Purposes of the curriculum

Christchurch School is a Pioneer School for the all new 'Curriculum for Wales'.  Children are taught through six areas of learning;

Language, Literacy and Communication

Mathematics and Numeracy

Expressive Arts

Health and Well-Being

Science and Technology

Humanities

The children in Key Stage 2 are taught in the following zones;
Numeracy Zone
Literacy Zone 
Digital Zone

The National Curriculum is delivered through a cross curricular topic based approach which is more relevant to pupils. To this end regular visits are arranged, this highlights their topic work.

A variety of teaching methods are used including whole class teaching, group and individual work.

The progress of each individual child is carefully assessed and recorded. We believe that children learn best when they are having fun.

Welsh Language

At Christchurch School children are taught through the medium of English. All pupils receive Welsh lessons, in line with National Curriculum Guidelines. A specialist teacher visits the school fortnightly to work with both pupils and teachers.

Children are encouraged to use Welsh incidentally in class, and the “Cwricwlwm Cymreig” underpins many aspects of the activities undertaken at school.

Religious Education

Although Religious Education is compulsory in all schools, in Christchurch School it forms the basis of our school lives. It aims to help pupils to understand the Christian teachings of the Bible, and develop a caring and loving attitude to their fellow pupils and world wide families. Pupils actively contribute to the Morning Assembly, and their attendance at the major festivals of the Christian year at Christchurch, is marked with singing and drama and other musical activities. Pupils, parents and teachers join together in these acts of worship. Pupils and parents are encouraged to attend the first Sunday in the month Family Eucharist; with children taking an active part in this worship.

Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE)

RSE is not taught as a subject in isolation but is dealt with in a sensitive manner as and when it is considered to be appropriate to the needs of the individual child. This will be taught in accordance with the City and County of Swansea RSE Policy Statement as accepted by the Governing Body of the school. A copy of this document is available on request from the Head teacher. The head teacher also implements a Health Education (including Sex Education) Programme in Year 6. Parents who wish their child/ren to participate in the programme must give their written consent.

OUR NURSERY CURRICULUM

At Christchurch the early years curriculum is about your CHILD.

We are concerned not only with the content, but also with the context of the learning. The process is as important as the outcome.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY

We provide well structured and purposeful play activities to enhance and extend your child's learning. Play is fundamental to the way children learn, it is also critical to the way children become self aware and the way in which they learn the rules of social behaviour.

At Christchurch we are here to help your children, to guide their play, to offer choices and to challenge them with care and sensitivity, to encourage them and move their learning along.

LANGUAGE LITERACY & COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Competent use of language is the most fundamental of human skills. It is a deciding factor in mastery of other areas of learning. At Christchurch we provide a wide range of language opportunities for our children to establish a good foundation for future learning.

PERSONAL & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Our children are at an age where they will be learning about themselves. At Christchurch they will learn about relationships with other children and with adults. They will learn about the world outside the family, about how people live and work, about the past and about people and places outside their direct experience. They will learn about standards of good behaviour and develop appropriate attitudes.

MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

At Christchurch nursery our children are introduced to mathematical processes in a meaningful way. Mathematics will be visual, concrete and practical.

KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING

OF THE WORLD

Our children have experiences of other cultures,

of past events and of the work people do, of the use of money, of the environment, of animals and other living things.

To establish a foundation of confidence and enjoyment in science and technology our children are encouraged to experiment, test, build and generally find out how things work.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Our children have access to a range of safe and stimulating outdoor play. We teach them the concepts of hygiene and safety. Both indoors and out our children are provided with opportunities to develop their physical control, mobility, awareness of space and a range of manipulative skills.

CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

We continually provide opportunities for our children to develop their imagination and creativity in a variety of ways, e.g. through music, art, I.T. dance and drama.