PHONICS
We use the Read Write Inc phonics programme to teach children how to read. Children in Reception and Year 1 are taught phonics explicitly each day in class. They also learn new sounds and develop fluency in reading by accessing ditty books. Ditty books, matched to their phonic ability, are brought home for the children to practise their decoding skills. Regular screenings provide the opportunity to track progress and interventions are put in place where necessary. Information about this scheme is shared with parents through workshops and information about the sounds the children are learning is sent home regularly.

To find out more about the Read Write Inc Phonics programme including tutorial videos follow this link 
For parents of Reception and Year One children you may find the following RWI Phonics Video for Parents(2).mp4 helpful as it provides information about how to use ditty books with your child at home.  

READING AT HOME
Children have the opportunity to share books at home with their parents. These include ditty books, fiction and non-fiction reading progression books and school library books.

READING AND WRITING
At Eton Porny, we feel that it is important for pupils to have enjoyment of and engagement with a variety of texts. We use The Power of Reading initiative to teach reading and writing which promotes using high quality children’s literature and proven creative teaching approaches to engage teachers and children in the literacy curriculum. This supports us to nurture a whole school love of reading and writing. 

Children are taught comprehension skills, which help children to infer, summarise, question, clarify, predict and argue a point of view. The children are also taught to make connections between texts and their own experiences, and are encouraged to take their own meaning from each text, becoming independent and critical thinkers.

Writing opportunities are linked closely with wider curriculum areas – this aims to support children’s understanding, develop vocabulary and engage them in the subject matter through meaningful experiences. All children write regularly for a variety of purposes and audiences, using poetry, fiction and non-fiction texts as a starting point.

SPELLING, PUNCTUATION AND GRAMMAR
Spelling, punctuation and grammar are taught explicitly, as well as in the context of the children’s individual work. Children are taught how to proof-read and edit their work to improve it.

In Reception and Year 1, children receive spellings that are linked to the sounds that they are learning in class. This is in line with the Read Write Inc Phonics scheme. From Year 2 children are taught spelling patterns each week which correlates to the expected standard for their year group. These are then taken home to be practised and they also practise these spellings regularly at school. Children are then tested on this pattern the following week.

At Eton Porny School, our aim is to help every child to understand, enjoy and succeed in maths. We do this by developing understanding, and in understanding each maths concept and mastering learning one step at a time, everyone CAN do maths!

We use the ‘White Rose Maths’ curriculum to ensure that children have the opportunities to develop their ability to calculate fluently, problem solve and reason mathematically. We use the small steps of progression and concrete and visual resources, to ensure a deeper understanding of concepts for all children. We use the Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract (CPA) approach, which enables pupils to spend time fully exploring a topic, reinforcing it with practise, before moving onto the next one. All ideas are built on previous knowledge and pupils have opportunities to develop relationships between topics, which is crucial in developing their understanding.

As part of our wider curriculum children are also provided with a variety of opportunities for applying their mathematical skills in other contexts. We aim to develop children’s confidence and resilience and for them to feel safe to make and learn from mistakes.

Mastering Number
In Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children also have an additional daily maths session following the National NCETM ‘Mastering Number’ programme designed to help good number sense. These are 15 minute practical sessions that develop fluency in calculation and a confidence and flexibility with number.

Supporting your child with Maths
Numbots
Every child from Year 1 to Year 4 has a login for Numbots (it’s the same as their TTRS log in). This is a carefully sequenced online programme of addition and subtraction. It is designed to be used little and often at school and at home. Children enjoy taking part in a range of games to earn coins which they can spend on their avatar. It supports recall and fluency in mental addition and subtraction, so that children move from counting to calculating.

Numbots Game

Times Table Rockstars (TTRS)
Every child from Year 2 to Year 4 has a login for TTRS. This is a carefully sequenced online programme of times tables practice. It is designed to be used little and often at school and at home. Children enjoy taking part in a range of games to earn coins which they can spend on their avatar.
https://play.ttrockstars.com/auth/school/student

Year 4 Multiplication tables check (MTC) information for parents
The purpose of the MTC is to determine whether pupils can recall their times tables fluently, which is essential for future success in mathematics. It will help schools to identify pupils who have not yet mastered their times tables, so that additional support can be provided.

