Our staff use a wide variety of teaching methods in their classrooms. We use direct interactive whole class teaching with appropriate differentiation, as well as group and individual teaching depending on the needs of each child. Our staff are aware that children learn in a variety of ways and in their planning they ensure that visual, oral and kinaesthetic strategies are employed to access all learners.

     Class teachers keep parents informed about the curriculum their child will be following through termly newsletters.  Our newsletters also include 'tips for parents'.   These will give parents useful information about how to help your child with specific aspects of the curriculum.   An informal “meet the teacher” session is held at the beginning of each school year.   

     Our nursery is an integral part of our school and provides an exciting learning environment for children aged 3-5. We provide 60 part time places either in the morning or the afternoon. The nursery children use many of the resources within the main school and work together with teachers from P1-7 to ensure continuity, balance and progression are maintained right through the school.

     For more information about the nursery curriculum please see our separate nursery handbook  which can be obtained from our school office.

Personal, Social and Emotional Education

     We believe this to be a very important component within our curriculum. Children need to be able to build relationships and relate to others in an appropriate manner. We use a varied programme of class activities including circle time to ensure that children have opportunities to develop relationship skills, become self aware and build their self esteem

     PSE is concerned with the development of life skills which help children to grow and mature as individuals in society. Learning for PSE  permeates all areas of the curriculum at James Gillespie’s and each curricular area has a contribution to make to PSE. In addition a separate PSE programme of study is being developed for concentrating work on key issues at every stage in our school.

     Effective PSE involves a wide range of teaching strategies including outdoor excursions.

The aims of PSE are to help pupils to:

·        Have an appropriately positive regard for self, and for others;

·        Develop life skills to enable them to participate effectively and safely in society;

·        Identify, review and evaluate the values they and society hold and recognise that these values affect their thoughts and actions;

·        Take increasing responsibility for their own lives.

Pupils will also need to learn and practise processes and skills which will enable them to:

·        Look after their personal needs;

·        Work independently;

·        Participate effectively in groups;

·        Make their own decisions;

·        Assess their own abilities and capabilities.

Language including Modern Languages

     Language teaching  in school is pursued through an integrated programme of language work involving listening, speaking, reading and writing. Early reading material is based on the child’s own natural language progressing thereafter through a structured and graded reading programme.

     A heavy emphasis is placed on early reading development and an early intervention programme of support is available for children who require support with reading acquisition. We provide both fiction and information texts  for children to study and encourage children to read for pleasure with both our class library and well stocked school library.

     Children will develop the necessary knowledge and skills of spelling, handwriting, punctuation and language structure at an appropriate level to the child’s needs.

     Writing will form an important part of this development and every child will follow a programme which starts with simple stories on to different forms of writing activities. Children will be given specific criteria for each level of writing so that they understand what they are learning, what the teacher is looking for and the next steps in their development.

     Children will be given many opportunities to develop listening and talking skills. Activities such as drama and circle time will play an important role in the development of these skills.

     Children in P5 are introduced to Gaelic teaching and Primary 6 and 7 learn either French or German. We have the assistance of visiting teachers as well as staff within our own school who support the modern language programme.

Mathematics

     We use the City of Edinburgh Council ’s maths Programme of Study to deliver this area of the curriculum. This covers number, money, measurement, information handling, shape, position and movement, problem solving and enquiry.

     We aim for the children to enjoy and understand mathematical thinking, to acquire skills and develop confidence in working mathematically and to enjoy the intellectual challenges.

     Children are taught to memorise basic number facts and ensure that they develop a range of mental strategies to enable them to work out problems quickly and efficiently.

     We emphasise throughout the school that progress with mathematics must be based on understanding. Mental calculation, mental recall and memorisation strategies are carefully taught throughout the school. Children will work through the programme of study from Level A onwards. We ensure that all children work at the correct pace and challenge for them as individuals.

     Your child will use a variety of practical equipment to develop the necessary skills including the ability to estimate and measure, be able to solve problems both written and practical, read graphs and timetables, tell the time and make quick and accurate calculations. At the later stages children will be introduced to algebra. 

Social Subjects, Science and Technology

    In Social Subjects we aim to foster a desire to know more about the world we live in. Starting with the local area children are encouraged to develop skills like observation, deduction, comparison, investigation and recording. We look at People in the Past, People in Place and People in Society. We have recently reviewed and rewritten the topics associated with People in the Past. We believe that children will learn about social subjects from a variety of field trips and excursions to further their understanding of the world as well as class based activities and investigations.

     Children will also work through a structured programme of science work based on Renfrewshirse Science programme. This involves the children in practical activities as well as learning how to record observations, predictions and reports.

     Technology mini topics appear throughout each year of the school. Children investigate a variety of materials as well as designing and making models and artefacts.

Information & Communications Technology (ICT)

 Computers, laptops, digital and video cameras are used by pupils at James Gillespie’s from Nursery to Primary 7.    ICT is used to support learning and teaching in every curricular area. As well as this we teach children specific skills about ICT such as word processing, powerpoint, email and researching on the web.

     We have a computer suite which houses 32 desktop computers, a whiteboard and a data projector to enable high quality learning and teaching in ICT.

The Expressive Arts

• Art
• Drama
• Music
• Physical Education (PE)

     We have developed programmes of study in all these areas from level A – E. Class teachers deliver the majority of these lessons although we are lucky to also have visiting teachers of PE and violin, mini horn and percussion. We also have a school choir.

  Religious and Moral Education

     Our school is non- denominational ie it is open to children from all religious backgrounds. We aim to teach the children the values of tolerance and understanding of others and lead them to a mature and balanced response to moral and religious questions. We study the 3 aspects of

• Christianity
• Other World religions
• Personal search

     Our school chaplains are regular visitors to our school and support the teaching of Christianity in classes. We also have leaders from other world faiths in to speak to the children when they are studying particular religions and customs. We have recently revised and updated our programme of RME to ensure a  balanced programme from P1 –P7.

      Parents have a statutory right to withdraw their children from religious and moral education and from religious observance if they wish.   Please put this in writing to the head teacher.