Primary Education Stages and Development
Primary Education (EP)
Introduction
Primary Education (EP) is a structured educational journey spanning six years, from ages 6 to 12. It aims to provide a holistic education that fosters personal development, well-being, and the acquisition of fundamental skills. This includes cultural understanding and expression, literacy, numeracy, social skills, work habits, artistic appreciation, creativity, and emotional growth.
Objectives
- Instill values and norms, preparing students for active citizenship and respect for human rights.
- Cultivate individual and teamwork habits, responsibility in studies, self-confidence, critical thinking, curiosity, interest, and creativity in learning.
- Promote understanding and respect for diverse cultures, individual differences, equal rights, and opportunities.
- Develop proficiency in Castilian Spanish and, where applicable, the co-official language of the Autonomous Community.
- Acquire at least one foreign language, enabling basic communication and practical application in everyday situations.
- Build foundational mathematical skills and problem-solving abilities.
- Foster appreciation for the natural, social, and cultural environment.
- Introduce the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
- Promote personal hygiene and health, body acceptance, respect for differences, and the use of physical education and sports for personal and social development.
- Develop emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, and a stance against violence.
- Encourage road safety education.
Organization
The EP stage comprises three two-year cycles, organized into comprehensive and inclusive areas:
- Knowledge of the Natural, Social, and Cultural World
- Arts Education
- Physical Education (PE)
- Language and Literature (Castilian Spanish and Co-official Language)
- Foreign Language
- Mathematics
In one course of the 3rd cycle, Citizenship and Human Rights Education is added, with a focus on gender equality. The Educational Administration may introduce a second foreign language in the 3rd cycle. Throughout this stage, tutorial guidance supports the collective and individual educational process of students.
Pedagogical Principles
- Prioritize student diversity, individualized attention, early identification of learning difficulties, and implementation of support strategies.
- Integrate reading comprehension, oral and written expression, media literacy, ICT skills, and values education across all areas.
- Encourage reading habits.
Evaluation
- Continuous and comprehensive evaluation will track progress across all areas.
- Student progression to the next educational cycle or stage is based on achieving relevant skills and demonstrating appropriate maturity.
- Students who haven’t achieved all area objectives can still progress, provided it doesn’t hinder their learning. They will receive support to achieve these objectives.
- Students not achieving basic skills may repeat a year within the same cycle, once during EP, with a personalized support plan.
- Each student receives a final report detailing learning objectives achieved and basic competencies acquired, provided by the educational administration.
Diagnostic Evaluation
At the end of the second cycle, centers conduct a diagnostic evaluation of students’ basic skills. This assessment informs teaching practices, provides guidance for centers, and offers valuable information to families and the educational community.