Reception to Year 2 - Ages 4 to 7

 

The pupils have access to a full and varied curriculum, benefitting from small, individual year-group classes taught by teachers and teaching assistants. There is specialist subject teaching in PE, French, music, design and information technology, theatre arts and ballet, including tuition for the LAMDA exams.

Children in Reception and Year 1 also enjoy the benefits of Forest School each week on our own site in the extensive grounds at Oswestry School. All Infant pupils swim in the school pool each week and children from Years 1 and 2 enjoy games on the Maes-y-llan, Oswestry School’s large playing fields, once per week. Minibus transport is provided to transfer the pupils around the site where necessary.

The children’s learning is fully supported by in-house workshops and educational trips out of school; visits to the theatre are also arranged.

Early Years- Reception

As soon as we meet your child we begin to make informal assessments. Whilst they are learning with us we make further, more specific observations about their abilities, skills and progress. We keep in regular contact with you and invite you to approach us if you have any concerns or confusions as we operate an open door policy.

 

 

 

The Foundation Stage curriculum consists of six main areas of learning.

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Communication, Language and Literacy
• Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
• Knowledge and Understanding of the World
• Physical Development
• Creative Development

Early experiences affect children’s attitudes to learning so it is vitally important we get it right. All children learn best from experiences that are suitable for their stage of development. Play is key to the way young children learn. Through play children can develop, for example: the confidence needed for learning; the social skills needed for personal development and the skills needed for reading and writing. We encourage independence from an early age to aid problem solving skills. Taking all this into account, the children will be given the opportunity to learn through a carefully planned, well balanced, topic based curriculum which takes into consideration the children’s interests.

As your child moves through the final months of the Foundation Stage they may be ready to take part in more formal learning activities. Children are ready at different ages, so we aim to catch the right moment for your child.

For more information please read the Bellan Early Years Handbook

Introduction

Pupils in Reception and Year 1 take part in weekly sessions at Forest School (which is based in the senior school grounds) throughout the academic year

 

 

What Is Forest School ?

Forest School is for all children and young people and builds on a child’s innate motivation and positive attitude to learning, offering them the opportunities to take risks, make choices and initiate learning for themselves. The learning potential of local woodland through frequent and regular experiences throughout the year is maximised by organised and qualified Forest School leaders. Through this experience pupils learn to understand, appreciate and care for the natural environment.

 

 

How does Forest School work?

The philosophy is to encourage and inspire, through mastery of small, achievable tasks in a woodland environment, to grow in confidence and independence so that they are able to develop a sense of self-worth.

Children will acquire new skills as they are ready for them so that activities can maintain a degree of challenge and excitement, whilst remaining safe and controlled.

 

 

Regular visits

Forest School runs throughout the year, in all weathers (except for high winds). This allows pupils experience seasonal changes, time and freedom to explore independently at their own pace. As they become familiar with the Forest School site a sense of ownership and ease in the outdoor environment develops, learners become excited about revisiting ‘their’ Forest School.

Due to the recurring nature of the visits, tasks of increasing complexity and skill can be introduced week on week (e.g. shelter building and fire lighting) to facilitate participants learning whilst giving them the opportunity to revisit and continue with tasks commenced the week before. Mental resilience is built up to being indoors.

 

 

Forest School provides the opportunity to take risks

Safety and welfare is a priority at Forest School. Rules are jointly set and agreed by the leaders and pupils alike to  manage and minimise risk. Pupils learn to recognise risk, why the rules are necessary and learn how to be safe in the outdoor environment. In time, they begin subconsciously to risk assess their actions for themselves, enabling them to explore and discover independently whilst making informed decisions about how to deal with unfamiliar situations and challenges (e.g. tree climbing, using tools and splashing in puddles).

 

 

High adult to learner ratios ensure that learning boundaries can be stretched and activities that would not be possible in school are outside e.g. toasting a marshmallow on a woodland fire. Smaller group sizes also mean learners have the time and support to try and master more complicated tasks (e.g. knot tying and whistle making) with adults on standby to help and encourage if needs be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are the benefits of Forest School?

