The Curriculum at Hathaway

 NURSERY - At our Nursery we want the children's first experience of school to be a positive and happy one.  We rely a great deal on your help to settle your child into Nursery Class.  There will be opportunities for you to visit with your child before she or he starts at the Nursery, to meet and talk to Nursery practitioners.

We have an open plan Nursery that caters for children from 3 to 4 years old.

Children are admitted part-time either morning or afternoon following their third birthday.

Parents and nursery practitioners are all involved in the settling in process and the transition from home to school is made as easy as possible.

We recognise the importance of parent/nursery partnership and are committed to the development of strong home/school links from the start of a child's education.

A parent handbook about nursery is available from the school office.

RECEPTION - Children join Reception in the autumn term of the academic year in which they will be five.  All children are full-time.

The transition between the Nursery and Reception class is a crucial time in children's formal schooling.  Close links are maintained to ensure that this transition is a smooth process.

The Reception classes follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum.  This is a combination of play based activities and teacher led activities which is a good preparation for the National Curriculum in year one.

A parent handbook about Reception is available from the office.

THE KEY STAGE 1 AND KEY STAGE 2 CURRICULUM - At Hathaway we provide a broad, balanced and effective education set within the context of the National Curriculum.

The National Curriculum provides a detailed framework for the school ensuring that all children have a sound education at each stage of their school career.  The NAtional Curriculum requires all children to study the core subjects: English; Mathematics; Science; Information Technology and the foundation subjects: Design Technology; Geography; History; Physical Education; Music; Art and Religious Education.

At Hathaway we aim to develop and maintain a curriculum which is appropriate to all abilities, aptitudes and aspirations of all our pupils.  We continually update Curriculum policy and practice.  The new Primary Framework guides our work in English and Mathematics.  For each subject Programmes of Study provide information on what should be taught.

Foundation subjects of the curriculum are taught in topic blocks.  This means that History, Geography, Design Technology, Art, Music and PE are taught in half-term blacks.  Links are made between the subjects as we teach in a cross curricular way.  Links are also made with other subjects where possible.  We believe that this way of teaching better suits the way primary children learn.  Information about the topics is made available for parents each term.

RELATIONSHIPS, SEX AND DRUGS EDUCATION - Carfully selected relationships, sex and drugs education related to the age of the pupil will be given.  Parents will be given full information about the programme of work.  Parents do have the right to withdraw their child from sex education, by writing to to Headteacher.

RE AND COLLECTIVE WORSHIP - Religious Education is provided in accordance with the agreed syllabus for Ealing.  Each day there is an act of collective worship.  These acts of worship take into account the family backgrounds of the pupils, their age and maturity.

We would like all children to participate fully in all school activities but you have the right as a parent under Section 25 of the 1944 Education Act to withdraw your child from religious education and collective worship.

However we strongly encourage all our children to attend because of our multi-faith approach.

RECORD KEEPING, ASSESSMENT AND TESTING - Our record keeping and assessment framework is built on continuous teacher observations and an end of year record of achievement.

A record summarisign the year's achievement is available for discussion with parents.  Theis contribution is an important aspect of this report.

Target setting has become an important feature of the assessment process in Primary Education.  Children are set whole class, group and individual targets termly and these are reviewed.

SATS TESTS - at the age of 7 and 11, the end of Key Stages 1 and 2, there are National Curriculum Tests (SATs).  The results of these assessments will be available to parents.

Before children take the SATs, we arrange a meeting to explain the whole process and to answer any questions parents may have.  Pupils are adequately prepared for SATs from the start of their primary education.

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