Our purpose is to provide a happy, secure and stimulating environment in which children will thrive and develop intellectually, emotionally, socially, spiritually, physically and creatively.
Through a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum for our 5 - 11 year olds and appropriate child-centred learning for our under 5's, we aim to:-
· develop each child to their full potential in a stimulating environment;
· ensure that all children have equal opportunities;
· provide an atmosphere which enables children to be happy and confident;
· help children become independent, co-operative, confident and reflective learners;
· foster in our children a caring thoughtful nature, leading them to become reliable, responsible members of our school and the society in which they live;
· equip children to be able to take pride in and look after their surroundings.
We also expect and value high standards of behaviour and concern for the welfare of others. We encourage children to live by Christian ideals, respecting religious and moral values and tolerance of other people's beliefs and cultures. All children are able to make a valuable contribution to the life of our school and we encourage them to play their full part.
THE BUILDING AND THE FACILITIES
We have the advantage of a modern, purpose-built school designed to provide airy classrooms, an attractive library area, practical work spaces looking onto an inner courtyard, a hall fully equipped with modern PE apparatus and attractive administration areas. The flowerbeds around the school have been planted with shrubs and bulbs to create a pleasant environment. There is a separate play area for the youngest children outside their classroom and a playground for the older children at the rear of the school. There is also a grassed field for games and sport. A recent addition to the school grounds is our creative play area which holds great potential in enhancing the curriculum. Foundation Stage children will be beginning a Forest School Programme in September and recent additions to our facilities support this.
PRE-SCHOOL LINKS AND ADMISSION PROCEDURE
It is very important that children just starting school are eased in as smoothly and happily as possible and that any anxieties they or their parents may have are dealt with sympathetically. In the term preceding admission, the children spend a little time in the Foundation Stage class and we have a home bag system in place, which sets the pattern for future liaison between home and school.
BEHAVIOUR AND DISCIPLINE
Establishing and insisting on good behaviour is the shared responsibility of parents and school. Children need to feel good about themselves and this self-respect is the essential foundation of regard for others. We reward good behaviour rather than take it for granted.
"Excellent behaviour is normal. Pupils can be trusted at all times. There is no bullying and there have been no fixed-term exclusions in the last year" quote from Ofsted Report January 2001
We believe that everyone in school has the right to be treated with courtesy and consideration. Good relations are vital to the successful working of the school and we believe young people respond well to high expectations.
We recognise that problems are normal, where young people are learning and testing the boundaries of acceptable behaviour. Our success as a school is tested, not by the absence of problems but by early intervention and the way we deal with them.
Minor problems are a natural part of growing up and we encourage children to deal with these themselves. However, we rely on children's and parent's ability to discriminate between the trivial and the more serious occurrence. We are a 'telling' school and when anyone experiences or witnesses serious anti-social behaviour, which might include physical, emotional or verbal harm, we expect them to tell us. Situations, such as these, are not improved by delay. Parents may request of copy of our bullying policy.
If persistent difficulties should arise, the school works with parents to resolve the problem. If the problem persists, even after these procedures have been followed, then help might be sought from the School Nurse, Special Education Support or the Educational Psychologist.
SCHOOL ORGANISATION
The organisation and number of classes may change from year to year depending on pupil numbers. We will always endeavour to provide the best pupil-adult ratio we can, providing Key Stage 1 classes of no more than 30 pupils in size. Children will generally transfer from one class to another at the beginning of a new or alternate academic year. We will always keep parents informed of any changes we propose to make.
Children joining our Foundation Stage class will generally be taught in a single age year group. Further up the school, teaching groups will be organised in two-year mixed age classes. Whole class or whole year group teaching is widely practised, but the follow-up work is often geared to group or individual needs or strengths.
At eleven, the children transfer to a range of High schools in the area. It is now common practice for visits and introductory sessions to be organised for the children and we assist in every way possible to ensure a smooth transition. We are continually working alongside Elgar Technology College, our feeder High School, promoting both curricular and extra curricular links. Our maths and science managers liaise regularly as do SENCOs from both schools.
School Brochure 0607
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