Prep Curriculum

At Reddiford, we provide a balance and breadth of activities to encourage both a curiosity for and enjoyment of Mathematics.

Our Mathematics Department ensures lessons are enjoyable and fun, whilst developing pupil’s ability, fluency and reasoning skills.

Through a wide range of lessons and practical tasks, enquiry and experimentation, and the chance to enter local and national competitions, Reddiford pupils are given the opportunity to ensure progressive development of mathematical concepts, knowledge and skills.

We consistently exceed the requirements of the National Curriculum Programmes of Study and pupils further develop their ability to analyse and communicate their understanding and knowledge of mathematics. Above all, we encourage curiosity, logical and abstract thinking, the development of problem-solving skills and an enjoyment of Maths.

In the English Department we enable pupils to become highly proficient at reading, writing and comprehension. Our creative and dynamic teaching ensures pupils are provided with opportunities to excel at speaking and listening, explore and develop a love of literature, and work both collaboratively and independently across a range of topics.

The fundamental elements of grammar and punctuation are taught and revised regularly, and they sit alongside a varied and stimulating exploration of the literary world. We also study a wide range of texts and authors, whilst encouraging freedom of expression through creative writing, ensuring pupils write with purpose and clarity. The English syllabus follows and exceeds the disciplines outlined in the National Curriculum and the National Literacy Strategy

At Reddiford we nurture our pupils scientific thinking and natural curiosity about the world around them. We provide a broad and balanced 21st century Science curriculum which enables them to become independent scientists, able to lead their own enquiries.

Pupils are encouraged to ask questions, explore ideas and make discoveries. Our fully equipped Science laboratory provides a stimulating environment where experimental activities ranging from light ray investigations to observing a heart dissection, spark curiosity, discussion and debate.

Visits to museums and environmental centres provide exciting opportunities for pupils to continue their explorations beyond the classroom. The school’s emerging wellbeing garden also provides us with an outdoor learning environment that enriches and extends the science curriculum for all our pupils.

Reddiford pupils actively participate in school science week, the eco-committee, national and inter-house science competitions, engineering challenges and science clubs. Our more able scientists keenly explore topical science issues and discoveries and regularly contribute articles to the school’s science magazine.

Music is taught during weekly lessons to all Pre Prep pupils. They enjoy a variety of practical activities including singing and playing tuned and untuned percussion instruments. The children also learn a variety of multicultural songs for their own enjoyment and in preparation for the regular concerts throughout the year.

All the pupils enjoy performing in these concerts which help them to become more confident and articulate individuals. The children perform as individuals and in small or class groups.

All Pre Prep pupils are encouraged to learn to play instruments and individual lessons in piano, guitar and violin are available by specialist music teachers at an additional cost. Children are also auditioned twice yearly to join the Pre Prep choir or Year Two ensemble. The Pre Prep choir and ensemble performs during concerts throughout the year and at regular school events including the Christmas Fayre and Summer Fun.

At Reddiford, all pupils take part in a range of physical activities, games and team events. Pupils of all abilities are encouraged to build resilience, perseverance, teamwork, self-esteem, confidence and leadership skills through an exciting and caring curriculum.

We aim to educate the children to develop a greater understanding of the benefits of healthy living which will promote long term healthy and active lifestyle choices. The philosophy of the PE Department is in keeping with that of Reddiford School, all pupils are facilitated in reaching their full potential. We promote the children’s natural curiosity about the sporting world and they will be encouraged to develop their skills and challenge themselves.

Prep children take part in weekly PE and Games lessons and have access to a newly built gym as well as local high quality resources including football, hockey, netball, cricket, rugby and athletics pitches. The children in the Prep Department also have the opportunity to take part in a variety of sporting fixtures and join any of our numerous sports clubs such as badminton, karate, cricket, netball, football and rounders clubs.

