Learning

Contact: Sue Foster-Agg The Vaynor First School Tennyson Road Headless Cross Redditch B97 5BL

Tel: 01527 543187 Fax: 01527 543187 e mail

Learning at The Vaynor

The children in Reception Classes follow the New Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum which encompasses pre school and reception learning in four areas. These underpin the whole of a child's development and are: A unique Child, Positive Relationships, Enabling Environments and Learning and Development. The latter area, 'Learning and Development' is further divided into 6 areas and your child will be assessed over the year according to them.

These are: Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Communication, Language and Literacy; Mathematical Development; Knowledge and Understanding of the World; Physical Development and Creative Development.

We follow the National Curriculum for children in Year One to Four. In English and Mathematics our learning processes are based on the guidance in the literacy and numeracy documents. In September 2006 the school introduced a new curriculum structure, ‘The Vaynor International Curriculum’ for other subjects which, of course, is underpinned by the National Curriculum. The units of work within this will provide stimulus material for English and Mathematics.

Setting up a volcano experiment in Year 4.

The results!

The drive of this curriculum is to engage children in stimulating learning experiences that always begin with an acclimatisation session. This could last for a half day, a day or even two days for example hunting for bones as palaeontologists would, taking part in a treasure hunt or ‘going’ on holiday.

The way lessons are organised allows children to explicitly be involved in developing skills which equip them for life and the workplace such as teamwork, co-operation, independence, problem solving and resilience.

The curriculum is ‘international’ because Years One to Four are matched with a country. Throughout the year children will compare their own country with another thus acquiring an understanding of the geography, traditions, culture and lifestyle of others. Our aim is to open the pupils eyes to the world beyond them as mass communication systems bring us increasingly closer together – for when our pupils become adults they could be working with anyone across the world either physically or through video conferencing with offices in India, China or Spain.

A Spanish Classroom in Matalascanas, Spain.

In 2009-10 Year One are matched with India, Year Two with Spain, Year Three with Kenya and Year Four with Australia.

Throughout their time at The Vaynor, children are consistently assessed by staff to ensure that we are always taking their learning forward. This means that no matter what their ability, the task they are engaged in will be extending their skills, knowledge and understanding at an appropriate level.