Infant Curriculum

Every child is unique and there are a number of characteristics that show the different ways in which children actively engage and learn, playing a central role in their learning, and in becoming an effective learner.

These Characteristics of Effective Learning run through and underpin all seven Areas of Learning and Development within the EYFS.

In art lessons children can use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.  Children are given opportunities to become confident to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination. 

Lessons help them to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space. 
 

At St Nicholas’ School we want to foster a love for reading. We believe that reading is a key life skill and as such we are dedicated to supporting our pupils on their journey to become lifelong readers.

We want to nurture enthusiastic and confident writers, who can apply their skills across a range of meaningful contexts and purposes.

 

We teach geography as a means of exploring, appreciating and understanding the world in which we live and our place in it. The children will learn about their local environment and community as well as the wider world.

We want our pupils to develop skills in recognising, describing, explaining, comparing and evaluating human and physical geographical elements with technical vocabulary being accurately used and applied. 
 

Children develop a coherent knowledge and understanding of the history of significant people and events within Britain and the wider world. The children’s historical journey will be stimulating and enjoyable, ensuring that they develop a genuine love for the subject.

Through an engaging curriculum, we aim to inspire children’s curiosities about the past. 
 

We want children to feel confident in a world where technology is always advancing and want to prepare the children to be as ready for the future as they can be.

Children are given opportunities to explore different areas of computing, including the use of simple algorithms and different digital applications, which encourages them to become logical thinkers and problem solvers. 
 

All children have daily, discrete maths lessons which are carefully designed to lead pupils through the new concepts being taught.

Lessons are active and have a strong focus on ‘doing‘ maths, with pupils practically exploring a wide range of concrete resources, representations and images, which have been specially selected to expose the underlying mathematical structure of the concept being taught, in order to build depth of understanding and fluency. 
 

Personal, Social, and Health Education enables our pupils to develop positive attitudes and behaviours and will help them to develop the skills and knowledge to become healthy, independent and responsible citizens.  

Children are supported in making informed decisions and judgements, developing their own role within their community and within society. 
 

We encourage children’s spiritual development which is shown by their ability to reflect on their own experience and beliefs (religious or otherwise) that inform their perspective on life. 

Through our concept-based RS curriculum, we develop children’s knowledge of, tolerance and respect for different people’s faiths, feelings and values.   
 

The science curriculum is delivered through hands on and practical lessons. Throughout each unit of learning, teachers impart scientific content needed to allow all children to confidently explore, investigate for themselves and apply what they have learned.

Children are expected to use the correct scientific vocabulary to talk about what they have found out and communicate their ideas in a variety of ways, such as drawings, discussions, writing and using technology.