At St Maryâs Primary School we offer a curriculum which is broad and balanced and which builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills of all children, whatever their starting points, as they progress through the school. The curriculum incorporates the statutory requirements of the Jersey Curriculum 2014 and other experiences and opportunities which best meet the learning and developmental needs of the pupils in our school. The aim of our curriculum is for pupils to have the skills to be successful, independent and motivated learners in readiness for their next stage of education.
The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our pupils and their understanding of the core values of our society are woven through the curriculum.
The outdoor environment and the local community are considered an opportunity for active learning for all our pupils. For more information please click this link.
Early Years Foundation Stage
Children in Nursery and Reception follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. This learning challenges children and encourages them to develop into independent, motivated learners and thinkers, full of curiosity about the world around them within a fun, happy and secure environment.
Our Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum is based on seven areas of learning:
- Communication and Language
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Physical Development
- Maths
- Literacy
- Understanding of the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
Children have opportunities to explore, enquire and to take risks through practical, hands-on learning experiences. At our school, we are continuing to develop our outdoor learning environment which the children are able to use throughout the day.
Our Integrated Curriculum
We believe that children learn best when they have rich learning opportunities, and when the curriculum hooks them in. We have developed a topic based curriculum that allows children to develop links across all subjects.
Please follow the links below to see each year groupâs long term plan.
PSHE (personal, social and health education)
Whilst we maximise the opportunities the integrated curriculum gives us, PSHE is taught discretely as well. We use the Jigsaw Programme which is divided into the 6 strands below, please follow the links to see an overview of each strand:
Computing
The Computing curriculum is integrated into the curriculum topics where possible, but is also taught discretely. The curriculum is divided into three strands:
- Computer Science
- Digital Literacy
- IT skills
We have both mobile and fixed technology for the children to use, and the use of IT is encouraged throughout the curriculum to support teaching and learning.
Modern Foreign Languages
Pupils in Key Stage 2 learn French to develop their understanding of the world. The emphasis of these lessons is develop vocabulary, developing confidence in speaking and listening with simple sentences, and composing simple sentences in writing. French lessons are led by a specialist French teacher.
Learning Outside the Classroom
A big part of learning is creating memories. We aim to enrich our curriculum with memorable learning experiences, including educational visits, Forest Schools (see below) and visiting and taking part in concerts, plays, assemblies, learning from visiting experts â artists, authors, dancers, sports people, and other hands on learning experiences.
Forest School
In Foundation and Key Stage 1 children are given the opportunity to take part in Forest and Beach Schools. This is an approach that is about learning in nature. It offers all learners the experiences that develop their confidence and self-esteem through hands on learning.
Trips
Each class will go on an offsite visit at least once a term. Residential trips in years 4 and 5 build up each year, so that the children are prepared for a week long residential in year 6.
Arrangements for 2017-18 are:
- Year 4 â Scout Centre Visit â (3 days, 2 nights)
- Year 5 – St Aubinâs Fort (on-island, but cut off at high tide, 3 days, 2 nights)
- Year 6 â Mur De Bretagne in France (5 days, 4 nights)
We grow fruit, vegetables and herbs in our garden, and we use these in cooking. We also grow flowers which we sketch and use for our science investigations.
We have our field, our apple trees and our little copse. During the year we have an occasional fire pit for firing clay, or cooking in the outdoors. We have access to two minibuses during the day, which enables us to go out and about and use our beautiful island as a learning environment.