Communication is central to the curriculum at JMPS  Pupils should be able to communicate in order to develop as individuals, to express themselves socially, emotionally and physically, to engage with others and to contribute as members of society.

However, effective communication also includes non-verbal modes of communication, wider literacy and the use of multimedia and ICT technologies which may combine different modes.  Pupils are therefore encouraged to become effective communicators by using a range of techniques, forms and media to convey information and ideas creatively and appropriately.

Communication encompasses the skills of Talking and Listening, Reading and Writing in a range of contexts across the curriculum.  Standards of pupil competency in Language and Literacy are measured through the cross-curricular skill of Communication.

Across the curriculum, at a level appropriate to their ability, pupils have the opportunity to develop skills in the following areas; 

 Talking and Listening – this includes having opportunities to:

• Listen to and take part in discussions, explanations, role plays and presentations; 
• Contribute comments, ask questions and respond to others’ points of view; 
• Communicate information, ideas, opinions, feelings and imaginings, using an expanding vocabulary; 
• Structure talk so that ideas can be understood by others; 
• Speak clearly and adapt ways of speaking to audience and situation; 
• Use non-verbal methods to express ideas and engage with the listener. 

Reading – this includes having opportunities to:

• Read a range of texts* for information, ideas and enjoyment; 
• Use a range of strategies to read with increasing independence; 
• Find, select and use information from a range of sources; 
• Understand and explore ideas, events and features in texts*; 
• Use evidence from texts* to explain opinions. 

* Texts refer to ideas that are organised to communicate and present a message in written, spoken, visual and symbolic forms.

Writing – this includes having opportunities to:

• Talk about, plan and edit work; 
• Communicate information, meaning, feelings, imaginings and ideas in a clear and organised way; 
• Develop, express and present ideas in a variety of forms and formats, using traditional and digital resources, for different audiences and purposes;
• Write with increasing accuracy and proficiency.

Information and Communications Technology, across the curriculum, has the potential to transform and enrich pupils’ learning experiences and environments. It can empower pupils, develop self-esteem and promote positive attitudes to learning. Additionally, the creative use of ICT has the potential to improve pupils’ thinking skills, providing them with opportunities to become independent, self-motivated and flexible learners.

 Using ICT describes the ability to handle and communicate information, solve problems and pose questions through the use of information and communication technologies in a variety of contexts across the curriculum.  It includes collaboration within and beyond the classroom; allowing pupils the opportunities to share and exchange work; and exhibit and showcases their learning.  

Mr Foy co-ordinates ICT in our school.

At JMPS., pupils use ICT across the curriculum focusing on the five Es of Using ICT:

 Explore

• Access, select, interpret and research information from safe and reliable sources;
• Investigate, make predictions and solve problems through interaction with digital tools.

Express

• Create, develop, present and publish ideas and information responsibly using a range of digital media and manipulate a range of assets to produce multimedia products.

Exchange

• Communicate safely and responsibly using a range of contemporary digital methods and tools, exchanging, sharing, collaborating and developing ideas digitally.

Evaluate

• Talk about, review and make improvements to work, reflecting on the process and outcome and consider the sources and resources used, including safety, reliability and acceptability.

Exhibit

• Manage and present their stored work and showcase their learning across the curriculum, using ICT safely and responsibly.

Literacy focuses on developing each child’s ability to understand and use language, both spoken and written, as an integral part of learning in all areas. The development of language and literacy is crucial to living and learning. Language is used to communicate with people, to share and express feelings, to give and obtain information and to understand ideas and develop thoughts.

Language and literacy are considered in a holistic way, taking account of the integral nature of the areas of Talking and Listening, Reading and Writing which extend across all areas of the curriculum.

Literacy focuses on developing each child’s ability to understand and use language as an integral part of learning in all areas in order to interact effectively with the world around them, to express themselves creatively and to communicate confidently (through Talking and Listening, Reading and Writing) using a variety of skills and media.  Language and Literacy are fundamental prerequisites for thinking, learning and interacting in personal, social and work contexts throughout life. Literacy is therefore a key to learning as well as a key to enjoyment and personal growth.

Children will acquire early mathematical concepts through activities that involve sorting, matching, comparing, classifying, and making patterns and sequences in a variety of contexts. These activities should involve children in playing, exploring and investigating, doing and observing, talking and listening and asking and answering questions.

As the development of mathematical language is of fundamental importance, talking about work has a high priority in the early years. By engaging in a wide variety of activities, children will begin to understand mathematical language and then use this language to talk about their work. Children should also be given opportunities to develop their skills in mental mathematics during counting activities, by playing games and through daily classroom routines.

Numeracy is the development and application of mathematics across the curriculum and in real life situations. Skills in numeracy should help children to make informed and responsible choices and decisions throughout their lives.

Throughout the primary school, children will engage in a wide range of purposeful activities which should involve them in different modes of mathematical learning, including playing, exploring and investigating, doing and observing, talking and listening, asking questions, reflecting, drafting, reading and recording. 

Mrs Bailie co-ordinates Mathematics and Numeracy in our school.