Reception Overview
The Junior School curriculum is varied and stimulating with a strong emphasis on embedding the core strands while providing challenge and enjoyment.
The curriculum in Junior School teaches children to make powerful and informed choices about their future, achieve high academic standards across the whole curriculum and value each subject and skill.
Small class sizes
Small class sizes and an inherently flexible approach mean we don’t follow a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach; each child can be set individual challenges according to their needs, interests and abilities. Small class sizes, coupled with our excellent teachers, helps us to set the right tone for our youngest pupils to achieve their very best. By helping pupils know they are safe and by giving them the time they deserve with their teacher, we can ensure every child achieves their own academic success.
Learn responsibility
They are taught to take on responsibility for their own actions and their environment not only through the curriculum, but also through their daily interactions, and their teachers leading by example.
Reception
In Reception, we progress with the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum that was established in Nursery.
This focuses on the seven areas of learning which underpin all future development and education:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Physical Development
- Communication and Language
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
Our small class sizes and focused teaching methods mean that Reception children at Arnold Lodge School regularly exceed the targets of the EYFS.
According to each child’s abilities, we often include elements of the national curriculum for Year 1 and sometimes beyond.
With a maximum class size of 16 with a teacher and teaching assistants, we allow pupils to learn at their own pace – no child is left waiting for another and no-one is left behind.
The use of ICT is a vital and integral part of the children’s learning; the classroom is fitted with an interactive whiteboard and the children have access to portable tablets to support their learning.
Years 1 and 2
Good communication between teachers ensures a seamless transition from Reception to Year 1. Like our Reception Year, Years 1 and 2 benefit from a class size of just 16 giving pupils every opportunity to fulfil their academic potential.
Children are already familiar with the increased formality of core curriculum classes and progress easily to the National Curriculum as a framework for learning.
All children study English, Phonics, Mathematics and Science and begin to explore Religious Education, Geography, History, Drama and Art as part of their lessons.
They also have Music, Sport and French lessons with specialist teachers.
The introduction of personal, social, health and economic education allows children to think about their place in society and the wider world.
Years 3 to 6
Children take increasing responsibility for their day, as they begin to move around the school for classes with specialist teachers who are extremely passionate and experts in their subjects.
We encourage our pupils to be independent thinkers who are responsible for their own learning; these are important skills that will enable them to push beyond their comfort zone to reach their full potential in all aspects of their lives.
Teachers keep you and your child well informed of progress, helping everyone to set individual targets and understand what they need to do to reach their goals.
By the time children leave our Lower School, they are responsible and independent learners who have found their own personal voice and have an awareness of their own unique abilities.