How we deliver our curriculum
If you have any questions regarding the curriculum we teach please contact the school directly.
Learning should be fun, relevant and equip children with the skills and knowledge that they need to be successful in life. This is what we believe. Every morning at school the children will receive tuition in maths, writing and reading. We also run daily phonic groups for children who need it. Our afternoons are taken up with lessons that cover all the other subject areas. some of these are taught through themes or topics, some as discrete stand alone subjects. Science is an important curriculum area which is why it is taught outside of topic lessons largely but thematically where it fits well. History, art, geography and design technology lend themselves well to a thematic approach, where for instance a child under the umbrella of a topic on the USA may learn about the geography of the states, produce their own graffiti art, explore key historical events and design travel agents posters promoting each state. Music is currently taught via the Charanga Music Scheme. The school supports music by providing a year long free programme of percussion tuition in Year 4 delivered by Wigan Music Services. The school has a long tradition of excellent singing and involvement in performance, for example Young Voices concerts in Manchester. In Key Stage 2 children are supported by their teachers and specialists to enjoy the French language and the culture of France.
Individual subjects receive a closer review on a rolling basis.
The school is investing in the use of outside more specialist teachers where a subject needs it. In the areas of Modern Foreign Languages and P.E. staff are working with link teacher to extend and develop how we teach these subjects in school.
Staff are working with a specialist French teacher and Wigan Warriors coaches to enhance and improve the delivery of M.F.L. and P.E.
The school provides many online learning tools with home access to all pupils so that they can carry on their computing lessons at home. These tools also support learning across the curriculum.
We know that some children need to receive more support than others, whilst others have high academic potential that needs pushing. This is why we group children in lessons to teach Maths and English making use of teaching assistants where they are available, pastoral support staff and 'break-out' areas to allow for more personalised support. The school also utilises the National Tutor Programme to offer 1:1 or small group tuition free to children who need 'catch-up' interventions. This is delivered in blocks up to 15 hours using school based tutors.
All teaching follows the National Curriculum's skills and knowledge, however we take advantage of the freedom schools have to deliver these in a way that the children enjoy. We value the impact of 'special' lessons which is why we take the children out of school to enhance their topic work, or invite specialists into school to teach them more. for example, we offer swimming throughout the children's time in year 3. In the junior classes, we also offer the children the opportunity to take part in a residential trip over three days that challenges them to try some adventurous activities in the great outdoors and at the top of the school, a week long stay in Scotland!
Unlike most schools, Chowbent puts emphasis on developing speech, language and communication skills. That is why we hold weekly Philosophy 4 Children sessions and what we call, discussion reads. The school holds the Silver Philosophy 4 Children Award.
Foundation Stage.
Children learn through:
Playing and exploring
Active learning : being involved and keep on trying
Creating and thinking critically : having our own ideas and choosing ways to do things
Children are introduced to letter sounds so that they can read and write. Children also being to make friendships and learn how to tackle challenges independently.
Literacy
Literacy runs through all areas of the Curriculum. Literacy consists of:
* Reading * Writing * Phonics * Speaking * Listening * Drama
Phonics lessons teach children the skills that they need in order to read and spell. The Phonics scheme used at Chowbent Primary School is 'Sounds Write'.
All areas are included in other subject areas, such as Group discussions held to decide on how a Science investigation should be conducted or hot - seating (drama) to find out more about Florence Nightingale (History).
We use the Sounds Write phonics programme to teach the children the skills required to read. This is supported by linked and matched phonic books which can be read at home to reinforce the phonics taught in school. Home readers will not be books your child will find hard or challenging, they will be set at a level that the child feels comfortable with and can read several times over building up confidence and familiarity. In school reading will be based on assessment and movement through the Sounds Write programme. Additional Sounds Write sessions will be offered to children who need it. Reading schemes utilsed as additional readers may be picked from;
As the children progress in their acquisition of reading skills they are moved on to an understanding of text and reading in a wider context. We use a staged approach to the teaching of reading, supporting children through the steps required to fully interrogate the text. Using the skills we develop in P4C (Philosophy 4 Children) we also use 'discussion read' sessions within which readers engage with enjoyable text and stories in a shared way which is then used as a stimulus for wider debate, for example to answer a moral question raised by a character's actions.
SPaG Overview: Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar
• Children in the juniors are taught SPaG in differentiated groupings in class.
• Children in the infants (Y1 and Y2) work in classes with work differentiated, according to their knowledge, understanding and application of SPaG elements.
•Assessments take place for all children from Y1 to Y6 and next steps for learning are planned for by the teacher.
• Lessons are broken into steps in learning for each SPaG element chosen..
•The SPaG tracker is broken into sections - section 1 relates to new curriculum expectations for Year 1. Teachers use the tracker to inform planning i.e. tracking back to earlier SPaG elements that aren't secure as well as teaching the age expected elements if SPaG.
•Children are assessed at the beginning of each term. This highlights improvements in taught areas, new topics needing to be covered and possible movement for pupils between sets. Year 6 are assessed as part of their SATs tests in May.
•Year 1 children only start official SPaG lessons during the Spring Term.
Maths
Mathematics is all around us; it underpins much of our daily lives and our future as individuals and collectively. We teach number, calculations, using and applying, shape, space and measure as well as data handling.
Geography
Geography is about developing a sense of place and understanding of the human and physical processes that shape the world we live in. Children are encouraged to look at a variety of places, cultures and environments and to compare what they find to their own experiences.
History
History is our record of what happened in the past and why. Children begin to learn and understand how the past influences life today. Their study of history contributes to children’s knowledge and understanding of other peoples, countries and cultures.
Design and Technology
At Chowbent design and technology lessons offer children opportunities to develop their designing, making and evaluating skills through textiles, food technology and woodwork. Children gain knowledge and understanding of materials, mechanisms, structures, quality and health and safety. Children’s work in design and technology is linked to their theme work.
Art
At Chowbent we aim to give children the opportunities and skills to be able to experience and enjoy being creative. Children have chances to express themselves and use their imagination using a range of skills and materials, such as paint, day or computing tools. Children’s work in art is linked to the termly topic.
Science
At Chowbent, the Science curriculum aims to stimulate children’s curiosity in finding out why things happen in the way that they do. It teaches methods of enquiry and investigation to stimulate creative thought and covers all the areas of the National Curriculum. Including Sound, Forces, Materials, Electricity and Green plants.
Computing
Computing runs through many subjects and disciplines yet also requires specific teaching. We follow a programme of activities using iLearn2 Primary Computing that allow the children to explore a range of computing themes, from internet safety to coding.
Religious Education
At Chowbent, we recognise Religious Education to be an essential part of the school’s curriculum. By following the Wigan agreed syllabus, we hope to develop an open, sensitive and reflective approach to understanding humankind varied religious experience. We aim through our religious education to develop knowledge and understanding of not only Christianity but other world religions, therefore celebrating diversity in society and appreciation of cultural differences in the UK today.
Philosophy
Chowbent has a Silver Award for Philosophy 4 Children. We hold philosophical enquiry sessions in all classes at least once a week. These sessions are designed to improve the children's speaking, listening and communication skills as well as to develop their understanding and thinking skills.