EARLY YEARS
Developing the whole child
The happiness and well-being of your child is of paramount importance to us. We strive to provide an environment where your child feels comfortable and safe and is, therefore, able to gain the most rewarding school experience possible.
A full-time qualified teacher is in charge of each class, aided by a full-time qualified assistant, where the children are able to have individual attention and can be taught in small groups.
The staff get to know each child well during the daily routine and are able to offer guidance and support where needed. The children are nurtured and cared for so that a very special bond is formed throughout the year.
We monitor the progress of each child closely, paying particular attention to helping any child experiencing difficulties and extending those who are more able. If any specific needs are identified they are discussed with parents and an individual support programme is put in place whenever necessary.
Hurlingham School has a purposeful atmosphere which permeates each class. Our belief is that children should be exposed to a broad and exciting curriculum. We enrich and enhance each and every school day to make it as broad, interesting and challenging as possible. We also encourage each child to explore topics of special interest to them.
In Reception your child will be expected to gain all the Early Learning Goals in the Foundation Stage Profile, which encompasses six areas of learning.
Personal, social and emotional development covers confidence, hygiene, independence, respect and cultural awareness.
Communication, language and literacy develops your child’s verbal communication skills through discussions, conversations and role-play in small and large groups. In turn, this develops effective listening skills. Reading ranges from recognising their own name and letters of the alphabet, to developing a love of books through sharing stories, rhymes and poems. We undertake a very structured and intense phonics programme at Hurlingham School, with special emphasis on sound recognition from the day the children start with us. Writing covers letter formation, copying of teacher’s writing and using phrases independently to form sentences in free writing.
Problem solving, reasoning and numeracy involves being able to count, recognise and compare numbers and an understanding of mathematical language.
Knowledge and understanding of the world encourages the development of an enquiring mind and the exploration of living things and objects both natural and man-made. The children are also exposed to information technology in the form of computers, interactive white boards, programmable toys, cd players, voice recorders and digital cameras.
Physical development ranges from control and co-ordination in movement to manipulation of buttons and buckles. It also includes developing an awareness of the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle. Hurlingham School offers both indoor and outdoor opportunites for physical activities. The children have a gym lesson once a week in the well equipped hall, where they are taught many skills such as balance, climbing, control and spatial awareness. The agility lessons are done using fixed apparatus and floor work. The talented sporting staff take the children for sports lessons twice a week in the playground, teaching the children a range of ball skills, hockey, tennis, football, throwing and catching, dribbling and hitting. Once a week, children can also choose to learn ballet or karate.
Creative Development allows children to express their ideas, feelings and preferences with all their senses.
