Science, RE & non-core subjects
We believe that every child should leave Manorfield Primary School as a well-rounded, knowledgeable individual with a thirst for further knowledge and a love of learning.
To achieve this, we must ensure that all children have access to a broad, balanced curriculum with rich, engaging experiences. We must also ensure that all children are given opportunities to reach age-related expectations across all subjects not just at the end of every year, but at the end of every term.
Any child who does not meet age-related expectations at any point must make accelerated progress in order to ‘catch up’.
How we teach the IPC (International Primary Curriculum)
The International Primary Curriculum (IPC) is a comprehensive, thematic, creative curriculum for 3-12 year olds, with a clear process of learning and with specific learning goals for every subject, for international mindedness and for personal learning.
We use the IPC to teach the following subjects:
- Science – all National Curriculum outcomes are covered through some of the larger thematic units of work, and through the smaller science-focused units of work.
- Art and design – National Curriculum outcomes for Art & Design are covered in many of the units. Out art teaching is supported by our Artist in Residence who works alongside teachers to enhance our teaching of Art.
- Design and technology – National curriculum outcomes are covered in some of the larger units, but also some of the science-focused units.
- Geography – opportunities to teach the National Curriculum geography are included in the units. As outcomes specific to British geography are not included in the IPC. Planning is required in individual year groups to ensure that these are covered.
- History – The majority of history is covered through the history-focused units. The history units enable schools all over the world to study the different time periods, and are therefore fully global in their approach whilst covering specific British history examples as well.
There is a distinct learning process with every IPC unit, providing a structured approach to make sure that children’s learning experiences are as stimulating and rigorous as possible.
The entry point is an activity for children that begins each unit of work and provides an exciting introduction to the work that is to follow. Entry points can last from one hour to a week, depending on the age of the children and the appropriateness of the activity.
The knowledge harvest takes place in the early stages of each unit and provides an opportunity for children to reveal what they already know about the themes they are studying. This bank of knowledge can then be added to, developed and even challenged by the teacher, throughout the course of the unit.
Explaining the Theme
This activity involves the teacher helping the children to see the 'big idea' of the unit of work before embarking on the subject learning.
The big picture provides teachers with subject-based background information to the issues contained within the unit.
Each IPC unit has a research activity and a recording activity. Research activities always precede the recording activities. During research activities, children use a variety of methods and work in different group sizes to find out a range of information.
During the recording activities, children interpret the learning they have researched and have the opportunity to demonstrate, share and explain their learning in different ways.
The exit point has two main purposes. First, to help children pull together their learning from the unit and second, to celebrate the learning that has taken place.
For day-to-day lesson planning, we use the plans from the IPC website and annotate them to adapt them for each individual class with notes on differentiation, key questions, home learning opportunities, additional resources etc. The most important part of this working document is the assessments and evaluations of learning after each lesson has taken place. This process will decide the direction of the learning for the next day, so the evaluations become lesson plans in themselves.
When using the IPC units to create medium term plans care should be taken to ensure that the age-related expectations for knowledge and understanding set out in the National Curriculum are fully considered. Subject leaders are available to support planning for National Curriculum coverage.
How we teach Computing
We teach computing discretely – delivered by a specialist teacher from Y1 – Y6 with a weekly computing lesson.
- Some elements are covered in the IPC and wherever possible, links are made to the term’s project.
How we teach Physical education
There will be 2 PE lessons per week for all year groups – one indoor and one outdoor.
Planning is available on the School drive
Swimming is taught to children in years 1 and 2, with Year 1 children attending weekly swimming lessons for a whole year from January until the end of December in Year 2.
How we teach Languages
We teach languages discretely in KS2. At Manorfield we have taken the decision to teach Latin at KS2.
It is taught by classteachers using the Minimus scheme – teaching materials and textbooks are kept in classrooms. There should be one half hour lesson per week.
How we teach Religious Education
We use the ‘Tower Hamlets Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education 2012-2017’ to teach RE. This gives us units of work to use which are relevant to the social and religious make-up of the local area. We are teaching mainly about aspects of Islam and Christianity and we also teach about other religions such as Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism.
RE is taught in termly, week-long blocks, so that in the first week of every term (6 times per year), there is an RE focus, with no other ‘project/IPC’ teaching taking place.
How we teach Philosophy for Children (P4C)
Every year group teachers a weekly philosophy session.
- In Key Stage 2, this will be 1 hour long
- In Key Stage 1, this will be 45 minutes – 1 hour long
- In Reception, this will build up to 45 minutes long in the final term
- In Nursery, there will be thinking skills activities planned throughout the week, so that all children participate on at least a weekly basis. By the end of the Nursery, children will have participated in short small group and whole class P4C sessions.