Infants Department
The Infant class covers Reception (Year R) and Year 1. The class offers a well-balanced mix of structured, teacher-led learning with creative, child-initiated activities. Literacy We use a synthetic phonics scheme, as recommended by recent Government research and literacy experts, to build a strong foundation in reading and writing. This approach has proved effective both for struggling readers and those making faster progress. The systematic teaching of phonics and early grammar (full stops, capital letters etc) is complemented by the creative exploration of a wide range of picture books, poems and non-fiction texts.
Speaking and Listening This is an area in which we believe our children can learn to excel. Small classes allow children's individuality to be affirmed, within a context of mutual respect. Their confidence grows as they have opportunity to share their views, and listen to others in frequent class discussions. Mathematics The children learn through a combination of "hands on" practical activity, building mathematical understanding, with more formal recording on paper. Work is adapted to match varied levels of mathematical ability, so that children are challenged, but not out of their depth. Teaching content is based on the National Numeracy Strategy; children are also encouraged to see the God-given beauty and pattern inherent in mathematics. Physical Education We have access to the gym at a nearby school. Children learn to move with confidence and control, and enjoy the challenge of using suitable apparatus. The gym is also used for dance lessons, often exploring themes from our topic. Topic Work Most afternoons are used for topic work. Through this, we cover all the National Curriculum subjects: science; history; geography; information and communication technology (ICT); art and design; design and technology; music; personal, social and emotional development (PSE); and citizenship. However, a distinctive aspect of the curriculum is that these subjects are taught, not in isolation, but through integrated exploration of a wide topic. For example, in the topic of "Me" children not only confront many issues relevant to PSE and citizenship, but also have opportunity to classify animal families (science); survey family sizes (maths) (recording their findings on a computer graph - ICT); look at how families used to live in the past (history); compare family life overseas with life in the UK (geography); use different media to paint family pictures (art) and soon. All topics are taught from a Biblical perspective. This does not mean that religious principles are forced into every lesson, but that, as and when issues emerge (eg "Why do we have families?") we are able to offer Biblical insight – "Because God loves people, and wants them to be cared for". God made the world, and the Bible helps us understand it. Homework Children are encouraged to bring home books (graded according to the child's reading level) for daily reading sessions with parents or other members of the family. Once a fortnight they visit the Peers School Library, where they can borrow books of their choice for reading at home. Occasional homework is given in other subjects. It is intended to be enjoyable, and should take only a few minutes each evening.

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