Curriculum Organisation

We believe that the Early Years Stage is crucial to the children’s development throughout their education. We aim to build strong foundation experiences and our Early Years Curriculum reflects the needs of our Pre-school ‘Sparkletots’ and Reception children as a whole. Our Early Years curriculum has been fully revised in line with the new Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum which became statutory in September 2008.

“The Reception class curriculum is good with a wide range of
practical activities to engage the children’s interest.” - OFSTED

Sparkletots Pre-School offers sessional care for 3-5 year olds within Little Aston Primary School. We provide a safe, stimulating and caring environment that promotes learning through play, using a wide range of resources, and the opportunity for children to develop their social skills as they play alongside and with other children.

The National Curriculum Logo   Our Reception class follow individualised programmes of learning in recognition of their different starting points. Within the reception year the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies will also be introduced as appropriate. The curriculum is divided into six areas of learning:
  • Personal, social and emotional development
  • Communication, language and literacyMathematical development
  • Knowledge and understanding of the World
  • Physical development
  • Creative development

The Key Stage One [children aged 5 to 7] and Key Stage Two [children aged 7 to 11] curriculum is delivered mainly through a creative cross curricular topic approach with some subject focused teaching. We place a high emphasis on developing Key Skills including ICT alongside the development of positive attitudes to learning. Within this framework the required National Curriculum subjects are covered:

Base - Religious Education
Core - English, Mathematics, Science and Information and Communication Technology
Foundation - History, Geography, Art, Design and Technology, Music, Physical Education, P.S.H.C.E., Modern Foreign Languages.

“Curriculum planning is good and there are effective links between subjects, especially in the use of ICT, that make learning interesting and relevant to the pupils’ needs.” - OFSTED

Teachers have very high expectations of all children. We also aim to enrich and enhance our curriculum wherever possible to provide exciting and meaningful experiences for our children. Activities may include ‘Theme’ weeks, residential visits, visits out of school as well as visitors into school. Creativity within the curriculum is important to us in order to provide a stimulating learning environment. We promote the development of thinking skills and building learning power which help the children to develop transferable skills necessary for their futures.

All year groups are mixed ability. Assessment for learning ensures that learning is personalised to meet the needs of individuals. Our high adult to children Ratios enable us to achieve this.

The school is very proud of its music curriculum and tuition is available for children to learn a variety of instruments including violin. Our choir have opportunities to perform at the Symphony Hall, the Garrick Theatre and Lichfield Cathedral.

We also strive to ensure that our children will be well equipped for the multi-cultural world of work they will face in future years. Our children have the opportunities to learn modern foreign languages, mainly French.

We have excellent links with our feeder high school King Edward VI in Lichfield. They have achieved specialist status in Languages and Science and we work closely with them in both of these subjects.

We have excellent facilities for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ranging from our state of the art ICT suite, to Interactive Whiteboards in each teaching area to a range of equipment to enable children to personalise their learning using digital cameras and film.

ICT is used for learning in all curriculum subjects, including our SmartUs ICT linked outdoor play equipment which is the first to be installed in the country.

Our Learning Platform promotes personalised learning encouraging effective communication and collaboration between parents, staff and children.

Any queries about the curriculum should be directed to the Class Teacher, the Deputy Head, Curriculum Co-ordinators or Head-teacher. A Complaints Policy is in place as required by law.