At Reddiford, we endeavour to excite the children’s interest in what has happened in the past. Through history, children can learn and understand about people in the past and how this has impacted and shaped the present. It is through learning about the past that children begin to understand the present.

History at Reddiford helps our pupils think, order their thoughts and develop critical arguments. Wherever possible, our topics are enhanced by hands-on experiences through trips, acting, role plays and activities.

The study of History is hugely rewarding because things are not always as they appear at first glance. Awkward questions need to be asked, sources of information are examined and questioned. Our pupils are encouraged to form arguments based on interpreting, analysing and evaluating sources; these skills are valuable in many other areas of the curriculum.

As a department our aim is to inspire and encourage excitement and curiosity in the pupils. We encourage pupils to work hard and aim high; providing them with a wide-range of subject material and expertise. We provide lively and engaging lessons.

When children leave Reddiford, we hope that our children have developed an understanding of history from the earliest times to the present day.

Religious Education is taught from Reception to Year 6, where pupil’s learn about different religions and cultures from across the world. The aim is to foster understanding and sensitivity towards those of a different faith or culture, thus promoting tolerance and respect for people of all faiths, cultures and lifestyles. This then gives pupils a basis upon which to make decisions about matters of faith in the future.

In Year 6 Philosophy and Life Skills take the place of the RE lesson. During their Philosophy lessons pupils’ study famous people that changed the world and look at topics such as discrimination and human rights. They learn to articulate a reasoned argument during the debating and discussion periods. To further enable them to develop `life skills’ they also undertake a basic first aid course and have sessions on financial management and e-safety. The aim being to fully prepare them for their senior schools.

In the Prep department, we seek to inspire in children a curiosity and fascination about the world in which they live, its people and cultures. Geography is challenging, motivating, topical and fun. Throughout the Geography curriculum pupils are encouraged to view countries and lives in context and to appreciate ideas and beliefs which may differ from their own.

We develop map skills, locational and place knowledge, human and physical geography, directional knowledge as well as enquiry and field work skills. By developing an appreciation of the local area, we foster a deeper understanding of British values and heritage.

As the children journey through the school their knowledge of the world is expanded through studies of different countries, people, environments and global issues. We offer a number of trips to consolidate and extend learning in Geography such as a local walk in Year 3 and a rivers field study in Year 6.

As an extension to the Geography curriculum we run a Current Affairs club for Years 5 and 6. We aim to develop ‘outside the box’ thinkers, whose knowledge is not just curriculum based but has strong links to current affairs and global issues.

Pupils are taught French for thirty minutes a week from Reception to Year 6. In Year 4 and Year 6, they also enjoy additional weekly lessons in Latin, based on the popular and successful Minimus Latin course. French lessons are taught by a language specialist, and provide an appropriate balance of spoken and written language, with a clear emphasis on enjoyment, participation and cultural awareness, while developing the four skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing.

The introduction of Latin in the curriculum from Year 4 is justified by strong evidence pointing to the benefits of Latin for other areas of learning, such as mathematical concepts, English literacy skills and modern foreign languages. The attention to detail and powers of deduction that learning Latin requires, mean that Latin learners gain an advantage in other academic areas that are applicable to scientific, legal or medical careers (over 60% of English words have Greek or Latin roots and in the fields of sciences and technology, that figure rises to over 90%*).

Personal, social, health and economic education, or PSHE, aims to give children the knowledge, skills and understanding to lead confident, healthy and independent lives.

Reddiford pupils are taught life skills and are prepared for the modern world through enjoyable, collaborative and innovative lessons delivered by passionate and experienced teachers.

Pupils learn about fundamental British Values, enabling them to respect others feelings and to be considerate of their views and rights.

PSHE at Reddiford prepares the pupils for the wider world by instilling in them the values of ‘The Reddiford Way’.

At Reddiford we aim to encourage a love of arts, crafts and design technology, and our specialist teachers enable and motivate pupils to fulfil their creative potential.

