Andrews Lane Primary School

Welcome to our Curriculum Page

Early Years Curriculum

At Andrews Lane School we believe that our Early Years Foundation Stage is crucial to developing firm foundations to be built upon throughout our school journey and beyond. We follow the Early Years Statutory Framework 2021 and take guidance from non-statutory Birth to 5 and Development Matters. It is our intent that the children who enter our EYFS develop physically, verbally, emotionally, creatively, intellectually, and spiritually whilst embedding a positive attitude to school and learning in order for each child to achieve their full potential. We set high expectations throughout all areas of school life and beyond. Our school motto Aspire, Learn, Succeed and the ALS Way is introduced in the Early Years and this is then embedded in all aspects of our children’s lives as they become lifelong learners in an environment of acceptance and support. We believe that all children deserve to be valued as an individual and we are passionate in supporting all children to achieve their full, unique potential.

English

​English has a distinguished place in education and in society. A high-quality education in English will teach pupils to speak and write fluently so that they can communicate their ideas and emotions to others and through their reading and listening, others can communicate with them. Through reading in particular, pupils have a chance to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Reading also enables pupils both to acquire knowledge and to build on what they already know. All the skills of language are essential to participating fully as a member of society.

Reading

Our Reading Focus

This academic year we are looking at new ways of encouraging our children to love reading, read for pleasure and become lifelong readers. We have completely updated our school library, ensuring that there are a good range of quality fiction texts to excite our children, we are buying factual books to accompany the new topics that are part of our redesigned curriculum, each class has a comfortable inviting book corner, where children can relax and enjoy books together and we are developing our guided reading and whole class shared texts to fully engage all learners. We have also introduced the Book Detectives programme in our Key Stage 2 classrooms to help children develop greater understanding of what they read.

Little Wandle

We have adopted Little Wandle Letters and Sounds, a complete systematic phonics programme that has been validated by the DfE. Our main priority continues to be that children develop a love of reading and that all children leave Andrews Lane School literate.

For more information please follow the links below:

Little Wandle resources

Information for parents about reading and phonics

Maths

Mathematics is a creative and highly inter-connected discipline that has been developed over centuries, providing the solution to some of history’s most intriguing problems. It is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. A high-quality mathematics education therefore provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.

Science

A high-quality science education provides the foundations for understanding the world. Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future. All pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. Through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, pupils should be encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They should be encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.

History

​History lessons at Andrews Lane School will help pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. It inspires pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past, to ask perceptive questions, think critically, and develop perspective and judgement. History helps pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time.

Geography

Geography lessons at Andrews Lane School inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about  the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. What we teach will equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments. As pupils progress, their growing knowledge about the world should help them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments.

Computing

At Andrews Lane we recognise that confidence with computing is essential for children growing up in a world that relies on technology. We cover key areas of the curriculum, such as coding, online safety, networking and using software effectively in our purpose built Computing Suite. In addition to this, classes support their learning in other subjects using laptops in lessons and we have a set of iPads to further enhance opportunities. By combining the excellent resources available to us with effective teaching we aim to ensure all children leave Andrews Lane using technology confidently and safely.

Design Technology

Designing new products is essential to innovate and make progress in the world that our children will inherit. As part of our design and technology curriculum, we aim to give them the skills they need to analyse products and learn from other designers, identify a need that their product will fill, design a product that will meet those needs and then evaluate their product to identify what has worked well or changes that could be made.

Music

Music is a universal language and allows children to be creative. A high-quality music education should engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. At Andrews Lane School music is taught using the Charanga scheme of work to plan and deliver lessons. Children learn about music through listening, appraising, singing and composing and in Key Stage 2 they have the opportunity to learn instruments where possible.

PE

Sport is highly valued at Andrews Lane. The school believes that physical education, experienced in a safe and supportive environment, is a unique and vital contributor to a pupil's physical development and well-being. A broad and balanced Physical Education curriculum taught by a specialist sports coach provides pupils with a range of opportunities to develop physically and competitively.

Pupils are encouraged to appreciate the importance of a healthy and fit body and mind, and to begin to understand those factors that affect health and fitness.  

Modern Foreign Languages

In Key Stage 2 at Andrews Lane School we focus on enabling pupils to learn French.

The teaching provides an appropriate balance of spoken and written language and lays the foundations for further foreign language teaching at key stage 3. It enables pupils to understand and communicate ideas, facts and feelings in speech and writing, focused on familiar and routine matters, using their knowledge of grammatical structures and vocabulary.

Religious Education

At Andrews Lane we study all religions, so that we can learn to respect one another and live together peacefully. RE is taught in every class and we follow the Hertfordshire agreed syllabus, covering different religions in each year group.

We also have daily worship where we encourage the children to take part or deliver the worship. 

Art

At Andrews Lane we want children to develop their creative side and our art curriculum is one way they can express themselves creatively. We look at the work of important artists from different time periods and different cultures to draw inspiration. We teach children a range of skills, often starting with sketching and building up to finished pieces using a wide range of techniques. 

PSHE

Personal, Social and Health Education enables our children to become healthy, independent and responsible members of a society. It tackles many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up. It allows pupils to learn about rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society.