Early Years:
Lower Kindergarten (2½ - 3 years)
Upper Kindergarten (3 - 4 years)
Transition (4 - 5 years)
The Early Years Department nurtures our children’s desire to learn, experiment, play and gain independence. Our curriculum is designed to develop each child’s emotional, physical, social and creative skills.
All groups apply the Early Learning Goals that are designed to improve communication, numeracy, general knowledge and personal, social and emotional development through a variety of activities and tasks.
We encourage our children to learn freely in a structured and stimulating environment. During the regular group times they are taught to listen to others and express their own ideas. We place a high emphasis on kindness, helpfulness, sharing, courtesy and respect for others.
Upper Kindergarten children will stay for a number of afternoons. This enables them to develop their Music, Art, Singing, Dance and PE skills and to be given an introduction to reading, writing and number activities.
Transition classes enjoy specialist teachers for French, Music, Dance, PE and ICT.
Infants:
Years 1 & 2 (5 - 7 years)
In Keystage 1 our children are taught within a happy and caring atmosphere in classes of around 20, each with a full-time support assistant.
We use the National Curriculum as a framework, while providing a broad and balanced learning experience for all children appropriate to their stages of development. Each child is treated as an individual and is given the opportunity to develop his or her abilities and talents to the full.
Our children enjoy learning in a friendly, family environment and are taught by their class teacher for most of the time. They benefit from specialist teachers in PE, Science, French, ICT, Music and Dance. Whole-school resources are also available, such as the ICT Suite, Dance Studio/Music Room, Art Room and superb oak-panelled Library. Classrooms are equipped with an excellent range of learning resources and there are many opportunities for creative, social and emotional development. Great importance is attached to the acquisition of social skills and we encourage respect and consideration for others.
Progress is carefully assessed and is communicated through written reports and Parents’ Evenings. We aim to foster excellent links between home and school and welcome the chance to discuss the children with their parents.
Juniors:
Years 3 - 6 (7 - 11 years)
Pupils are taught in smaller class sizes, creating a good staff-pupil ratio that is beneficial to more individualised learning. The curriculum at this level is built around the framework of the National Curriculum guidelines, which we see as just the minimum standard. We take every opportunity to exceed the national average while continuing to emphasise the development of literacy and numeracy skills. Specialist teachers continue throughout the Junior School.
We are committed to helping all pupils to do their best in an environment in which they will develop a love of learning. We increase the amount of appropriate homework assignments at this level, which enables the pupils to learn to work independently and to reinforce their understanding. The day is structured to provide a balanced mix of academic, physical and creative experiences.
Classrooms are well-equipped with an excellent range of learning resources.
The School has an inclusive sports’ programme to try to involve as many children as possible in a wide variety of sports activities. This helps children develop healthy lifestyles where teamwork and fair play are valued. The sports teams that represent Coopersale Hall School have achieved local, regional and national success.
Junior pupils develop very close relationships with their form teachers, who are responsible for their day-to-day welfare, academic progress and social development. The School Council meets regularly to represent the children’s views.
At 11+ we prepare pupils thoroughly for entrance exams for local senior schools and SATs. We are confident that they will cope successfully with life beyond Coopersale Hall School due to our outstanding preparation for a seamless transition. In recent years our Year 6 pupils have achieved an excellent record in moving on to such schools as Chigwell, Bancroft’s, Bishop’s Stortford College, Felsted, Brentwood, Forest and Haileybury.
Music and Drama
Music is encouraged throughout the School. In the Kindergarten the children begin singing lessons and have the opportunity to use a number of percussion instruments. Later on they can learn to play the recorder and as they progress there are opportunities to learn to play a range of instruments including piano, woodwind, violin, percussion and saxophone.
The school choir has been involved in various activities including carol singing for the elderly, the Christmas Tree Festival and community concerts. All classes have music lessons as part of the timetable.
Drama is used in class assemblies and as an aid to learning in other curriculum areas.
A number of productions are presented every year that involve all of the pupils. These include nativity plays and summer productions. Extra classes are offered in Speech and Drama, and L.A.M.D.A. examinations may be taken.
We aim to develop the confidence and self-assurance of all children through the use of Music and Drama in the curriculum.
Physical Education and Games
Physical Education is taught by class teachers in the Kindergarten. From the age of 4 the children have additional P.E. and games lessons that are taken by sports teachers.
Children from Kindergarten to Year 1 have dancing lessons as well as gymnastics and team games.
In the Junior School, the children participate in a wide range of sporting activities including football, cricket, hockey, netball, cross-country running, swimming, rounders, tennis, athletics and tag rugby. Dancing is offered in three extra-curricular clubs: maypole dancing, modern dance and ballroom dancing.
Inter-school matches in netball, football and rounders are arranged and we participate in local leagues and tournaments. There is a Sports Day and Swimming Gala and the younger children have their own Sports Event, to which parents are welcome. There are many opportunities for extra-curricular sporting activities including golf, gymnastics, athletics, football, netball, rounders, cross-country running and karate.
Information Communication Technology
ICT is an integral part of our broad curriculum. The School is fully equipped with the latest internet-connected, up-to-date computers in a specialist suite. Computers are used to enhance the curriculum and to access information but are not used as a substitute for the acquisition of basic literacy and numeracy skills.
Pupils are encouraged to use ICT to research, collate, analyse and present information. The computers are used to support the learning of subjects through a range of interactive software packages.