Curriculum

The curriculum aims to be broad, creative, balanced, inclusive and stimulating for all children to become independent and imaginative thinkers and learners. At the beginning of each term a curriculum report is sent home with every child enabling parents/carers to find out about what their children are learning and how they can take part when at home. At the ages of 7 and 11 there are National Assessments which indicate how each child is progressing. These are referred to as SATs (Standard Assessment Tasks and Tests). These tests take place in the summer term and the results are given to parents on Parents' Evening. We hold three parents’ evenings per year and there are plenty of opportunities to speak to your child's class teacher.

Early Years, The Nursery and Reception

The Nursery has a number of full time children as well as those who come for the morning or afternoon sessions. The Early Years follow the Foundation Stage Curriculum which consists of 6 areas of learning:

• Personal, social and emotional development
• Communication, language and literacy
• Mathematical development
• Knowledge and understanding of the world
• Physical development
• Creative development

The Reception has a two-form entry with a sixty-child intake. The curriculum is applied through a creative and stimulating focus. Children become independent learners and thinkers and learning through play is at the heart of its programme.

The National Curriculum for Key Stage 1 & 2

From Year 1 your child will follow the National Curriculum with additional support given through identified Literacy Programmes. The National Curriculum is split into:

• The Core Subjects: English, Maths, Science, Religious Education and Information and Communication Technology.
• The Foundation Subjects: History, Geography, Design, Technology, Art, Music, Drama, Dance and Physical Education.

English

English and the National Literacy Hour It is important our pupils become competent readers, writers, speakers and listeners. Therefore, a love of books and a desire to read is fostered in the Nursery. As children progress through the school, they also develop enthusiasm for writing. Through focused activities, discussions, drama debates, presentations to the class, workshops, class assemblies and the literacy hour, our pupils develop confidence in using higher level language skills. Children who have English as an additional language are given additional support.

Mathematics

A Numeracy Hour is implemented daily. Problem solving and investigations provide the pupils with opportunities to use mathematical skills learned, and make links with every day situations.

Information Communication Technology (ICT)

The state-of-the-art ICT suite makes this area very attractive and motivating. Children will at some point be able to have access to the Internet and their own e-mail address. Our ICT suite is centrally managed and monitored and is therefore safe for the children to use.

Science

From the Science curriculum and topic themes, children will study areas as diverse as electrical currents, forces, plant growth and animals. The pupils make observations and comparisons, test their own ideas, consider evidence and provide their own possible solutions.

Religious Education, Assemblies and Collective Worship

At Grafton we follow the Islington Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education, the aims of which are to help children achieve knowledge and understanding of religious beliefs, practices and respect the rights of others. In Assemblies (Collective Worship), Parents and Carers have the right to withdraw their children from these observations.

History

History education has emphasis on the past in comparison with the present and future. Pupils develop knowledge and understanding of their world focusing on topics from their own neighbourhood and family history to the Tudors, the Greeks, Britain since the 1930's and world history. In the autumn we focus on Black History, and celebrate the rich cultural diversity of our School.

Geography

Initially, pupils focus on their own school and local area, then look at other countries in the world to learn about their cultures.

Sports

Physical Education is high on our agenda, so it is very important that children come to school prepared for these sessions with the appropriate Physical Education kit: T-shirt, tracksuit bottoms or shorts and training shoes are a must. From age 7 all pupils have swimming lessons once a week. Swimming is a statutory requirement and all pupils are expected to swim at least 25 lengths by the time they leave Primary Education. All the children in key stage 2 attend swimming lessons once per week.

Music

Through music we celebrate different cultural events and festivals. We have a full time Music teacher who works with all the children throughout the school. We have an excellent choir and a high number of children are learning the Violin and the Cello as part of the music curriculum. We have visits by the London Symphony Orchestra, The Guildhall School of Music, and other such music groups. We also take part in a number of concerts, throughout the year.

Dance and Drama

At Grafton we welcome theatre groups regularly to support our history topics such as Life in Ancient Greece, Beowulf and his special journey, to Shakespeare plays such as Macbeth, Henry and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Design & Technology

The pupils are taught through a programme focused on practical tasks. Topics combine processes in investigating, disassembling and evaluating with designing and construction, from junk modelling and balloon buggies to functioning lighthouse models.

Art Education

As it is an important part of the children’s development, art is a real strength at Grafton Primary School. We encourage appreciation of art in any form, from Monet’s paintings to sculptures by Henry Moore, including art from other cultures. We are members of the Creative Partnerships and hold the Gold Artsmark Award. We enjoy many visits to galleries and museums, particularly The Tate/Tate Modern and National Portrait Gallery. We also work closely with various in-house artists.

Sex Education

At Grafton we believe that it is important for children to have access to information about their own bodies and how they grow. In each year projects will include material appropriate for the age and maturity of the pupil. In the final year pupils learn about aspects of maturing, a carefully planned programme supported by the Camden and Islington Health Forum. Parents have the right to withdraw their children from these sessions.

Special Educational Needs and the Inclusive School

As an inclusive school we support all pupils access to the curriculum through effective programmes of support. Some children will be given targets set through the Individual Educational Plans in partnership with the parents, teacher and pupil. Their progress will be reviewed regularly and the parents are involved at every stage of this review. The school keeps a register of need and the SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) ensures that the register is reviewed and updated. In addition, the school has excellent links with outside agencies, which contribute to the whole programme of support, and to meeting the needs of our pupils.

School visits and outings

Each term all classes take part in educational visits, which are of enormous educational value and form part of the National Curriculum requirements for the children’s programme of work. Visits include galleries, museums, places of worship, theatres and outside spaces such as parks. Whole school trips include a visit to the seaside at Walton-on-the-Naze and to the Hackney Empire Theatre at Christmas time to see a Pantomime.

Workshops

The pupils are able to enjoy visiting theatre companies, dance groups, opera and orchestras. These sessions are normally followed by workshops, which allow excellent teaching and learning to take place. Parents may be asked for a voluntary contribution towards these activities. In addition the school organises an annual five-day residential trip to East Dene on the Isle of Wight (only for children in year 5 and 6).

Philosophy for children

All our staff are trained in working with pupils in Philosophy lessons. These are very successful and provide opportunities for our children to debate, discuss, consider and become analytical about the world around them.

CAME: Cognitive Acceleration in Maths Education and Lets Think for Key Stage One

We are a CAME School and all our staff are trained in delivering CAME sessions to pupils. The CAME programme accelerates thought and allows children to analyse and solve mathematical problems constructively. We are also a training centre, teaching other people the CAME.