EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE
(Preschool and Reception)

In Early Years our focus is to develop independent play based learning by providing a stimulating environment for your child to experience new things, challenge their thinking and most importantly be happy.

We have seven areas of learning in Early Years to help your child explore new activities, investigate sensory play, create artistic drawings or collages, construct objects using a variety of physical materials all while extending their social skills by sharing as well as adopting and applying new language to establish their friendships. We place great emphasis on cultivating a child-centred approach to enable your child to grow and exceed in their own way.

BEST PRESCHOOL CURRICULUM IN WAKRA

DBS Al Wakra campus is the best preschool in Wakra consisting of a two-year programme (Preschool and Reception) following the EYFS (early years foundation stage) curriculum of England and Wales.

Children are given a range of experiences that work towards them attaining the 17 Early Learning Goals by the time they reach age 5. Young children develop at very different rates and it is not expected that children will attain these goals in chronological order. The Early Years classes are organized so that children are provided with opportunities to achieve all of these goals. Some activities are planned and delivered as a whole class and other small group, focused activities take place according to the children’s individual needs and abilities.

Each child will have a Learning Journey that follows them throughout the EYFS. This details what they are interested in, how they are learning and how we can develop this further.

SEVEN AREAS OF LEARNING

There are seven areas of learning and development that shape the international primary school curriculum:

Communication and Language

Communication and Language

We give children opportunities to experience a rich language environment, to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves and to speak and listen in a range of situations.

We offer Arabic lessons to native Arabic speakers and teach Spanish as a second language to all other children. These sessions are led by specialist language teachers who use play, songs and practical activities.

For children who are learning English as a second language we will also offer small group language support.

Physical Development

We work to develop skills of control, coordination, manipulation and movement. This helps children gain confidence in what they can do and enables them to feel the positive benefits of being healthy and active.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

We support children to develop social skills, a positive sense of themselves, and how to manage their feelings. Through role play and stories we initiate discussion and opportunities for the children to understand their emotions and feelings.

Literacy

We encourage children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. They have access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest together with having the confidence, opportunity, encouragement, support and disposition to use them. We aim to foster a love of language and reading by sharing books and reading to the children as often as we can throughout the session or day.

We have daily phonics sessions where we use a multi-sensory approach following the Letters and Sounds programme.

Mathematics

We provide opportunities to develop and improve children’s skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems and to describe shapes, spaces, and measures. This understanding is developed through stories, songs, problem solving, games and imaginative play, so that children can enjoy using and experimenting with numbers.

Understanding of The World

This involves guiding children to make sense of their world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.

Expressive Arts and Design

We enable children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology.

KEY STAGE ONE
(Years 1 and 2)

At DBS Wakra we recognise that Key Stage 1 is a crucial stage of development for children as they transition from a play based style of learning to a more structured environment.

In Key Stage 1 children will learn to consolidate their phonetics skills in order to have strong foundations in both reading and writing, the key to so much more. In addition to this they will develop their understanding of taught spelling patterns, grammar and punctuation. Children will learn confidence in number through concrete, pictorial and abstract methods of teaching and increase their understanding of the world through our knowledge based curriculum. As teachers we provide children with memorable, fun, engaging and exciting learning opportunities at all times.

“What we learn with pleasure, we never forget.”

Pupils spend a majority of their day with the class teacher covering core subjects such as English, Maths, IT and Science. Subjects including Physical Education (PE), Music and Languages
(Arabic and Spanish) are taught by subject specialists.

ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING IN KS1

Assessment in lower primary takes place through a combination of formative and summative assessment. Teachers will carry out ongoing assessments through quizzes, weekly spelling tests, end of unit maths and English tests. Teachers use this on-going process to build a complete picture of what children know and are able to do well and where they need to go next. This progress is carefully tracked and monitored to ensure all children are receiving the support or challenge they need.

We provide our parents with curriculum overviews and knowledge organisers that can be used for on-going practice and review.

The phonics screening test is carried out at the end of Year 1 and a SPAG test (spelling, grammar and punctuation) is carried out at the end of Year 2.

Standardised testing in English and Maths takes place at the end of the academic year. These standardised tests produced by GL Assessment are externally marked and provide valuable attainment and progress data. Attainment and progress are reported to parents in termly interim reports and a full end of year report.

KEY STAGE TWO
(Years 3, 4, 5 and 6)

At DBS Wakra in Key Stage 2, our teachers are at the cutting edge of educational practice. A challenging, stimulating and engaging knowledge-based British curriculum guides pupils on a journey to enable them to become well-rounded global citizens.

Children in Key Stage 2 work to expand their knowledge of the English Language by learning spelling, punctuation and grammar. They will explore high-quality texts to write different genres for a range of audiences. At this stage, most children will be really taking off with their reading, and the emphasis is now on your child reading longer books while increasing in fluency and speed. They will use reading and comprehension to explore and experience new vocabulary, using what they know about phonics and word structure to read unfamiliar words, they will develop understanding, be able to make inferences and think about how and why a writer writes.

Pupils spend a majority of their day with the class teacher covering core subjects such as English, Maths, IT and Science. Subjects including Physical Education (PE), Music and Languages
(Arabic and Spanish) are taught by subject specialists.

ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING IN KS2

Assessment in upper Primary takes place through a combination of formative and summative assessment. Teachers will carry out ongoing assessments through quizzes, weekly spelling tests, end of unit maths and English tests. Teachers use this on-going process to build a complete picture of what children know and are able to do well and where they need to go next. This progress is carefully tracked and monitored to ensure all children are receiving the support or challenge they need.

We provide our parents with curriculum overviews and knowledge organisers that can be used for on-going practice and review.

Standardised testing in English and Maths takes place at the end of the academic year. These standardised tests produced by GL Assessment are externally marked and provide valuable attainment and progress data. Attainment and progress are reported to parents in termly interim reports and a full end of year report.