English curriculum

In addition to the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), the ISR class we will cover aspects of the UK English Curriculum (EC), in particular Literacy, Numeracy and ICT.

To support their learning of letter sounds we use the ‘Jolly Phonics Programme’. This scheme introduces letter sounds using stories, actions and pictures that help children to link letters to the sounds of the English language, and supports both their reading and writing development.

As well as learning to link letters to sounds to support their reading, children will also learn to read using the Oxford Reading Tree Scheme. All the stories in this scheme are based around a typical family, which the children relate to very well. The children will be encouraged to learn the characters names and talk about and answer questions related to settings, plots and characters.

Children will begin to write as they develop the skills to do so. Children will be encouraged to write their weekend news and through our various IPC topics they will also be encouraged to write for a range of real life purposes.

Children will use a range of ICT programmes to support both their Literacy and Numeracy development, as well as learning to use a mouse, key board and simple drawing programmes.

Progressing on from ISR children in Year 1 and 2 in the International Stream (ISR1/2) will continue to develop their knowledge of the letter sounds to begin to sound out words to read more fluently and write simple sentences independently. The ‘Jolly Phonics Programme’ is completed in Year 1 and children will then develop their reading and writing using ‘Jolly Grammar’ which again gives children the opportunity to learn through symbols, actions and sounds. Children will continue to progress through the Oxford Reading Tree Scheme and will be given the opportunity to access a range of texts in class as well as through the IS library. A variety of IPC topics will give children the opportunity to write in different contexts and for different purposes as well as allow children to develop an awareness of different genres of writing.

In Numeracy as well as being encouraged to use and apply their knowledge through a range of practical activities, children will develop skills to write and record their work using symbols and simple diagrams. Children will learn to select the mathematics they use in some classroom activities and develop their mathematical vocabulary to discuss their work. Children will develop their knowledge of numbers and the number system by counting and ordering numbers as well as adding and subtracting numbers to solve problems. Children will learn to use everyday language to describe properties and positions of 2-D and 3-D shapes, and will measure and order objects using non-standard and standard units of measurement. Data handling skills will be developed as children sort and classify objects and begin to communicate their findings by gathering information in simple lists, tables and graphs.

ICT will be used to support learning across the curriculum. As children develop their keyboard skills they will use a range of programmes to research information themselves and present their learning.