Curriculum

At Broomhill Infant School we offer an exciting, innovative, broad and balanced curriculum, which includes the Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 of the National Curriculum, Religious Education and Personal, Social and Health Education and Citizenship. You can find out more about each curriculum subject by accessing the subject tab on this website.

Our foundation subjects are taught in blocks where the topic lends itself to that particular subject. For 2022/2023, we have the following foci:

Learning Challenge Curriculum Questions

Because the children here at Broomhill Infants have chosen the key questions for the topics, they get really excited when their questions are picked. Having one main focus per half term means that the children can follow a logical sequence of learning in a subject and are more likely to be able to do more, know more and remember more. The substantive knowledge progresses across a topic and continues year-on-year. Our Forest School provision is very special and is the golden thread that weaves through the curriculum. The knowledge and skills is built upon each week and is explicity linked to what the children need to know. The Forest School staff attend curriculum staff meetings where they are able to contribute ideas that will bring learning alive as well as link to future careers. The learning journey that the children go on is recorded on a learning journey wall within the classrooms, where the children can refer to what they need to know and remember. When a sequence of learning is complete, it is transferred to a class book that the children can refer back to.

Reading

We see reading as the most important skill for our children to master. Through reading they can discover, imagine and enjoy the world around them and beyond.  As well as nurturing a love of reading, we aim to equip each child with the skills and confidence to read successfully at their level. See the Little Wandle Reading and Phonics Policy below.

FOUNDATION STAGE: RECEPTION

In Reception children engage with a range of areas of Learning and Development, they are: ‘Prime Areas’ and ‘Specific Areas.’ In Year 1 children begin to access the National Curriculum. The Foundation Stage curriculum is planned around:

Prime areas:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Physical Development
• Communication and Language

 Specific areas:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

 The Early Learning Goals establish expectations for most children to achieve by the end of the Foundation Stage.

NATIONAL CURRICULUM KEY STAGE 1: YEARS 1 & 2

Subjects:

Phonics / Reading, English, Mathematics, Science, Computing, History, Geography, Design & Technology, Art and design, Physical Education, Music, Religious Education; Personal,Social,Health and well-being; relationships and sex education.

Please see our annual list of topics and ‘learning challenge’ related questions on our school website. For further information, please ask your child’s class teacher.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION & SPORTING AIMS:

Physical Education is an integral part of the holistic learning process. It gives all children the opportunity to develop body awareness and control through which they can experience enjoyment and self-confidence as an individual and as part of a group. Two hours per week is allocated to physical activity for Years 1 and 2. Please see below for the timetable.

Games lessons focus on the development of individual skills along with partner and group work. Through small group activities the older children are introduced to the importance of agreed rules for co-operative and competitive games. Gymnastics, Games and Dance are taught in units of work. ‘The Arches’ School Sport Partnership support Broomhill staff in the delivery of PE sessions.

An annual whole school ‘Sports Afternoon’ event takes place in July at Sheffield University Goodwin Sports Centre to which parents and friends of the school are invited.

A range of big toys such as wheeled trucks, bikes and scooters are used by Foundation Stage in their outdoor learning environment.

Children are encouraged to bring certificates, for example for swimming, ballet, etc to our Thursday’s ‘Achievement Assembly’ so that we can celebrate their achievements outside school.

The children, who take part in many individual events, are encouraged to be self-competitive to improve on their previous best effort.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION & COLLECTIVE WORSHIP: 

The school follows the Sheffield Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education (SACRE). Our aims are:

• To provide each child with the opportunity for exploration, discovery, experience and growth within the religious and spiritual dimensions of religious education
• To encourage each child to understand and value their own religious faith and traditions and develop an understanding, respect and sensitivity for those of other faiths.
• To develop understanding of the ways in which religious beliefs are expressed.

Our aims are explored in the context of three world faiths, Christianity, Judaism and Islam. We have an annual International Day celebrating a variety of faiths and cultures. Parents and the local community are invited to support this special event.

The daily assembly follows a range of religious and non-religious themes in order to promote a caring school ethos. Under regulations in the 1988 Education Act parents may withdraw their children from assemblies and activities relating to Religious Education. If they wish to do so arrangements should be made with the head teacher. Gold Awards are presented in Special Mention Assembly on a Friday. Parents will be informed and invited to celebrate.

ANNUAL ENRICHMENT EVENTS:

To deepen learning and enable knowledge to be committed to the long term memory the school offers different experiences throughout the year, including; International Day, Black History, Harvest – links to Sheffield Cathedral Archer Project, Broomhill Bonfire, Remembrance (Service at War Memorial in Weston Park) Christmas celebrations, Chinese New Year, Year 2 residential visit to Whirlow Hall Farm, Visit to Seaside (Bridlington) Summer Fairs and Open Garden as part of Broomhill Festival 

SATS RESULTS: