English
At Nythe Primary School, children receive at least an hour of English each day. Our English lessons follow the National Curriculum. Each term, teachers base their English lessons around a book. As the book is read, events that occur are used to inspire the children’s own writing. Where possible, the teaching of grammar, punctuation and spelling skills is embedded within each English lesson, however there may be some instances where these skills need to be taught discretely.
In addition to their daily English lessons, children also participate in guided reading lessons, handwriting practice and phonics/spelling practice regularly throughout the week.
Maths
Maths is an important creative discipline that helps us to understand and change the world. We want all of the children at Nythe Nursery and Primary School to experience the beauty, power and enjoyment of mathematics and develop a sense of curiosity about the subject with a clear understanding.
At Nythe, we foster positive ‘can do’ attitudes; we believe all children can achieve in mathematics and we teach for secure and deep understanding of mathematical concepts. We use mistakes and misconceptions as an essential part of learning and provide challenge through rich and sophisticated problems before acceleration through new content.
Our pupils have many opportunities to solve problems by applying their mathematical understanding to a variety of problems with increasingly sophistication, including in unfamiliar contexts and to model real-life scenarios. Mathematical ideas are discussed and reasoned and not just received ‘passively’ by our pupils.
Science
At Nythe Primary School, our science lessons follow the National Curriculum, which outlines units to be completed each year. Scientific enquiry skills are embedded within each topic. Through our Science curriculum, we aim to foster in children a natural curiosity about the world around them.
Computing
As the world becomes ever more reliant upon technology, we recognise the importance of supporting pupils at Nythe to develop the key computing skills that they will need to use throughout their lives. Our Computing curriculum is designed to enable the children to develop these skills in a safe and responsible way. We recognise the importance of online safety and the teaching of this is embedded within our computing curriculum.
PE
At Nythe Primary School, we follow the Real PE Scheme. This scheme supports children to develop the key abilities needed to be successful within PE and sport, as well as across the curriculum. Across the year, children develop their physical skills with a focus on each of the six cogs:
- Creative
- Cognitive
- Health and Fitness
- Physical
- Social
- Personal
PSHE
Our PSHE lessons are taught following the Jigsaw Scheme. Each year, the children study six units, building upon their learning from previous years:
- Being Me in My World
- Celebrating Difference
- Dreams and Goals
- Healthy Me
- Relationships
- Changing Me
Sex and Relationships lessons are embedded as part of our PSHE curriculum.
History
Our History curriculum has been designed to enable pupils to understand the chronology of the historical eras and events that are studied. Units are sequenced to enable pupils to build upon their prior knowledge and understanding, and to make meaningful links between the different periods in history that they have learnt about. Historical enquiry skills are embedded within our History curriculum.
Geography
Through our Geography curriculum, pupils develop an understanding of the world around them. Children study their local area and the wider world, learning about key geographical features and developing geographical fieldwork skills. At Nythe, we understand that we all have a role to play in looking after the environment and protecting the world that we live in. Units linked to sustainability are frequently delivered throughout Geography Curriculum.
RE
Our RE curriculum follows the Swindon Agreed Syllabus. Children learn about several different religions through our termly Big Questions. Each lesson within a unit aims to provide children with the knowledge and understanding that they need to enable them to answer the big question at the end of the unit.
Art
At Nythe Primary School, the Art Curriculum is designed to enable pupils to develop a wide range of artistic skills, in line with the National Curriculum, through studying key artists, designers and architects. Children are supported to explore existing artwork and develop their own artistic skills before creating their own artwork in the style that has been studied.
Design & Technology
Each unit within our DT curriculum follows the ‘Research, Design, Make, Evaluate’ sequence. Children are encouraged to explore and evaluate existing products before designing and making their own product for a given purpose, which they then evaluate. The development of key DT skills (such as woodwork and textile skills) are embedded within our DT curriculum.
Our food technology units are designed to teach children the importance of a healthy, balanced diet. Throughout their time at Nythe, children explore a wide range of ingredients and prepare a variety of healthy recipes.
Music
As part of our Music curriculum, all children from Year 1 to Year 6 receive a series of recorder lessons each year. These lessons are delivered by a specialist teacher from the Swindon Music Service, and enable pupils to become confident in playing an instrument and in the reading of sheet music. Our remaining music units each year are delivered using Charanga.
Modern Foreign Languages
At Nythe Primary School, all children in Key Stage 2 are taught French following the Catherine Cheater scheme. Children develop their vocabulary, conversation skills and knowledge of French culture through the use of rhymes, songs, stories and videos.