E-Prospectus

Educational Policy: Methodology

Teaching in the younger children's classes is based in part on the Montessori system and also incorporates the DSCF's Early Years Foundation Stage Learning Goals. This stresses individual progress within the framework of the classroom but systems and apparatus developed by other educational methods are also provided to aid the child's natural progress.

The equipment at Bassett House is the result of many years' experienced observation of children and has been carefully designed to meet their needs. Both the Montessori apparatus and the other teaching aids provide practical preparation for the future and are sufficiently absorbing to ensure that younger children generally prefer using them to playing with toys.

The entire syllabus fully takes into consideration the National Curriculum and requirements for future schools. All children receive a thorough grounding in mathematics, reading and writing, and there are lessons in history, geography, science, art, Design and Technology, ICT, music, PE, French and Latin.

Children are regularly assessed using both formative and summative tests. Children in Form 2 and Form 6 sit the national assessments known as SATs.