Welcome to
Alwyn Infant School
"Pupils make strong academic progress."
Ofsted 2018
Curriculum Learning at Alwyn
Reception
In Reception, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. This is a play based curriculum, where children learn through planned, purposeful activities.
Positive, quality interactions support learning and the children’s ‘school readiness’. The curriculum is designed to give the children a broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for future progress through school and life. We have an excellent outdoor area and garden with play equipment to extend the child’s interests and learning.
The Areas of Learning and Development
There are 7 key areas of learning in the early years setting. All the areas are important and inter-connected.
They are subdivided into 3 prime areas and 4 specific areas.
The prime areas are:
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communication and language; talking and listening skills
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physical development; both large physical development and fine motor skills for writing
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personal, social and emotional development; forming friendships, being independent and learning to be confident learners
These are important for building a strong foundation for learning, and to ignite curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, forming relationships and thriving in school.
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The specific areas are:
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literacy
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mathematics
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understanding the world
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expressive arts and design
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Year 1 Autumn Term Key Highlights
At the start of the term we focus on settling the children into Key Stage 1. The children will take part in story telling activities and they will continue to learn through play, small groups and whole group teaching sessions.
We will have a geography week where the children will learn about the area around our school and spot human and physical features as well as a mini adventure around Oaken Grove Park where they start to use compass directions!
We will also explore toys from the past and compare them with todays, linking with the science topic on materials. We also start to name and draw our body parts and investigate the different senses. It can get very smelly!
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The children will also use their music lessons to prepare for a Christmas performance that we hope you can all attend.
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Year 1 Spring Term Key Highlights
What an exciting spring term we have in Year One! We will investigate the history of Alwyn School by looking at evidence and asking questions to our family members. Did you know the school was originally built on a completely different site? We will also learn about Maidenhead as a settlement and the different human and physical features that can be found here.
In science, we focus on animal classifications and go on a fantastic trip to Odds Farm, where we will see many new born animals! We also think about the importance of caring for our planet and seasonal changes.
Year 1 Summer Term Key Highlights
In the summer term Year One we start to think a little bit beyond ourselves and Maidenhead by exploring places of interest in London, as our capital city. In History, we look at homes and have a fabulous trip to Bekonscot Model Village. we look at plants and do some planting which links closely to our investigations into growing and cooking. We design and make a yummy fruit salad.
What a super term we will have!
Year 2 Autumn Term Key Highlights
It is an exciting time for the children as they are settling into Year 2 and learning new routines, with a greater level of independence.
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The first main topic of the year the Great Fire of London. The children thoroughly enjoy this topic as they have the opportunity to become historical detectives and explore new facts through evidence, drama and art. We focus on the cause of the fire and the changes that happened because of it. We introduce two historical figures- Samuel Pepys and King Charles. We also consider why Guy Fawkes should be remembered.
​In Geography, they learn about the four countries of the United Kingdom and continue to build on their knowledge of compass directions.
We hope you will be able to attend their Harvest assembly and Festive sing-a-longs.
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Year 2 Spring Term Key Highlights
Our Topic for this term is Heroes and Villains. We begin by exploring the super powers and skills of superheroes and villains from comic books. The we look at how the theme of heroes is shown in books as well as the real life ones we have currently and in the past.
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We learn about Isambard Kingdom Brunel and talk about the bridge he designed in our own town of Maidenhead. We also think about the different continents and oceans in the world- see if we can name them and find them on a map or in an atlas.
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We love the trip to the Look Out Centre where we can apply our scientific knowledge.
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Year 2 Summer Term Key Highlights
We develop the children's understanding of the world by focusing in on Kenya and comparing it to our own knowledge of Maidenhead. We investigate bulbs and seeds, plants and wildlife as well as thinking about hoe different animals grow and change. Interestingly, we also explore and compare the lives of two significant women and the impact they had on society, Florence Nightingale and Koforowola Albeni Pratt.
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The year ends with our goodbye assembly that includes acting, singing, dancing and musicians.
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All years love taking part in our key events such as book week, art week, music week, sports fortnight and sports day. Look at for the days in the school newsletters.