The Learning Journey at Jebel Ali Primary School

The Curriculum

We follow the National Curriculum for England. Planning takes place on a weekly basis within year groups within the framework of the school's long and medium term planning. Lessons are carefully differentiated to ensure challenge for every child.

The school offers high quality teaching in the three core areas of English/Mathematics/Science and the Foundation subjects of History, Geography, Information and Communication Technology, Art, Design and Technology, Physical Education and Music.

A detailed Personal, Social and Health Education programme runs throughout the school and includes circle time. Arabic is offered to children in Years 1 to 6 and French to years 3 to 6. Physical education, Music , Arabic and French are taught by well qualified Specialist teachers. Due to Ministry of Education regulations in the United Arab Emirates Religious Education is not taught.

Children are assessed at entry to the school and on an ongoing basis throughout the year. Mid year and end of year assessments enable children's progress to be carefully tracked, ensuring every child reaches his/her potential. Parents receice an overview of the curriculum topics in September every year.

English	Top of Page

The school follows the National Literacy strategy for English. All children have a one hour lesson per day of Literacy as well as extra extended writing on a weekly basis.

Children are encouraged to develop their speaking and listening, reading, writing, spelling and handwriting skills to the highest standard possible in each year group.

Additional support is offered to children working at or below the average for their year group through ELS (Year 1) ALS (Year 3 and 4) or FLS (Year 5) programmes. Literacy booster groups offer small group support for children in years 5 and 6 while covering similar work to their peers.

Mathematics	Top of Page

The school follows the National Numeracy Strategy for England. All children have a one hour lesson per day of Numeracy.

A recent drive on improving children's Mental Mathematics has enabled staff to share good practice on teaching specific strategies.

Setting in Mathematics starts in Year 3 with additional teachers to enable groups to be smaller.
Our gifted and talented programme includes a most able Mathematics group being identified in every year group. This group has an additional lesson every week with the Deputy Head Teacher.

Science	Top of Page

The school follows the QCA Scheme for science. Investigative Science is of major importance in ensuring children have thorough understanding of scientific processes.

Children learn to observe, plan, predict, measure and evaluate through practical activities and become aware of what constitutes a fair test.

Design and Technology (DT)	Top of Page

All children are given the opportunity to design and make objects. We have a wide range of construction materials, wood, tools, textiles, and artists' media. We aim to teach the appropriate design and construction skills, and rules of safety, at all levels in a cross curricular way.

Design and Technology is very closely linked with science. All children are taught to plan, design, make models, test their designs, evaluate, i.e. the problem solving process.

Information and Communications Technology (ICT)	Top of Page

All children have Interactive Whiteboards in their classroom as well as networked computers at both KS1 and KS2 sites. Each Key stage has its own ICT suite and the most up-to-date software available to school. Our video cameras and digital cameras further enhance the quality of work in ICT for every child.

We aim to develop the confidence of all children in the use of information and communication technology, to enable them to take ongoing responsibility for their own learning and provide ongoing opportunities for them to decide when it is appropriate to use information technology in their work.

Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)	Top of Page

The school provides a wide range of opportunities for children to participate in PSHE. The programme starts in KS1 when the children learn about themselves as developing individuals and as members of a community. They learn the basic rules and skills for keeping themselves healthy and safe and for behaving well. They are given opportunities to show they can take some responsibility for themselves and their environment. The children learn about their own and other people's feelings and become aware of the views, needs and rights of other children and adults. As members of a class and the school community, they will develop social skills such as how to share, take turns, play, help others, resolve simple arguments and resist bullying. They begin to take an active part in the life of their school and, through a variety of educational visits, its neighbourhood.

As they get older, the children will also learn about themselves as growing and changing individuals with their own experiences and ideas. They will become more mature, independent and self-confident and learn about the wider world and the interdependence of communities within it.

Topic Work	Top of Page

This relates to the integration of those subject areas which relate time, place, society, into topics of study. Much of the work undertaken in History, Geography, Science, Art and craft may be pursued in this way within the year groups. However, these subjects are also taught separately to ensure curriculum coverage.

Music	Top of Page

The main aim in Music is to help children to gain greater enjoyment from taking part in or listening to a musical experience of sound and rhythm through listening and appraising and often participating using a range of instruments. They may also have the opportunity to participate in the Choir and Orchestra. Those who are enthusiastic may be given the opportunity to learn other instruments, such as guitar, flute, clarinet or violin, for which the school may make a charge. Music features largely in our annual productions at the School. There are opportunities for evey child to be involved in a school performance every year.

Physical Education	Top of Page

In Physical Education the children will learn to control their movement in negotiating tasks with and without apparatus, and develop a sensitive awareness to the quality of body movement. Dance will give the children the opportunity to express ideas and emotions creatively to music. In games children will develop skills in the use of their hands and feet and such equipment as balls and bats so that they can participate in a range of games that can be played alone or in teams. Swimming instruction takes place at the beginning and end of the school year for most children.
There are several Junior Department Inter-house competitions in sport, and the school participates in inter-school events, i.e. swimming, soccer, rounders, rugby and athletics.

The different areas of P.E;

• Dance
• Games
• Swimming
• Athletics
• Gymnastics

Children in Key Stage 2 have the opportunity to chose after school activities as well as the chance to try for a place on a school sports team. The school participates in all Dubai-wide events against other schools, as well as having the essential sports days and swimming galas as part of the curriculum.

French	Top of Page

French is introduced from Year 3 and the lessons are designed primarily to develop the children's listening and speaking skills. Reading and writing is included and acts as good preparation for further study during the secondary years of education. A range of visual and audio stimuli are used, and an emphasis is placed upon developing the children's confidence in speaking French.

Arabic	Top of Page

Specialist teachers present the Arabic lessons and the children follow the course as set out by the Ministry of Education, giving them an opportunity to learn about the language of the United Arab Emirates. The content of the lessons is relevant to the age of the children, with an emphasis on listening and speaking. Children learn Arabic from Year 1.

Learning Support	Top of Page

The needs of all children are identified and, with the aid of a careful differentiated planning and teaching, are generally met by the class teacher within the classroom. In certain instances it may be necessary to draw upon the expertise of our Learning Support Team. These teachers have the required expertise to assist the class teacher in planning an individual education programme for the child. If necessary, extra individual or small group support will be given to children.