Junior School

Set in its own secure grounds adjacent to the Senior School, the Junior School benefits from all the facilities offered at senior level. The pupils have plenty of outdoor space to call their own; to develop their creative play and tree climbing skills.

The Junior School offers a mainstream environment that allows all its pupils to thrive. For those children with Specific Learning Difficulties there is specialist support, with staff that are trained to teach children with dyslexia.

Staff Members

 

 

Classes and Curriculum

There is a maximum class size of 12 and this ratio is reduced further in English and Mathematics lessons to 1:6. Such small numbers create a nurturing environment where all children are cared for and understood.

Our curriculum is tailored to meet each child’s needs allowing the high achieving child to reach their age expected levels and above but also providing opportunity for children with gaps in their learning to fill these before moving on to their next objectives. There is a drive to take learning ‘outside of the classroom’ and, where possible, this is included in our schemes of work.

The core subjects are taught in the mornings meaning that the children are at their most alert and also that they can look forward to the afternoon activities where they will rarely need a pencil.

Click here for an example timetable in Junior School   Year 5 Weekly  (PDF)

Bredon Junior School assesses children in order to provide for their unique learning profile; not so that they can be pressured into achieving certain scores.

Pupils within the Junior School do not complete end of year exams or SATS testing as this has been shown to contribute to anxiety for some children in the past.

Extra Support

All extra support lessons, referred to as SLS (Specialist Learning Support), are taught by staff who are qualified at SpLD Level 5 or above, and who have years of experience working with children with various levels of needs and differing processing speeds and styles. SLS staff join children in lessons to ensure that the support outside the classrooms coincides with that offered inside the classroom.

Speech and Language Therapy is also available onsite and the team works closely with our staff; helping to address each child’s specific needs.

Software and Learning Support Aids

The School uses dyslexia-specific programs such as Alpha to Omega and Nessy Learning.

There has also been investment in programs for dyscalculia with the Addacus program being used to help with mathematics intervention.

TRUGS is being utilised to assist with reading and the School continues to invest in software to aid dyslexic pupils in the classroom. Currently, Nuance dictation software is introduced in the final year of the Junior School.

School Trips and Learning Away

All Junior School pupils in Key Stage 2 enjoy a three day residential trip, usually at an outdoor activity centre in Gloucestershire or in a neighbouring County. Activities are wide ranging including raft building, climbing and visiting historic sites. Junior School pupils also take part in local shows and events.

What Makes us Exceptional

Unlike the majority of schools, Forest School is taught in Key Stage 2. Each child gets one and a half hours of Forest School per week. These sessions help with social and team building skills as well as fine motor skills.

Bredon also has a Farm that the Juniors make use of on a weekly basis, performing tasks such as feeding, cleaning, herding and harvesting. This provides an excellent catharsis, necessary for children that have to work differently in order to process and understand situations.

Other Facilities and Benefits

Nestled closely to the Lower and Upper School our Juniors make use of the modern and up to date facilities for Woodwork, Engineering, Science, Catering and Art and Design.

In Year 6 these subjects become a more dominant part of the curriculum. By the time the Year 6 pupils are taking part in ‘Transition Day’, a taster day of what lies ahead in Year 7 in the Lower School, pupils are already familiar with the classrooms and teachers.

See our Blog for an excerpt of an article which featured in Absolutely Education magazine, Prep Edition, by Harriet Reynolds nee. Jeffreys, SpLd Level 5.