- IntroductionPage No:
i)Letter from the Head Teacher, Mrs Janine Cox1.1
ii)Status and Character of the School1.2
iii)The Admissions Policy & Arrangements1.2
iv)Visiting the School1.3
v)HomeSchool Agreement1.3
vi)The PTA1.3
- The Organisation of the School
i)Class Organisation and Class Sizes2.1
ii)The School Day2.1
iii)The School Terms2.2
iv)The Curriculum2.2
v)Testing of Pupils and Raising of Standards2.5
vi)Consultations & Reports2.5
vii)Special Needs2.5
- The Governing Body
i)The Role of the Governing Body3.1
ii)Who are the Governors?3.1
iii)How Can I Become A Governor?3.1
- Useful Information
i)Punctuality and Attendance – including arrangements4.1
for holidays in term time.
ii)Homework4.1
iii)Watches & Jewellery4.1
iv)School Uniform4.2
v)Lunches, Milk, Snacks – Classes 1 - 44.3
vi)Lunches, Milk, Snacks – Reception Class4.3
vii)The Safety of our Pupils4.3
viii)Extra-Curricular Activities4.4
ix)Charging Policy4.4
x)Where Further Information can be Found4.4
a)School Policy Documents4.4
b)Complaints Procedure4.4
c)Information on Middle & Upper Schools4.4
SECTION 1
INTRODUCTION
W I L S T E A D L O W E R S C H O O L
Head Teacher: Mrs J M Cox B.Ed MA
Cotton End Road
Wilstead
Bedford
MK45 3BX
Telephone/Fax No: Bedford (01234) 302303
E-mail address:
Dear Parents
I should like to welcome you and your child to WilsteadLowerSchool. It is my intention in this booklet to give you information about both the school and the Local Authority’s arrangements for providing education in this area.
The day that your child starts in school is very important and all of the staff at this school work hard to provide a happy, secure and stimulating environment for children to work in. It is our aim to ensure that your child will be able to make the most of the wide variety of learning opportunities presented. In addition to this, the staff has a great concern for the well-being of all the children in their care. It is our belief that education is a partnership involving teachers, parents and children and thus we would like to foster a close relationship with you for the benefit of your child.
I hope therefore that you will work closely with us by supporting us and by supplying any information, which is applicable, that might affect the development and welfare of your child. In return the staff will keep you closely informed of your child’s progress and of any particular problems that he/she may be encountering.
The school can assure you that high standards of work, presentation and behaviour are set. The Literacy and Numeracy frameworks are followed within the school and we have a wide range of suitable resources to enable your child to have the best opportunities for developing their language and mathematical skills. In addition, we see it as important to continue to provide a broad and balanced curriculum.
Each child is treated as an important individual and we endeavour to cater for the needs of the whole child be they academic, social, physical, moral or spiritual. In short, I believe we have a responsibility to do our very best for your child so that their time at WilsteadLowerSchool will be happy and rewarding.
Yours sincerely
J M Cox
Head Teacher
1.1
Status and Character of the School
WilsteadLowerSchool is in a pleasant, rural location in the centre of the village of Wilstead. The village is approximately 5 miles south of Bedford and is easily accessible from both the A6 and A600. The school is popular and admits children aged 4 – 9 years from families living within the catchment area and also from Bedford and the surrounding villages.
The school is modern and bright being divided into two main teaching areas joined by the hall and administration block. Each area has cloakrooms and toilet facilities. Adjoining the school there is a large grassed area which is used on fine, dry days, especially in the summer. In addition, the school has its own playing field, garden and environmental area. There are two playgrounds, enabling children to play with their own age groups, whilst the Reception Class has its own fenced off area.
The Admissions Policy & Arrangements
General information
1Due to new legislation the Local Authority is now responsible for co-ordinating all admissions into schools.
2The LA is committed to promoting and maintaining high standards in all of its schools. It recognises the particular importance of making sure services for children under 5 are of the highest quality so that every child has the best start possible to their education.
