The Curriculum

The Curriculum in the Nursery and the Reception Class (The Foundation Stage) is based on the national Foundation Stage Guidelines: Personal and Social Development, Language and Literacy, Maths, Knowledge and Understanding of the World, Physical Development and Creative Development. In the Reception Class the teaching of English and Maths is based on the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies. Within a structured environment children are given a high degree of choice between different activities, some of which will be teacher or adult led, and will be encouraged to develop their independence.

The curriculum that the school follows from Year 1 onwards is based on the requirements of the National Curriculum. The National Curriculum consists of:

Core Subjects:

• English
• Maths
• Science
• Information Technology

Foundation Subjects:

• Geography
• History
• Music
• Art
• Design and Technology
• Physical Education

It is our aim to extend Weston Park's curriculum beyond the National Curriculum, especially in creative areas - Music and Art. We have a specialist music teacher who teaches class music lessons. We regard play as being an important part of developing children's imagination and social skills. Children in all year groups are given the opportunity for structured play as part of their learning.

We also teach Religious Education according to the locally determined syllabus which covers a broad introduction to all the main world religions.

Children are taught as a whole class, in groups or individually. This will depend on the subject matter, the age of the children and their individual needs.

English and Maths are taught according to the requirements of the National Literacy and Numeric Strategies. Science, Design and Technology, History, Geography and Art are taught through topics which change each half term. Music and P.E. are taught separately. I.T. is integrated into other curriculum areas as much as possible.

We welcome parents helping in class, whether on a regular basis or just a one-off occasion. Please talk to your child's teacher if you would like to help so that work can be planned for you. If you have any particular skills (art, sewing, D.I.Y., cooking - anything at all) please mention it. We have many mothers helping - we would love to see more fathers!

We may ask for a voluntary contribution of £1 a half term to cover the costs of ingredients for cooking.

All school schemes of work and policies are placed in the main entrance and can be read at any time. Policies are produced according to the priorities identified each year in the School Improvement Plan. Staff, Governors and others are involved in drafting new policies.

Reading

Our primary aim is to develop confident, independent readers who have an enthusiasm for literature.

We teach a range of skills to enable children to make sense of print in a variety of contexts: in books, in the environment and in their own writing.

Children will read and be read to as a class, in small groups and individually, with different skills being addressed as appropriate.

Children will be reading a wide range of books including books by well-known authors as well as books from reading schemes.

The teaching of phonics is integrated into all the reading work the children do.

We follow the National Framework for Literacy.

We would like to encourage all children to learn to play a musical instrument.

Tuition on a range of instruments can be provided by Haringey's Music Service for children in Year 2 and above. It takes place in school during school time. This tuition has to be paid for by parents, but is free to those on Income Support.

More details are available from the Office.

The school teaches R.E. according to the local Agreed Syllabus.

Parents have the right to withdraw their children from R.E. and also from Collective Worship.

Parents wishing to do this should contact the Headteacher.

We teach Sex Education to all children according to the scheme of work approved by the Governors. Parents have a right to withdraw their children from Sex Education and should contact the Headteacher if they wish to do so.

Some children may have a variety of special educational needs during their time at school, which could be intellectual, physical, social or emotional. Our aim is to work in partnership with you to support your child. The school will follow the Borough's guidance on Special Needs. Parents of all children on the Special Needs Register will receive a copy of a booklet giving more information.

It may be appropriate at some stage to consult outside agencies - for example our Educational Psychologist, or Speech Therapist. This would always be done in consultation with you.