Curriculum

We offer pupils a broad and balanced curriculum, which helps children to develop their skills,knowledge and understanding across a wide range of subject
areas.

Children learn at different rates and in different ways, and so additional challenges will be set for those who are making good progress, and support will be given to those experiencing difficulties.

Learning is planned to be continuous and progressive, and yet is sufficiently flexible toensure that individual children’s needs are met. Children are taught using the National Curriculum programmes of study (see below) but common links and themes betweensubjects are identified and developed, to make the learning
more meaningful, real and interesting.


A significant contribution to your child’s development is also made by our school’s ethos, our collective acts of worship and by other curriculum and noncurricular activities.

Visits to places of educational interest, the local environment and the use of visitors to the school are seen as essential in providing children with opportunities to experience learning at first hand.

The National Curriculum

The basis of our teaching at Elkesley is the National Curriculum.  The National Curriculum sets out what should be taught and the expected standards of pupils' achievements.  It is divided into subjects;

Core Subjects

  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Science

Non-Core Subjects

  • Design & Technology
  • Information and Communication Technology
  • History
  • Geography
  • Art & Design
  • Music
  • Physical Education

ICT

At Elkesley Primary & Nursery School we are committed to equipping our pupils for life in the 21st century.  To ensure pupils have the best chance of achieving in our technological society we believe they should have the opportunity to develop secure and transferrable ICT skills.  We believe that technology will play a major role in all our pupils futures and that these skills equip them for life in the future workplace.

The school has invested significantly in ICT equipment to ensure that classrooms are provided with desktop computers and that a suite of laptop computers is also available for classes to use on a rota basis.  This ensures that the ration of children : computers is always very favourable when compared to similar schools.

Safeguarding

The safeguarding of all our pupils is of vast importance to the staff and governors at Elkesley and we realise this is a priority for parents too.

All staff, helpers and volunteers whether permanently or temporarily employed at Elkesley are enhanced CRB checked prior to their employment.  All governors have also been enhanced CRB checked to reassure parents that the maximum has beem done to protect your children whilst they are with us.

The school occupies a secure site and has recently increased the security of the building and play areas.  The only access into the school is through the main entrance and all visitors are asked to report to reception.  Pupils are not allowed to leave the school site during the school day without a suitable adult coming to collect them.

At the end of the school day pupils in Foundation and KS1 are handed over to a parent or carer.  We insist that parents introduce any adults who may collect their child to a member of staff and if we are in any doubt as to who should collect a child we will always telephone parents.  Pupils in KS2 are beginning to develop more independence and are able to meet parents on the playground or in some cases walk home.  We insist that pupils come back into school if parents are not there to collect them and so we can telephone.

All members of staff have undertaken Safeguarding and Child Protection training and there are two designated members of staff responsible for this area.  They have received additional training in child protection and safeguarding procedures.  If a member of staff has any concerns about a child or any disclosures are made they are immediately referred to the designed person.  Concerns will usually be discussed with parents prior to any action being taken although we stress that in making any referral to another agency we are not accusing parents of any malpractice, purely acting in the best interests of the child.  We hope parents appreciate that sometimes matters do have to be referred on.

All staff have been trained to administer basic first aid and their is a designated first aider in school who is qualified to First Aid at Work level.  We ask parents to keep us informed of full emergency contact information as we will always try to contact you in the case of an emergency.  Please let the office know if you have a new mobile telephone number - we will need to update this for our text messaging service.

Through these measures and procedures we hope your child has a safe and happy time at Elkesley Primary & Nursery school.