The Curriculum and Ethos at Mrs Bland’s Infant and Nursery School
Mrs Bland’s Infant and Nursery School is committed to meeting the requirements of the new primary curriculum from September 2014. We have updated our schemes of work to reflect the content and challenge of the new curriculum. Teachers have received training in the key areas of curriculum change and we are ready to provide the new curriculum provision.
The school, whilst delivering the statutory content of the National Curriculum, plans a thematic approach to learning. The topics change regularly to excite and inspire children to nurture a passion for learning. The curriculum will be taught with the consideration of the needs of all learners. A skills-based approach is followed to ensure that the children make progress with their learning as they move through the school.
All subjects are taught as a thematic approach, with the exception of maths, when skills will be taught separately. However, opportunities will be given to apply and consolidate skills learned.
We have specialist teachers who come weekly to teach all pupils music and sports.
As part of the Education Act, RE is taught to all pupils except those withdrawn at the request of their parents. RE will be taught in accordance with ‘The Pan-Berkshire Agreed Syllabus 2018-2023'.
As part of our PSHE and SMSC curriculum and creating an inclusive and positive learning community, opportunities and experiences are planned for and promoted across the entire school curriculum and all aspects of school life. Pastoral care plays a significant role in supporting children with developing an understanding of right and wrong. As part of our daily school assembly, pupils have the opportunity to reflect on stories with morals and how these relate to their behaviour in school and as part of the wider community.
At Mrs Bland’s pupils will have the opportunity to develop, grow and prepare for life as British citizens and will begin to understand as to how they can influence decision-making through the democratic process. For example children may be involved in decision making within their class and as a whole school, creating appropriate pupil questionnaires and raising school rules based on children’s votes. Our children will understand that someone will be successful in an election or vote and their own views and vote can affect this decision and that choices they make can have an impact on everyone (Democracy).
Understand that occupations such as the police and the army have a role within the community to serve and protect us and we hope to achieve this understanding through visits by the police, fire brigade and ambulance service
Understand and accept that people have other faiths, ideas and beliefs and this is celebrated and valued in our school and that it is wrong to judge others if their beliefs or faiths are different to ours. E.g. Diwali, Chinese New Year, Eid, Christmas, Easter, Chanukah etc.
Individual liberty is taught through e-safety and PHSE lessons that advise pupils on how to safely exercise their rights and personal freedoms but also how to keep themselves safe
The school ethos, behaviour policy and classroom and learning rules revolve around ‘respect’ as a core value, and discussions and assemblies focus on what respect means and how it is shown. Home languages and cultures are celebrated and valued within school and children and members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge e.g. Gypsy, Romany, Traveller, Black history month.
A close partnership between home and school means greater success for the children in our care. At Mrs Bland's we aim to share information and ideas that will help our children truly enjoy their learning and give them strong sense of being part of the whole school community.