National Curriculum

Subjects taught in line with the National Curriculum include:

• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• Design and Technology
• History
• Geography
• Art and Design
• Music
• Physical Education (PE) (including swimming in Years 5 & 6)
• Computing
• Modern foreign languages (we learn Spanish / nos aprendemos Español !)
• Religious Education
• Personal, Social and Health Education

Reading and Phonics Schemes

EYFS and Year 1

At Holden Lane Academy, we use the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised to plan and provide daily, engaging phonics lessons. In these lessons, we teach that the letters of the alphabet represent different sounds, which can be used in a variety of combinations and are put together to make words.

A range of fiction and non-fiction Big Cat Collins books, specially devised for Little Wandle teaching, are used to support early reading.

Year 2 and Key Stage 2

At Holden Lane Academy, the children develop a broad appreciation of books through various reading schemes such as Bug Club, Oxford Reading Tree, Oxford Tree Tops, Rigby Rocket, Rigby Star, Project X Phonics, Ginn New Reading 360, and Heinemann Rapid Readers. They also have access to high-quality books within their class libraries.

During whole-class reading lessons, the children read a range of fiction, non-fiction texts, and poetry to develop their skills of decoding, skimming and scanning, inference and deduction, and commenting on the use of language and authorial intent.

Personal, Social and Health Economic

Our Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) programme covers a broad range of topics to give children the knowledge and understanding they need to support them as they grow up, including how to stay healthy, how to stay safe, self-respect, and relationships education.

All subject areas covered take into account the developmental level of the class, and parents can request to withdraw their child from the sex education element of this curriculum. Please ask to speak with your child’s teacher in the first instance.

Religious and Cultural Education

Religious Education (RE) is a compulsory part of the curriculum, and the school follows the Stoke-on-Trent Local Authority scheme of work. The children have the opportunity to explore a range of religions and beliefs to encourage an understanding of the diversity and richness of other cultures. We hope that our children will develop their own values and beliefs whilst maintaining respect and appreciation for those of others.

Collective worship takes place during our school assemblies. However, parents can request for their child to be withdrawn following discussion with the Headteacher.