, measure, shape and space and handling data is designed within a problem solving context. Maths is taught within a progressive curriculum framework, with daily direct and interactive oral work, mental calculations and differentiated individual or group activities.

How parents can help

As parents you can do much to support your child in maths. The locality is full of shapes, for example church steeples, traffic roundabouts, patterns in clothing, wall and floor coverings. Practice in tracing, making and naming shapes is an important part of early maths. Children can help with shopping so that they become familiar with coinage, costs and aspects of a household budget. Baking together is an opportunity for your child to learn how to weigh and measure; further development can involve fractions, e.g. cut a cake into equal parts. Asking children to explain something to you is a good way to help their understanding. You can help your child practise and learn number facts, such as number bonds and multiplication tables. A thorough knowledge of tables is regarded as very desirable, if not essential in Upper Key Stage Two. Playing games with your children is a great help to their mathematical thinking and understanding, in a fun, relaxed way. A pack of cards or a set of dominoes are both full of potential number investigations and conversations; any dice game involves number work; many games involve working out strategies to win. Homework activities may well include maths games provided by the school. The daily maths lesson will provide opportunities for children to practise and consolidate their skills and knowledge, to develop and extend their techniques and strategies. These opportunities will be extended through the variety of homework activities where parents have the opportunity to play an active part in helping their child to become numerate. The school is aware that the strategies used in teaching of maths have changed in recent years. To help parents understand methods used in school maths workshops have been held, others will follow, and a parent’s guide to teaching calculation is available for all families.

Downloads:

• Maths Curriculum Overview Year 1
• Maths Curriculum Overview Year 2
• Maths Curriculum Overview Year 3
• Maths Curriculum Overview Year 4
• Maths Curriculum Overview Year 5
• Maths Curriculum Overview Year 6

Children are involved in a wide range of scientific activities throughout their time in school, which will teach them basic scientific principles. Children participate in various studies such as:

• Looking at how plants grow
• Observing how animals live
• Investigating diet
• Comparing everyday materials
• Constructing simple electrical circuits
• Studying how forces move objects

Our study of Science covers biology, chemistry, physics, evolution and the earth sciences through investigation, experimentation, interpretation and generally working scientifically. The school’s science curriculum forges links between science and other parts of the curriculum. For example, measurement is used both in scientific experiments and in the study of mathematics. Another example is when children write and speak about their activities in a variety of ways to different groups. In this way, English is integrated into their study of scientific themes.

How parents can help

Parents can play an essential role in developing a young child’s curiosity and interest in science. For example, by keeping plants and animals, children can learn about the conditions that are needed for healthy living. Involving children in everyday activities in the home can demonstrate to them how science is an integral part of their life, e.g.

• Helping with cooking will show the effects of heat on food and the benefits, the potential dangers and the need for safety.
• Using batteries to operate toys and games will help to explain simple electrical circuits
• Visiting museums, garden centres and the countryside will develop a child’s interest and knowledge in the environment
• Planting seeds and experimenting with a variety of growing conditions can teach a child how to develop a fair and balanced approach to scientific investigation
•  Naming parts of the Body and using names correctly develops valuable scientific knowledge for younger children
•  Using computers to access electronic information provides a child with up-to-date information about the modern scientific world

Downloads:

• SCIENCE CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

In order to meet the demands of the new National Curriculum that was made statutory from September 2014, we have reviewed and revised the ways in which we deliver geography, history, art and design and design technology. Equally we have considered the needs, aptitudes and abilities of the children in our school, designing a curriculum tailored specifically for our children. To that end, we have maintained a creative, cross-curricular approach to these subjects for Key Stage 1 which allows us to use a thematic approach to teaching and learning designed to inspire and enthuse children yet, crucially, draw on integrated links between subjects. In Key Stage 2, the new National Curriculum in these t areas was pivotal in our decision to revert to discrete subject teaching with a strong focus on progressive skills development (though not at the cost of acquisition of knowledge).

Clearly, teachers will make cross-curricular links where these are relevant and these lessons will not be lacking in the creativity central to our thematic approach in Key Stage 1. Our motivation is to ensure that children in Key Stage 2 possess the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to access the Key Stage 3 curriculum in these areas when they commence their secondary education.

