St Andrew's C of E VC Lower School

St. Andrew's Curriculum

The school currently caters for children from Reception to Year Four.

From September 2024, we will become a Primary School with our Year Four children staying with us into Year Five and then Year Six. 

The children start school in the September after their fourth birthday and will leave to start Secondary School in the September following their eleventh birthday.

Children are in classes with children from one year band, and occasionally from two year bands.

The school follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum and the National Curriculum.

The EYFS is divided into seven areas:

- Communication and Language (CL)

- Physical Development (PD)

- Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED)

- Literacy (LY)

- Mathematics (MA)

- Understanding of the World (UTW)

- Expressive Arts and Design (EAD)

The National Curriculum is split into the following subjects:

- English

- Maths

- Science

- Design Technology (DT)

- Religious Education (RE)

- Physical Education (PE)

- Music

- History

- Geography

- Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)

- Art and Design

Phonics teaching is based on Unlocking Letters and Sounds and a variety of reading schemes are used including Oxford Reading Tree.

Some subjects are taught separately and some are taught in a linked way in meaningful topics. Some subjects are taught daily, some weekly and some in blocks.

All lessons have clear learning objectives and teaching is differentiated in order to meet individual needs. Children have learning targets and assessment is on-going to adjust targets and individual plans as appropriate.

The curriculum is enhanced through topic teaching, following children's ideas and interests and encouraging independent learning. Educational visits and events in school also enhance the curriculum and create memorable experiences for the children.

Religious Education is taught following the Diocese of St. Albans Agreed Syllabus.

You can find out more about our curriculum in our Curriculum Statement.

Curriculum Maps

We produce Curriculum Maps every half term so that you can see what the children are learning about in their classes. These are also sent out via ParentMail.