3The LA requires admissions criteria to be stated clearly and easy to interpret. Criteria must promote equal opportunities and they should be positive statements of eligibility for admission.
4Children will normally attend the LowerSchool serving the area where they live, i.e.the local catchment area. Parents may, however, apply for their child to be admitted to an alternative school provided there is adequate accommodation.
5If the number of places available is not sufficient to meet all requests for admission criteria will be applied as shown later in rank order to determine how places are allocated.
WilsteadLowerSchool admits children to the Reception Class at the beginning of the school year following their 4th Birthday (i.e. September). However, we are constrained by the number of places available (see below) and admissions may be affected by Government Policy to keep infant class sizes below 30 pupils. Pupils will be offered a full-time place but we shall give parents the option of part-time morning only places for the first term.
a)Admissions from within the catchment area:
The catchment area of WilsteadLowerSchool is the Parish of Wilshamstead. As stated previously, the arrangements for the admission of children to lower schools have changed as a result of legislation, which requires local authorities to co-ordinate all admissions into schools. The LA will aim to admit looked after children living in the school’s catchment area and these will have first priority to places in the Reception Class at WilsteadLowerSchool the September following their 4th Birthday followed by children living in the catchment area. However it is important to note that the LA makes a catchment area guarantee at the normal time of admission. If a parent moves into the catchment area, or makes an application outside of the normal admissions round (or after the allocation has been completed), there can be no guarantee of a place at the catchment area school if the admission limit has been reached.
b)Admissions from outside the catchment area:
The LA will only be able to admit children to the school from outside the catchment area up to the schools standard number of 30. To apply for a place a form is available from the Borough Council or your child’s nursery provider, which must be submitted to the LA for their approval.
1.2
Where the demand exceeds the number of places available the following criteria in the rank order shown will apply:
- All ‘looked after’ children.
- Pupils living in the catchment area with siblings at the school.
- Other pupils living in the catchment area.
- ‘Very exceptional’ medical grounds.
- Other siblings.
- Any other children.
The LA will allocate places for September 2013 within the timescale as follows:
- October 2012Application forms available
- January 2013Closing date for applications (to be submitted to LA).
- April 2013 Parents to be notified of outcome (by the LA)
The above criteria will also be used to determine applications for admission to other year groups in which the demand exceeds the places available.
Visiting the School
Should you wish to visit the school prior to your child’s admission we would be pleased to arrange a suitable time for you to do so. By telephoning the School Office an appointment can be arranged to meet the Head Teacher and view the school.
HomeSchool Agreement
In line with all schools in the country, we have a Home/School Agreement which all new parents are requested to sign. Through this Agreement schools and parents can work more closely together.
The areas the Agreement covers include:
- The standard of education the school will provide
- The ‘ethos’ of the school
- Regular, punctual attendance
- Discipline and behaviour
- Homework
It will help you to work with us - your support and encouragement are very important if your child is to make the most of school life.
PTA
The school has a flourishing Parent/Teacher Association, which organises many fund-raising events. The school is very much enriched by the success of the Association as it provides funds to enhance resources that could not be financed from the school budget. The PTA holds an annual meeting in October of each year and all parents are encouraged to attend. Please do support PTA events and also offer to help, particularly at the Summer Fete. A list of the PTA officers is given below:
Mrs Hawkins-SmithChairperson
Mrs DrakeTreasurer
Mrs BakerSecretary
1.3
SECTION 2
THE ORGANISATION OF THE SCHOOL
Class Organisation and Class Sizes
From September 2012 WilsteadLowerSchoolwill be organised into 5 teaching groups as follows:
Year R Mrs M Short
Year 1Miss C Brinsden
Year 2Mrs N Beddall/Mrs C Boakes
Year 3Mrs M Robertson
Year 4Mrs N Roberts
Assistant Head Teacher Mrs M Robertson
Although, where possible, pupils are taught within their year groups, as pupils are admitted to the Reception Class during the year there may be some re-organisation of classes and mixing of ages may occur.