Downloads:

History and Geography

• CURRICULUM OVERVIEW FOR HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY IN KS2

Art and Design

• Art and Design Curriculum Overview Year 1
• Art and Design Curriculum Overview Year 2
• Art and Design Curriculum Overview Year 3
• Art and Design Curriculum Overview Year 4
• Art and Design Curriculum Overview Year 5
• Art and Design Curriculum Overview Year 6

Design and Technology

• Design and Technology Curriculum Overview
• DandT curriculum map

Downloads:

Key Stage 1 – Health and Wellbeing

Key Stage 1 – Living in the Wider World

Key Key Stage 1 – Relationships

Lower Key Stage 2 – Health and Wellbeing

Lower Key Stage 2 – Living in the Wider World

Lower Key Stage 2 – Relationships

Upper Key Stage 2 – Health and Wellbeing

Upper Key Stage 2 – Living in the Wider World

Upper Key Stage 2 – Relationships

The school has a strong music tradition. As well as National Curriculum music, which is offered to all children, we also offer instrumental tuition from our peripatetic music teachers for violin, flute, clarinet, guitar and cello. For these lessons we ask for a parental contribution to supplement the substantial contribution made from the school’s budget. Currently over a quarter of our children play a musical instrument.

There are many opportunities for children to perform in Friday assemblies, our annual traditional carol service at St. Mary’s Church and at our major music event in June, the ‘Strawberries and Wine’ concert, which in recent years has featured our own orchestra; a rare feature in a primary school.

In 2014/15, we have embarked on an ‘In Harmony’ project in our Year 2 class which sees half of the children learning to play violin with the other learning cello before coming together as a ‘strings ensemble’. We have recently invested in access to a website called ‘Charanga’ which also supports and influences our music provision in school. In Year 3 this year, children have also been given the opportunity to participate in whole class recorder sessions with one of our peripatetic music teachers, Mr Crinson. This has helped us to ensure progression with this instrument which many children began to learn during a lunchtime club they attended whilst in Year 2.

Downloads:

• Music Curriculum Overview

Downloads:

• KS2 FRENCH CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

The school has a purpose built computing suite with 31 networked computers. In addition classes have access to a computer in their room. All classes now have broadband internet access. All classrooms have computer and video linked data projectors, interactive whiteboards and a visualiser as a teaching and learning resource. We also have Netbooks, IPads and Kindles to support learning in classrooms across the school.

Additional computing activities have recently included the use of green screen technology and animation. We are committed to an ongoing programme of development and training in computing to ensure our children have the best opportunities now and in the future.

Computing is taught both as a specific timetabled subject area but also with considerable cross-curricular application. Full account is taken of the requirements of National Curriculum requirements but in reality many of our children far exceed these national expectations. Aware that many children have access to computers at home, we would always encourage them to further develop their skills there, and make full use of the internet as a learning resource.

Since May 2008 we have subscribed to the web based maths resource ‘Mathletics’. Children can access this at school and at home. A recent investment has been subscription to ‘Lexia’, a digital reading resource which children can access both at home and at school too.

From September 2014, the Computing element of the National Curriculum has made the teaching of programming statutory, as well as how to remain safe when working on-line through specific e-safety lessons.

Downloads:

• Computing Curriculum Map 2014

Physical Education is an important part of the school curriculum. Pupils receive a minimum of 2 hours PE a week. Apart from formal PE and games lessons, pupils participate in after school clubs a variety of sports including tennis and fencing.

There are excellent links with Whickham Academy which hosts a number of sporting festivals and cluster events involving all primary schools in the area throughout the year. Our school is also a member of the Gateshead Schools Sports Partnership (SSP) which allows us to draw on the expertise of coaches in specific sports including tennis, basketball and dance. School teams compete with regular team and individual successes in a variety of sporting events such as football, swimming galas, cross country events, rugby, cricket, hockey, tennis and athletics.

Our school Sports Day is held in the summer term. Our school grounds include a large playing field as well as a paved area that are suitable for basketball and tennis. Our school hall provides for indoor PE and there is also a soft play area for children in our Early Years Foundation Stage. Fellside pupils enjoy swimming lessons at Dunston Pool in Year 4.

Downloads:

• PE CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

Religious Education is broadly Christian and is provided in accordance with the LA’s syllabus. Emphasis is placed on positive attitudes towards each other and people in the community.

Parents wishing to withdraw their child from Religious Education or Collective Worship should contact the Head Teacher. Once a year each class produces an assembly to which parents are invited.

Downloads:

• RE Curriculum Overview

Sex Education is dealt with informally and information is given to pupils as necessary and appropriate. Pupils are informed about the body and the function of the main organs. During Upper Key Stage Two the school nurse visits the school to talk to the pupils about changes in the body. This is done only with the parents having given their prior consent. Resources used in these lessons such as DVDs and videos are available to parents prior to the lessons if required. Parents are notified in advance of sex education lessons taking place.