AlfordPrimary School is a co-educational community school catering for children aged between 4 and 11. The children are currently organised into mixed ability classes in four departments.
Foundation Stage / [Reception]Key Stage 1 / [Year Groups 1 & 2]
Lower Key Stage 2 / [Year Groups 3 & 4]
Upper Key Stage 2 / [Year Groups 56]
The School is housed in modern buildings on the edge of town in quiet surroundings away from passing traffic. There is a large outdoor play area and sports field. Children have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of sporting and arts activities.
The School has well equipped classrooms, KS1 and KS2 libraries, and a large hall. Children have access to anICT Suite and class computers which are linked to the Local Authority network. We have a wide variety of musical instruments and children are encouraged to join the music clubs and take part in performances.
In the town there are 2 playgroups, Mon Ami and Qwackers which many of our pupils attend before transferring to our Foundation Stage unit. The School has an excellent relationship with the Alford Secondary Schools - the JohnSpendluffeTechnologyCollege and the Queen Elizabeth’s GrammarAcademySchool. Situated adjacent to the School is theAlford Children’s Centre.
The School plays an active part in the life of the town and has forged good links with the local community. There is an active Friends of the School Association. The School is committed to creating and maintaining good relationships between home and school. We have worked with parents to draw up a Home/School Agreement which we hope will strengthen that relationship for the benefit of your child.
1)To provide the highest quality teaching and learning that is structured to meet the individual needs and abilities of all children.
2)To raise standards of achievement for all pupils in Literacy and Numeracy throughout the School.
3)To enable children to learn to express themselves creatively through Art, Music, Drama and Dance.
4)To develop technological and scientific understanding through an investigational and practical approach.
5)To develop children’s confidence and competency in technical and scientific skills.
6)To promote the use of information technology to enhance the quality of teaching and learning across the curricula.
7)To promote a positive attitude towards physical activity and to provide opportunities for children to develop appropriate skills in all areas of PE.
8)To foster a caring community by promoting the importance of working together and showing consideration and support for each other.
9)To improve the quality of the School’s environment and resources.
10)To consider and respond to the needs of all personnel for their continued professional development within the context of the school’s overall needs.
11)To improve the ways in which we communicate and share information with parents and the wider community and to develop the ways in which we include and involve them in the work and life of the School.
12)To promote children’s understanding of social, moral and spiritual issues.
13)To provide a wide range of extra curricular activities for our pupils.
Admissions
Normally children start school in the September before their fifth birthday. They begin in the Reception classes with part days and progress to full time. You are very welcome to look round if you are considering sending your child to this School. Admission forms can be collected from the School office from the end of September and should be returned to the School Admissions Team at Lincoln by the specified date in December.
The Schools Admissions Team will send out offers of places to parents on 31st March. Late requests for admissions should be given direct to the School and they will be dealt with in the order they are received.
Delegation
The County Council has delegated to individual community and controlled schools the decisions about which pupils to admit. The schools must, however, apply the County Council’s Admissions Policy in every respect. In particular, schools which have more applicants than places available will apply the over-subscription criteria detailed below.
In accordance with the Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs, the allocation of school places for pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs will take place before schools allocate other places as part of the annual admissions process.
Where schools have more applications than places, they must apply the following criteria in the order listed. Words marked with a number e.g. 1 2 3 are explained separately at the end.
PRIMARY SCHOOL POLICY
- The School is one preferred by the parents.
- The child is in the care of the Local Authority;
- There is a sibling1 who will still be attending the school when the child is due to start;
- Access to the School. The following will be taken into consideration in the order below:
(i)Whether this is the school closest to the home3address (measured as in (ii) below).
(ii)Driving distance2from home3to school. The distance is measured electronically by the LA from the post office address point of the home to the post office address point of the school.
Explanation and Definitions:
1.Sibling
A full brother or full sister, whether or not resident in the same household.
Another child normally resident for the majority of term time in the same household, for whom an adult in the household has parental responsibility as defined in the children Act 1989.
In the case of twins (or two siblings in the same age cohort) and where there is only one place available in the School, both will be considered together as one application. The School will be authorised to exceed its Admission Number by one, except if this breaches infant class size regulations. In this case, parents will be given the choice, either to accept the one place available and a place in a different school for the other twin (or sibling) or to accept places in the nearest school with two places. In the latter instance, the County Council will provide free transport for both children, provided the distance from home to school qualifies.
