Curriculum

Reading, writing, spelling, listening and language are taught using multi-sensory teaching. A balanced literacy approach emphasizes the importance of thorough phonetic grounding, using decoding strategies, building fluency and expression, and expanding vocabulary.

Comprehension strategies of predicting, questioning, sequencing, summarising, and drawing conclusions are also developed. Daily language activities include shared reading, guided reading and independent reading.  A wide range of schemes and resources allow every level of understanding to be accommodated and developed.

Children learn the creative writing process by brainstorming, planning, drafting, editing and publishing stories. Written activities include story and letter writing, dairy entries, life stories and poetry.

Handwriting is practised daily using a range of methods and opportunities for extension.

It is important that all children have a strong understanding of the basic skills of number, shape, space and measure.  We encourage children to make rich connections across mathematical ideas to develop fluency and mathematical reasoning.

The children become mathematical thinkers through a curriculum that is challenging, interactive and fun.  A strong emphasis is placed upon building mental agility, thinking skills and problem-solving and developing understanding. Mathematics is taught through practical-based activities, computer-based learning resources and formal written methods.

A diverse and carefully selected range of resources, combined with ICT, ensure that lessons are engaging, compelling and informative. In the lower years Numicon, a flexible approach to teaching numeracy is used to ensure every child meets end of year expectations.  We aim for our children to leave with a confident, enthusiastic approach to the subject and a passion for solving problems.

Learning undertaken during the school day is consolidated and extended at home through a balanced use of interactive online Maths activities that children are able to access from a computer, tablet or smartphone.

Whether a child is a scientist in the making or a passive explorer they will no doubt enjoy navigating their way through the curriculum in our hands-on laboratory from the Kindergarten onwards.

Our programme offers the perfect platform for our children to wonder and learn about the world in which they live and see how science impacts on this. Through the development of scientific knowledge and investigation, they will gain the necessary skills to evaluate evidence and present conclusions clearly and accurately.

Trips to The American Museum of Natural History, the Botanical Gardens and the New York Hall of Science and the New York zoos will support the children’s learning

Manners, respect, friendship and co-operation underpin all we do.  Social studies are crucial if we expect the young people of today to become active, responsible citizens for maintaining the democratic values in today’s society.

To make our pupil’s learning experience relevant to being in New York City we follow the New York State Learning Standards for Social Studies encompassing,

History of the United States and New York; World History; Geography; Economics; Civic, Citizenship & Government.

Through project-based explorations children become critical thinkers in an ever-changing world and develop an awareness of community and an understanding of the way that geography, cultural beliefs, and technological advancements shape history.

The children’s creativity and imagination is expanded through art, craft and design activities. The children explore and begin to understand use of colour, shape, space, pattern and texture using a range of media and experimental techniques.

They will focus on the work of artists, craftspeople and designers enhanced by visits to the many art museums on offer in New York

We aim to nurture creativity and innovation through design and construction and children develop their technical knowledge through exciting investigative approaches to construction; building structures and exploring mechanisms.

Our programme allows every child to develop an awareness of and love for music of all styles. All children have weekly class music lessons in which they sing, play percussion instruments, compose and listen to music. Music appreciation is taught through listening activities where they begin to distinguish beat from rhythm and identify differences in pitch, sound and tempo

They also learn about instruments and composers and are given opportunities to perform in assemblies and school productions. Individual instrument lessons are offered and all children have the chance to join the school choir.

The use of IT in lessons also enhances the delivery of the music curriculum.

A love of language is celebrated and nurtured and we teach Spanish as a modern foreign language to all children from Nursery. Children develop their speaking and listening skills with increasing fluency and spontaneity.

Sport is an integral part of every child’s life at Wetherby-Pembridge for a healthy and happy life.

Our children participate in an exciting range of sports with specialist trained teachers, the children are encouraged to develop their physical and spatial skills.  Body awareness and co-ordination are developed through movement games and activities using small and larger apparatus.

As they move through the school there is increased focus on competitive sporting activities, team work and good sportsmanship.

Swimming and PE is offered all year round from Pre-kindergarten.

The computing curriculum is varied and constantly adapted to ensure children develop up-to-date skills.

Lessons focus on gaining information in a discriminating and effective way including; E-safety (staying safe on the Internet), everyday computing skills, checking the reliability of internet sources, coding and algorithms.

Interactive Boards and the use of tablets in classrooms adds to the existing curriculum. Developing IT skills are a major factor in enabling children to be confident, creative and independent learners.