Our Curriculum

Learning at Vauxhall School

At Vauxhall School, we provide a rich and balanced curriculum that supports the development of the whole child. Our teaching is grounded in strong foundational skills, with opportunities for exploration, creativity, and critical thinking woven throughout each learning area. While play has a valued place in the early years, particularly for 5- and 6-year-olds, our core focus is on equipping children with essential knowledge and skills in reading, writing, and mathematics, alongside a broad and engaging curriculum.

Reading

Reading is a cornerstone of learning at Vauxhall School. From the beginning, children are supported to develop strong decoding and comprehension skills through a structured and systematic approach. We are experts at 'StrucutredLiteracy'. Structured Literacy focuses on both how we teach: explicitly, systematically and cumulatively, and what we teach: Phonemic Awareness, Orthography (the spelling system), Morphology, Vocabulary, Syntax and Grammar, giving children the skills they need to read, spell and write with confidence.

As children grow in confidence, they are encouraged to explore a wide range of texts, fostering a lifelong love of reading.

Writing

We explicitly teach the skills of writing, helping students to become effective communicators. This includes building vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Across the curriculum, children have regular opportunities to write for a range of purposes and audiences, developing both accuracy and creativity.

Mathematics

Our mathematics programme develops fluency with numbers and operations, alongside problem-solving and reasoning. We use the 'Maths No Problem' resources to support our mathematics programme delivery. 

Learning is hands-on and engaging, particularly in the early years, and becomes increasingly structured and targeted as children progress. We aim to build confidence, competence, and a positive mathematical mindset in every student.

Science and Technology

Science and technology learning at Vauxhall is inquiry-based, encouraging curiosity, questioning, and exploration. Students engage in hands-on investigations and are supported to think critically about the world around them. Digital technologies are integrated to support learning and creativity in a modern context.

The Arts

The arts are an important part of life at Vauxhall School. Children are given opportunities to express themselves through visual arts, music, dance, and drama. These experiences build confidence, foster creativity, and support emotional and social development.

Culture and Te Ao Māori

We value the diverse cultures of our students and community. Te Ao Māori and Te Reo Māori are woven throughout our curriculum, reflecting the bicultural foundation of Aotearoa New Zealand. Children learn to understand and appreciate their own culture and that of others, helping them grow as respectful, connected New Zealanders.

Social Sciences

Through social sciences, children explore how people live, work, and interact in their communities and the wider world. Learning is often linked to local contexts, helping students to understand the past, examine current events, and consider the impact of decisions on the future. The Aotearoa New Zealand histories curriculum is an important part of our Social Sciences programme.