Key Stage 1 Curriculum Evening October 2015

Our aims:- To be aware of the changes to the New Curriculum To know how children will be assessed in the New Curriculum Supporting your children at home.

The new Curriculum was introduced in September It aims is to raise standards in the UK. The content is more challenging, but focuses on core skills and knowledge. It reflects the governments desire to ‘ensure every child leaves school prepared for life in modern Britain’.

As a Free School we are given the freedom to develop our own creative curriculum. Our curriculum is topic based in which the children are exposed to a wide and varied diet of activities. We proved from our latest inspection that we teach a broad and balanced curriculum.

We use the key objectives from the new Curriculum and deliver them in an imaginative and creative way. Our aim is to engage and inspire pupils to be creative and independent students who leave here with a love and thirst for learning. We want each child to leave the school having reached their full potential.

What are the changes to the New Curriculum? Maths It is based on three main aims:- Fluency Reasoning mathematically Problem solving More is expected at an earlier age. e.g. 5 year olds are expected to count up to 100, compared to 20 under the old curriculum and learn number bonds to 20 instead of 10.

The conceptual development of number is addressed in detail Study fewer things in more depth Pupils are expected to build firm foundations and not be accelerated using content from other years.

English Stronger emphasis on vocabulary development, grammar, punctuation and spelling. Handwriting is expected to be fluent, legible and speedy. Greater emphasis on spoken English, with children to be taught presenting skills. Comprehension skills are key in the new curriculum

Information, Communication Technology (ICT) has been replaced by Computing, with a greater focus on programming rather than operating programs. In school the children will be programming progressively more complex instructions into Bee-Bots and the Roamer. The children have already learnt how to create their own simple slide shows and tested them using new iPad technology. ICT

Assessment New National Curriculum tests and Assessments Previous tests and tasks have been replaced They will take place in May Pupils will be given a raw score, a scaled score and confirmation of attainment of the National Standard. Schools will receive instructions on marking and conversion scales in May 2016.

English Tests 2 Reading papers each a different type of text. 1 with text and questions combined 1 more challenging text with questions is a separate booklet. There will be much greater emphasis on comprehension elements. Grammar, punctuation and spelling: Emphasis on technical aspects of grammar Separate spelling test No writing test

Mathematics New an arithmetic test Mathematical Reasoning paper Children need to be able to work independently, they will no longer be allowed practical apparatus such as number squares or units and tens rods to help them.

Supporting your children at home Useful websites: Woodlands Junior – for literacy and maths games Phonics play Top Marks BBC bitesize Key Stage 1 School Website – Look for “what’s been happening at school” page, here you will find brief notes about the work the children have been doing in class to help you know what to reinforce at home. Handwriting – encourage any form of writing using cursive script. Spelling High Frequency words - look for the list on the website. Appendices from the New Curriculum for letters and sounds in Year 1 and 2 are on our website. Progression in Calculation booklet the help explain mathematical concepts and how they are taught.

Reading at home Firstly really enjoy and encourage reading for pleasure. When reading at home make time to talk about the book and their feelings about it. Let your children use a range of strategies including looking at the pictures. Ask questions about the text