Literacy

At Waterfield, we believe that literacy and communication are key life skills. Through the English curriculum, we will help children develop the skills and knowledge that will enable them to communicate effectively and creatively through spoken and written language and equip them with the skills to become lifelong learners. We want children to enjoy and appreciate literature and its rich variety.

Literacy is at the heart of all children’s learning. Literacy enables children both to communicate with others effectively for a variety of purposes and to examine their own and others’ experiences, feelings and ideas, giving these order and meaning. Because literacy is central to children’s intellectual, emotional and social development it has an essential role across the curriculum and helps pupils’ learning to be coherent and progressive.

Phonics

Waterfield use the Collins Big Cat Song of Sounds is a hands-on systematic synthetic phonics programme that meets the learning needs of the whole class – and puts the fun back into phonics.

Song of Sounds has a song at its heart that teaches children all of the phonemes necessary to read and write English successfully.

Click here for more information on Song of Sounds.

You may listen to Song of Sounds Stages 1, 2 & 3 below.



Please click to watch a short Sound Pronunciation Guide.

Please click the links below for further information.

The Phonics Phases
Phonics Glossary

Mathematics

Mathematics teaches children how to make sense of the world around them through developing their ability to calculate fluently, reason logically, solve problems, to conjecture, test hypotheses and to think in abstract ways. It enables children to understand relationships and patterns in both number and space in the world around them.

In Waterfield we aim for our pupils to develop a deep, long term, secure and adaptable understanding of the subject which should build gradually as a child goes through school. It is vital that a positive attitude towards mathematics is encouraged in order to foster confidence and achievement. 

We are committed to ensuring that all pupils achieve mastery in the key concepts of mathematics, appropriate for their age group, in order that they make genuine progress and avoid gaps in their understanding that provide barriers to learning as they move through education.

Please listen to the attached times table songs which have been produced by Mr Lilley in year 4. (Please find 2, 4 and 5 times table songs below.)

Computing

At Waterfield we value ICT within our school. We ensure that children are able to explore and access a range of digital technology, from Interactive Whiteboards and laptops through to our learning platform, DB Primary. We believe in the successful integration of ICT into teaching to suit all learning styles.

There are, however, some risks attached to the use of connected technology and the E-safety of our children is of paramount importance to the school. We work closely with WSCC (West Sussex County Council) and our learning platform provider DB Primary to ensure that all staff are up to date with current advice and practice.

Learning about e-safety is a vital life skill. Empowering children at an early age with the knowledge to safeguard themselves and their personal information is something that needs to be nurtured throughout the school to see them into adult life. Equally, it is important that parents have the right information so that they can help to reduce the possibility of risk and identify risky behaviour.

Below are some documents about how to keep your children safe while exploring the internet, how to set up parental controls on things such as facebook and youtube.

Parental Locks on YouTube
Internet Safety Leaflet Primary
Computing charter FS and KS1
Computing charter KS2
Microsoft Play Safe Guide

Here are some useful websites about keeping children safe online and initiating conversations about eSafety along with a link to a Family Video Gaming Guide:

NSPCC
Vodafone
Kidsmart
ThinkUKnow