Catholic and Church of England Primary School
Southend Rd, Sheffield, S2 5FT /
Chair of Governors: Dawn Reed
Headteacher: Huw Thomas
Deputy Headteacher: Helen Simmerson / Tel. 01142766474
11 October 2018
Dear Candidate
I am delighted that you are considering taking up the opportunity to lead our school, Emmaus.
As Sheffield’s first joint-denominational school we have been innovative from day one, and have spent the past five years establishing Emmaus. Our current Headteacher Huw Thomas is taking up a new position as Diocesan Director of Education and will be greatly missed. We are now looking for someone who can build on developments to date and lead a great staff team, taking on the challenge of securing a ‘Good’ grade at OfSTED and moving the school forward seeking academy status.
As Chair of Governors, and a former parent and someone who comes from the local area, I am clear that the qualities most needed are the vision and enthusiasm to stimulate education and encourage our children to reach their very best.
We are very much a church school and seek a candidate who can inspire this aspect of our work. In return you will have the support of the Anglican Diocese of Sheffield and the Catholic Diocese of Hallam.
We serve an area some would label ‘challenging’, but we offer a good group of parents who are aspirational for their children. It’s important that the next Headteacher continues to build good relations with the community. As part of that we would also look to the successful candidate to continue the excellent relationships we have with the local schools in our district – the ‘Locality C’ collaboration is now held up across the city as a model of good practice, and our new Headteacher will be joining a supportive and innovative local team.
Much of what I have to say about the school can be seen by paying a visit. The children are lovely and well behaved, and we are proud of the calm learning environment we have managed to create within the school, the staff team are welcoming and caring, and will be a huge support to our next Headteacher.
I hope the enclosed information will inspire your thinking and support your discernment. Should you have any questions, need any clarification or wish to visit the school please contact Emmaus on 0114 2766474.
We look forward to meeting you.
Kind regards
Dawn Reed
Chair of Governors
EMMAUS
Catholic and Church of England Primary School
Welcome
to
EMMAUS
A Guide for Parents and Carers
Emmaus Catholic and Church of England Primary school opened in September 2006, having been formed out of St Oswald’s Catholic and St John’sChurch of England Primary schools.
It is a joint denominational school, from within two Christian churches, so it’s appropriate that it gets its name from a story of disciples of Jesus, travelling and learning together.
Here’s the story:
It’s Called ‘Emmaus’
Sunday after the crucifixion.
Two disciples are legging it out of Jerusalem. The heat is on and they leave the city, heading for the little village of Emmaus (pronounced “Eee-may-us”). The risen Jesus falls in alongside them, a common traveling practice at a time when roads were lonely and journeys risky.
Thing is, they don’t twig it’s him.
Whether he keeps a scarf round his face or looks different now, we’re not told.
I suppose the last person you expect to see is the one you saw suffer the most cruel and torturous of deaths, just last Friday.
“What you talking about?” he asks, as he pulls alongside them.
And they are amazed.
How could someone have been in Jerusalem and not know what had happened to the man people thought was their big liberator the Messiah?
How could this dope not have picked up the news about his death and the rumours about him?
They then discover the stranger does know a thing or two. He challenges them, with teaching that starts with the books of Moses, explaining everything written there about God’s plan for their Messiah, about his suffering and death.
By the time they reach their destination they are so excited by this lesson, they beg the stranger to stay with them.
It’s at the meal time, as he breaks the bread, that they realise who it is. At that point he vanishes.
They run back to Jerusalem, completely changed by the encounter, recalling that, as he walked with them and taught them on the road, it was like a fire burning within them.
Our school takes its name from this gospel story found in the New Testament, in Luke 24 verses 13 to 32.
It’s a story about a journey together, meeting Christ on the way.
It describes learning like a fire burning within.
It’s an exciting journey.
That’s our school. It’s called ‘Emmaus’.
The Christian Faith
We are a joint denominational school, which means we are part of two church families – the Church of England and the Catholic Church.
Spirituality is central to the life of the school. We aim to present children with Christianity at its most lively and engaging.
Children at Emmaus attend Christian assemblies, receive a Christian syllabus in their RE lessons and attend mass and other celebrations at church. Christian faith is also integral to every policy and procedure underpinning children’s education.
