Learning Enquiries

Our learning enquiries progress from Early Years until the end of Key Stage 2.

• Child initiated enquiries: EY
• Teacher initiated enquires: Year 1
• Subject initiated enquiries: Year 2
• Subject specific enquiries: KS2

Child initiated enquiries: Early Years

At Sedgefield Hardwick our play based provision, and child initiated enquiries, aim to ensure that all pupils:

• are considered unique with their emerging needs identified and supported through a Personalised Pathway
• form positive relationships with adults and peers
• have access to a rich indoor and outdoor learning environment 
• are supported by skilled adults who teach new knowledge and skills through a balance of facilitative and instructional teaching styles
• are immersed in a language rich environment where they feel safe and secure

For more information about our Early Years curriculum, please click here.

Teacher initiated enquiries: Year 1

Traditionally children have been taught subjects in isolation. We do not believe, and evidence supports, that this is not the most effective approach to teaching young pupils to learn. Instead, we are using a cross curricular approach to teach some subjects (Science, Art & Design, Design & Technology, Geography, History and Computing). This is known as Enquiry Based Learning and it is similar to the way in which reception children are taught but with more adult direction and guidance. Learning through teacher initiated enquiry can be thought of as ‘Topic’ teaching but there are three important elements which make it different and more appropriate for younger children.  

• All children contribute to an enquiry, regardless of their abilities, no-one is excluded.
• Enquiries promote learning through first-hand experiences which is the most effective way of teaching young children.
• Enquiries give children greater ownership of their learning which makes them more invested in it.

Each enquiry will take around 5 to 7 weeks to finish and ends with a celebration of what they have learnt. Parents and carers can expect an invitation to every end of enquiry celebration. We call these our Exhibitions of Learning. Evidence of learning will now be captured as shown below.

Subject initiated enquiries: Year 2

In Year 2, three subjects are grouped together – Science, Art/DT, History/Geography – and are taught discretely at the beginning of the enquiry.  The enquiry develops from here by using the skills and knowledge taught to solve a real-life problem.  The enquiry will also include an educational visit or visit from an expert to help launch the enquiry and develop the pupils’ understanding.  A project brief for the Healthy Eating, Healthy Living enquiry is below:

“The Co-op have designed a reusable packed lunch container, which can be purchased and refilled with their food.  Their sales market is aimed at children between 4 and 11 and the product will be launched at their flagship stores in the UK capitals.  They need the packed lunch to be healthy – the four refillable areas in the packed lunchbox will need to satisfy the five groups on the Eatwell plate.  The Co-op would like the packed lunch to be designed and made to sell in their supermarkets. The manager from the local store will visit Year 2 soon to launch the project.  The children will use the fundamental knowledge used at ‘Instil level’ to conduct market research. In addition to this, children will design and create four sections of their packed lunchbox. Once the children have designed and created their lunch box, children will need to test their lunchbox menus. Using their analysing and evaluating skills, children will evaluate the success of their product. Finally, pupils will need to prepare a sales pitch to a representative from the Co-op to ensure the company will invest in their product.”

Subject specific enquiries: KS2

In KS2, teachers are allocated to specific subject areas:

• The Lab: Science

• The Orb: History & Geography

• The Hive: Computing

• The Studio: Art & DT

These multi- purpose learning spaces have been created to accommodate:

• Core curriculum teaching
• Specialist curriculum teaching
• Extended school activities

All learning spaces also:

• have open access to resources; 
• are underpinned by digital technology;
• display progressive end point vocabulary; 
• are identical in layout.

Lessons in the zones are taught in 3 week blocks with 3 afternoons per week being dedicated to single subject teaching.  Lessons move through the Instil, Inspire, Innovate model over the 3 week block.  This allows subject content to be taught in depth, ensuring formative assessment in every lesson was strong.  This can be acted upon with the consequence being better opportunities for pupils to produce work of greater quality.