Life in all its Fullness and the Curriculum
Spirituality at Trinity
At Trinity, we aim to challenge children to think, to question, to wonder and to explore new concepts and ideas. It is our aim for children to be placed into regular situations that enable them to develop their imagination and to grow into a place where they can see different and alternative possibilities whilst striving to find new and exciting ways to understand things that they perhaps didn’t before with confidence and assurance. In this way, all learning has the aim and purpose of allowing children to be surrounded by experiences and growth that both allows them to live life to the full now and in the future. By developing and having their ideas challenged and extended they also begin to develop their understanding of other children’s views and beliefs and to learn how to treat them with empathy and respect.
Throughout our worship planning we focus on what it means to be a servant, to serve Jesus, the people around us and the world, which really encourages children to develop their love and compassion of other people and to develop an understanding of the impact they can have. Have a look at the courageous advocacy page to see some of the inspiring things our children choose to do in service of others.
English
Life in All its Fullness at Trinity in English is creating an environment where all children develop a passion for reading, writing and language.
Our children really love to read, and the fabulous range of books in our classrooms and libraries offer them lots of opportunities to do this. The texts available to the children inspire a sense of awe, from immersion into the wider world around them whether that’s through digital texts or in print. They even have books to read on the playground and often use the outdoors to read alone or share a book with a friend. We use books and poems as a focus for lots of our English work and this really enthuses our children to get ‘inside’ books and characters and write for a purpose. Children are surrounded by a variety of authors and experiences that build their knowledge of the literary world, and enable them to marvel at the way the wonders around them can be captured in written or spoken form. For example, children might investigate a ‘crime scene’ in ‘The Three Bears’ House after Goldilocks entered without permission, then write a report for the police; they may write a Wanted poster after the ‘Evil Pea’ has been up to mischief in the classrooms; they may create a Powerpoint presentation full of facts about The Victorians after reading non-fiction texts. Children also invent their own characters whilst composing an Egyptian adventure story; they may create their own poems about legends after studying Beowulf and The Vikings; they might also design their own mythical creature and use this within their own plot for a Greek myth; they have the opportunity to create and publish an app all about India after reading non-fiction texts to gather information. By working this way, children engage with language in a relevant way and are excited to write after sharing books in class.
Phonics is taught using the ‘Little Wandle’ materials and starts from the earliest days in Reception. Children are shown how to read words by looking at the graphemes and saying the phonemes. Our children take a phonics reading book and a sharing book to read for pleasure with a grown up at home. Children take part in Guided Reading Sessions to apply the knowledge they have learnt in phonics lessons. Outside of our phonics lessons we have opportunities for repeated practice with games and activities to make this exciting. The children can often be found outside writing in chalk on the playground or choosing to write letters and cards for their friends.
Our children have the chance to take part in exciting enhancements to our English Curriculum. The residents at the local Retirement Village and Nursery children love it when our children visit to read with them. Our ‘Poem in my Pocket Day’ gives children the chance to perform a favourite poem to anyone they meet on this fun day and our Word Whiz Quiz celebrates vocabulary that the children use in their learning.
Our children get plenty of opportunities to perform and talk aloud to others. This may be performing a weather report they have written as part of their Science work and filming this using our ‘green screen’ facility; they may write and perform a descriptive Autumn poem; they could use role play to communicate how Jesus felt at key moments in his life, argue their case in a class debate, or present evidence in a ‘CSI’ style crime investigation. This performance work encourages our children to become more confident and effective communicators and by learning in an immersive way helps to bring literature and the everyday world to life for children.
Maths
Life In All Its Fullness In Mathematics At Trinity Is…
Focused on ensuring that children understand that Mathematics is an integral part of everyday life, not just something to be used in the classroom. We offer a wide and varied range of immersive opportunities enabling children to make links between and across a whole network of concepts and relationships. This builds throughout their school life, helping them to make sense of the ever-changing world around them. Regularly using the outdoor spaces offers practical and engaging problem solving opportunities; hunting for shapes in nature, orienteering solving mathematical clues, working out how to calculate the area and perimeter of the school grounds and many more – often inspired by the questions the children pose themselves.
