We recognise the importance of making learning meaningful and memorable for children and for this reason we have defined ‘contexts for learning’ in each year group. Our contexts for learning (or themes) provide joined-up learning experiences for our children and are designed to help them make meaningful connections between the knowledge and skills that make up the National Curriculum subjects of history, geography, art, design technology, science and computing; and the knowledge and skills contained within our religious education syllabus.
Each ‘context’ (or unit of work) is begun with an exciting ‘hook’ and a clear, shared ‘learning journey’ is established which leads intuitively to an ‘authentic outcome’. There is clarity and purpose to each context.
Across each year the children work within three broad contexts to: Discover, Explore and Create. Discover is the theme for the autumn term, and is the history focus for the year (the only term in which history is taught). Explore is the theme for the spring term, and is geography focused, and Create is the theme for the summer term, and is computing focused. Science and RE are taught discreetly in each term although where natural links between subjects exist, they are made.
This way of working is very popular with the children who appreciate the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of subjects and contexts over time. It means that as they work toward outcomes at the end of each term, the children feel real commitment to those outcomes and their depth of understanding enhances the quality.
