St.
Teresa's News
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Parents
Info Page
Dear Parents, in this section find all our information about
school term dates, uniform requirements and administration facts to
aid your school experience.
Kids Page
Curriculum and Related Matters
Language
Language is not only a means of communication but also a means of thought.
It is the vehicle by which we convey all our lessons. A deficiency in
one's language skills can lead to repercussions in all other elements
of the curriculum in the future. In an acknowledgement of the importance
of Language, special emphasis is placed on the pupils having full opportunity
to explore it in all its facets, speaking and listening, reading and
writing and the associated skills of spelling and handwriting. The school
has adopted the Literacy Hour as part of it's planning for the development
of language skills.
The retelling of news, structured play, use of tape recorders etc.,
help to develop both oral and aural ability.
The school utilises the Oxford Reading Tree as its
main reading scheme. This is supported by alternative schemes and library
books as appropriate. All reading strategies are encouraged, look and
say, phonics use of contextual clues etc., The school recognises that
if one engenders a love of reading then success will follow. The aim
is not just produce children who can decode well but children who are
READERS! The school possesses a well resourced library, and the children
are encouraged to borrow books, both fiction and reference, on a regular
basis. We ask parents not only to hear their children to read regularly
but also to continue to read to them so as to provide them with a positive
role model. May we also reinforce the importance of talking about the
books, treating them as a pleasure shared, not just an academic exercise.
As their writing skill mature the pupils are asked to write in a variety
of styles; story, reporting, comic strip, poster, letters, poetry etc.
Learning spellings in family groups reinforces the knowledge of phonics.
Special Needs
All children have individual needs and their work is adjusted so that
their potential may be realised. However, some children might be considered
to need a more specialised programme of study to suit their learning
requirements. The school had the services of Sefton Authority's Special
Needs Support Service which will become involved with children having
a statement of special needs. On occasion other agencies may be consulted
as appropriate. Parents will always be advised if their child requires
this additional support. The school supports children with a statement
of special educational needs within the normal classroom situation but
in accordance with the demands of the statement. Each day the school
has the services of a Specialised Teacher's Assistant specifically employed
for the special educational needs of our children in Literacy and Numeracy.
She works under the supervision of the SENS Co-ordinator. Children who
are exceptionally able can also be deemed to have special needs. Parents
are again consulted and work is differentiated so that these children
are stretched.
Mathematics
Mathematics is an important part of everyday life. The school recognises
the need to provide every child with the confidence and mathematical
skills to cope with "real life" situations. The Heinemann
Maths Scheme is used as the major thrust towards acquiring these skills.
Other material is used in conjunction with the scheme where appropriate.
As the child's appreciation of Mathematics is developed so new concepts
are introduced and progression occurs.
The school has adopted the Numeracy Project which includes emphasising
the importance of mental maths.
These pictures of displays illustrate
that the Nursery department look at shape as part of their Mathematics work.
Science
The child's knowledge, skill, understanding and enjoyment are fostered
in line with the National Curriculum specifications. Exploration of
Science is given a time weighting of 50% at Key Stage 1 and therefore
much of the science the pupils will do are of a practical nature involving
investigation and problem solving activities.
The school gardens have Herb and flower beds and a pond area which is
used to study growth and insect life. The children also plant bulbs
and flowers which they have grown from seed in the gardens.
Year
2 children arrange for their pets to come to school as part of their
topic on Pets.
Information Technology
All children, including the Nursery children, have the opportunity to
develop computer experience. There are computers and interactive whiteboards
in all the classrooms and the children use them for word processing,
drawing, reading activities and problem solving. All computers have
Internet access.
In addition the school has a computer area in which children work in
small groups. The children use listening centres and programmable toys.
Humanities
All children study History and Geography. The children develop and sense
of time and place. The school has a museum from which the
children borrow artefacts for class study.
The children use the school grounds to explore their local environment. All children
help to maintain the school gardens and learn about how plants grow.
The children also have an opportunity to enjoy learning about wildlife
in their school pond.
French
It is the aim of the Government that all children learn a foreign language from the age of seven years (Year 3). In order to help achieve this target St Teresa's provides a short french lesson each week for all Key Stage One pupils (Year 1 and Year 2). The lessons are purely oral and the emphasis is on simple phrases and vocabulary.
Arts
The school has a specialised Music teacher who takes all classes for singing and other elements of the music curriculum including percussion.
All children follow an Art curriculum which encourages the use of a
wide variety of medium - clay, collage etc. The children are taught
how to draw, mix colours and paint.
Design Technology 
All children are encouraged to design and construct models using both
synthetic and natural materials and then evaluate them. These
photographs illustrate the work done by some children on constructing
lighthouses as part of their topic, The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch.
Religious Education
The school follows the Archdiocesan "Here I Am" Scheme.
Starting from a child's own experience the teacher leads the child into
exploring the Christian message, providing opportunities to celebrate,
evaluate and go forward to an improved understanding of their religion.
The Sacraments of Reconciliation of the Eucharist are prepared for in
Year 2 with input on a joint school/parish basis.
Collective Worship
The children attend collective worship daily, either as a whole school
or on a class basis. This encompasses not only prayers but time for
refection etc.,
Parents have the right to have their child excused from attending collective
worship or Religious Education in which case the child would be withdrawn
under the supervision of a care assistant.
Sex Education
It is in the climate of the Mission Statement that the children will
be taught about importance of relationships in their personal lives.
The school is following the Literacy with PSHE QCA guidelines which
covers elements of Sex Education. The school is also using the Social
and Emotional Aspects of Learning project to enhance the children’s
awareness of relationships.
Whilst the children will be taught that there are boys and girls, it
will be in a situation which arises naturally, through e.g. bathing
babies in the topic, “Growing” etc. The children will have
access to boy and girl dolls in the Foundation Stage. Parts of the body
will be labelled on clothed drawings of children.
Children will learn through the Science Curriculum that all animals
reproduce their own e.g. dogs have puppies etc.,
Curriculum and Related Matters
Under section 23 of the Education Reform Act 1988, it is recommended
that worries regarding the curriculum or related matters be first discussed
informally with the teachers and Headteacher. Communication can alleviate
any concerns. Formal complaints may be referred, if appropriate to the
governing body or to the LEA
Circular No. 1/89, which gives further information about procedures,
can be obtained from schools, public libraries and Education Offices