2.Distance from home to school
Driving distance from home to school. The distance is measured electronically by the School Admissions Team from the post office address point of the home to the post office address point of the school.
3.Home address (“place of residence”)
This is the address where the child lives for the majority of the school term time with a parent who has parental responsibility as defined in the Children Act 1989 and a parent includes a person who is not a parent but who has responsibility for her/him.
This could include a pupil’s guardians but will not usually include other relatives such as grandparents, aunts, uncles etc unless they have all the rights, duties, powers and responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and her/his property.
Prior to starting School we shall need to see children’s birth certificates to confirm date of birth. In accordance with the Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs, the allocation of school places for pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs will take place before other places are allocated as part of the annual admissions process.
Transfer at eleven
Most children transfer to JohnSpendluffeTechnologyCollege or Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School. However, you may wish to apply to another school and you should make this choice on the Secondary School Preference Form. When your child is in Year 5 you will be asked whether you want them to take the 11+ tests for entry to a Grammar School. These tests are taken in our School.
We offer children a wide range of activities in the National Curriculum subjects:
Maths, English, History, Geography, Science, Art
Physical Education, Design & Technology, Music,
Information & Communication Technology, French
and Personal Social Health Education
The School is very committed to raising standards of achievement in the basic skills of Maths and English. There are daily Literacy and Numeracy sessions with every class and support programmes are in place to enhance the reading skills and comprehension of all pupils. In 2008, the School was awarded the prestigious Basic Skills Quality Mark for the fourth time in recognition of its ongoing achievements in raising standards. Equally we believe that children should have a wide and varied curriculum and the School has been awarded the Arts Mark GoldAward for its commitment to developing art, music, dance and drama. Achievement and the Activemark which is awarded to schools which can demonstrate an ongoing commitment to promote sport in school and as an extra-curricular activity.
Children are generally taught by their own class teacher but may have some subjects with other teachers. In class, teachers take a variety of approaches using class, group and individual teaching as appropriate to meet the needs of all children. Further details of what is taught and how you can help are included in the booklet ‘Parents’ Guide to the Curriculum’.
We teach the Lincolnshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. Assemblies are non-denominational. If you wish to withdraw your child from either, please contact the Headteacher so that alternative provision may be made.
All age groups follow a health education programme and Sex Education forms a part of the Health Education programme in Years 5 and 6. Further details are available in the ‘Parents’ Guide to the Curriculum’.
What should I do if I have any concerns?
If any problems do arise, we are very determined to work with you to resolve them.
In the first instance, it is best to share your concerns immediately with your child’s class teacher. Teachers are usually available for a brief meeting at both ends of the School day or for matters requiring further discussion an appointment can be made with them.
The Headteacher may be able to help and again she is usually available for parents at the start of each School day.
If, however, you are not satisfied with the response of the class teacher or Headteacher, then you may wish to consider making a formal complaint to the Governing Body. A document setting out this procedure is available from the School.
Children with Special Needs
The School does not have a special class for children who have learning difficulties. We try to cater for these children within the normal class by making extra help available. We also seek help from home. If, at any stage, special provision is required, we would discuss this with you. In order to access the support and monitor progress, we would place your child on the School’s own Special Needs Register whilst they are receiving this help.
The School employs a Special Needs Co-ordinator who gives advice to class teachers and helps to organise programmes of work. The School has in place enhancement programmes to help individuals with reading and language development and numeracy. If children experience on-going problems, with your permission, we might need to seek further advice and help from Education or Health Support Services. Where children have significant difficulties, it may be necessary to seek a Statement of Special Educational Needs to secure appropriate help. At all stages we would keep you informed and discuss progress with you.
Some children may need special help that we cannot give and may be better cared for at a school where there is more appropriate provision. If you have any concerns about your child’s development before starting school your Doctor or Health Visitor may be able to give you advice as to whether an assessment of your child’s needs would be helpful.
Homework
Children are asked to do some work at home. This will vary according to the age and ability of your child. It may involve reading, learning tables, spelling, finishing work or research. The activities will usually be to consolidate or enhance work done in School.
The ‘Parents’ Guide to the Curriculum’ includes suggestions of educational activities that children can do at home.