Pupils experience many aspects of this subject, whether it is painting, printing, observational drawing, design and technology, model making, textiles, photography, prop making and art history. They also have the opportunity to visit galleries and take part in visiting artist’s workshops and prepare for art scholarships in a specialist art club.

Pupils are encouraged to share their creations with their teachers and peers. Work is celebrated on display boards, the school website, in classrooms or around the school. Visitors to the school are always impressed by the colourful and interesting displays!

Reasoning is taught at Reddiford as a discreet subject from Year 2. The Verbal Reasoning curriculum focuses on developing an understanding of and the ability to manipulate verbal information. Our pupils are taught to think logically about language, and have the confidence to recognise different types of language and their contextual meanings. These skills are reinforced and embedded through our English curriculum.

The focus of non-verbal reasoning is to develop skills needed to analyse visual information by identifying patterns, shapes and sequences. This is often linked to numerical skills, which are also taught as part of our Mathematics curriculum.

Critical thinking and higher-order thinking skills are embedded across the curriculum. Pupils are given the opportunities to work both collaboratively and individually on exciting, innovative and highly enjoyable tasks such as marble run experiments, creating their own sustainable islands and discussing philosophical questions, which aim to develop essential life long skills; problem solving, evaluating, verbalising solutions and reflecting on solutions.

By the time pupils leave Reddiford, they are fully prepared to navigate the various styles of questions they may be asked at 11+ assessments. They are also equipped with the confidence and important skills required to face the challenges of the next stage of their learning and beyond.

At Reddiford, Drama is taught in all year groups and is integral to the school curriculum. Pupils take part in a wide variety of performances, providing them with the opportunity to build confidence, gain experience and showcase their skills and enthusiasm for performing arts.

We encourage the children to be at ease, confident, disciplined and sensitive whilst providing a balance of experiences in improvisation and performance. The pupils will be given opportunities for cooperation and invention and are given a variety of experiences in oral work.

Drama is used as a cross-curricular tool and is particularly valuable as a means of extending and reinforcing work studied in other subjects. Drama also forms an important part of our multi-cultural celebrations over the course of the year.

In Prep we run a selection of clubs throughout the year including netball, football, cricket, rounders, badminton and table tennis. In addition, a Karate specialist runs a Karate Club. These clubs are hugely popular and pupils further develop their sporting abilities through focused, fun activities in games, activities and competitive matches.

Sports Clubs are designed to develop the skills learnt in Games lessons and enable the children to extend their learning opportunities for team sports. Sportsmanship and team spirit are instilled by cooperating with others. Children develop a deeper understanding of the sport by becoming independent learners and refining their knowledge of the rules by learning to officiate. They offer experiences to help the children to enhance their fitness, healthy living and wellbeing through additional exercise.

At Reddiford ICT and Computing are integral to a child’s educational development and are taught both discreetly and in ICT lessons as part of a creative, dynamic and exciting curriculum in order to prepare our pupils for the future.

ICT and computing adds a new and exciting dimension to learning and enhances traditional methods of teaching and learning.
Reddiford pupils are equipped with a broad range of skills to prepare them for the future. They are taught coding, how to use software, internet safety, research skills and using the internet responsibly. Internet Safety and Safeguarding is of paramount importance and we have a robust monitoring system of pupil internet access.

Our pupils gain many experiences across the school curriculum and in after school clubs from Pre School to Year 6.
We ensure our ICT equipment is modern and up to date whilst our software is innovative and exciting for our pupils to use. Our pupils also have access to our new state of the art ICT suite, multi award winning interactive screens and interactive white boards in every classroom.
The pupils become competent in a wide range of applications including collaborative exercises and homework, computer coding, animation and video, desktop publishing, data handling, using and mastering graphics and music production.

Throughout the School, there is software appropriate to each age group and their needs, encouraging a dynamic and innovative approach to teaching and learning.

All lessons are taught in the specialist learning hub by an ICT teacher.