Great Easton C of E (Aided) Primary School
GREAT EASTON CHURCH OF ENGLAND (AIDED) PRIMARY SCHOOL
SCHOOL PROSPECTUS 2008/2009
‘The outstanding curriculum is innovative and meets pupils’ interests extremely well’
OFSTED 2007
Great Easton C of E (Aided) Primary School
Great Easton
Dunmow
Essex
CM6 2DR
www.greateaston.essex.sch.uk
Tel: 01371 870219
Fax: 01371 870063
Dear Parent/Carer,
Thank you for showing an interest in Great Easton C of E (Aided) Primary school and I hope that you will find this prospectus informative.
Our school is distinguished by the partnership and atmosphere of trust between the church, family and school. High priority is given to providing quality learning experiences so that all individuals can achieve personal excellence within a happy and secure Christian environment. The school community encourages pupils to meet the challenges of life ahead by fostering positive attitudes, acquiring knowledge and skills and promoting a life-long enthusiasm for learning.
I am always pleased to show prospective parents around our school. If you would like an appointment please contact the office.
Yours sincerely
Damian Pye
Headteacher
CONTENTS
Key Information
Who works at our School
The Governors
What makes Great Easton School Special?
The school environment
The school in its community
Links to secondary schools
Admissions policy
When do children start school?
School organisation
Classroom organisation
The school day
Uniform policy
Educational visits and charging policy
School transport / Travel Plan
How children learn at Great Easton
The school curriculum
National Curriculum Subjects
Religious Education
Assessment
Special needs curriculum
Curriculum Enrichment
Daily life at Great Easton School
Arrival and departure
Absences
Arrangements for children who fall ill at school
Arrangements for children taking medication
Lunch time arrangements
Discipline
Friendship and Behaviour
Promoting a healthy school
Partnership with parents
Home/school agreement
The Parent/Teacher Association
How to find out what’s happening at school
How to help your child do well at school
Charging Policy
Home School Agreement
History of Great Easton School
Loose pages
Key dates
Key statistics
Administration Information Sheet
Admissions Form
Admissions Policy
Sample lunch Menu
Sanctions for Unacceptable Behaviour
Key Information
Address: Great Easton CE (Aided) Primary School
Great Easton
Great Dunmow
Essex CM6 2DR
Telephone: 01371 870219
Fax: 01371 870063
Headteacher: Mr Damian Pye
Chairman of Governors: Mr Robert Pickford
“Gunnsmead”
Great Easton
Essex CM6 2HD
Telephone: 01371 870351
Fax: 01371 870063
Email:
Website www.greateaston.essex.sch.uk
Status of school: Primary: children aged 4 – 11
Number of pupils: 146
Number intended to admit: 21
SCHOOL AIMS
Great Easton Church of England Aided Primary School is distinguished by the active partnership and atmosphere of trust between the church, family and school. High priority is given to providing quality learning experiences so that all individuals can achieve personal excellence within a happy and secure Christian environment. The school community encourages pupils to meet the challenges of life ahead by fostering positive attitudes, acquiring knowledge and skills and promoting a life-long enthusiasm for learning and we therefore embrace all 5 principles of the national ‘Every Child Matters’ guide.
Safeguarding Children
This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. A pupil may disclose information of a sensitive nature to a member of staff, at any time. If this happens, the procedures as described in the South Essex and Thurrock Child Protection Hand Book must be followed. This book is kept in the School Office and is available to view.
Who Works at Our School?
Teachers
Mr Damian Pye Headteacher
Ms Pippa Joiner Foundation Stage, Year 1 Teacher
Deputy Head / Maths & Creative Team Leader
Miss Sam Govey Class Teacher: Year 6 / English Team Leader
Miss Melanie Benson Class Teacher: Year 4/5 / ICT Team Leader
Mrs Claire Harland Class Teacher: Year 3/4 / Science Team Leader
Miss Chloe Bonich Class Teacher: Year 1/2
Mrs Julia Metson Cover Teacher /Humanities Team Leader
Mrs Lin Holme SENCO / SEN Team Leader
Teaching Assistants
Mrs Sue Gell Foundation Stage TA
Mrs Sheryl Crocker
Mrs Debbie Perriment
Mrs Tracy Sadler
Mr Lawrence Smith
Mrs Helen Williams
Mrs Jenny Wolff
Miss Elizabeth Page
Administration Team
Mrs Sally Rowe Administration Officer
Mrs Linda Thake Administration Assistant
Catering Staff
Mrs Carolyn Wiffen Catering Supervisor
Mrs Lorraine Sayer Catering Assistant
Mrs Jackie Sewell Catering Assistant
Mrs Sharon Williamson Catering assistant
Midday Assistants
Mrs Lorraine Sayer, Mrs Janice Casey, Mrs Debbie Perriment,
Mrs Jo Hargrave, Mrs Sue Ball, Mrs Sharon Williamson.
