Foundation Subjects
Design and Technology
Children are taught knowledge, skills and understanding through:
-
activities in which they investigate and evaluate simple products.
-
focused practical tasks in which they develop and practise particular skills and knowledge;
-
assignments in which they design and make products using a range of materials, tools and components.
To enable children to design and make successful products, they are taught such things as:
-
how to develop, plan and communicate ideas
-
to evaluate simple products
-
knowledge and understanding of health and safety.
Children frequently work in co-operative groups. Class teaching and group teaching is used.
History
In the Foundation Stage children are helped to develop an awareness of the past through discussion, story and handling artefacts.
In Key Stage 1 children are given the opportunity to develop their understanding of the ways in which the past was different from the present. Progressing from familiar situations to those more distant in time and place children learn about:
-
changes in their own lives and those of the adults around them
-
aspects of the way of life of people in Britain in the past beyond living memory
-
the lives of some famous people
-
past events.
In Key Stage 2 there are study units based on well defined themes. Children are taught about the ancient civilisation of Greece and about the Romans in Britain focussing on everyday life.
Children learn from a range of sources of information including written sources, artefacts, pictures, photographs and visits to museums.
Geography
In Nursery and Reception, children begin to develop an understanding of their own environment.
In Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 the children are given opportunity to investigate their surroundings and the quality of their environment. They are helped to learn about their own locality as well as about contrasting localities and are helped to develop an awareness of the world beyond the UK.
Art and Design
Children have the opportunity to participate in a range of art and design activities. Creative, imaginative and practical skills are fostered through painting and drawing, print making, collage, textiles, constructing and modelling. Within a framework children will be taught to use elements such as colour, line, pattern and texture in their work. Work is displayed and discussed. Children are encouraged to take a pride in their achievements and to appreciate the work of others. They are taught to recognise and respond to the work of artists, crafts people and designers.
Music
Children are helped to develop their understanding and enjoyment of music through opportunities given to:
-
control sounds made by the voice and a variety of tuned and untuned instruments;
-
perform with others and develop awareness of audience, venue and occasion;
-
compose in response to a variety of stimuli;
-
communicate musical ideas;
-
listen and respond to live and recorded music including their own and others' compositions.
Children in Year 3 and Year 4 may learn the keyboard and violin as an extra curricular activity.
Physical Education and Sport
Children are taught skills in gymnastics, games and dance. They are taught to observe the conventions of fair play and honest competition as individual participants and as team members. Relevant aspects of safety are emphasised.
At times they will work individually practising and refining skills and developing control. When they are ready, children will work in pairs and in small groups, co-operating in gymnastics and dance and playing simple competitive games. Children are taught two or three periods of PE per week.
For some years the school has had valuable sporting links with Ashington High School, now Ashington Community High Sports College. The school benefits as a partner of the Sports College. Through this partnership, during the year, the Year 2 and Year 3 children have their games lesson in the sports hall at Ashington Community High Sports College. Year 13 pupils prepare the lessons as part of a qualification for the Community Sports Leadership Award. The lessons are supervised by the High School PE staff in the presence of the class teacher. Our annual Sports day is organised at the Sports College.
Children in Year 4 have swimming lessons each week for two terms at Ashington Leisure Centre. Qualified instructors teach them.
If for any reason a child needs to be excused from a PE lesson, or from swimming, parents must make this request, in person or in writing, to the class teacher.
All children should have named shorts and T-shirt and plimsolls, kept in a drawstring bag. The 'Wansbeck Sports Bag' is obtainable from school on request. PE kit should be kept at school for half a term then taken home to be washed and checked for size. Year 4 pupils need a swimsuit, towel and swimming hat and these should be marked with their names.
Regulations state that children must not wear jewellery during PE lessons. We ask that children do not wear earrings to school.
Wansbeck First offers a very wide range of extra-curricular sporting opportunities.