Whole school events, such as the NSPCC money day, allow us to incorporate not just the element of real-life into the lessons, but also some fun – weighing out and then making cakes, measuring and then creating delicious healthy drinks and allowing all children to experience how Mathematics is all around us.
We aim to integrate Mathematics across the curriculum, giving children the confidence to use their skills in other subject areas. They might be using co-ordinates to sew some art-work, using stopwatches and results tables to record performance in PE or ordering the dates of important historic events. We help children to develop a love of Maths, enabling them to build resilience and perseverance and feel a sense of accomplishment when they solve a tricky problem. All of these opportunities allow us to challenge and support all children throughout their learning journey, building their confidence and enabling them to reach their fullest potential.
RE
At Trinity, life in all its fullness in Religious Education is providing the children with everyday examples of God’s work in all that we do. We give priority to the values of love, forgiveness, reconciliation, justice, compassion and faith; words that you will see on the walls throughout our school corridors.
The children at Trinity regularly attend vibrant school worships for special events in school and the Christian calendar. The children themselves lead our whole school celebrations for Harvest, Christmas and Easter. These occasions allow staff, pupils and parents alike to join together and celebrate these important feast days.
We invite the children to attend extra-curricular clubs focussing on exploring their religious beliefs. We have worship helpers at both KS1 and KS2. These children help choose the readings, music and prayers shared in our daily worship. We also aim provide children with the opportunity to attend Connect Club after school, this is led by the local church. Throughout all year groups at Trinity, children also have the opportunity to take part in Life Path days led by visitors from the church. They explore the word and teachings of The Bible through role play, crafts, engaging games and even taking part in secret missions!
We also explore the lives of people of different faiths. Our children are exposed to the beliefs and celebrations of our neighbouring Jewish, Sikh and Muslim communities. There are opportunities to explore the beliefs of other children within our Community Cohesion activities. Throughout all of this, children are taught to question, to think, to challenge their ideas, to listen to and respect the ideas and beliefs of others. If given the opportunity to learn and experience, to marvel about concepts that are much bigger than their own previous understanding children begin to develop their spirituality.
Through every aspect of our RE teaching, is the understanding that Jesus came so that we could live life to the full and that happens when we experience, when faced with moments of wonder and situations that make us see things from new and exciting perspectives we begin to really understand what it means to live in His world, and to live it to the full.
Art
Computing
Life in All its Fullness at Trinity in Computing is ensuring that we equip our children with vital computing skills, as they develop as 21st century digital natives. We inspire and encourage our children to use their Computing skills through all aspects of their learning. At Trinity, all children have the opportunity to access an abundance of up to date devices and technologies which they can use to adapt, apply and develop their computing skills as they learn across all of our exciting, broad curriculum areas.
At Trinity our children understand how to use technology as a ‘tool for learning;’ they are taught how to use computing resources effectively, creatively and efficiently, to design, organise and present information effectively, in many different forms for specific purposes. For example, they may use Green Screen through an iPad app to create a News Report in English; create a piece of original music using digital recording equipment; record the results of their science investigations, or generate a digitally manipulated masterpiece in art. They learn to do this with independence; understanding when it will further enhance their learning, and allows their imaginations to take them on unlimited adventures beyond the classroom setting.
Our evolving computing curriculum develops our children’s programming and logical reasoning skills to ensure that they can problem solve, using technology to their advantage. Children are also given many opportunities to use technology to collaborate and communicate effectively with not only each other, but with the wider school and global community. They are encouraged to produce content and publish vlogs, or build and publish their own apps linked to their topic work. We also offer the opportunity to work on their coding skills through our extra-curricular Coding Club.