Parents are a child’s primary educators in faith. We seek to support them in this area. Through opportunities, such as our Alpha course and “MessyChurch,” we offer parents the opportunity to learn more about the Christian faith that will be such an important feature of their child’s school.
What Parents Say
When we surveyed our parents for their views on the school, they said:
- 46% agree, and 45% strongly agree with the statement, “My child enjoys school.“
- 55% agree, and 38% strongly agree with the statement, “My child is making good progress because the teaching is good at school.“
- 48% agree, and 42% strongly agree with the statement, “I feel that my child is safe and well cared for at school.“
…but we’re not complacent (46+45 isn’t 100!) and encourage parents and carers to tell us if they have any ideas, questions or concerns.
STARTING OUT
Our Foundation Stage unit is an extremely good and popular one. It is an education based Nursery where our priorities are the progress of young children’s learning. It’s also fun – children have the chance to play in sand and water, enjoying outdoor toys, and also to make a start on the first steps of the school curriculum.
Foundation Stage is very much a part of the whole school.
We may do the occasional separate events but we also keep the whole school together as one family.
Children enter the nursery from three years of age. We offer five half day places – mornings or afternoons. There is pressure for places so any interested parent needs to apply as soon as possible.
Parents need to be aware that children in Nursery are not guaranteed a school place at Emmaus. In the Autumn of each year parents of up and coming four year olds apply for a school place.
PROSPECTIVE PARENTS ARE WELCOME TO VISIT and information about applications can be obtained by calling the school.
THE SCHOOL DAY
Morning Routine
Nursery and Reception children can come into school from 8.45, using the doors on the covered playground. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to open the covered area prior to schools starting.
For Key Stage 1 and 2 children the day starts on the playground.
At 8.45 the bell rings and children are met by their class teacher, who brings them in to start the day. It takes a few minutes to sort the lines and come inside but by 8.50 children should be getting into class. That’s when the register is done and the school day begins.
Children arriving up to 8.50am either come in with their class or if the class have already gone in use the bottom door, from the playground, to join them.
If it’s raining in a morning we open the doors at 8.40, so children can gain access to the building from this time onwards. It gives a window of time to arrive and not wait in rain.
Absence
If your child is unwell and unable to come to school, please telephone the school office and tell us what the problem is and when you expect your child to return to school. They will then receive an “ill” mark in the register and we can authorise the absence.
Lateness
Children arriving after 8.50 are late. They will be signed in at the school office and then sent to class.
The more we can reduce lateness the better for these classes. Latecomers inevitably disturb the class – including those who have arrived and started on time. There are some mornings when the routine at home goes awry but we do have to tackle persistent lateness.
Attendance and Punctuality Incentives
In order to encourage punctual and regular attendance at school we offer incentive prizes. These are awarded on a monthly basis and change from time to time. There is also a class party each term for the best class attendance.
What if I need to speak to someone?
If you need to see someone, you should get to see someone and you will get a prompt response. The Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher maintain the routine of trying to see people who need to see someone – trying to avoid putting things off to an appointment. In our experience, parents often want to chat straight away about a concern, and we try to meet that need.
Breakfast Club
We provide a healthy breakfast club run by parent/volunteers to help our children and their families have a good start to the day. Younger children can attend with an adult and children in years 3 to 6 can come by themselves.
Dinner
Dinner hour is 12.00 to 1.00.
End of the Day
At the end of the day, Nursery and Reception children can be collected from the classroom.
Key Stage 1 and 2 children are brought onto the playground – Key Stage 1 at 3.05pm on the top playground and Key Stage 2 at 3.10pm on the bottom playground.
The Drive
Parents are asked not to drive their cars onto the school drive at any time – it presents a real risk to children coming to and going home from school.
Healthy Eating
Until children reach KS2 they are provided with free fruit and milk is also free for those children who are eligible for free school meals. For older children, Monitors sell fruit and milk at morning break-time, milk will continue to be free for those eligible.
School Dinners
We offer a healthy menu of school meals which can be paid for at the school office. The menu is on the notice board at the office.
Free school meals entitlement transfers automatically to the new school. Parents are asked to try and bring the correct change when paying monies to the office and we only accept dinner money to the office in the morning.
