PHONICS

Phonics Scheme

At St Catherine's we follow the Monster Phonics scheme in EYFS and KS1. The children learn to read using synthetic phonics, supported by the range of characters in the Monster Phonics scheme. Children are taught as a class with same day intervention to support those children who need extra help. Reading books follow the Monster phonics reading scheme which are supplemented by reading books from other schemes and 'free choice' readers which are designed to be shared with an adult. Children are listened to read daily in school, more often if necessary. Our ambition is clear - all children will learn to read.

English

Early Reading

Children learn to read by following a synthetic phonics reading scheme. At St Catherine's we use 'Monster Phonics' which has been approved by the DfE. All children in Reception and KS1 have daily reading lessons with further 1:1 support whenever needed.

Reading Comprehension

Children learn to develop their reading comprehension skills through a combination of both whole class teaching of reading comprehension and guided reading. To support children's reading in school, we use the 'Literacy Shed' reading comprehension resources to engage and focus the children's learning on the specific skills they are developing. All children in KS2 engage in daily whole class reading and comprehension lessons taught by the class teacher. Reading fluency and comprehension is further supported through the daily use of Reading Plus throughout Key Stage Two. Children throughout school have access to the school library which is well stocked with a range of books. Enjoyment for reading is further supported through the sharing of class novels in every class.

Writing

To support the teaching of writing in school, we use the 'Literacy Shed' writing schemes of work, to scaffold our themes for writing, adapting them to meet the specific needs and interests of our children. Writing throughout the week takes place across a range of different subjects. The writing process is taught alongside the teaching of grammar and punctuation, with children developing the quality of a piece of writing throughout the course of the focus theme/topic. Children through school complete a 'Big Write' on each Friday where they write, at length, independently applying skills learned through prior writing lessons.

MATHS

Maths Curriculum

At St Catherine's we follow the long-term planning format for the White Rose Maths Scheme in EYFS, KS1 and KS2. Maths is supported through school through the use of manipulatives to support understanding. Children are given time to practice mathematical skills with the ambition that all children are fluent in number - the bedrock of an excellent maths curriculum. The White Rose Maths scheme is supported in KS2 by the use of 'Learning by Questions' which allows the children to receive in the moment feedback on their maths by answering specific question sets online. This live feedback increases engagement, ensures that children know when they are on the right track, and allows teacher to identify misconceptions, in the moment. 

Science

Science at St Catherine's is a knowledge rich curriculum. Teacher ensure that children know the vocabulary and processes within each topic first and foremost. This is regularly revisited to ensure that children retain this knowledge. Children will base their predictions and conclusion from the range of investigations they cover upon sound scientific knowledge. 

History

History at St Catherine's requires that children both acquire knowledge about people, civilisations and events of the past, develop an increasingly sophisticated understanding of chronology and abstract terms such as civilisation, invasion and empire. Children are also expected to be able to compare and contrast and make judgements about significance in the areas of history that they study. Throughout school our history largely follows the Key Stage History scheme of work with local history units embedded within topics. 

Geography is the study of human and physical processes within places across the world. Our Geography curriculum builds the children's knowledge of where places are, develops their map skills and aims to teach ambitious units of work covering important topics such as migration and globalisation. Each unit of work starts with a recap of the children locational knowledge and incorporates relevant case studies into the unit so that the children's geography always builds upon a firm understanding of where places are. 

P.E.

P.E. is taught twice weekly throughout school. At St Catherine's we follow the Lancashire P.E. Passport scheme of work. P.E. is a fundamental part of the curriculum. P.E. is supported by a range of sporting clubs, which take place both after school and during the school day and access to a range of sporting events, competitions and experiences for all children in school, through the use of the P.E. premium money.

Modern Foreign Languages

At St Catherine's, children in Key Stage 2 are taught French. At St Catherine's we follow the Rachel Hawkes scheme of work and French is taught by Mrs Crowe, who her self is fluent in French. Children will learn about the culture of France as well as where else in the world French is spoken. As the quality of the children's French develops, they will begin to translate well known stories into French and perform these for their parents. Children learn the spoke language, primarily through high quality speaking and listening in lessons and singing.  By the end of KS2, children are expected to be able to converse in French and write.

Computing

Children are taught computing at St Catherine's in EYFS, KS1 and KS2. Children learn how to keep themselves safe online. This take place throughout each unit of work in Computing and is complemented by work the children complete in PSHE and KIDSAFE throughout the school year. Children also use technology in a range of different ways in other areas of the curriculum, with the aim that children are digitally literate by the time they leave KS2. 

Art and Design

Art and design is taught every other half term by Art specialists in school. A long-term Art and Design plan is in place.

Music

Music is taught through out EYFS, KS1 and KS2. At the heart of any music curriculum is singing. The children are taught to sing in whole as whole key stages and through the school choir. The singing as a group offers further opportunities for the children to develop tone and harmony in their singing. This builds upon the music curriculum which is taught in each class. All children are taught by an expert in music (degree level or higher). In KS1 the children follow the Charanga scheme of work and develop their sense of pulse and rhythm. In KS2 the children further develop their knowledge and skills in music through percussion (djembe drums, glockenspiel and xylophone ) which is used as the vehicle to teach the curriculum throughout KS2. This choice has been made to allow the children to build upon skills taught in each year group rather than having to learn new skills to play a new instrument which can lead to a 'stop start' curriculum. 

PSRHE

Personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education is an important and necessary part of all pupils’ education. At St Catherine's we teach PSHE largely through discussion and debate in carefully planned lesson in class. We use the SCARF scheme of work as a template for our curriculum. In addition to this we follow the 'Journey in Love' scheme of work for the Relationships and Sex Education aspect of the PSRHE curriculum. Through school, the children also receive explicit lessons under ' KIDSAFE' which aim to teach children how to keep themselves from harm in a variety of situations, including sexual exploitation. The diversity and difference aspect of the curriculum is also enhanced by the 'No Outsider's' scheme which is used in all classes in school.