At The Beacon, we foster a life-long love of learning and curiosity in our boys and girls by offering a broad and varied programme of study with inspiring topics.
Bespoke learning plans are developed per child around the following seven areas of learning and development:
Literacy lessons are scheduled daily. All our teachers in Early Years are trained in Read Write Inc. Phonics, which teaches children to read accurately and fluently with good comprehension and how to form letters, spell correctly and compose their ideas step-by-step.
Through fun and engaging games and activities, we encourage children to build an interest in Maths, numeracy and problem-solving.
Our White Rose Scheme helps Reception boys and girls build a deep understanding of Maths concepts, while sparking excitement and promote confidence in Maths. They start to learn basic mathematical language and develop their learning of numbers, shapes and measuring.
Specialist weekly lessons in French are taught to our Reception boys and girls using Makaton as a learning tool. This unique communication programme uses symbols, signs and speech to ensure lessons are informative and fun, including storytelling and other fun activities such as games, singing and dancing.
Weekly swimming lessons in our heated covered swimming pool focus on teaching children in Reception to build confidence and ability in water. Lessons are tailored to each child’s individual ability, using a variety of inflatables and floats to ensure the lessons are fun and engaging!
In Games and PE, children in Reception practise and develop fundamental movement skills (FMS) including speed, agility and quickness (SAQ). They also take part in swimming and gymnastics, focusing on balances, rolls and locomotion. During Games lessons they take part in rugby, football and cricket during each term. The Summer Term includes athletic events and preparation for Sports Day which is held on Willsfield.
In Reception, children build on their foundational love for music through more structured exploration of sound and rhythm. Using instruments, voice, and movement, they experiment with dynamics, tempo, and pitch. Group activities encourage teamwork and introduce them to simple musical patterns and sequences, fostering creativity and confidence in expressing themselves musically.
All our Beacon Boys and Girls from Nursery upwards have the opportunity to develop their acting and performance skills through both class Drama with our specialist teachers, workshops and productions.
Productions include the Harvest Festival and Christmas Nativity performed in the Spinney Theatre.
There is a dedicated woodland nature area that our Pre-Prep children visit for their Outdoor Learning lessons.
Children in Reception develop basic skills of using ICT equipment during classroom lessons, such as programming bee-bots and using apps on iPads and our digital screen.
Chef Dino runs Taste Buddy sessions and interactive workshops for children in Early Years, where they get to explore new food and learn the basics of cooking.
Group cookery sessions are also held in class to encourage boys and girls to get creative with cooking. The tasting of each session is the best bit!
Our Pre-Prep Library is a welcoming and colourful space where our young pupils are encouraged to browse and select age appropriate texts. Various Beacon staff members around the school volunteer to hold regular storytelling sessions for children to enjoy.
Each half term, our children in Reception enjoy experiential learning around specific topics, such as bears or Mr Men stories. These act as a focal point for educational activities across lessons. Often, to celebrate topic learning, pupils and staff engage in themed days where they dress up and get creative with fun and inspiring activities.
