We strive to do an excellent job in teaching your child on a daily basis. To help us do this, we think carefully about the topics we choose to ensure that we can hook children in and keep them motivated to learn!
At Cedar, we have a set of attributes that we want all children to have master as they move through the school with us. They are for the pupils to be:
Considerate (kind, respectful of others, thoughtful, empathetic and tolerant)
Enthusiastic (motivated, excited to learn, willing to try, positive and curious)
Determined (know they can do it, be a problem solver, be resourceful and show ambition)
Assured (happy to be in school, confident, brave, not over reliant on adults and willing to take risks)
Resilient (not willing to give up, wanting to have another go, overcoming barrier and setbacks)
We have carefully designed and implemented our curriculum to ensure it is broad, balanced and suits the needs and interests of our children. The details of our tailored curriculum can be found here: Curriculum Policy
Reading and Phonics
At Cedar Children’s Academy we aim to provide systematic phonics teaching that gives children the best possible start in reading and writing. Our systematic phonics approach enables children to start building on their Phonic knowledge from nursery with the expectation that they will become fluent readers, having secured word recognition skills, by the end of Key Stage One. Every child in FS and KS1 receives a daily 20 minute phonics lesson which follows guidance given in ‘Letters and Sounds’. This is also extended to pupils in Year Three depending on need. Children are given the opportunity to read a wide range of stimulating and appropriate texts both in school and at home including books from the Oxford Reading Tree and Phonics Club books published by Pearson.
As a Thinking School, we believe that cognitive education is vital for pupils to confidently solve problems and apply their learning across the curriculum and in the wider world. We have a responsibility to make sure our pupils are fully able to make the most of their time in school and beyond. We do this by providing secure foundations and support systems on which pupils can structure their thinking in any given situation. In a Thinking School, pupils learn that no idea is a wrong and everybody’s contribution is equally valued. We are currently in the process of working towards becoming and Accredited Thinking School.
More information is available here http://www.thinkingschoolsinternational.com/
Teachers and TAs have been trained to use David Hyerles 8 thinking maps. These are visual teaching tools that foster and encourage lifelong learning. Each map is for a particular thought process and having such visual representations enables our children to make sense of abstract concepts and remember information more effectively.
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More information is available here http://thinkingmaps.com/why-thinking-maps-2/
Teachers and TAs have been trained in the use of Tony Ryan’s “Thinkers Keys”. Thinker’s keys are used to foster creative thinking which is important as it strengthens our ability to cope with change.
6 Thinking Hats
Teachers and TAs have been trained in the use of De Bono’s “6 Thinking Hats”. They are a tool that enables children to structure their thinking by using one type of thinking at a time.
Habits of Mind
Art Costa’s Habits of Mind are an identified set of 16 problem solving, life related skills, necessary to effectively operate in society and promote strategic reasoning, insightfulness, perseverance and creativity. We have turned these habits in to “The 6 Seeds of Cedar” after working collaboratively with The Victory Academy:
- Managing impulsivity
- Listening with understanding and empathy
- Questioning and posing problems
- Applying past knowledge to new situations
- Taking responsible risks
Religious Education and Collective Worship
We follow the Medway agreed syllabus for R.E. Children learn about the beliefs of the world’s major religions through studying artefacts, places of worship, core values and festivals. A daily act of collective worship is held at school. We aim to open the children’s eyes to understand the rights and responsibilities they have, to act with tolerance and understanding and to appreciate the advantaged of diversity. The Education Act gives parents/carers the right to withdraw their child from R.E. and Collective Worship. Please contact the Headteacher, if you wish to withdraw your child.
Please click on the links in the menu for each year group to see what is being covered this year.
Details of what we are required to teach are in the National Curriculum.