Latchingdon School admits Infant and Junior Boys and Girls aged 4 to 11. The admissions limit is 25 pupils per year group.

Since being built in 1852 the building has been extended and improved on three occasions.

The pleasant working environment consists of six class rooms, four art areas, special needs room, group teaching area, I.C.T. suite, library, changing rooms and hall. The school is set in attractive grounds and has a large playing field providing ample space for a wide range of summer and winter games. It also has a heated outdoor swimming pool, which is used in the Summer Term. There are safe, adventure play areas for the children to use at break times and sheltered seats to provide shade in the summer. The school also has an environmental area and pond for wildlife studies.

Latchingdon C. of E. Primary School aims to provide a stimulating environment, in which high standards of achievement are fostered and where all pupils are challenged and encouraged to reach their full potential.

The Christian ethos of the school seeks to promote high levels of self-esteem and confidence, enabling pupils to develop independence and maturity.

All individuals are encouraged to respect and value others regardless of their age, gender or culture.

The school aims to provide a safe, stimulating environment in which pupils will develop:

• Lively, enquiring minds, with the ability to question and argue rationally, and to apply themselves to tasks confidently and independently.
• A reasoned set of attitudes, values and beliefs.
• Health and fitness and become equipped with a range of physical skills.
• The skills necessary to cope with an ever changing world and become well-rounded individuals.
• Interests which will enable them to enjoy and make the best use of their leisure time.
• Respect for others, regardless of their ethnic origin or socio-economic background, and to understand that people have different religions, beliefs and ways of life.
• Good relationships and a sense of belonging to the school community.

Parents can assist the school in achieving these aims by:

• Ensuring that children attend school in good health maintained by an adequate diet.
• Ensuring that they attend regularly, punctually and suitably dressed.
• Providing support for discipline within the school.
• Being realistic about their children's abilities and offering encouragement and praise.
• Encouraging and helping with homework and hearing reading.
• Attending parents' consultation evenings and other meetings relevant to their child.

All subjects are taught in line with the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum. Children in the Reception Class have a separate statutory curriculum for the Foundation Stage.

The National Literacy Strategy is taught from years one to six. Children spend at least one hour per day developing their skills in reading, spelling, grammar, writing and comprehension. Activities are planned to develop their oral and imaginative skills and are linked to other areas of the curriculum where possible. Pupils are encouraged to improve their reading skills through reading schemes, which provide access to a wide range of fiction and non-fiction. Children are expected to take books home to share with parents, and have a home/school record.

The National Numeracy Strategy is taught from years one to six. The emphasis is mainly on number skills and being able to apply them to problems.

Science is taught following the scheme of work provided by the DfES, which covers life processes, materials and their properties and forces. Much of the work is practically based in order to develop the child's observational and thinking skills.

The school has a computer suite which is timetabled for all children from the Reception Class upwards. We also have a set of laptops for class use. All classes have interactive white-boards. The school uses the scheme provided by the DfES.

The school has an outdoor heated pool which is used by pupils in the Summer. Qualified instructors are employed by the school during this period. Parents are asked to give a donation towards costs. Year 5 and 6 pupils are taken to a larger indoor pool in the Autumn Term.

Religious Education is part of the curriculum throughout the school and teaching is based on the County Agreed Syllabus.

All other subjects are taught using the DfES schemes of work. Areas of the curriculum are linked, where possible, to make them more interesting and meaningful for the children. We frequently participate in joint events such as the Dengie School Music and Sports festivals with other schools in the area.

At certain times during the year children take part in activities relating to a particulat theme. Recent themes have included Africa, Japan and Mexico. These weeks are sometimes linked to other schools in the area.

Daily assemblies, involving an act of worship are held each day. Parents have the right to withdraw their children from collective worship. This right can be exercised for any reason and notice of withdrawal needs to be given in writing to the Headteacher. Children who are withdrawn from collective worship are supervised in an appropriate alternative activity. Being a church founded school, there are close links with the local church communities, who have representatives on the school governing body. Pupils attend services in the church for Harvest Festival, Christmas and Easter.

Children are formally assessed at 7 and 11 years of age when they take Standard Assessment Tests.(SATs). These are national tests and are a legal requirement. Pupils may only be exempt in cases of severe physical or learning difficulties.

Pupils in year 3,4 and 5 also take Optional SATs at the same time to provide an indication of their progress.

All pupils will be set homework as stated in our Home-Child-School Agreement. Please see separate Homework page for a summary of the school Homework Policy.

The school has a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO), with responsibility for pupils with special needs. These children are identified by means of teacher assessment and the monitoring of standardised tests. Children who are on the SEN register have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) that lists their targets and strategies for achieving these. The IEP is monitored continually by the SENCO and the class teacher and is reviewed at least twice yearly in partnership with parents. The school has a policy for SEN and an action plan is drawn up annually by the SENCO, Headteacher and Educational Psychologist for the school.

Pupils in KS2 may have individual tuition in piano, keyboard or guitar at a small cost. A specialist teacher, who visits the school week, provides tuition.

All pupils will be set homework as stated in our Home-Child-School Agreement. Please see separate Homework page for a summary of the school Homework Policy.

The school has received praise for the good standard of behaviour of pupils. A successful system of rewards and sanctions is operated consistently throughout the school. Please see separate Behaviour page for a summary of the school Behaviour Policy.

The school is concerned with the individual development of each child. The principal elements are: personal hygiene, safety, drug awareness, sex education, food and nutrition and spiritual and moral education. These are introduced through other areas of the curriculum, such as Science, Religious Education, P.E. and Personal Social Health Education (PSHE). Year 6 take part in an activity day and workshops organised by Maldon District Council to develop their awareness of how to stay safe.

Sex Education is taught in upper KS2 using videos produced for this age group. The school nurse is also involved in the teaching programme. Parents may view the videos if they wish and have the right to withdraw their children from sex education when the content is outside National Curriculum requirements.

A variety of clubs take place, mainly after school for KS2 children.

Clubs vary according to staff availability and the time of year.

Currently these are:

• Football
• Netball
• Cricket
• Athletics
• Country Dancing
• Art
• Craft
• Recorders
• ICT
• Reading
• Nature

Children in Years 1 and 2 are offered a Games club in the summer term.