Loanends Prospectus 23/24

Curriculum The Revised Northern Ireland Curriculum has been statutory from September 2009. The curriculum builds on good classroom practice. At Loanends we provide a broad and balanced curriculum for all our pupils and it is our aim to give every pupil the opportunity to experience success in learning and to achieve as high a standard a possible. It is planned to provide a full range of learning experiences which will enable each pupil to grow and develop intellectually, socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually. The Foundation Stage Years 1 and 2 Key Stage 1 Years 3 and 4 Key Stage 2 Years 5, 6 and 7 The curriculum for the three stages is set out in the following Areas of Learning: Language and Literacy (Communication) Whilst we recognise that Literacy is a subject in its own right, it is also an important vehicle through which other subjects are taught. Talking and Listening, Reading and Writing are fundamental at each stage and once the basic skills have been mastered, pupils are encouraged to develop their creative skills in an interactive and stimulating environment, producing work for a variety of audiences. There are three stages of the Primary Curriculum

Loanends Primary School Prospectus 2023-24

pupil’s reading level. This multiple-choice test is taken at various times throughout the school year and results are used to generate the appropriate reading level for individual pupils. Since its introduction in 2018, achievement in reading has improved significantly.

and Numeracy (Using Mathematics)

ICT Loanends prides

itself on the excellent variety of technology throughout the school. Each classroom is equipped with an Interactive Whiteboard

Pupils are encouraged to develop a sound understanding of mathematical concepts through practical activities and problem solving throughout the three stages of the Curriculum. Mental maths activities are a daily activity in all classrooms and basic number facts and methods of computation are addressed at the appropriate level of understanding. Mathematics is integrated across the curriculum, giving pupils the opportunity to connect and contextualise their learning to a variety of real life situations. Introduced in 2020, MyMaths is an online resource that can be used in class as well as at home to help pupils consolidate their learning. Activities develop pupils’ confidence and fluency in maths, through hundreds of lessons and

Mathematics

/ ActivPanel and has access to desktop, laptop computers and iPads. The Key Stage 2 Resource Area / Library is also used as a computer suite, where pupils can use additional laptops, some of which have been funded by external grants. These are for use in the Resource Area and within the classrooms if needed. Pupils are encouraged to use ICT across all subject areas and in the presentation of work for a wider audience. Seesaw Seesaw is an online learning platform used throughout the school. It allows pupils to compile a digital portfolio of their work that parents can view in real-time on their digital devices. Teachers can also create and assign activities for pupils to complete at home; this proved most effective during school closures in 2020/21. Seesaw also enables teachers to easily track pupils’ progress across the curriculum and easily share announcements with the whole class and their parents.

Loanends Primary School Prospectus 2023-24

self-marking homework tasks, worksheets, and games. Teachers can see at a glance, all homework and assessment activity completed by pupils, allowing them to easily track pupils’ progress.

KS2 pupils use Accelerated Reader, a reading program that helps teachers support and monitor children’s reading practice. Pupils pick a book at their own level and read it at their own

pace. When finished, pupils take a short online quiz to measure how much of the book they understood. Star Reading is a complementary test, taken online, and is used to measure each

“The Seesaw app is amazing. I am so impressed with the parent-teacher relationships.”

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