The school roll in January 2013 is expected to be 135
In addition to the above staffing the school employs the following non-teaching assistants to give additional support to pupils and teachers:
Mrs S Hale
Mrs D Catchpole
Mrs L Marlton
Mrs A Toms
Miss Bradshaw
Mrs J Tavener
Mrs J Halliwell
Mrs Sykes
Mrs Baker
Mrs Stanier-Martin
The Office Manager isMrs Caroline Wilson
The School Day
For all full-time children the school day is divided into two sessions as follows:
Foundation Stage9.00 am – 12.00 am and
(Year R)1.15 pm – 3.25 pm
Key Stage 1Morning session:
(Classes 1 & 2)9.00 am – 12 noon
Assembly 10.30 am
Break10.45 am – 11.00 am
Afternoon session:
1.15 pm – 3.30 pm
Key Stage 2Morning session:
(Classes 3 & 4)9.00 am – 12.10 pm
Assembly 10.30 am
Break10.45 am – 11.00 am
Afternoon session:
1.15 pm – 3.30 pm
2.1
The School Terms
Autumn TermThursday 6th September –Friday 21st December 2012
Half TermMonday 29th October – Friday 2nd November 2012
School closed for TrainingMonday 5th November
Spring Term Tuesday 8th January – Thursday 28th March 2012
Half TermMonday 18th February – Friday 22nd February 2012
School closed for Bank Holiday Friday 29th March
Summer TermTuesday 16th April 2012 – Wednesday 24th July 2012
Half TermMonday 27thMay – Friday 31st May 2012
School closed for Bank Holiday on Monday 6th May
The Curriculum
In line with the Early Learning Goals of the Foundation Stage and The National Curriculum.
The school aims to
a)Provide opportunities for all pupils to learn and achieve
b)promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils in the school and society
c)prepares the pupils for the responsibilities and experiences of adult life
We aim to ensure that pupils at WilsteadLowerSchool study a broad and balanced range of subjects, that they have clear objectives set for them, whatever their ability, ensuring that these can be achieved and that all pupils regardless of sex, ethnic origin and geographical location have access to broadly the same relevant curriculum. Assessment will continually be made to ensure that pupils can be extended when they are doing well and given more help when they are not. We shall regularly report on pupils’ progress compared with National norms and levels and attainment.
The school curriculum statement:
We aim to deliver a high quality education to all children. We will do this by providing a well-balanced curriculum which will be:
- broad and balanced, based on the requirements of the National Curriculum
- stimulating and challenging in a way that will extend children’s knowledge, skills and creativity in order to develop enquiring minds
- committed to the principle of equality for all children
- relevant to the needs and interests of all children
- able to provide all children with the skills to develop their potential intellectually, physically and emotionally
- able to allow each child to question, acquire self-knowledge and develop independence
- able to provide children with the opportunity to develop their own self-esteem.
2.2
The curriculum will be taught using a variety of teaching styles and groupings, as appropriate to the intellectual and emotional development of the needs of the children.
All children will be provided with opportunities to learn from a wide range of experiences.
All teaching will be planned to develop individuals’ potential and will take account of both previous and future learning needs.
Children will have regular and constructive feedback about their work.
All children will, commensurate with their ability and maturity, be expected to evaluate their work and social relationships in order to improve personal standards and enhance relationships.
