English

At South Farnborough Infant School, we are passionate about fostering a lifelong love of reading and igniting a curiosity for learning in every child. We believe that a strong foundation in early reading is key to unlocking a world of knowledge and imagination.

To support this crucial development, we use the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised phonics programme from Reception through to Year 2. This systematic and engaging approach ensures that our children learn to decode words confidently, which is the gateway to reading independently.

Complementing our phonics instruction, our English curriculum centres around a diverse and exciting range of texts. We carefully select books that will captivate and engage our young learners, enriching their vocabulary, broadening their understanding of the world, and inspiring their own creative writing.

For spelling, we seamlessly integrate the Bridge to Spelling resource, which is part of the Little Wandle programme, to build upon their phonics knowledge.

In addition to reading and writing, we also focus on developing confident and legible handwriting through the Letter Join scheme. This ensures our children can express their thoughts and ideas clearly on paper.

 

We understand the importance of access to a rich library of books. That's why every class has the opportunity to visit our wonderful school library each week. We are incredibly grateful for the dedication of our parent volunteers who manage our library and help to create a welcoming space for our children to explore new stories.

 

Furthermore, we actively participate in local library initiatives and enthusiastically celebrate World Book Day. These events are designed to immerse our children in the magic of books and to truly cultivate a love of reading for pleasure.

Maths

From Reception to Year 2 we use the Power Maths scheme, a highly effective and engaging programme that aligns perfectly with our established school approach.

At the heart of our mathematics curriculum for these year groups is our school's Maths Mantra: Say it, Make it, Draw it, Write it, Explain it. 

Each mathematics lesson begins with a Power Up question. These are carefully designed, open-ended questions that encourage rich discussion and critical thinking from the very start of the lesson. Children are invited to share their initial thoughts, explore different possibilities, and begin to articulate their reasoning.

Following the Power Up, children actively engage with the mathematical concepts through a variety of methods. The Power Maths scheme seamlessly integrates these stages, providing structured lessons that build progressively. Furthermore, each lesson offers an opportunity to tackle a challenge problem. These challenge questions are designed to encourage children to think more deeply about the concept, apply their knowledge in new ways, and develop their problem-solving skills.

We believe that this combination of the Power Maths scheme and our school's Maths Mantra creates a dynamic and effective learning environment where children can develop a strong foundation in mathematics.

Science

Our science curriculum, enriched by our pond area and embedded within our Harmony principles, is designed to cultivate not just knowledge, but a connection to the world. We believe this foundational understanding is vital for every child's  development and their future as responsible, curious, and active global citizens.

We are incredibly fortunate to boast extensive school grounds, which serve as an extraordinary outdoor laboratory. Our pupils regularly engage in hands-on exploration, bringing science to life in tangible ways. 

Even our youngest learners in Reception begin their scientific journey through engaging 'Knowledge and Understanding of the World' activities. These carefully designed experiences lay essential foundations, sparking their innate curiosity and encouraging them to observe, question, and ponder the wonders of the environment around them. 

Furthermore, we actively engage with The Ogden Trust and participate in Science Week to further enhance the teaching and learning of science. 

 

Computing

KS1 use the ​Teach Computing Curriculum scheme to support their lessons. The Teach Computing Curriculum was created by the Raspberry Pi Foundation on behalf of the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE). The Teach Computing Curriculum is structured in units which are based on a spiral curriculum. This means that children are regularly revisiting the themes to consolidate and build on their prior learning.

To keep up to date with the ever evolving internet, we supplement our Computing curriculum with online safety lessons every term.

Physical Education 

All year groups use Get Set 4 PE to support their lessons and planning. Get Set 4 PE ensures that our curriculum, is sequenced to build on knowledge and skills over time ensuring that children are ready for each phase of their education. PE is led by class teachers and specialist coaches from Premier. 

Music

Our music curriculum is taught using the Sing Up scheme. Thanks to the generosity of parents, we now have a new music room which provides an inspiring environment for children to engage in singing, learn to play musical instruments, and cultivate a deep and lasting passion for music.

 

Humanities

Our primary goal in teaching humanities is to cultivate a  sense of curiosity and a deep understanding of both the natural and human world, past and present. 

We are incredibly fortunate to be able to significantly enhance these learning experiences through a variety of special visitors and enriching excursions. These opportunities provide our students with unique insights and hands-on engagement that go beyond the traditional classroom setting. 

Art

 

Art is taught using the Art Access scheme. Our aim is to foster creativity, build confidence, and provide every child with the opportunity to discover and develop their artistic talents from a young age. In KS1 all children have a sketchbook which capture the initial sparks of ideas, the planning stage, and ultimately, the progression towards their final, impressive masterpieces.

As well as showcasing achievements within the classroom, we also organise school art exhibitions, offering a wonderful opportunity for parents to discuss and celebrate their child's artwork. 

Design and Technology

Our Design and Technology scheme of work aims to inspire all pupils to be innovative and creative thinkers who have an appreciation for the product design cycle through ideation, creation, and evaluation.

Religious Education

Our Religious Education programme follows the Hampshire Agreed Syllabus, Living Difference IV. It is taught through half termly topics in which children learn about Christianity and other world faiths.

RE is also linked with other curriculum areas covering knowledge and understanding of religion, awareness of life experiences, exploring and responding. Children are encouraged to make wise choices and to become aware of their own values. Through opportunities to appreciate different ideas, beliefs and cultures, children are encouraged to develop responsibility, co-operation, self-discipline and tolerance.  

British Values

We actively embody and promote the 'British' values as outlined by the government. Through our daily words and actions, we demonstrate integrity, respect, tolerance, and the rule of law. However, our commitment extends far beyond these foundational principles. We strive to cultivate a curiosity within our pupils, encouraging them to explore and understand the world around them.

Furthermore, we place great importance on active participation within our school and the wider local community. We believe that by building these connections, our pupils learn invaluable lessons about collaboration, empathy, and engagement, which are essential for their future as responsible and well-rounded citizens. Our school mission statement, 'Living and Learning in Harmony', encapsulates this approach perfectly. 

British Values are taught within the PSHE scheme SCARF.

SCARF values – Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience, Friendship – are linked to British Values by promoting skills like respect, tolerance, and the ability to challenge differing viewpoints through lessons on diversity, empathy, and critical thinking within the SCARF PSHE curriculum. These values encourage the development of citizens who are caring, respectful, and capable of achieving their potential. 

How SCARF promotes British Values Democracy: 

SCARF encourages children to "listen and respond respectfully to a wide range of people" and to "develop skills in debating" and "challenging arguments constructively". 

Rule of Law: 

The curriculum helps children understand the consequences of harmful behaviour and the importance of rules and laws that protect individuals. 

Individual Liberty: 

Through building confidence and self-management, SCARF empowers children to express their feelings and raise concerns, which are key aspects of individual liberty. 

Mutual Respect and Tolerance: 

The "Caring" and "Friendship" aspects of SCARF, along with lessons on diversity, teach children the importance of compassion, valuing different lifestyles and communities. 

 

 

 

• National Curriculum Key Stages 1 and 2