Further information

The National Curriculum and Ready to Progress document gives an at-a-glance guide to how the White Rose Maths curriculum links to the Key Stage 1 and 2 national curriculum, and how it progresses through topics. In each of the major topic areas (Number, Measurement, Geometry and Statistics), the curriculum has been broken down into key areas. For each of these areas, you can then see which NC objectives are covered in that year, together with the term and block in which that objective is first met.

These are the calculation policies that we follow in school

Addition and Subtraction
Multiplication and Division

Additional Maths Games:

• White Rose Maths ‘1 minute maths’ https://whiterosemaths.com/1-minute-maths
• Help with learning tables multiplication.com
• Variety of KS1 and KS2 games  top marks.com
• Maths Frame https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/category/22/most-popular
• Crickweb (Free online games)  http://www.crickweb.co.uk/ks2numeracy.html
• Maths Zone  https://mathszone.co.uk/

At Eton Porny C of E First School we teach an ambitious, concept-driven and knowledge-rich curriculum which is delivered through Cornerstones, a nationally recognised approach for delivering outstanding learning opportunities for children.

Our foundation subjects are taught through a sequenced knowledge and skills framework, the curriculum is informed by the latest findings from cognitive science about how children learn best. We have a strong focus on rich vocabulary, concept led learning and cross curricular learning opportunities to promote long term retention and making links. We adapt the curriculum to meet the unique needs of children in our school.

The essential knowledge and skills of the curriculum are set out to build on the previous, so that children’s understanding of concepts and aspects develop over time. The organisation of the knowledge and skills also allows for planned retrieval.

Our foundation curriculum is delivered through knowledge-rich projects (KRP) in Years 1-4. Each term, the main project is driven by history or geography with mini projects that are taught alongside focussing on other subject areas. Children in KS2 also learn French. In EYFS the curriculum is taught through a driver and a mini project each half term. Each of these projects provides opportunities to meet all areas of the Early Years Framework.

How it Works? Children will progress through four stages of learning in each KRP – Engage, Develop, Innovate and Express. To find out more about these stages please see our Curriculum Policy

Our in class learning is further enriched with a carefully chosen range of trips and visitors which bring the learning to life and allow children to acquire real world experience of the subject matter. The aim is for our pupils to be confident learners who are able to use and apply their knowledge in a range of contexts and retain that knowledge.

For more information about what is taught in each year group please refer to our Curriculum Maps above

At Eton Porny CofE First School, we value and place high-emphasis on the delivery of a high quality music curriculum.
‘Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. 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.’ (National Curriculum, updated 2021). 

The school development plan can be viewed here.

As part of our music development plan, we are pleased to announce the commencement of our school choir. The choir is open to singers from years 1 upwards and of all abilities. Pupils will have the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge around tone, pitch and simple choral techniques such as call and response. The choir will also participate in singing assemblies and local events. We hope to foster a sense of unity and artistic expression among our students and champion the numerous mental health and well-being benefits of singing.  

Peripatetic Music Lessons

Children at Eton Porny CofE First School also have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument through 1-1 or small group tuition. These sessions are provided by two external music providers: Link Learning, who deliver Piano and Guitar/Ukulele Lessons, and Berkshire Music Trust who deliver Piano, violin and brass lessons.  

We offer piano and guitar/ukulele lessons in partnership with Link Learning. Register your interest here

We also offer brass or violin or piano lessons in partnership with Berkshire Music Trust.  Register your interest here

All music lessons are booked and paid for directly with the music provider.  If your child is eligible for Pupil Premium or has Special Educational needs they may be eligible for subsidised music lessons - please speak to the individual music providers about this. Music lessons will take place during school curriculum lesson time.

MUSIC OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE SCHOOL

Berkshire Music Trust also offer a range of music groups in the local area that children can participate in outside of school. This includes a range of choirs, a string orchestra and even a jazz group! Further information can be found here. 

https://www.berksmusictrust.org.uk/  

Information about national opportunities can be found below on the National Children’s Choir and National Children’s Orchestra Websites below.  

https://www.nco.org.uk/  

https://www.nccgb.com/  

We are delighted that at Eton Porny we have maintained the Gold School Games Mark. This demonstrates our commitment to the development of competition across their school and into the community.

