Curriculum
HAPPY, ACTIVE and INSPIRED – these three words capture what Swing Gate Infant School and Nursery strives to achieve for all children. We embrace the spirit of adventure. We invest time, money and energy into ‘experiential learning’ and this it at the heart of our curriculum.
‘Experiential learning’ involves activities, experiences, enjoyment and imaginative learning opportunities resulting in children developing increased confidence and the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life. Our curriculum is coherently planned and sequenced towards cumulatively building sufficient knowledge and skills for future learning.
Teachers reflect on what is taught when posing the questions, such as: Why this? Why now? Why in this way? We believe in encouraging children to learn by ‘having a go’ and that they can learn from making mistakes. We assess the children in many ways to know their current level of development and understanding to inform teaching. We then plan ‘next steps’ learning opportunities to support development, for children to embed and use knowledge fluently. For children who have gaps in knowledge we use these ‘next steps’ to support children to have the opportunity to ‘catch up’ and ‘keep up’. The children are supported in becoming independent learners and having responsibility for their learning. The curriculum we offer is balanced and broadly based.
We aim to:
- Promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at the school and of society, and prepare pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life
- Support learners to develop their character, including their resilience, confidence and independence
- Help children know how to keep physically and mentally healthy, enhancing their emotional wellbeing and mindfulness through our ‘Wellbeing in Action’ ethos.
A copy of our curriculum overview can be found here
A copy of our EYFS curriculum overview can be found here
A copy of our Year 1 curriculum plan can be found here
A copy of our Year 2 curriculum plan can be found here
Religious Education (RE) is provided for all pupils, and is inclusive and broad minded. Parents do have the right to withdraw their child from RE: if you wish to do this, please make an appointment with the head teacher / RE subject leader. Our school does not support selective withdrawal from RE.
Guide to the National Curriculum
Click here for a parents guide to the new National Curriculum for English Primary Schools (2014)
Swing Gate Lane, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire HP4 2LJ
01442 863913
admin@swinggate.herts.sch.uk