The National curriculum in primary schools is organised on the basis of two Key Stages which are as follows:
1) Key Stage 1 - 5 - 7 years
2) Key Stage 2 - 7- 11 years

The National Curriculum consists of ten subjects which all children must study in school. Literacy, Mathematics and Science are known as the CORE SUBJECTS. Information & Communication Technology, Design Technology, Physical Education, History, Geography, Music and Art are known as the FOUNDATION SUBJECTS. Religious Education, PHSE, Citizenship and Modern Foreign Languages are also taught throughout the school.
Literacy and Mathematics teaching are based on the Primary Framework. There is some separate teaching of other subjects but teachers plan an integrated approach as much as possible. Teachers aim to ensure that teaching and planning will:-

		be creative, flexible and dynamic
		be child-centered; meeting the needs and interests of all children
		have learning to learn as a central approach (skills based)
		allow time to consolidate and reflect on learning
		inspire children by drawing in skills from art, music, technology, dance and drama
		provide memorable learning experiences, particularly through provision of first hand experiences
		have reflective links that allow children to transfer skills across the curriculum
		enable children to think for themselves

CORE SUBJECTS

LITERACY
Planning the Literacy Curriculum
The Primary Framework is used across the school for planning Literacy. As a school we have adopted the 3 phase approach to planning; immersing our pupils in the genre before they are expected to produce a finished piece of independent writing. Literacy games and activities are played at the beginning of a Literacy lesson to engage and stimulate pupils. One third of all Literacy activities planned are speaking, listening or drama based.
Language that will be used by pupils is considered during the planning stage and structures/sentence starters are displayed for pupils to use when speaking in class.

Writing
Guided writing sessions take place every day; each group receiving one session per week. During these sessions pupils carry out activities that are specifically linked to their targets. ‘Power Writing’ takes place every second Friday and lasts for the whole morning. During these mornings, pupils are engaged in motivational activities leading to independent, timed writing. These pieces of writing are used as evidence to assess pupils’ attainment and to inform guided writing planning. Language and phrases collected throughout the unit of work (through shared reading) are displayed using a VCOP/working wall.

Reading
Tidemill has a home/school reading agreement where parents support their children by reading with them at home. Reading records are monitored and if there are any concerns, parents are contacted. Guided Reading takes place every day; each group having at least 1 session per week. A reading group target is set every ½ term which is checked during each session along with asking pupils specific questions linked to the text. Less able pupils receive up to 3 sessions per week including work with the teaching assistant. There is a strong emphasis on oral story telling throughout the school where pupils are taught to map and retell stories.
Pupils experience listening to many class stories and complete reading journal activities.

Assessment
Pupils are given new, personalised writing targets every ½ term and form part of guided writing sessions.
Pupils are assessed in speaking and listening once a year and this information is entered onto our school’s tracking grid. Following each assessment period, there is a ‘Provision Mapping Staff Meeting’ where pupil progress is analysed and groups of pupils are identified who need specific interventions.

Spelling and Handwriting
Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 have daily phonics sessions in ability groups using ‘Letters and Sounds’. This continues into KS2 where a pupil hasn’t reached the expected level. Key stage 2 use an investigative approach to teaching spelling using words from the spelling bank.From reception, cursive script handwriting is taught.

MATHEMATICS
Children are encouraged to explain their own mathematical thinking and realise that mathematics is a powerful and enriching means of communication. Problem-solving and investigative activities are undertaken in order to develop logical thought and awareness of the uses of mathematics across the curriculum and within the environment. A wide variety of mathematical resource books, ICT programmes and challenging open-ended activities are used throughout the school.
Children are taught in sets when they reach Key Stage 2 (Juniors). At present, they are ability grouped so that teaching can be targeted to their needs. Children performing lower than expected for their age are taught in smaller groups so they can be given additional support. Our gifted and talented mathematicians in Year 5 & 6 have attended lessons at Addey & Stanhope with a secondary maths teacher.

SCIENCE
Much of science is about enquiry and discovery. We provide children with many practical experiences that develop their knowledge and skills while fostering a love of science. To develop their ability to think scientifically we provide opportunities throughout the school to:

		Plan, hypothesise and predict results
		Design and carry out investigations
		Interpret results and evaluate scientific thinking
		Communicate their findings clearly using appropriate scientific language

Each child will experience the following areas of science in their time at Tidemill:

		Scientific investigation
		Life and living processes
		Materials and their properties
		Physical processes

FOUNDATION SUBJECTS

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (I.C.T)
We aim to give every child the opportunity to become confident users of IT for a variety of purposes. For the children of today, familiarity with the use of the computer is vital as an aid to learning across the curriculum.
Our school is fortunate to be generously resourced with mini ICT suites in every class and banks of laptops which can be used anywhere in the school as well as a wide range of other equipment (such as digital blue cameras which the children use for animation). The children are taught specific ICT skills using the Heinemann scheme and they are encouraged to use these skills across the curriculum.

We have recently introduced a Virtual Learning Environment which the children can use to show parents and extended family members projects which they have been working on at school and which they can also utilize to undertake and submit homework online. We have also become an affiliated member of the e-Learning Foundation and will be working with them over the coming year to start offering home access for all of our children.