Policy on Photographs
As part of our normal curriculum activities, children may occasionally be included in photographs or recordings that are taken during the School day. These are usually relating to a project that their class are doing and are available for you to see or they may be taken whilst your child is taking part in a special event organised for children at the school eg Arts days, fundraising, sporting tournaments, presentations etc.
In addition, sometimes photographs/recordings are used in exhibitions, ondisplays of work in classrooms and corridors, on the School website and also in newspapers which may be covering School events. Photographs shown on the school website would not include names which identified individual children
Also as a record of their children growing up many parents understandably like to take photographs, recordings of their children taking part in School performances, assemblies etc.
However we also are sensitive to those parents who may not wish their child’s photographs to be taken or used for any school purpose.
In order that we to comply with LA Guidelines on Safeguarding Children and the Data Protection Act I should be grateful if you could sign the consent slip which is contained in the brochure pack giving your permission for photographs and recordings of your child to be made and displayed in accordance with the School’s policy.
Extra Curricular Activities
In addition to normal School work, a variety of further activities are held for children. Details are given each term.
These activities normally take place after school (3.15pm - 4.15pm) or during the lunch time. In addition, the School competes in the local East Coast District Primary Sports Association events. Therefore your child might be asked to represent the School in a variety of sports outside school time.
The Governing Body recognise the valuable contribution that visits, clubs and residential experiences can make towards pupils’ personal and social education. Therefore, the Governors would support and encourage such activities taking place both within and outside the school day. However, many of these activities involve additional expenditure by the School on behalf of the child. The 1988 Education Reform Act sought to clarify the position regarding charges that may be made to parents.
The Governors have drawn up the following policy on charges:~
Activities which take place during the school day. (Educational visits, visits to school ie. musicians, theatre groups, swimming etc). / Under the Act, parents are not legally obliged to pay but it would normally be necessary to request voluntary contributions in order to ensure that the activity could take place.Activities which take place wholly or mainly outside the school day. (Year 5/6 visit, evening or weekend visit to theatre). / Parents would be required to pay full cost of such activities where these activities are not a necessary part of the national curriculum.
Residential activities which are deemed to take place mainly inside school hours. / Parents would be required to pay for full cost of board and lodging and may be asked for voluntary contributions to cover other expenses.*
Instrumental tuition (in school time). / Charges may now be made , see guidance under Charges for Music Tuition (England) Regs. 2007, only as long as the teaching is not an essential part of the N.C.
Materials used in school (Art/craft/science materials, ingredients for baking). / No charge will be made but parents may occasionally be asked to donate materials or ingredients etc. Any donations for such materials will be voluntary.
*Pupils whose parents are in receipt of Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance,an income related employment & support allowance, support under part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999, the guarantee element of Pension Credit or Child Tax Credit (but do not receive Working Tax Credit) and have an annual taxable income of less than £16,190 from 6.4.10may be exempt from these charges.
The Governors would not wish to exclude children from any activity and if there are any cases of family hardship, then parents are invited to apply, in confidence, for a remission of charges in part or in full. Authorisation of remission will be made by the Headteacher in consultation with the Chairman of the Governors.
The Governors have adopted a practical school clothing policy which has recognised the viewpoints of parents and also allows maximum flexibility and value for money. We expect children to come to School in suitable and sensible, clean and tidy clothing. These should be in the School colours as follows:
Maroon:Sweatshirt/Jumper/Cardigan
Blue or White:Shirt/Blouse/Polo shirt
Black or Grey:Trousers/skirt/shorts (not jeans)
Blue & White :Pinstripe or Gingham Summer dress
School Shoes:
Sensible low heel school shoes/sandals should be worn for normal school use.
Trainers should not be worn for normal classroom use.
Metal and kitten heels on shoes/boots can be dangerous when children are running and do damage our hall floor, so we would ask that children do not wear these in School.
You may wish to purchase sweatshirts or polo shirts with the School’s logo. They are good quality and are very suitable for school wear; order forms and samples are available in the office. We also offer for sale PE kit and you may wish to purchase a Legionnaire’s hat which offers some protection from the sun.
For safety and security reasons we would recommend that children do not wear jewellery but if they do it should be discreet and appropriate. In particular, in order to prevent accidents any earrings should be stud and children should have them covered for PE or be able to remove them.