WELCOME!!!

Dear Parents,

We aim to provide a caring and supportive environment in which your child can achieve in a wide range of areas. We provide a broad and balanced timetable as prescribed by the Early Years and National Curriculum. We also seek to develop independent, self disciplined, happy children with a love of learning who have acquired all the attitudes, knowledge and skills to enable them to fulfil their potential both here and in later life.

We believe that this can only be achieved by close co-operation between home and school and we seek to develop close relationships with our parents. My staff and I are always available to discuss with you any aspects of your child's development at a mutually convenient time.

We confidently expect the years at St. Augustine's to be a happy and successful time in your child's life and to provide a firm foundation on which to base future achievement.

Yours sincerely,

S. J. Robson

St. Augustine`s is a school whose ethos fosters Christian values and affirms the reality of the Christian faith.

We provide a happy and secure environment in which the children are encouraged to value themselves and respect others.

In delivering the curriculum we foster and extend a child's natural curiosity, enthusiasm and energy in order that they realise their full potential and experience joy in learning.

We provide an environment in which pupils can develop an awareness and appreciation of the world in which they live and we encourage them to become responsible members of society.

At St. Augustine’s we aim to provide appropriate support for pupils with individual educational requirements. We feel it is important that all involved in their education at St. Augustine’s understand the individual child’s needs and respond accordingly.

To create an environment offering security and happiness.

To encourage the development of confidence, initiative and self-reliance.

To recognise the needs and talents of each pupil and facilitate the development of creative and aesthetic, intellectual, moral, spiritual, and social concepts, skills and attitudes.

To ensure that the curriculum incorporates legislative requirements and is appropriate, flexible, relevant, broad and balanced for each pupil.

To develop a caring community within a Christian ethos in which friendly and considerate attitudes and respect for all others are fostered.

To present a variety of well planned and resourced learning experiences which will help our children to understand the world around them.

To ensure that through good management of all aspects of the school, including finance, we enhance resources and the learning experiences of our children.

St. Augustine's First School is a church school and the Christian ethos pervades the curriculum and all elements of school life. Our Religious education is an important aspect and is taught both within our thematic approach and at times as an individual subject in line with the County Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.

Our daily act of worship expresses a living relationship that exists between God and ourselves. We are fortunate that both our Anglican minister and ministers and laity of other denominations join with us regularly for assembly and worship.

The children are encouraged to contribute to our acts of worship and we join our local churches and community to celebrate festivities during the year.

A parent has the right to ask for his/her child to be excused religious education or the daily assembly but before exercising that right, we would ask the parent first to discuss with us the full implications of withdrawal from this important part of the curriculum.

Special Educational Needs

All children with Special Educational Needs are guaranteed the best education possible within the limits of their capabilities.

Identification of special needs, including those of our most able children, is made as early as possible and provision is defined.

A flexible group teaching structure enables us to provide opportunities for children to work at suitable levels; higher or lower, than their peer group. Accelerated learning is promoted through enhanced opportunities for interaction with children of similar ability, when appropriate.

Our children with Special Needs have carefully thought-out curricula and Individual Educational Plans tailored to their personal needs and abilities.

Ms. Robson, the Head Teacher, is the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator and implements and monitors the Code of Practice.

Support and guidance is provided by the Special Educational Needs Support Service, the Educational Psychologist and Medical Services when the need arises.

In all cases full consultation with parents is made and no decision is taken without parental knowledge.

Mrs. Cullum is our Governor with responsibility for Special Needs.

The admission of children with a physical disability is a carefully structured process. Following an initial request to the headteacher for admission to mainstream schooling from parents, consultations are held with the personnel of the Special Needs section of the L.E.A. (who have already gained a great deal of knowledge about the child through the statementing procedure), providers of Health Care, staff and governors, as well, of course, as the parents of the child concerned. The needs of the child and the ability of the school to meet these effectively, within the mainstream environment, are audited. If all agree that the particular needs can be met, an induction programme is started. During this time problems can be resolved and steps are taken to ensure that admission is practical in terms of space, staffing and the school’s ability to meet the pupil’s needs and provide full entitlement and access to the K.S.1 and K.S.2 curriculum whilst not impairing the learning of our other children.

The school has full wheelchair access and toilet facilities for the physically disabled.

The guidelines and procedures for Special Educational Needs are followed as stated in our policy, which is reviewed annually.

P.T.A.

The school enjoys the support of an enthusiastic, hard working Parent Teacher Association. Social and Fundraising events are organised throughout the year to raise funds to enhance resources in school.

There is no subscription and meetings of the Association are open to all parents. The Annual General Meeting of the Association, at which officers are elected, is held in the Autumn Term. All parents receive a written invitation to attend and are welcome to join.

Suggestions for events and subjects for meetings are welcomed. The Headteacher and Staff welcome and appreciate the co-operation of the parents.

Book Club

The school runs a book club. Each month the children take home one or two leaflets offering paper backed books suitable for each age range.

Foundation & Reception - Seesaw

Firefly - Years 1 & 2

Lucky - Years 3 & 4

Parents are, of course, under no obligation to purchase.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Children are encouraged to attend extra-curricular activities, run by staff and external providers, covering a range of interests that vary from year to year.

Football Training sessions are held every week on a Wednesday, weather permitting.

A Cookery Club is held on Thursdays.

Tag Rugby is held on Fridays in the Spring and Summer terms.

Play Club caters for the very young children and is held on Fridays in the Autumn term.

An ECO Club is held each Tuesday for children who are members of the ECO committee.

A Cycling Proficiency course is held on alternate years in the summer term for the older children.