• Improved self-esteem and self-confidence
• Development of language and communication skills
• Improve physical motor skills
• Improve social skills
• Develop learners knowledge and understanding of the environment
• Mathematical development
• Encourages creative development
• New perspectives for Teachers, leaders, parents and learners

Years 3 - 6 - Ages 7 to 11

The children follow a comprehensive curriculum suitable for their ages and abilities. Children continue to benefit from class sizes that allow individual attention with both a teacher and classroom assistant, already enjoyed in Key Stage 1.

There is specialist subject teaching in PE, French, Music, Design and Information Technology, Theatre Arts and Dance, including tuition for the LAMDA exams. The Key Stage 2 curriculum is further enhanced by specialist science teaching. Handwriting, using a fountain pen, is introduced at this stage. The children’s learning is fully supported by in-house workshops and educational trips out of school; visits to the theatre are also arranged.

As the children enter Year 5, their afternoon lessons take place on the Senior School site and the day is extended to finish at 4:30pm. This enables the children to take advantage of the specialist teaching rooms for Science, Art, ICT and French and helps develop links between the two sites, as well as fostering greater independence and confidence.

The Performing Arts incorporate Ballet, Tap, Modern Dance and Drama. Lessons start from Reception, giving pupils a firm grounding in the range of core techniques. This helps develop gross and fine motor skills and to establish balance and co-ordination from an early age, skills which lead on to the more advanced techniques required in Sport and other curriculum areas in later years. Enjoyment and self expression are the essential elements at this stage and help to promote confidence and to nurture the imagination, which provide the pupils with life long skills.

By the time pupils move into Year 1, they start to study the Imperial Ballet syllabus, which fine tunes technique and discipline. As pupils move into Year 2 Drama is introduced and LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts) examinations are taken. The skills involved further promote self confidence in public speaking and nurture the desire to perform and enjoyment of the experience.

There is an active music department and pupils have the opportunity to join the school orchestra and choir; Individual lessons in piano,violin, cello, guitar, trumpet, flute clarinet and drums can be arranged.

The music department puts on productions throughout the year - both within school and the wider community - ranging from Christmas carol concerts and nativity play right through to a full musical production in the summer term.

 

On a day to day level, our class music curriculum is comprehensive and varied; covering everything from singing & performance skills through to recorder and general musical composition.

We are very aware that pupils discover their physical capabilities from an early age and we see it as our responsibility to develop them as they grow. Pupils are fully immersed into the Physical Education culture through the many curricular and extra-curricular opportunities available to them. They are encouraged and motivated at every turn and we strive to instil a sense of pride and team spirit that will remain with them throughout their formative years. Enjoyment is paramount and our staff are deeply committed to engaging all pupils in sport.

 

Reception to Year 2

Pupils discover and develop their motor skills (catching, throwing, running, jumping and kicking) through the Basic Moves programme; a wide variety of activities designed to challenge and extend their capabilities. Tasks revolve around differentiated learning which cater for pupils of all abilities.

The concept and practical elements Games is introduced from this early age and specialist staff  deliver these  lessons throughout the year.

 

 

Years 3 and 4

At this age group pupils practise and develop their components of fitness (agility, balance, co-ordination, power, speed, reaction time) in readiness for the competitive fixtures they will partake in very soon.

They take part in a variety of sports including tag rugby, football, athletics, tennis, kwik cricket, gymnastics,  rounders, netball and hockey. During this time pupils are taught invaluable skills that link specifically to each sport. Confidence and self-esteem play two crucial roles in the child’s development and we endeavour to foster and promote this.

 

Years 5 and 6

Fixtures at inter school level are now becoming more and more frequent with the pupils beginning to fully understand the notion of competition and the characteristics of team work. Through these competitive sports, the pupils are guided and encouraged to promote the positive values needed for the team ethos to function. Sportsmanship takes precedence at Oswestry School and it is at this age group, that our pupils fully begin to discover their potential.