Your children can have free school meals if you or your partner are receiving job seekers allowance, you or your partner receive income support or you or your partner receive child tax credit, or working tax credit and your annual income isn’t more than £16,190.(as at March 2012)
One of the ways our school is funded is according to the number of families claiming free school meals. Every child on free meals gives a little boost to the schools budget. It’s just one of those statistics used by the council to manage school budgets. I would ask every parent who is eligible to put in for free school meals, EVEN IF YOUR CHILD BRINGS A PACKED LUNCH.
Please contact the school to register for free school meals, if you are entitled to them.
LEARNING AT EMMAUS
How is my child getting on with learning?
At Emmaus we are committed to making the most of every child’s potential.
There are various ways parents can be informed about children’s progress.
Chat to the Teacher
Children arrive at school and the teacher meets them in the playground. This provides a time for any informal and quick chats that may be needed – but we also make a point of ensuring parents can make appointments to talk to class teachers. They just need to leave a message at the school office.
Progress Cards
We will send out updates of children’s progress, showing where they start the year and how they progress in the terms that follow.
Goals
Children devise goals for learning with their class teacher – the things they need to work on in the coming weeks and really secure. Children will get to know what these goals are and need to be encouraged as they share them.
Open Evenings
Three times a year we invite parents and carers into school for an open evening, when we update you on children’s progress.
Annual Report
At the end of the year children receive an annual report, giving parents information on their progress across the curriculum.
Special Educational Needs
Through our assessment and tracking of children we are able to target those who may need additional support. There are those who we call ‘School Action’ children – where we use the support mechanisms in school to do things like giving extra help in reading or work with parents supporting spelling. Then there are ‘School Action Plus’ children. These are children for whom we draw support from outside school, such as additional advice and assessment. Support can take the form of:
differentiated work in class, with Teaching Assistant support
an individual plan for a child’s learning
intervention programmes, where children are withdrawn from class for specific courses of learning
Parents are kept informed of the above, and parents and carers of ‘School Action Plus’ children are invited to review meetings at school.
How can I help my child at school?
There are four things every parent and carer can do to really help a child at school:
make sure children get a good night’s sleep
support them in their homework
talk to children about school
keep in touch – let us know if there are any concerns, or anything to celebrate
make sure your child maintains good, punctual attendance
Talk about the day
One of the best things parents can do is have a positive chat with children about the school day. Children often don’t tell us much about the day, so one way of doing this is to ask about before and after dinner, the first lesson, what they did at the end of the day etc.
Don’t make it an interrogation – it’s about showing interest, listening to what children have been learning and checking they are happy and secure.
Homework
Emmaus teachers set homework and it is a requirement that children complete it – it’s not voluntary. To encourage children to complete their homework promptly and with the support of staff working with them, we encourage them to attend our homework clubs which operate for Y3/4 and Y5/6 each week.
It reinforces the basic skills of reading, writing and numeracy.
Class newsletters will provide an outline of what’s on the cards for each year group.
In years 5 and 6 children can also access SAM learning – an online revision and learning tool that supports children in the run-up to Key Stage 2 national tests.
YOUR CHILD AT EMMAUS
There are just five school rules:
- work hard
- follow instructions
- take care of each other
- respect the school and its property
- make Emmaus a good school for all
A PositiveSchool
Children who keep the rules are recognised using various methods of positive reinforcement.
We use these to positively reinforce children’s attainment of expectations- ‘catching them being good’.
Children
- receive stickers
- earn Star Points
- are involved in class based rewards
- receive letters home
- progress through the school’s various certificates
- receive school raffle tickets
- build up their Golden Time – a half hour’s activity time on Fridays
Emmaus Stars
Star Points are a way of celebrating good behaviour, designed to affirm those children who consistently keep the school rules.
Star points are collected in lessons and around school, and children can exchange the points they earn for star vouchers, which they can ‘spend’ at the Star Prize trolley every Friday.
Every half term we award certificates to children who have attained 100 Star Points and will invite parents to celebrate this with us.
This affirmation can really grab children’s enthusiasm and we hope you’ll encourage them to put a bit of starlight around the school!