Curriculum

Please click here to view a Parent’s Guide to the New Curriculum

 

Please click here to view our EYFS RE Curriculum

 

Please click here to view our KS1 RE Curriculum

 

Please click here to view our KS2 RE Curriculum

 

Reading and Phonics

Our aim at St Teresa’s is that every child should read for pleasure and enjoyment. It is a core life skill allowing children to access all areas of learning. Books are at the heart of our learning challenge curriculum. Every class has a library and we have a new school library which is part of an ongoing project supported by our PTA. The library is available for whole class or group sessions as well as being open at break and lunch times.

The teaching of reading

We support the children on their reading journey through whole class, individual and Guided Reading. During Guided Reading, the children are taught in small groups. Teaching is closely matched to the needs of the children and high quality texts are carefully selected from different genres of fiction and non-fiction. The weekly sessions are carefully planned and recorded. From Year 2 to Year 6 the children have Guided Reading Books where the children have the opportunity to independently use and apply skills. The tasks are learning led activities designed to develop word reading or comprehension skills.

Our Reading scheme

In Nursery, children take home a reading book from our class library as well as a Firm Foundations language and communication pack to share with parents.

From Reception upwards the children will choose a book from the appropriate Book Band. Our books are colour coded to allow easy access for the children and are organised according to level of difficulty. This comprehensive scheme of fiction and non-fiction books includes: Oxford Reading Tree, Floppy’s Phonics, Tree Tops, Big Cat, New Way and real books.

As the children become more confident readers they move off the scheme books and onto Freedom Reads.

Phonics

Phonics is a key skill to early reading development. At St Teresa’s we follow ‘Letters and Sounds’ which is a government produced synthetic phonics teaching programme.

In EYFS the focus is on multi-sensory, kinaesthetic learning including the use of “Jolly Phonics”. The children have daily guided differentiated phonic sessions and the opportunity to apply these skills within the classroom provision.

Within Key Stage 1 the children continue with daily differentiated phonics sessions where the children are taught in small groups to ensure all children reach their full potential. The sessions provide the opportunity for regularly revisiting, reviewing and applying sounds alongside looking at “Tricky words”. Weekly spelling tests are given which are linked to phonics.

All children in Year One will be screened using the National Assessment Materials in June. The individual pupil result will be reported to parents.

To find out more about our School Curriculum please speak to Mrs Burgess or a member of the Senior Leadership Team – Mrs Kane, Mrs McNulty or Miss Gibbons