Welcome to Our School
Welcome to Thameside Primary School; opening doors and children's minds for over 100 years. Step inside and experience the warm, welcoming atmosphere of our school, which is tucked away close to the river Thames in the heart of Caversham. Explore this website to find out more about life, learning and fun at this thriving community school which puts children at the centre of its achievements.
'A caring ethos pervades all aspects of school life and pupils of all ages, ethnicity, gender and ability, work and play happily together.' OFSTED 2006
Our School
This page provides an overview of our school and key information for prospective parents and children. For more detailed information please download our information pack.
Aim and Objectives
- To provide every child with the opportunity to achieve high standards through experiencing a broad and varied curriculum.
- To provide the quality of teaching necessary to stimulate and motivate all pupils to learn.
- To prepare children by giving them the social skills necessary for life.
- To provide children with a stimulating environment in order to maximise their full potential.
- To develop self-reliance, individuality, and increase the child's sense of worth.
- To foster children's emotional and moral development in partnership with the family unit and the wider community.
Admissions and Catchment Area
Thameside Primary School is a co-educational day school, which caters for children between the ages of four and eleven years. A maximum of 60 pupils may be admitted each academic year. The maximum number of boys and girls on roll is designed to be 334.
In general terms the boundaries of the school's catchment area are as follows: The Mount, Hemdean Rise, Henley Road, Luscombe Close and the River Thames, it also includes some of the developments off Amersham Road i.e. Douglas Road, Talbot Close, Clonmel Road and Dickens Close.
Personal Development and Wellbeing
Expectations
At school we are concerned with the "whole" child and not only with academic achievement. After all, if children are not happy at school or at home, then it is likely that they will not do well at school work. For this reason, each class teacher will be concerned with how children are getting on with each other and how they get on with adults. If children show signs of unhappiness, misbehaviour, lack of interest, the class teacher will raise the matter informally with the parents and discuss any future action. The school has a well developed policy for monitoring the children's behaviour. This places heavy emphasis on praising children for their achievements in a variety of ways. As a consequence 'They behave well, are keen to learn, and feel safe and secure.' OFSTED 2006
The system is simple: the school motto is: THINK FOR YOURSELF
Child Protection
The school follows the agreed procedures agreed to protect children from harm. The school co-operates with professionals who work with children, we liaise with local Social Services, Child Guidance, Health Visitors and Child Protection agencies. The school has a Child Protection Policy which is available for parents on request.
Home/School Liaison
It is the school's policy that parents should always feel welcome to come into the school at the end of the day to discuss any aspect of their child's progress or behaviour with the child's teacher on an informal basis, but it would be helpful if prior notice could be given should a formal interview be required with the Headteacher.
Should any problems arise in school, then parents will be invited along to school for the matter to be discussed.
Road Safety
We are conscious of the safety of children coming to and from school. Please help us to encourage children to think about road safety in the following ways:
- Bring younger children to school on foot if possible. Use this as an opportunity to teach your child the Green Cross Code.
- If older children walk to school unaccompanied, please insist that they follow the Green Cross Code and also that they only cross Gosbrook Road with our lollipop lady if at all possible.
- If you have to use a car to transport your child to school, remember that Harley Road is a NO PARKING ZONE and parking outside the school could cause a child to lose their life.
- Bicycles: older children may apply for a Thameside cycling permit (younger children also if accompanied at all times by a parent).
Special Education Policy
Most children experience difficulties in some area of learning from time to time. This is usual and is attended to by class teachers. Some children, however, do have very specific learning difficulties. Thameside aims to devise a teaching programme for these children that results in achievable steps for each child.
Curriculum
We have a number of policy statements regarding the core curriculum subjects of English, Maths, Science and Information Communication Technology. Other foundation subjects include history, geography, art, music, DT (Design Technology), PE (Physical Education), RE (Religious Education), PSHME (Personal, Social, Health and Moral Education) and MFL (Modern Foreign Languages). Back to top
Extra Curricular Activities
Children have the opportunity to take part in extra-curricular activities. These take place either in the lunch hour or after school. An Extended Schools Manager co-ordinates after school and lunchtime activities.
Sport at Thameside
Thameside offers a wide range of sporting activities to pupils at different times throughout the year. These include football, netball, volleyball, athletics, orienteering, swimming, gymnastics, basketball, short tennis, rounders and climbing. Games on grass and athletics are provided for by the use of our school field.
School Arrangements
Class Organisation
The school is organised into ten classes containing 15 - 24 children per class.
School Day
Children may come into the playground from 8.45 a.m. A bell is rung at 8.50 a.m. and children are taken in by their teachers at 8.55 a.m.
Children have approximately 1 hour for lunch.
The school day finishes at 3.15 p.m.
Lunchtime Arrangements
We provide healthy school meals, however children are welcome to bring packed lunches. We have play-workers available each lunchtime to encourage and support children in organised games
The Parents' Association
Parental Involvement
The Headteacher and staff welcome any help which parents are willing to give during the school day. Help is appreciated with such activities as reading, cookery, sewing, craft, library, covering/mending books, taking down displays, or any other assistance parents are willing to offer.
Thameside School Association (TSA)
All parents are automatically members of the Thameside School Association and are invited to take part in all functions and attend committee meetings as observers and volunteers.
School Uniform
It is expected that all children will wear school uniform as it helps to give a child a sense of belonging to a community.
Modes of dress are based on the school colours of maroon and grey, and the uniform is available to purchase from the school office.
Thameside Staff
Please read on to see who works at our school.
Headteacher
Our Headteacher is Mrs J Moore, BSc (London), PGCE (Reading). Our Deputy Headteacher is Mrs M Chaplain, B.Ed (Lancaster)
Teachers
Mrs P Bliss Mrs F Clayton Mr M Driscoll Mrs R Driscoll Mrs P Dunbar Miss S Edmondson Mrs C Emslie Mrs L Lombos Mrs F McKenna Mrs H Shaw
Support Staff
Our school has a number of other staff:
Mrs A Elliott, Bursar Mrs B Porteous, School Secretary Mrs S Harrop, Administrative Officer Mr J Hope, Extended Schools Manager Miss E Master-Brown, GTP Trainee Miss C McCarthy, GTP Trainee Mr T Weathers, School Caretaker Mrs R Searle, Cleaner Mrs A Tuthill, Cleaner
Teaching Assistants
Our Teaching Assistants are: Mrs J Butler Mrs A Harwood Mrs B Simmonds Mrs S Harrop Mrs A Watts Mrs A Tuthill Mrs B Sandford Mrs D Hindley Mrs J Stone Mrs L Ferguson Mrs W Higgs Ms J Nurse
Lunchtime Staff
The lunchtime staff at Thameside are: Mrs B Sandford Mrs D Hood Mrs A Tuthill Mrs A Brown Mrs L Ferguson
Visiting Support Staff
We have a number of other staff who visit our school from time to time: Dr Karlman, School Doctor Mrs R Mann, School Nurse Mrs J Stevens, Educational Welfare Officer Mrs B Eastwood, Educational Welfare Assistant Mrs D Sander, Educational Psychologist Mrs J Rodriges, Links Team Mrs D Azami, Links Team Mr C West, Youth Worker Mr C Evans, Youth Worker Mr E Pereira, Guitar Mr P Brookes, Keyboard
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