Enrichment

All Saints CE Junior Academy

 

50 things to do before you’re 11¾

At All Saints CE Junior Academy, our enrichment opportunities bring learning to life. Our ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ programme complements every area of the curriculum, broadening children’s knowledge and experiences. From reading a great book and watching a traditional pantomime to trying a new sport and visiting a gallery, these experiences help children discover the richness of the world around them. We track participation across the school so that every child can access as many opportunities as possible during their time with us.

 

Music

 

Music is an important part of life at our school. Children sing regularly during collective worship, exploring religious and secular music to deepen their understanding of our values. Weekly music lessons use Charanga to encourage active participation through singing and playing instruments.

In Year 5, the school funds expert instrumental tuition for every child throughout the academic year, currently on the ukulele. Children also have opportunities to perform for others, including families and the wider community.

Our music clubs include singing, samba band and music production. These take place after school, and we also aim to offer opportunities during the school day. Children can choose additional instrumental lessons, with keyboard, violin, guitar and tuba currently taught during school hours. Please contact the school office to find out more. Support is available for interested children who are eligible for free school meals.

Art

Art helps children explore ideas, express themselves and discover different ways of seeing the world. During collective worship, we share religious and secular images to deepen our understanding of our values. We also use art to enrich learning in subjects such as history, English and religious education (RE).

Art is usually taught weekly using AccessArt, encouraging practical participation and an appreciation of living artists. Children explore a range of art forms and materials, and their work is often shared through ClassDojo or gallery-style events. Weekly art clubs run across the year, with some places offered first to children who may benefit from additional support.

 

Drama and dance

Every child has the opportunity to contribute to two school productions during their time with us: a Nativity in Year 3 and an abridged Shakespeare production in Year 5, linked to learning about the Tudors. Children who prefer not to perform on stage take on production roles, discovering what it takes to bring a performance to life.

As part of our ‘50 things’ commitment, all children attend a pantomime during their time at the school. Opportunities to choreograph and dance are woven into the curriculum. Children who may benefit from additional support also have opportunities to learn and perform a musical theatre production, supported by West End singing and choreography experts.

We also use drama in subjects such as history, English and personal development to explore motivations and deepen children’s understanding.

Oracy: speaking and listening

 

We believe that speaking confidently and listening carefully are valuable skills for life. Talk enriches our lessons and helps children broaden and deepen their knowledge. Children learn to listen actively and respond respectfully by agreeing with, building on or challenging an idea. They use A, B and C hand signals to show how they would like to contribute, helping to keep discussions purposeful and inclusive.

We provide sentence starters to help children explain their thinking and take part in high-quality discussions. First introduced through Destination Reader, our approach to reading, these are developed and used across the curriculum.

Through our work with Oracy 21, we have mapped opportunities for speaking and listening across the curriculum, helping staff make the most of talk in every subject and throughout school life.

Sport and physical education

 

Children have two physical education (PE) sessions each week, exploring two different activities, such as football and gymnastics. Our after-school sports clubs offer further opportunities to try a wide range of activities, from archery to basketball, and aim to engage all pupils.

Through our local PE partnership, children can take part in inter-school competitions and events throughout the year. These experiences encourage participation and provide opportunities to progress in their chosen sports.

OPAL play

Working with OPAL play, we are developing playtimes that encourage children to explore, create and make their own choices. Alongside fixed equipment and play areas, we use ‘loose parts’: movable materials that children can combine and use in different ways. This approach encourages active participation, builds resilience and helps children learn to assess risks. Children are encouraged to use equipment safely and creatively, putting our school values into practice through play.

 

A love of reading

Books are part of the fabric of our school. We love reading and want every child to enjoy high-quality texts across the curriculum. From books that spark discussions in personal development to fiction and non-fiction that bring history to life, we use reading to deepen learning wherever we can. We choose books that broaden children’s cultural horizons and reflect the world we live in. We continually refresh and develop our book collection, sharing our love of reading with children throughout their time at All Saints.