Curriculum - Shaftoe Trust Academy

We offer a broad, balanced curriculum relevant to the needs of each of our pupils, within the setting of a lively stimulating environment. We strive to ensure that each individual has the opportunity to develop to his or her full potential. Children are encouraged to become enthusiastic: self-motivated; self-disciplined; independent learners.
From Nursery through to Year 4 we offer a topic based approach, where children learn about the world around them whilst acquiring key basic skills. This creative style of learning is enjoyed by both pupils and staff and creates a purposeful, practical approach. The current topic webs for each year group are available to download from this website. Any further information required about the curriculum can be requested from class teachers.

Once a term we collapse the normal weekly timetable and the entire school learn together through one theme or topic.

Foundation Stage Unit

In the Foundation Stage Unit (FSU) nursery and reception age children (3-5 years) work, play and learn together supported by a team of exceptionally qualified and experienced ‘early years’ staff. The open plan space is divided into three main areas. These are Literacy, Numeracy, and a combination of Knowledge and Understanding of the World and Dreative Development.

We have two reception classes and a morning and afternoon session for nursery children. After short periods of focussed activities with their class teacher, the children can access any of the three rooms and outdoor area for extended periods of time to encourage independence, interaction and play. The older children will have daily numeracy and literacy sessions which will begin with whole class work with a teacher, followed by a wide range of supporting activities within the Unit.

The FSU allows children to remain in the same environment, with familiar adults and routines until the start of Year 1, helping to build confidence and emotional security in the pupils.

Keystages 1 & 2

There are two classes in each year group. Year group classes follow the same curriculum and the class teachers plan together to ensure equal provision.

Every year group is supported by a teaching assistant shared between classes whose role is to support learners, under the supervision of the class teacher.

Additional teaching assistants work with smaller groups of children to provide targeted support.

Computing

Computing is different from most other curriculum areas within the National Curriculum. It is not only a curricular area in its own right with associated skills to be taught and mastered, but it is a cross-curricular skill that can be used to support the rest of the curriculum. Due to its unique nature Computing is taught in two distinct ways.

The Computing Curriculum is taught either by a Higher Level Teaching Assistant or the class teacher during a scheduled time that each class has within the school’s Computing Suite. Within this slot the 3 main areas of the new curriculum are taught; Computer Science (writing and refining computer programs), Digital Literacy (e-safety) and Information Technology (word processing/data handling/drawing etc). Each year group has the following time allocated to them:

Reception – half an hour per week
Years 1, 2, 3, & 4 – 1 hour per week

Each class has a further time slot within the Computing Suite where the computers are used to support other curriculum areas. Also the knowledge and skills developed by the children in the suite can then be applied when using programs within the classroom to support their learning in other curriculum areas.

All classes have an interactive whiteboard which is used to support teaching and learning enabling the pupils to become active participants in lessons.

In addition to the Computer Suite and class PCs, children have access to wireless netbooks to support their learning, providing the opportunity to contribute to the school website to celebrate their achievements.

Internet Safety

Internet Safety encompasses Internet technologies and electronic communications such as mobile phones as well as collaboration tools and personal publishing. It highlights the need to educate pupils about the benefits and risks of using technology and provides safeguards and awareness for users to enable them to control their online experience.

At Prudhoe West the teaching of Internet Safety is taught to all pupils and is embedded into the Computing Curriculum.

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