Singlegate Primary School

Singlegate Primary School is a popular and oversubscribed school of average size. The school educates pupilsfrom many different backgrounds. Many speak English as an additional language and, in total, 19 different languages are spoken by pupils. The school has an Early Years Foundation Stage, which is made up of a Nursery and a Reception class. The proportions of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities have declined recently but are still above average. A high proportion of families claim free school meals. The school operates afterschool and breakfast clubs, which are run by the governors.

At Singlegate we strongly believe in the concept of lifelong, child initiated learning, where both adults and children learn new things every day. We maintain that learning should be a rewarding, enjoyable and a successful experience for everyone. Through learning and teaching opportunities we equip the children with the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to be able to make informed choices about the important things in their lives. We believe that appropriate learning and teaching experiences help children to lead happy and rewarding lives.

Much time has been spent reflecting on what skills and experiences our children need to equip them for life in the 21st century and what constitutes an appropriately challenging and exciting curriculum. As a result, we have adopted a themed creative curriculum.

Our creative curriculum is a carefully planned, thematic approach to teaching and learning designed to support children’s enquiring minds and stimulate and nurture their creativity. It offers the children the opportunities to work in more depth, giving them the time they need to reflect, consolidate and transfer knowledge, skills and understanding across the learning experience as a whole.

Our collaborative cross-curricular planning is closely referenced to the National Curriculum and programmes of study to ensure coverage, progression in knowledge, understanding and skills for all age ranges. There are clear links to specific subject areas in both planning and teaching, with a strong emphasis on the development of children’s Literacy, mathematical and enquiry skills. We encourage children to take responsibility for their own learning, to be involved in reviewing the way they learn, and to reflect on how they learn best. There is a greater flexibility of timetabling to allow for more sustained periods of focused learning targeted on the planned desired outcomes. Subject leaders closely monitor the progression of subject knowledge, understanding and skills whilst also supporting the professional development and expertise of all teaching staff.

At Singlegate School we recognise that as individuals we learn best in different ways. In our schools we provide a rich and varied learning environment that allows all children to develop their skills and abilities to reach their full potential. Our schools ethos permeates all aspects of learning and teaching. The purpose of our creative curriculum is to ensure that the children at Singlegate and William Morris Primary School are provided with outstanding learning and teaching experiences that lead to consistently high levels of pupil achievement. Learning should be challenging, rewarding and enjoyable. Learning involves child-initiated projects that captivate the interests and is directed by all children. Teaching should be relevant, creative and enthusiastic.

At Singlegate School we provide children with experiences that are fun and memorable, drawing upon their individual interests that ensures high levels of engagement and involvement. The emphasis is placed on helping all children fulfil their potential, not just academically but in all aspects of learning.

We understand that as individual we learn in many different ways, and respond best to different types of input (visual, auditory and kinaesthetic); we therefore deliver teaching in different ways to address the needs of all of our learners and so retain their concentration, motivation and application. We take into account the different forms of intelligence (for example, mathematical/logical, visual/spatial, interpersonal and musical) when planning our delivery of the curriculum.

We ensure the best possible environment for learning by developing a positive atmosphere where children feel safe and they belong, where they enjoy being challenged, but were they enjoy learning and know that they will succeed.

The programmes of study of the National Curriculum tell us the minimum requirement of what needs to be taught in Key Stages 1 and 2. The aim is that the required Knowledge, Skills and Understanding are covered as many times as possible throughout the Key Stage.

In our Foundation Stage unit, you will find an "Outstanding", inspiring and progressive indoor and outdoor setting that meets the needs of all children between the ages of three to five. With the support and encouragement of a enthusiastic team, children learn in a happy, safe, caring and fun environment.

The Foundation stage unit, including both Nursery and Reception, aims to continue to be a "model of excellence", where all our children have access to fun discovery resources that encourages them to engage happily in their independent learning. We also aspire to provide a stimulating and appealing approach to our working areas that at all times generates an interest and enthusiasm to learn.

Children"s ability to have a go, to take risks and display confidence are encouraged by our excellent and well qualified team. We have adopted a key worker system and we strive to ensure that the children receive the care and the support they need to help them develop and progress in their learning.