At St Christopher’s, we believe that some of the most powerful learning happens when children are inspired by people who truly love what they teach. From the moment children join in Nursery to Year 2, our children enjoy lessons with passionate specialist teachers across the curriculum, including French, Art, Music, PE and Forest School.

These experiences enrich everyday learning, spark curiosity and help children discover new talents and interests from a very young age. Our specialists bring energy, expertise and genuine enthusiasm into every lesson, creating moments of excitement, creativity and confidence. Whether children are moving, making, performing, exploring or learning a new language, they are encouraged to try new things, believe in themselves and take pride in what they achieve. It’s this combination of expert teaching and joyful learning that helps nurture well-rounded, confident children with a lifelong love of learning.

To learn more about our Specialist Teaching in Nursery click here.

Lessons focus on the adventure of creating rather than simply the finished piece. Even from a young age, children amaze us as they mix colours, experiment with textures, try simple stitching, explore printing and build in 3D. They work with fabric, paint, pastels and mixed media, developing fine motor skills, growing confidence and, most importantly, a genuine love of art.

St Christopher’s is a place where children feel safe to take risks, share their ideas and celebrate each other’s successes. This warm, nurturing environment helps them build independence, imagination and self-belief as young artists.

Tucked away like a secret world, our dedicated Forest School area, is a magical space where children visit every week as part of the curriculum. Led with care and expertise by our specialist Forest School teacher, Mrs Taperell, it’s a haven of adventure, imagination and joyful exploration.

During their weekly sessions, children roam with freedom and curiosity, embracing gentle, guided risk-taking as they toast marshmallows, create in the mud kitchen, launch homemade rockets, splash in water play and balance on fallen logs. Children explore woodland wildlife, asking questions and discovering answers for themselves. Their interests guide their learning, supported by staff as they work at their own pace. With the right tools and encouragement, they develop confidence and independence in their learning. From conker play and outdoor art to mixing potions in the outdoor kitchen and exploring the natural landscape, each activity supports creativity, problem-solving and resilience. Whether using the equipment or sharing snacks together in the story circle, children build confidence while developing a strong connection with nature.

St Christopher’s onsite Forest School is a place where learning feels like magic – and where childhood truly comes alive!

Learning French from an early age helps children build confidence, develop strong listening skills and become curious about the world around them. Through songs, stories and play, language learning feels natural and fun, laying the foundations for a lifelong love of communication and cultural understanding.

At St Christopher’s, every child enjoys learning French from Nursery with our experienced specialist teacher, Madame Poole. Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 take part in a fun weekly lesson that’s full of exploration and interactive learning, keeping everyone engaged and eager to join in. Learning is topic-based, with exciting new themes every half term. Lessons are packed with songs, rhymes and games to help children build their vocabulary in a playful way, followed by a short activity to practise their new skills. The end-of-topic quiz is always a firm favourite too!

Children can also join our after-school French Club, where activities link closely to what they’re learning in class. Alongside language skills, they explore French culture and traditions, celebrating special occasions such as Galette des Rois, Poisson d’Avril and La Fête Nationale. A ‘virtual’ trip to Paris, where children discover famous landmarks and learn all about this beautiful city, really brings the language to life and inspires a love of learning about the world around us.

At St Christopher’s, music and drama play a special role in helping children find their voices, build confidence and express themselves. Through singing, performing and making music together, children develop creativity, communication skills and a real sense of joy. From their very first experiences on stage or with an instrument, they are encouraged to take part, try something new and celebrate their achievements in a supportive and nurturing environment.

Music

Music is a joyful part of everyday life and something we love sharing with our children. Our wonderful specialist teacher, Mrs Colchester, teaches each year group twice a week, alongside a fun weekly singing practice where children can really find their voices. Lessons are hands-on and full of energy, with plenty of chances to explore tuned and untuned percussion instruments, whether playing on their own or together as part of a group. Making music as a team helps build confidence, listening skills and a real sense of achievement.

Right from the start, children learn how to read music, so by the time they reach their recorder lessons in Year 2, they already feel confident recognising notes and rhythms. This gives them a fantastic head start and helps them enjoy their learning even more.

In Year 2, even more musical adventures begin, with dedicated recorder lessons and the opportunity to join our invite-only music ensemble for those keen to take things a step further to singing at local care homes and carol singing at the Ashley Centre.

Twice a year, our Music Assemblies are a special treat for families. Children love showing off their talents – performing solo on instruments they learn outside of school, as well as taking part in our recorder groups and school ensemble. It’s always a proud moment for children and parents alike.

Drama

Across the school, music and drama go hand in hand, with so many opportunities for children to perform and shine. Every class enjoys taking part in their own assembly, giving children the chance to shine in front of friends and family. From whole-school shows – including our much-loved Christmas Nativity led by Year 1 – to Year 2’s grand finale pantomime production, as well as community events and special occasions, children can sing and perform both solo and together, building confidence every step of the way.

For budding drama enthusiasts, we also offer individual LAMDA lessons with our visiting drama specialist. These sessions are a brilliant way to boost confidence, develop communication skills and nurture a love for performance.

Sport

We believe that being active plays a vital role in children’s physical, social and emotional development. Through sport and movement, children build confidence, learn teamwork and develop healthy habits that support both body and mind. Our PE curriculum is designed to be inclusive, energetic and fun, helping every child discover the joy of being active from an early age.

In Reception, children enjoy two PE lessons each week with Miss Greenwood, where every session is lively and filled with exciting new challenges. They explore a wide range of activities, from invasion games that gently introduce skills used in netball, tag rugby, football and hockey, to ball skills such as rolling, throwing, catching, bouncing and kicking. Alongside this, children build essential movement skills, including agility, balance and coordination, and take part in gymnastics and dance, practising balancing, travelling, rolling, jumping and vaulting.

Each lesson blends skill development with playful game situations, helping children grow in confidence and understand how to use what they’ve learnt. Friendly competition is introduced in a supportive way, encouraging teamwork, resilience and a positive attitude to sport from an early age.

As children move into Years 1 and 2, PE increases to three lessons each week, giving them further opportunities to stay active, develop their skills and discover what they enjoy. Alongside their lessons, children are invited to take part in a wonderful range of sporting events, including friendly football tournaments, cross-country in Year 2 and multi-sports events – experiences that help broaden their horizons and are not always available to children of this age.

Throughout the year, children look forward to much-loved whole-school events such as the charity Elf Run, the Pancake Race and Sports Day, where they proudly compete in their houses. These joyful occasions bring the community together and help nurture a lifelong love of movement, teamwork and healthy living.