Our aim is to ensure that every child has access to:

• two hours of PE per week and that they are physically active for sustained periods of time
• a broad and varied PE curriculum where they will find opportunities to develop and improve fundamental skills
• activities that build confidence and inspire the desire to succeed
• opportunities in every lesson that enable them to evaluate and recognise their own success
• compete against others and their own personal best
• lead in sports, in KS2, and share their talents with others
• to work as team and, very importantly, to build their problem solving and strategy skills on the field
• Swimming lessons in KS2
• a variety of extra-curricular clubs

Most importantly we want to ensure that all the children enjoy Physical Education.

Working with the Windsor Sports Schools Partnership (WSSP) ensures that teaching staff have a continually evolving skill set and that the children have opportunities in PE that take them beyond the traditional. Additionally all classes receive up to 12 weeks expert coaching in physical activities as varied as dance, gymnastics, tennis and key skills.

Each year our work with WSSP also provides opportunities for inter-school competition which each child will have the chance to attend during their time at Eton Porny. WSSP also provide the training for our Key Stage 2 children in Playground Leadership (Sports Leaders).

For information about the schools Sports Premium allocations please follow this link

The government recommend that all children have 60 active minutes a day (30 at school and 30 at home.) At school, we support children to achieve this through our use of active brain breaks and the opportunity to play structured games at playtime. At home, you can support your child with plenty of opportunities for fresh air, bike rides, walks and trips to the playground.  Please click here for more information and ideas.

 

At Eton Porny we follow the Discovery RE scheme of work for our RE curriculum, in conjunction with Understanding Christianity resources, as part of our work with the Oxford Diocese.
 
Discovery RE is a comprehensive enquiry-based, teaching programme for Religious Education for all year groups.  Understanding Christianity is a Church of England Education Office project. The key purpose of the materials are to help all teachers support pupils in developing their own thinking and their understanding of Christianity, as a contribution to their understanding of the world and their own experience within it. 

Throughout their time at Eton Porny, children are exposed to a variety of religions including: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism. We aim to provide the children with opportunities to experience different religions in each year group. This includes visits to places of worship or visits into school from faith leaders. This allows children to immerse themselves in different faiths and cultures and ask questions.

For more information on these resources please click on the links below.

Discovery RE - Information for Parents

Understanding Christianity

Our RE Policy and Collective Worship Policy can both be found on our school policies page

At Eton Porny Personal, Social, Relationships and Health Education (PSRHE) is taught through our curriculum, school vision and values. PSRHE is taught every week using the Jigsaw scheme which nurtures children to be confident and successful whilst increasing their capacity to learn and prepare for the challenges of the modern world. It focuses on six themes which are repeated each academic year with appropriate progression to ensure that all statutory content is delivered as well as providing children with opportunities to develop their emotional intelligence and life skills. The teaching of this subject became compulsory in September 2020 with the introduction of statutory Health and Relationships Education at key stages 1 and 2.

Eton Porny is part of the Eco-Schools initiative, which aims to engage young people in environmental education and action.

We have an elected group of pupils, our Eco-Team, who aim to drive change and improve environmental awareness in their school, local community and beyond.

The Eco-Team meet regularly to come up with new ideas to help the school, and teach other pupils the importance of looking after our world. We are pleased to have achieved our Bronze and Silver Eco-School awards as well as achieving the Green Flag award in July 2021 which recognises, rewards and celebrates the environmental achievements of young people.

At Eton Porny we have four house teams – red, green, yellow and blue - children are allocated a house team when they join the school (siblings are put into the same house).

Each term we appoint a captain and a vice captain to lead each of the houses. It is a prestigious role that aligns with our school vision statement and Christian values including; aspiration, community, respect and perseverance. Children in Year 4 have the opportunity to stand for a house captain position and children in Year 2 have the opportunity to stand for a vice captain position. 

The children need to express an interest in the role and explain why they believe they would be good at the role. This is then reviewed by all the staff and successful applicants are appointed. 

House and vice captains then lead their house in various inter-house competitions that take place throughout the year, for example; poetry writing, creative arts, maths, science and computing, singing and sports. They are also chosen to represent the school at formal occasions and significant events. 

To immerse children into school life and provide them with opportunities to develop their aspirations and leadership skills we encourage them to take on additional roles and responsibilities. 

Our current roles include: library monitors, reading buddies, sports leaders and well-being champions.

Children will also have the opportunity to take on various responsibilities within their classroom and the to lead elements of collective worship including writing and delivering the prayer during our collective worship.