Our unique approach
CURRICULUM SECTION
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Belonging in every moment
Inclusive practice is inherent within our school. It runs through everything we do. From teaching and learning and using adaptive practices and scaffolds and guided practice to our playground and all social spaces and times. Teaching and learning is all enquiry based and evidence informed.
We place high value on the academics- we have a classic cannon for music and the Arts and blend this with a wide range of literature which encapsulates different lived experiences. We teach a curriculum that is beyond the everyday. From Shakespeare plays performed in theatres and taught across the school, to economic understanding and knowing who they can be in the world of work and culture.
We have a holistic approach to lunchtimes- all of our children take part in family dining and have a say over what they eat and how much they eat; they all serve and eat together with. The children work closely with the teams to ensure that lunch is bigger than just eating- these times are sacred social times and they, too, have autonomy and a voice over food choices and their relationship with health and nutrition.
Playtimes incorporate play at its heart- all children, regardless of age, have access to play provision that mirrors our outstanding EYFS outdoor curriculum. Children create, share and build to their hearts content. Our playground is especially designed for all children of all personality types to play, explore, sit, reflect and just be. Our uniquely designed playground is one of a kind.
We have a cob oven which is used for outdoor cooking, an orchard, chickens and even a beehive where we produce our own honey.
We have special events that run throughout the year; from Feast and Futures to our annual exhibition, we celebrate learning in all its different guises and the beauty of what the human spirit has achieved.
BSL
BSL at our school
British Sign Language (BSL) is a recognised minority language in the United Kingdom. It is a visual language that uses gestures, facial expression and body language to communicate. Many deaf people use BSL as their first language so learning BSL is a great life skill to have; you never know when you might need it! Just remember that BSL is only used in the United Kingdom, other countries have their own sign languages.
At Whitehall Primary School, we offer BSL to all children and adults at different times of the school year.
Forest school
Environmental education is important to us at Whitehall Primary School. Through embedding Forest School outdoor learning, we provide the children with access to a rich curriculum that allows them to explore and experience the natural world.
Forest School also enables children to have ample opportunities to build their confidence and self-esteem, as well as have a deeper understanding of environmental issues, their rights and responsibilities within both our local and the wider environment. These skills and knowledge are useful for our children as life-long learners, throughout their primary years at Whitehall and beyond.
A day at forest school
The Economist-Topical talk
Year 6 have had the opportunity to explore current events through the renowned Economist-Topical talk. Topical talk is run by the Economist Educational Foundation; a charitable foundation set up to provide high-quality educational resources to inspire all children to learn about the news and current affairs.
Topical talk focuses on a variety of skills such as: critical thinking; problem-solving; understanding of how the world works; storytelling; and negotiation. This has allowed for pupils to work on their collaborative skills as well as articulating themselves in an explicit and concise manner, being respectful of other people’s thoughts and opinions and inspiring them to be a part of the wider community. These skills are built up through a series of current affairs topics. Each half term provides a current topic to study. Some of the topics we have explored together this year have been: politics around The American Election; The Future of Work; Protest; and Building Back Greener.
Here are some thoughts from our children on Topical talk:
”Economist-Topical talk is a beneficial way to express and elaborate on our own opinions whilst having the opportunity to debate in a safe environment with my peers. It educates us on the current events occurring worldwide and allows us to explore these topics in a creative and enjoyable way.
”I really enjoy debating news topics and world problems with my classmates; I get to hear about their opinions which are always interesting. I also like to learn about these topics as we wouldn’t usually explore them within our normal lessons.
You can find out more information on the Economist-Topical talk here:
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