Our curriculum is designed to suit every child and ensures that our children are equipped with the skills to embrace all possibilities available to them in our diverse world. We will endeavour to develop children who have enquiring minds and increased aspirations for their futures. No dream is too big!
Our curriculum for 2020-2021 will be based upon the following drivers:
- Work
- World
- Wellness
Through planning and delivering exciting, real-life themes to our children, we will ensure that all pupils of Windmill Primary School leave us having achieved the overall vision of our school;
‘Our vision and purpose is to raise a generation of children who grow, learn, dream and become fulfilled beyond all expectations safely and enable children to leave our school wiser, better, more fulfilled and with greater opportunities and choices in every area of their lives than previous generations.’
We will offer our children a range of opportunities and experiences, so that they are aware of the possibilities available to them. We want our pupils to aspire to greatness!
Curriculum at Windmill
At Windmill, we follow the National Curriculum which is divided into subject areas; however, we see knowledge and skills as crossing subject boundaries and make links across all subjects, encouraging transferal of skills at each Phase.
The National Curriculum sets out the learning in the following subjects for each year group and can be found by clicking the link below
English
Maths. we use Power Maths as our Maths programme.
Science
Computing
Physical Education
History
Geography
Art & Design
Design & Technology
Music
Languages
Religious Education
We use Read Write Inc. as our phonics programme.
Maths At Windmill
At Windmill we use the mastery approach to maths teaching. This approach recognises
- The value of developing the power to think rather than just do!
- The value of making a coherent journey where the whole class tackles concepts in very small steps, one by one
By creating a solid foundation of deep understanding our children’s skills and confidence will be strong and secure. The mind-set of the learner and teacher is key:
Everyone can do maths.
By giving children the resources they need we ensure that everyone can access the work.
We use the Power Maths scheme to support our teaching and our daily lessons follow this set pattern
Each lesson begins with a Power Up activity which supports fluency in key number facts. They reinforce key skills such as times-tables, number bonds and working with place value.
Next the children are encouraged to Discover maths through exploring a practical, real-life problem which arouses their curiosity where the children find the maths through story-telling. The children then Share the different ways that they have solved the problems which highlights the various methods that can be used to solve a single problem,
The Think together section enables children and adults to share ideas for solving the problems moving towards more independent thinking through the challenges that are set.
The children then move on to Practice their new skills or understanding though independent work in their Practice Books,
Finally, the children have a chance to Reflect on their learning for the day.
Throughout the lessons children are encouraged to use concrete resources, pictorial representations and the abstract to explore different concepts and to challenge their thinking and understanding in a variety of ways.
Mathematical language
We encourage the use of precise and consistent mathematical language and both teachers and children use full sentences to explain ideas or respond to questions. The use of stem sentences throughout the learning journey, help children express mathematical concepts accurately.
Number Bonds
Number bonds play a key part to the understanding of number. They help children to see that numbers can be "broken" into pieces to make computation easier. There are many songs and games available https://www.teachwire.net/news/8-of-the-best-number-bonds-to-10-games-to-play-online to help support this learning and we encourage you to support the development of this.
Times table Rock stars
Learning times tables is really important. After all, they’re the building blocks of maths, and with your multiplications mastered, you can do anything! That’s why we subscribe to this excellent website.