Our Shared Vision

Our Shared Vision is at the heart of Yattendon School. It guides everything we do and keeps us focused on what matters most. It is built around five key aims.

1. Basic Skills

We prioritise strong foundations in: 

• reading, 

• writing (including spelling & handwriting) 

• maths (including times tables)

• science 

• computing (including staying safe online). 

We are committed to ensuring every child becomes confident and competent in these essential areas.  Interventions are put into place where gaps in learning are identified.

 

2. Rich Learning Experiences

We provide a broad, balanced and engaging curriculum that connects learning to the real world. Children learn best when motivated, so we offer:

• A wide range of subjects, supported by specialist expertise where appropriate 

• Outdoor learning opportunities Trips, visitors, themed days and curriculum weeks 

• Cross-curricular projects 

• Varied and creative ways for children to present their knowledge and understanding 

• Opportunities for children’s interests and ideas to shape their learning

 

3. Values

As a Values School, we place strong emphasis on developing character and moral understanding, rooted in British Values. We celebrate our core values all year, with a focus on a specific value each half term:

• Appreciation

• Kindness 

• Courage 

• Honesty 

• Responsibility

• Co-operation 

Children demonstrating our values are celebrated in our Friday assembly and also our termly trophy assembly.  

Respect is central to our community — between children, adults and staff alike — alongside tolerance, democracy and the rule of law. 

We help children understand and appreciate diversity, preparing them for life in modern Britain.  In our assemblies and PSHE lessons we discuss these themes.

 

4. Learnacy

‘Learnacy’ is our term for teaching children how to learn effectively. We focus on four key Learning Powers: 

• Concentrating 

• Sharing Ideas 

• Problem-Solving 

• Reflecting

Our learning powers are displayed in classrooms with teachers modelling to children throughout lessons which learning powers they are using.

By making these skills explicit, we help children become adaptable, independent and lifelong learners.

 

5. The ‘Y’ Factor

The ‘Y’ Factor’ is about mindset. We encourage:

• Perseverance

• Determination 

• Resilience

These help children see setbacks as steps towards success. We teach the children that getting stuck and making mistakes are positives.  These help us to become better learners.  Children are encouraged to use a range of strategies when they are finding work tricky.  These could be using a talk partner, indecently accessing equipment in the classroom, referring to working walls and studying the topic’s knowledge organiser.  

We want every child to understand that hard work and a positive attitude helps to develop them as individuals as they progress through life.

We aim to ensure all children develop the skills to persevere, overcome challenges and achieve their full potential.

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Living the Vision

We celebrate achievements in all five of the above areas in the following ways.  

Daily praise and use of house points to reward children in lessons and when moving around the school. 

We award certificates linked to our vision fortnightly.  These give a clear explanation as to why this has been given so children understand and reflect on what our shared vision means in practice.

Each term, trophies are awarded to one girl and one boy in every year group, and parents are invited to attend the ceremony.

At the end of year six, children who have demonstrated our vision throughout the school journey are nominated for a shield.  The top five children across the year group receive a shield.  

Through our shared vision, we aim to ensure all children develop the skills to persevere, overcome challenges and achieve their full potential.