We place an extremely high focus on keeping our children safe whilst using technology and Online Safety is taught regularly alongside our computing curriculum. This progressively links to our PSHE curriculum, offering children opportunities to explore how to use technologies safely, respectfully and responsibly.
Computing allows pupils to explore the global horizons of opportunity and possibility; to marvel at how technology can be used as a force for greater good. To connect with our neighbours on a global scale, to join worldwide communities together, to celebrate successes and create a compassionate global community.
Design and Technology
Life in All its Fullness at Trinity in Design and Technology is a celebration of the creativity and imagination needed to solve real and relevant problems in our everyday lives. Through a wide variety of experiences, we aim to broaden the children’s understanding of the world around us, through evaluating past and present technology and its impact on daily life. Children will draw on cross curricular learning, specifically maths, science, computing and art to support their innovative ideas and become avid risk takers, creating prototypes of their designs.
To ensure children have the complete understanding of the process involved in design and technology, four key areas are taught throughout every year group; design, make, evaluate and technical knowledge. During the design phase, children are encouraged to use research to develop an innovative design for a specific purpose. In the making phase, children are encouraged to select the resources and equipment they will need to make their design and perform a range of practical tasks; for example, cutting and joining material in different ways. After the children have made their prototype, they will then evaluate their prototype, comparing it with other products and how they could improve it further. They will then attempt to improve their product in the technical knowledge stage.
Throughout each key stage at Trinity children will participate in a variety of food technology activities, starting in KS1 with simple cutting of fruit and vegetables, to making an Indian themed meal in upper KS2. They will learn a variety of sewing techniques in order to develop their understanding of how material can be joined in different ways and for different purposes. Children will deepen their understanding of the mechanisms of pulleys, levers and linkages, making them operative in KS2 by adding electrical systems or using computing to control their prototype. Children will also explore different structures and evaluate how to strengthen structures, leading to building a structure by joining and cutting wood.
It is our intention at Trinity that, through the range of practical opportunities provided to our pupils and the engaging methods in which they are delivered, we can develop the range of skills each child will need to lead a successful and independent life.
Geography
Life in All its Fullness at Trinity in Geography is inspiring our children’s curiosity and fascination about the world we live in while developing their sense of place.
Our teaching of geography enables all of our pupils to experience, explore and investigate the world around them. In KS1, children will explore our local community and the UK through observing the features of the environment in and around our school. This fieldwork will continue in KS2 as children compare locations and landscapes, exploring physical and human features in more depth.
We ensure children have access to a variety of world maps including; globes, atlas’s, ordinance survey maps and digital maps to enhance their learning experiences.
Our children are provided with a wealth of opportunities to experience “Life in all its fullness” by taking part in extra-curricular activities and clubs. We provide themed days across the whole school help to immerse children in real life purposeful learning. Including direct cross-curricular links in particular with both History and Science. We are focused on giving our children the opportunity to explore a diverse range of communities and places and to learn about some of the world’s most significant physical and human geographical features. By developing children’s appreciation and fostering their interest in the amazing natural and human creations around the world, children are able to develop spiritually, understanding their place in the world on this large scale.
We motivate our children to think like geographers, research roles in this field and inspire them to want to be an expert in their chosen field.
Our geography curriculum provides our children with awe and wonder and encourages them to ask questions to seek knowledge on their own. Inspiring our children in this way encourages life long learning and makes learning memorable.
History
Life in All its Fullness at Trinity in History is stimulating the children’s interest and curiosity about the past in Britain and the wider world. We enable children to think as historians and investigate history in their own lives and family. Children will do this through role-play, to experience life as … a Roman, a Tudor, a Victorian and more! They will have opportunities for hands on investigation with artefacts, encouraging the development of enquiry skills. They will also use other primary and secondary sources, including text, photographs and digital media. Expert visitors in every year group, for at least one Historical topic, provide rich opportunities for children to deepen their knowledge and understanding - and often include dressing up and practical interaction with objects and artefacts. While at Trinity, children will participate in many educational visits to a variety of locations linked to the historical topics they are studying, such as museums and ‘experience’ days. They will take part in ‘theme days’ to truly immerse themselves in the period they are studying, often being introduced to food, music, art and religions from other cultures throughout world history. Children also learn from each other, with homework tasks to explore their own family history being shared enthusiastically in class.