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
Everyone makes technological decisions every day, often without realising it. The basis of design technology, both at school and within society, is the response to human needs. Our aim is to enable children to develop a wide range of transferable skills such as designing, measuring, predicting, recording and problem solving, as well as the manual skills exercised in making things. We also aim to encourage perseverance and co-operative team work. Children are taught the skills necessary for using tools safely and are also taught cookery skills in our specially designed kitchen area so they can learn how to live healthy lifestyles.

HISTORY
Our aim is to introduce pupils to an understanding of the past, and to help them to discover a sense of their own identity, which will prepare them for adult life. Pupils begin by investigating personal and family history; moving on to study a variety of historical periods and cultures as they progress through the school. We give our pupils the opportunity to investigate local history and learn about the past from a range of sources of information and visits to local museums and galleries.

GEOGRAPHY
Our aim is that pupils will be able to make sense of their surroundings and gain an appreciation of the variety of physical and human conditions on the earth. Many aspects of geography relate to the pupils' own lives and their immediate environment.
Pupils will broaden their geographical knowledge through the study of economically developing countries and other localities in the world along with their physical systems and cultural values.
We also have a school journey in the summer term for Year 6 children at Ullswater in the Lake District where an exciting, challenging and relevant educational programme is implemented for them within a safe, informal and relaxing rural setting.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION (P.E.)
We aim to build on the children's natural ability and enthusiasm for movement through experimenting, refining and practising skills in a purposeful and planned way. We aim to foster a positive attitude towards a healthy lifestyle and use PE as a way of building self-esteem. A specialist P.E teacher takes most classes for lessons. The children follow a programme which includes:

		Gymnastics
		Dance
		Games
		Swimming
		Athletics
		Orienteering

Pupils have the opportunity to learn to swim in Year 3+4 during the year at Wavelengths pool. A specialist P.E teacher takes most classes for lessons.

ART
At Tidemill we aim to offer out children a wide variety of opportunities to explore the visual arts through media such as sculpture, moving image, craft and animation. We believe children are entitled to a range of high quality art experiences, whatever their background and ability. Creativity is embedded in our school ethos and highly valued.

In a culturally diverse and creative area such as Deptford, we have been able to form links with local artists, galleries and creative organisations – which we regularly take advantage of! We encourage children to see art first-hand in and around London. This year we will be taking part in the Deptford X festival and also holding a whole school exhibition at the APT Gallery. Look out for our exhibition “The Forest” from 18th June!

MUSIC
Our aim is to promote the enjoyment of music in all children in a way that develops their enthusiasm, imagination and skills and to teach them to listen and appreciate a variety of styles from around the world. We aim to strike a balance between listening and appreciating music and composing and performing music for themselves. Children throughout the school are taught by music specialists and the children also have the opportunity to learn steel pans, guitar, clarinet and saxophone. In 2007/8, our KS2 children were involved in a pan-London gospel project which culminated in them singing at the Royal Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall and we are also setting up a school choir currently.

OTHER SUBJECTS

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (R.E.)
Within our multicultural context we view the teaching of Religious Education as an opportunity to celebrate and foster awareness of the differences within our school and the wider world. Particularly relevant in our circumstances is the aim which states: “Religious Education should help pupils to develop a positive attitude towards other people, respecting their right to hold different beliefs from their own, and towards living in a society of many religions and beliefs”. Through story, discussion and assemblies children are given opportunities to develop their knowledge and understanding of world faiths.

The Education Act of 1944 gives parents the legal right to withdraw their children from Religious Education and worship. Parents are informed in the school prospectus that they have the right to withdraw their children from religious education lessons if they wish and are required to put any requests in writing to the Head Teacher outlining their alternative plans for their child.

SEX EDUCATION
The school has a whole-school sex education policy. Children have sex education within the context of health education and the science curriculum. We give children an overview of how their bodies work and change as they grow up and how to form good relationships with others within the framework of traditional Christian values.
In Year 6, pupils are taught about human reproduction; parents are given the opportunity to discuss this beforehand with the class teacher.

PERSONAL, SOCIAL & HEALTH EDUCATION AND CITIZENSHIP
PSHE and Citizenship are taught throughout the school using the SEAL curriculum (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning) which underpins everything we do at Tidemill. There are 7 themed units in the SEAL curriculum, the first of which is “new Beginnings” and this is used to set the class rules with the children at the beginning of each academic year. The anti-bullying theme of the curriculum is tied in with anti-bullying week each November and has led to a number of award-winning activities and projects. We also teach sex and relationships education, drugs education and healthy lifestyles (including healthy eating and the benefits of exercise) in PSHE lessons and through the science and DT curriculum.

MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Tidemill believes the learning of a foreign language provides a valuable educational, social and cultural experience for the pupils and we introduced MFL through the teaching of French throughout KS1 and KS2 in 2007.  Last year, the Year 3/4 children were given the opportunity to go to France for the day and this is something we are planning again for this year. We have a partner school in France and also work with local secondary schools to enhance the children’s learning experiences through the organization of regular French workshops and activities.