The Grade 0 Year

Grade 0 is a vital and exciting year for your child. The atmosphere in the classroom provides a happy secure environment for the transition from nursery school into the formal disciplines of learning to read and write in Grade 1. The aim throughout the year will be to provide an informal, happy atmosphere where pupils will be encouraged to participate fully in all activities.

Young pupils learn through experience. In Grade 0 the pupils are encouraged to explore, discover and challenge themselves through play and structured activities.

Development in the following areas is planned and encouraged:

Perceptual development

St Peter’s Girls JP stimulates knowledge and understanding of the world through direct personal experience. These experiences are provided in a progressive sequence through several activities: structured or unstructured, informative or creative, active or quiet, indoor or outdoor, alone and in groups.

Language and literacy development

Language, as a vehicle for thinking, remembering, reasoning, expressing and communicating, is part of every Grade 0 activity. In addition, opportunities for the development and enrichment of language form a large part of the Grade 0 programme.

An interest in reading and writing is encouraged and pupils are exposed to pre-reading skills, early writing skills and symbol sound association through the THRASS (Teaching Handwriting Reading and Spelling Skills) literacy programme.

Mathematical development

St Peter’s aims to develop mathematical understanding by providing pupils with opportunities to explore concepts using concrete mathematical apparatus. Experiential exploration and problem-solving add depth to the integration of knowledge and skills. Pupils will be able to recognise, describe and represent numbers and their relationships; count, estimate, calculate and check; and at all times develop problem-solving skills.

Creative development

Creative activities are offered to allow pupils to explore the basic elements of line, form, colour, texture, space and the properties and possibilities of a variety of materials and tools in creative situations. Creative thought, sensory exploration and aesthetic sensitivity are encouraged.

Physical development

The Grade 0 programme focuses on the development of both fine and large muscles through activities. Pupils develop control of movement, refine body image and develop concepts of the body in space through experiences in the classroom and playground, as well as in the specialist physical education classes.

Music

Music is taught by a music specialist and the Grade 0 teachers, and includes opportunities for appreciation, memorisation, creativity, self-expression and communication, as well as perceptual and physical development.

The Grade 1 year