By making connections through history, they can truly understand their place in time. The nature of learning about our place in history leads to children being amazed, challenged and encouraged to explore their own ideas, beliefs and to consider those of other people. By developing their ability to articulate their own thoughts and feelings whilst developing their empathy to consider the ideas of others, children grow in their spirituality.
MFL
Life in All its Fullness at Trinity in Modern Foreign Languages is developing active and engaging learning to develop a lifelong love for languages. During EYFS and KS1, there are opportunities for children to start learning about other cultures and languages from the start of their school journey. This will develop a sense of cultural awareness and acceptance within children, helping them to grow into well rounded individuals who are aware of differences in society.
From Key Stage 2, French lessons also become a part of the curriculum. Using their language skills already developed through English lessons, children apply these tools to progress in their listening, speaking, reading and writing. Each year group delves into three topic-based units, with lessons often including interactive elements such as games and songs to engage children as learners and embed new vocabulary. Through each unit, children encounter new grammatical concepts that can be applied into their writing, as well as phonetic sounds that give them a greater command of the spoken language.
From the children’s experience of Modern Foreign Languages at Trinity, we aim to provide them with a solid foundation of language skills, which they can build on and develop after they leave. We want children to enjoy language learning and use this as a lifelong tool to enable them to accept and understand people from different cultures around the world.
Spiritual development in MFL is central to the learning at Trinity as the children are taught to embrace other cultures through the teaching of MFL. This supports spiritual development as it embeds in children that we must accept and respect people of other cultures and other religions. Having discussions and developing awareness of religious and spiritual beliefs within French speaking countries also builds on acceptance and empathetic awareness.
The spiritual development of children is also taught through the exploration of emotions during language learning; children are given the opportunity to work in groups and they are given the opportunity to use their imagination and creativity. The teaching of MFL promotes self-esteem by developing confidence in children. Pupils are encouraged to try new things, including performing in front of others. This promotes peer support and appreciation within the classroom which enables the children to learn to love and respect for one another.
Science
PSHE
Accordion content
PE
Life in all its fullness at Trinity in PE is teaching our children a range of fundamental skills that will enable them to access and enjoy participating in broad range of sporting activities.
We also recognise the importance in this rapidly changing world of helping children to develop a love of being physically active and their understanding of why physical activity is important.
Our children are encouraged and provided with opportunities to participate in a wide range of physical activity throughout their time at Trinity: taking part in curriculum PE, learning to swim, running the Daily Mile, learning to ride scooters and bikes safely in the local community and experiencing outdoor activities in a number of settings.
A range of extra-curricular clubs give children a chance to further express their sporting talents and interests, allowing these skills to develop and providing a stage to showcase them. Children are also given the opportunity to experience activities that might not be readily available such as fencing and cheer leading.
Children are also able to learn resilience, competiveness and communication skills through inter and intra school competitions and events with children representing the school and competing against other local schools in a range of activities including: football, tag rugby, netball, tennis, sportshall athletics, tri golf, cricket and many other sports.
The PE curriculum is supported by our ‘Commando Joe’s’ programme which builds on effective teamwork, communication skills, cooperation and the development of character values.
Children at Trinity love to be active and thankfully we are blessed with an extensive range of resources to facilitate this. PE equipment for lessons is regularly updated and children are given access to variety of playground equipment to use at break times including: trim trails, outdoor play equipment, multi-use games area and large grassed and tarmacked areas.
Music