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Lower School Curriculum

Great emphasis is placed on being able to communicate effectively. English is obviously incorporated into almost every other subject in some way or another. The Heinemann 'Literacy World' scheme is used as the main course book in all three year groups but a wide range of other text and reading materials supplement this.

Handwriting

Children in Year 3 use pencil for all their work and are taught correct letter formation and shape through handwriting practice. The style used at Belmont continues that taught in the pre-prep, Grimsdell. All pupils are taught to join up letters correctly. By Year 4 the vast majority of children will be using neat, joined-up writing and will progress to using a suitable ink pen - either a traditional fountain pen or a roller ball (not a ball point or biro). Recommended pens are noted in the Parents' Handbook.

Reading

Reading is the most effective way to develop vocabulary and model formal, written, sentence structure. In the first two years there are frequent quiet reading periods during the week when children may select books from the Library. Children in Years 3 and 4 have a weekly lesson with the librarian and are taught how to use the resources. Children are encouraged to take up the Belmont Reading Challenge (four levels of difficulty). In addition, one English lesson per week is set aside for guided reading in which the children read in small ability groups. A variety of texts is covered and related tasks aid a range of comprehension skills.

Comprehension

A variety of material is used: books; magazines; plays; poetry and newspaper articles. This often forms the basis of discussion and does not always involve written work although it helps develop understanding and appreciation. The guided reading time allows children to further their comprehension skills through oral and written work.

Writing

In Lower School, children are encouraged to write freely on subjects of their own choice, as well as set titles. Depending on the purpose of the task, it may be corrected by their teacher for spelling or grammar mistakes, or may simply be assessed at the end by a comment or grade on its descriptive or imaginative content. It is obviously discouraging for some pupils to have all mistakes corrected. The teacher may therefore decide to draw attention to only the most serious ones and this is done in line with the Belmont marking policy.

Oral Work

Speaking and listening are essential components of the National Curriculum and children are expected to talk to the rest of the class, read their work aloud, and take part in discussions. Story tapes and other sources of the spoken word are used to encourage good listening skills.

Drama lessons are an important part of the syllabus and provide the opportunity for a wide variety of activities. All children take part in a major production. Years 3 and 4 perform a Christmas Presentation in December. Year 5 classes take part in a drama presentation later in the year. Each class organises at least two assemblies for Lower School Chapel during the year.

Library Resources

Throughout Lower School, children are encouraged to use the library in their free time; children in Years 3 and 4 have a weekly library lesson. They are taught how to use the Library for research using the Dewey system. The qualified librarian helps children in their selection of fiction and poetry for personal reading and covers a variety of themes that are integrated with current general subject topics in each year group. These include: fairy tales; fables; artefacts; cultural legends and peoples of the world in Year 3, and looking at information skills, myths and legends in Year 4.

There is a good variety of graded fiction in the Jubilee Library and children may also use the main school Resources Centre for research and further reading material.

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Upper School Curriculum

Prep

1 x 45-60 min prep each week. Pupils are expected to continue reading fiction and non-fiction books in addition to written prep.

Private reading still needs to be greatly encouraged and monitored. All Year 6 pupils are issued with a reading record book, which they should fill in each week. A parent should sign this once a week. If a child fills it out properly and gets it signed they receive a good signature. They also receive a good signature when they finish reading a book. Pupils are encouraged to complete Book Reviews in their own time.

The school library is open everyday and is staffed by a qualified librarian. She is available to advise the children on the selection of reading books.

There is a book club that runs on a monthly basis where pupils can choose from a wide range of material from their book club leaflet. At the beginning of the year parents are informed in greater detail about how the book club is organised.

Visits

Trip to the theatre in Year 8.

Drama

Elements of Drama are taught through English lessons in Years 7 & 8. In addition to this Year 6 & 8 are involved in whole year group performances. For Year 8 this starts in September with the performance just before Easter. For Year 6, they begin a work after Christmas, rehearsing through Activities Week and performing the week after. Every student in Year 7 performs in the House Drama competition that is held in Summer Term.

Support

The Head of SEN regularly attends the weekly English meeting. Students are often supported in English lessons but they are sometimes withdrawn, either individually or in a small group, dependant on the work. The SENCO keeps in close liaison with the English Department. If any pupil is seen to have difficulties then he/she is passed on to the SENCO, who will do an assessment and then draw up an individual action plan if required.

More able students are withdrawn from some English lessons (one lesson per week) to be taught in extension classes. The SEN department, in consultation with the Englsih Department, have developed Medium Term Plans for the these groups.

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