Able, INTERESTED and MOTIVATED

Exciting Outdoor Reading Area Project 2019/20

Our AIM children are currently involved in an exciting new project to create an outdoor reading area for all.  The project has enabled the  children in the group to share their strengths in many areas of the curriculum.  Examples of this so far have included writing letters to people in the local community, calculating the perimeter of the area needed for fencing, designing flyers to promote our 'Bedtime Stories' day and creating and presenting an assembly to the whole school.  

 Able, Interested & Motivated Pupils (AIM) at St Mary’s CE Primary School

At St Mary’s CE Primary school, we value all children equally and endeavour to ensure that each child should have the opportunity to realise his/her potential in a challenging and supportive environment.

The DFE defines AIM children as: ‘Children and young people with one or more abilities developed to a level significantly ahead of their year group (or with the potential to develop those abilities).’

Our school will have, at any time, talented, interested or motivated pupils, some of whom may be exceptionally able and this may be in one or more areas of learning. Research has shown that by making provision for AIM children, the standards of achievement are raised for all pupils. Therefore, we aim to make provision in the curriculum for our AIM children to enable them to develop their gifts and talents.

Our definition of able, interested and motivated recognises academic performance as well as those who show outstanding artistic, musical and creative talent, physical skills, leadership qualities and the ability to process ideas and information. It also recognises that a child may possess this potential although performance may not currently reflect this.

Our Curriculum Policy has information about Able, Interested and Motivated, as follows:

Schemes of work

The school uses all objectives from the National Curriculum 2014. The use of nrich, nace and STEM resources specifically for able and talented children are used across subjects.

Assessment and Monitoring

Co-ordinator will monitor AIM pupils through a detailed action plan.

WOW starts

A number of approaches are used to engage and inspire AIM students. These can include controversial statements, music, mystery objects, letter or e-mail to the class, dressing up days and multi-sensory topic immersion activities. The use of visitors also provides our AIM students with inspirational opportunities for self-development and career exploration. 

Non-Negotiables  

All teachers must clearly demonstrate how they are supporting and challenging AIM pupils.  Lessons must show the use of Blooms Taxonomy.  All AIM students must have an EEP (Exceptional Education Plan) which shows clearly what is being provided to challenge the more able.  The use of nace, STEM and nrich resources must also be used to enrich the curriculum.

Challenge and support

Links to enrich and extend beyond the classroom are provided to challenge and support AIM students.  Where appropriate, the use of a classroom TA should be used to challenge more able children with the breadth of provision.

More able and less able provision.

For those children who have specific needs, refer to One Page Profiles and My Plan.  Provision for more able children will be monitored through the action plan. Plans and targets take account of pupils’ needs and allows them to progress along individual pathways.

Mastery  

Challenge is offered through higher order questioning and activities that develop deeper understanding, problem solving and reasoning skills

Extending and enriching the curriculum at St Mary’s CE school

• A diverse range of lunchtime and after school clubs.  Parents of children with particular talents are ‘signposted’ to specialist clubs in the local community.
• Current KS2 AIM reading groups.
• Current KS1 AIM maths groups.
• Current KS1 and KS2 running clubs.
• Opportunities to learn a variety of musical instruments.
• Strong liaison with secondary schools have been developed. Sessions for able KS2 mathematicians take place in the Summer term with one off days provided throughout the year.  
• Curriculum enrichment days e.g. theatre companies, artists and musicians.
• Visits/workshops from a range of experts.  
• Activities with cluster schools e.g. Area Sports and choir.
• Use of the Star Challenge in lesson time to extend and challenge all learners.