Our vision is that every child has the greatest opportunitity to be the best that they can be.
We know that children develop and learn in different ways, at different rates and have different interests too.
In Reception we pride ourseleves on providing a safe and stimulating environment where learning is challenging and fun.
We provide lots of opportunities and support for our children to play and explore, take part in active learning and create and think critically as they learn to make sense of the world around them.
We extend the learning journey into Year One, actively encouraging our children to develop independence.
We provide stimulating learning environments both in the inside and outside classrooms.
The enriching curriculum is carefully planned around themed topics to help our children make links to their learning.
Children are inspired to learn through our topic-based approach which encourages them to take responsibility for their own learning and to compete 'learning walls' to demonstrate what they know, and what they would like to find out about in the topics.
The learning journey continues into Year Two where the children are further encouraged to work independently.
Our half termly topics encompass all curriculum areas, engaging the children in their learning both inside and outside the classroom.
The children are encouraged to take on more responsibilities for themselves and the school, acting as assembly, fruit and cloakroom monitors and as playtime friends.
Our effective partnership with the local junior school ensures a smooth transition to the next key stage.
In September 2015 we introduced the Forest School Learning Plans to our school so every child will have the opportunity to experience an engaging and exciting curriculum outside in all weathers.
Forest Schools is an inspirational experience which uses the environment as a tool to develop
children’s emotional, personal and social skills.
It is an innovative educational approach of playing and learning in a safe woodland environment through hands-on learning experiences. Forest School started in Scandanavia in the 1950's and by the 1980s was an integral part of schooling in Denmark. It started as teaching children about the natural world in a way that gives children experiential learning in their local woodland. These learning experiences help to develop communication, confidence and practical skills, as well as a greater understanding of the environment.
Forest school is based on the principles of having high adult/child ratios and regular visits to our own school woodland area with professional Forest School Practitioners, who will plan activities based on the observed needs and interests of the children.
WildlifeKate is an experienced primary teacher and consultant, who regularly appears on BBC Springwatch with her innovative use of wildlife cameras around her Lichfield garden. WIldlifeKate has worked with our school over the last few years, bringing exciting wildlife learning into our curriculum and helping us to develop our own school grounds to maximise their potential for wildlife and its incorporation into our curriculum.
The basic idea is simple: learning to tell stories from memory is a great way to learn all sorts of essential skills. Children who fill up with stories by listening and retelling create an inner store of language, ideas and imagination. They will then draw upon this store in their work and life. Speaking, listening, confidence, empathy, ideas, facts, sequences, plots … you name it, storytelling can teach it.
‘Storytelling provides a natural way of developing rich and active story language, for children to recycle in their own story making and writing. In this way attainment can rise quickly and be sustained’
‘The simple joy and magic of storytelling is seen as a crucial part of an all-round education, a core skill for learning and sequencing ideas, a way of developing skills and confidence in speaking and performing, and a way of developing ideas about stories that enable high achievers to go further in their story making’
We are working hard to become an accredited ‘Story Telling’ school so we can share our practice with other learners too!
At High meadow Infant School, we are a family where everyone is safe and valued. We all work together to grow and be the best we can possibly be.
We encourage and support everyone to come to school every day so we can enjoy learning and celebrating together.
The High meadow community learn in different ways so our exciting curriculum and training ensures that everyone is inspired to be a lifelong learner.