The Foundation Stage
This specifies a curriculum for all children between 3 and the end of the Reception Year. This encompasses the following areas;
1Personal, social and emotional development
2Communication, language and literacy
3Mathematics
4Knowledge and understanding of the world
5Physical development
6Creative development
Curriculum 2000
The National Curriculum specifies four key stages in relation to the period of compulsory schooling. These are
Years 1 & 2Key Stage 1Age 5 – 7 years
Years 3, 4, 5 & 6Key Stage 2Age 7 – 11 years
Years 7, 8 & 9Key Stage 3Age 11 – 14 years
Years 10 & 11Key Stage 4Age 14 – 16 years
At this school the curriculum covers the whole of Key Stage 1 and the first two years of Key Stage 2. Children are tested at the end of each key stage (SAT’s). There is liaison with middle schools to ensure continuity. The National Curriculum comprises the following subjects, together with Religious Education, within this school. These are English, Mathematics, Science, Information & Communications Technology, Technology, History, Geography, Music, Art, PE, PHSE and Citizenship. In addition, children will be introduced to environmental awareness, personal and social education and multi-cultural issues as these would affect the society in which they live.
English
In Year R language skills are taught through much oral work and the Letters and Sounds Scheme. In classes 1 to 4 the children are taught language skills as set out in the Literacy Framework. It provides for a structured and detailed approach to the teaching of reading and the development of writing and associated skills. We regard it as important to provide opportunities and encourage children to record their work, paying attention to the formal aspects of language such as punctuation, dictation, spelling, grammar, dictionary work and comprehension. We also place great importance on handwriting and children are taught a joined-up style from the earliest years.
We have a variety of reading books, fiction and non-fiction, but our main scheme books are Ginn All Aboard and Oxford Reading Tree Years 1-4. In the Reception class children take home a suitable story book for them to share with their parents. We aim to encourage a love of all books and children are encouraged to choose library books to take home. This is in addition to a reading book, which they will bring home regularly. Children are encouraged to talk and listen to each other, in a variety of situations, such as discussing news from home, visits made, relevant news items, their ideas and opinions, as well as their own work.
2.3
Mathematics
All classes follow the mathematics programme as laid down in the Numeracy Framework. Mathematical skills are encouraged through investigations, problem-solving activities and mathematical and logic games, ensuring real life applications are brought into the classroom.
Science
Science in the National Curriculum is divided into four strands. These are scientific investigations, life processes and living things, materials and their properties and physical processes. Children undertake work in all these strands at each level. Much of the science work is of a practical nature but children are introduced to measuring, recording and writing up of experiments.
ICT (Information & Communications Technology)
Children will be taught how to use ICT equipment and software confidently and they will be given opportunities for word processing, data handling, design and control. The school has approximately 30 computer systems, all of which are linked to the Internet. These are situated in each classroom and in a mobile trolley which hosts laptops. Children have regular access to computer programs to develop their ICT skills in addition to their daily maths programme. All classes have the facility for interactive teaching through white boards and projectors.
Design & Technology
In design and technology, children will be given opportunities to design and make a range of artefacts using a wide selection of materials. The subject also includes working with fabrics and cookery.
History
In history, children will be given opportunities to develop an awareness of the past and how that differs from the present. This will also include understanding some of the ways in which we find out about the past. Most of the work confines itself to local and British history. At Key Stage 1 children will be finding out more about their recent past as it affects them and their families, as well as looking at topics such as Victorians and Explorers. At Key Stage2 they will be looking specifically at Invaders and Settlers, i.e. Romans, Anglo Saxons and Vikings, Henry VIII and The Second World War.
Geography
In Geography at Key Stage 1 children will be investigating their local area and following topics which will develop their geographical understanding, such as water, ourselves, shops, etc. They will also study a contrasting area to further their geographical understanding. At Key Stage 2 children will study a contrasting UK locality, weather and climate, environmental issues together with more detailed studies of the local area.
Art
Children will be given opportunities to experience different approaches to art, craft and design. As well as being taught about colour, pattern and texture, line and tone, etc. they will also develop their understanding of the work of famous artists and craftsmen.
Music
We aim to develop children’s understanding and enjoyment of music through performing and composing, listening and appraising. We aim to provide opportunities for the whole school to perform in musical concerts, e.g. at Christmas. Some children are able to learn the violin or piano from Year 3, the selection being based on aptitude and ability. There is a termly charge for violin tuition. A guitar club meets once a week.