Our Curriculum

At Etherley Lane we don’t just deliver the National Curriculum – our teachers ensure that we have a carefully planned overview for each curriculum subject which arches across the whole school – ensuring that what we teach and how we teach it suits the needs of our learners and shows progression and helps the children to remember and make sense of their learning. At Etherley Lane, we teach each subject in its own right – we don’t try to make links between subjects unless the links are purposeful to our learning.

We plan each of our subjects individually, ensuring the what we teach has a balance to enable children to develop skills and knowledge. Where possible, we include visits and new experiences for our children to help them to have a firm base for their learning and to help them remember important information in the future.

At present our primary school curriculum is divided into three stages:

Early Years Foundation Stage– for children of ages below five years
Key Stage 1 – for children from five to seven years
Key Stage 2 – for children from seven to eleven years

If you would like to find out further information about our school curriculum please make an appointment to speak to a member of our leadership team.

Curriculum Overviews by Subject

You can view or download our curriculum overviews for each subject below. Each overview includes what each year group will cover from the 2014 National Curriculum in that particular subject, skills the children will learn, new vocabulary introduced in each year group and any educational visits the children will have, which will enrich their learning within the subject. For further information about a particular subject, please contact the school office. Mrs. Walls or Miss Gill will be able to assist in arranging to speak to the relevant subject leader.

Curriculum Overviews by Year Group

You can view or download our curriculum maps below for each class across the school. Each curriculum map includes what each class will cover from the 2014 National Curriculum in each subject. Curriculum Maps are divided up into Autumn, Spring and Summer Terms. For more information about what your child is learning this year in their class, please read the termly newsletter, which can be viewed and downloaded from the Our Classes section of our website. Alternatively, please speak to your child’s class teacher.

Phonics and Reading

At Etherley Lane, we are passionate about reading. We do not just teach the reading curriculum; we also strive to develop the reading environment, celebrate reading and engage parents in order for all of our children to become lifelong readers. We want the children at Etherley Lane to develop a passion for reading and be able to apply their reading skills across the curriculum.

From the beginning of September in Early Years, children are introduced to our ‘Read Write Inc.’ synthetic phonics programme. In the programme, children learn sounds and the letters that represent them, and how to form the letters. Then, they read books written using only the letters they have learnt (and a small number of separately taught ‘tricky words’). This gives the children plenty of early success and builds up their reading confidence.

Children are taught phonics every day for 20 minutes initially in Early Years, building up to 45 minutes by the end of the Autumn Term. In Year 1, children are taught phonics every day for one hour as part of their English lessons. In order to support the work on phonics that the children do in school, phonic books are sent home with the children. These books are designed to consolidate and reinforce the sounds being taught in Read Write Inc.

Please click here to find out more information about Read Write Inc. and what you can do to further support your child.

From Year 2, the children are able to access the STAR reading assessment test. Once the children have completed the test, they are assigned a book level through a digital test. Book levels range from 0.1-8.0. Once children have read their book at home, they are given the opportunity (within guided reading or independent reading time) to take an online quiz.

The quizzes have several functions. Firstly, they check learners’ comprehension. They also provide teachers with vital assessment information which can be used to inform next steps. In addition, children receive points for their quizzes and can work towards targets. This provides a motivational element to reading books.

Once learners are regularly answering 85% of the quiz questions correctly, teachers will use their judgement to challenge them by moving them up the book levels.

LEARNERS ONLY MOVE UP LEVELS WHEN THEY DEMONSTRATE PROGRESS THROUGH THEIR QUIZZES AND TEACHER ASSESSMENT

It is important that comprehension and decoding are developed simultaneously, although children may have the ability to decode the words on the page. It is vital that they understand what they read too.

Please click here to find out more information about Accelerated Reader.

Please read our guide on Phonics and Reading and find out what your child will be learning about by viewing our Parents Information Sheets in the Our Classes section of our website.

The Teaching of Phonics and Reading

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

At Etherley Lane Primary School we aim to provide a rich, varied and differentiated curriculum that reflects the needs and interests of all pupils. We encourage parents/carers to work in partnership with us to ensure that all children reach their full potential during their time with us. If you have any questions about SEND provision please contact the SENCO, Mrs. Coxon, or speak to your child’s class teacher.

Teaching and resources are adapted to meet the needs of all pupils. A wide range of intervention programmes can be utilised by staff to support pupils with SEND to ensure that they make progress. School staff liaise with outside agencies and continue to monitor and evaluated the impact of interventions and support.

If you would like to discuss your SEND requirements in detail please contact the school to arrange an appointment.

More Able and Talented Pupils

At Etherley Lane Primary School we believe it is essential that each and every child is stretched and motivated to succeed. More information is given below.

Information about More Able and Talented pupils

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