Sports Coach Scott Forbes
Peripatetic Music Teachers Linda Hargrave, Debbie Corsham, Nick Hunt, Ian Clay
The Governors
School Governors have overall responsibility for the policies which underpin the running of the school, for example deciding the admissions policy and the allocation of the school budget. They also have financial responsibility for repair and maintenance of the school buildings. They work in partnership with the Headteacher, Local Education Authority and Diocesan Education Office.
The governing board includes staff representatives, governors elected by parents and those nominated by the local education authority, parish councils and the diocese.
Great Easton School’s Governors are:
Mr Robert Pickford Chair / Foundation P.C.C
Mr Damian Pye Headteacher
Mrs Carolyn Bennett Foundation D.B.E.
Mrs Karen Scott Parent Governor
Rev’d Canon Ivy Crawford Foundation P.C.C.
Mrs Julia Metson Staff Governor
Mrs Sue Holden Foundation D.B.E.
Mr Lawrence Smith Staff Governor
Ms Pippa Joiner Staff Governor
Mrs Rachel Kesterton Vice Chair / Foundation P.C.C
Mrs Gillian Furlong LEA Governor
Mr Keith Tate Foundation D.B.E
Mrs Julie Neale Foundation D.B.E.
Mrs Alison Cohen Foundation D.B.E.
Mrs Margaret Turkington Clerk to Governors
D.B.E. (Diocesan Board of Education) P.C.C. (Parochial Church Council)
External educational support for the school
West Area Education Office: Crossman House
Station Approach
Braintree, Essex CM7 3QA
Tel: 01376 550202
County Education Office: Essex County Council
Education Department
County Hall
Victoria Road South
Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1LD
Tel: 01245 492211
Diocesan Office: Chelmsford Diocesan Office,
Guy Harlings,
53 New Street
Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1AT
Tel: 01245 266731.
What makes Great Easton School Special?
Great Easton School recognises the uniqueness of each of its pupils and strives to acknowledge and develop the individual talents of all of its children. It is a village school that provides a secure and happy environment where pupils are nurtured within the context of a Christian foundation and where the contribution of each individual is highly valued. Some of the features that make us special are listed below:
Opportunities for learning:
· An excellent staff team committed to raising attainment for all pupils and to maintaining consistently high standards.
· A high number of dedicated and experienced teaching assistants and classroom helpers.
· A positive learning atmosphere.
· Extension classes for our more able children.
· We don’t just expect achievement – we celebrate it, musical, artistic and sporting as well as academic.
· All children participate in an enrichment afternoon involving sport and extra curricular activities including French, Craft/Design, Environmental Walks, Music, Movement and Rhythm, Cookery and School Newspaper.
· Strong musical and sporting traditions.
· An annual school production which has a role for everyone, not just the most confident and extrovert.
· Spacious facilities, including a library, resources room, music room, multi-purpose hall and extensive grounds which include a pond, outdoor decked staging, an early years play area, and an environmental study area to facilitate learning.
· A School Council of children elected by their peers which enables pupils to influence how the school develops and introduces them to the workings of democracy.
· Participation in inter-school projects involving sports, games, drama and music.
· A range of extra –curricular clubs and activities.
Opportunities for social development:
· High value is placed on creating well-rounded pupils who are able to communicate clearly and to form warm and caring relationships.
· Children are encouraged to become independent learners whilst developing tolerance, understanding and respect for others and for their environment.
· An active community partnership between church, family and school with much participation from the school in the life of the church and the community.
· A widely admired active Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and “hands-on”, hardworking governors.
An environment of which we are very proud:
· A peaceful rural location with plenty of grassed as well as hard outdoor space and beautiful views.
· An enclosed safe activity area for our Early Years children.
· An outdoor quiet area and environmental area designed by our children.
· Security locks on all external doors.
These features are recognised by the government, local education authority and outside agencies and have resulted in the following awards.
· Investors in People Award May 2002
· Essex School Award July 2002
· DFES School Achievement Award 2001, 2002, 2003.
· Healthy Schools Intermediate Award 2002
· Healthy Schools Advanced Award 2003
· Healthy Schools National Award 2006
· Activemark 2007
· Outstanding in all areas OFSTED 2007
The School Environment
Great Easton School is in a peaceful location with stunning rural views. It is situated on the B184 between Great Dunmow and Thaxted in North West Essex. It is a village primary school for pupils of 4+ to 11+. The school catchment is situated within the parish boundaries of Great Easton, Little Easton, Tilty, Broxted and Chickney although we also welcome many children from Great Dunmow and surrounding villages. Most pupils journey to school by county transport, car or walking bus.
We are very fortunate in our extensive grounds that include a hard play area with seating, grassed area with pitches, all weather area with play equipment, an outdoor environmental area and quiet area. The quiet area includes a pergola, wooden seating and planters and has a multitude of uses including writing, sketching, reflection and assembly. The environmental area includes a pond, bird feeding area and wild flower garden which the children maintain.
The school buildings include six learning areas, a library, multi-purpose hall, a small music room and working kitchen. The original Victorian structure now houses the administration block.
The School in its Community
The school is proud of the active part it plays in the community. We participate regularly in church services. These include involvement in Harvest, Christmas, Easter and Christingle services. The Annual Year 6 Leavers’ service also takes place in Great Easton Church. We are able to use the walking bus route to travel to the church. We also have access to the set of handbells at Great Easton Church.
We welcome many visitors from the local area to the school including our Rector, parents and governors. They often come to help with activities at the school. All our governors are drawn from the local community. We have a register of local experts who are able to enrich curricular activities at our school. We also receive visitors from further afield such as visiting artists or musicians.
We organise regular fundraising events for charity such as Comic Relief, the Children’s Society, the British Heart Foundation and Children in Need.
Fundraising is also particularly important for the school because we have Church Aided status. This means that for every building development project that we undertake the governors have to find 10% of the total cost of the project. This is financed by the Rebecca Meade Trust (see the final section in the history of the school). The rest of the funding is supplied by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).
Links to Secondary Schools
The school falls within the catchment area of Helena Romanes School in Dunmow for secondary education. The majority of our children go on there, but others regularly go on to Newport Free Grammar school and to schools in Bishops Stortford and Saffron Walden.
Parents may also enter their child for the 11+ examination for entry to the Chelmsford and Colchester Grammar Schools.
When do children start school?
All children whose fifth birthday falls within the next school year (1st September – 31st August ) will be admitted in the September of the year that they are five.
However, a child whose birthday falls between 1st May and 31st August (inclusive) will not be expected to attend full time until the beginning of the Spring term (January), although this is reviewed at the half term in October.
In order to ease the transition between home and / or nursery and playgroup and school, we invite children who are starting school the following term to visit us in the preceding term. The children have an opportunity to meet staff and they become familiar with the school routines and with what will be expected of them when they begin school. This reduces anxiety levels about a new experience and in many cases leads to eagerness to begin school immediately!
What if the school is over subscribed?
When the school is over-subscribed, the Admissions Policy comes into force. A copy of this is supplied as a loose sheet.
Policies
The Governors have policies for Race Equality and Equal Opportunities. These, along with all other school policies and our procedure for complaints are available in the school office for anyone wishing to see them.
School Organisation
The school has five classrooms and a resources area for seven year groups.
The children are grouped into classes according to numbers in each year group. Therefore, as with all small schools, most classes have mixed ages.
Our staff is very experienced in planning the teaching and learning for these mixed age classes. All children are able to work at the level that meets their needs and extends their learning. This is achieved by following up whole class activities by working in small groups that are supported by the teacher and teaching assistants.
Pupils are taught for 25 hours per week. This includes the National Curriculum, (see later for details), Personal and Social Education and Religious Education. In addition to this we have morning and afternoon registration, collective worship, break and lunch times. We recognise that these times are very important for developing, social and community skills.
The School Day
8.45 Registration
10.45 - 11.00 Break time Key Stage 1
11.00 - 11.15 Break time Key Stage 2
12.15 - 13.15 Lunch time