school prospectus 2011

Kingsbury Episcopi Primary School Stembridge

Martock

Somerset

TA12 6BP

Telephone: 01460 240507

Facsimile: 01460 241879

[email protected]

www.kingsburyepiscopiprimary.co.uk

Kingsbury Episcopi

Primary School

School Prospectus 2011

Dear Parents,

Welcome to our School. In this brochure you will find much of the basic information

you may require about our school. We would encourage you to visit our school and meet the staff and children. Please contact the office to arrange an appointment

today.

We are very proud of our school and all its achievements. The success is built upon

the strong partnership which exists between children, parents, teachers and governors.

Our school is a happy and caring place which we hope you will wish to be a part of.

Wayne Higgins Headteacher

Page 19

Absence If your child is absent from school please telephone the school office on the first morning of absence.

We believe that every day in school is important for your child’s education, and we discourage parents from taking their children on term time holidays. There needs to be exceptional and

compelling reasons if we are to authorise a term time holiday.

The 100 Club The ‘100 Club’ arranges a monthly draw for cash prizes. The funds raised help to keep parental contributions for swimming at a reasonable level and ensure the upkeep and development of

the pool. All members pay £12.00 per year. Their 100-Club number is entered into the monthly draw. 50% of the money is paid back in prizes ranging from £10.00 to £100.00. The remainder

goes into the swimming pool fund.

Racial Equality We recognise and welcome the legal duties contained in the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 as it applies to our school. We seek to celebrate the diverse nature of our society and are

committed to ensuring race equality in all areas of our work and are determined to tackle racism in all it’s forms.

Sex and Relationships Education Sex and Relationships Education is an aspect of our Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) programme which is followed by all children in all years, following national guidelines.

Specific sex education lessons are given to Year 5 and 6 pupils and have been drawn up in

accordance with the LEA’s guidelines. Parents have the right to withrdraw their children from the sex education if they so wish and are given the opportunity to discuss and view the

programme with the class teacher.

Safeguarding Children The safety of our children is paramount. We have in place a rigorous Child Protection Policy, in accordance with county guidelines.

The health and safety of pupils is of paramount importance at all times. Governors ensure that

health and safety inspections of the school premises are carried out on a regular basis.

Complaints If you have a problem concerning your child, please make an appointment to see the class teacher at the earliest opportunity.

Most problems can be dealt with informally in this way. If the problem is unable to be

resolved, please make an appointment to discuss the matter with the Headteacher.

If the above procedures prove unsuccessful a formal complaint may be made to the Chair of Governors c/o the school.

As a school we feel it is important to promote a caring

and supportive environment to enable all members of the school community to feel secure, respected and

therefore promote good behaviour in others.

The development of personal qualities and social skills

and the fostering of socially acceptable behaviour are an integral aspect of the school curriculum and

therefore all staff need to be consistent and careful planning must evolve around all areas of the

curriculum.

We aim:

• to ensure consistency and the welfare of all children

• to be fair and be seen to be fair

• to treat everyone with respect

• to have clear expectations

• to provide activities to encourage positive behaviour

‘Our School Golden Rules’

The code of conduct at the school is intended to

encourage pupils to develop a respect for those around them, their books, equipment and the school

as a whole.

Our School Golden Rules were written by the School

Council after discussion with all the children.

Our school rules aim to promote positive behaviour. They are as follows:

• We respect our school surroundings and everybody in

it.

• We are kind and friendly to everyone and treat them

as we would like to be treated. • We try our best at all times.

• We speak and listen at the right times.

• We understand that every pupil has the right to

learn.

Good Behaviour for Learning

The School and it’s facilities Kingsbury Episcopi Primary School is a small rural primary school and is part of the Somerset Local

Authority. The original Victorian buildings have been carefully renovated and developed to

provide five classes for currently 134 children.

We have state of the art ICT equipment with

interactive whiteboards and projectors in every classroom, a well resourced ICT suite of 18

networked computers, and a class set of wireless- enabled netbooks.

Kingsbury School has well resourced grounds

with a heated open-air swimming pool, a sports field, a wildlife pond, a raised bed

allotment, gazebo, picnic tables and seating and two excellent outdoor play equipment

areas.

Vision and Values At Kingsbury Episcopi Primary School the

Children, Staff and Governors agree to: • Keep your child safe and healthy;

• Encourage your child’s full potential;

• Provide interesting and challenging

learning opportunities;

• Stimulate your child’s interest in, and

wonder about, the world around us.

• Our Curriculum is creative, stimulating and fun, with

links to our local community, geography, history, music and contains a range of opportunities for the use of

ICT.

• Every child is an individual with individual learning

needs and they have the right to reach their full

potential through high quality teaching and learning.

• We will celebrate everyone’s achievements wherever

and whenever they occur.

• We expect good behaviour, mutual trust and

respect from everyone.

• We will provide a wide range of extra curricular

activities.

• We are proud of our school and will respect the school

environment and buildings and will always look to

maintain and improve it and keep it safe.

• The school will play its part in the community and value

the role of the community in our school life.

Page 17

The Governing Body The Governing Body is integral in all aspects of school life including;

• Overseeing of the conduct and curriculum of the school.

• The management of the school budget and other grants

received from the government.

• Monitoring the extent to which the school achieves it aims and

objectives.

• The appointment of teaching and non-teaching staff.

• The maintenance and development of the school

buildings.

• The fostering of good relationships and effective communication

with the parents and the wider community.

• Deciding the policy on admissions and other statutory

requirements

The Governing Body comprises:

- 3 Community Governors - 4 Parent Governors - 3 LA Governors

- 1 Teacher Governor - 1 Staff Governor - Headteacher - Clerk to Governors

The Governing Body meets formally at least once a term. Minutes of theses meetings are

available to parents. Each governor has a particular responsibility for an aspect of school life, regular reports of governor business in the form of newsletters are sent to parents.

The Governing Body does not make detailed decisions on the day to day running of the school; this is the role of the Headteacher.

Any successful school will have a close working relationship between the Headteacher and

Governing Body, such as at Kingsbury Episcopi Primary School.

Our children look very smart in their uniform:

TOPS: Burgundy school sweatshirt/sweatcardi,

white polo shirt.

BOTTOMS: Grey or black school trousers/grey or black

school shorts/plain grey or black skirt.

ADDITIONALLY :Red and white check summer dresses. White, grey or black socks/tights.

Sensible dark shoes, or flat supporting sandals in the summer only (socks must be

worn with sandals).

School sweatshirts, printed polo shirts and fleece jackets are

available to order and buy from the school office.

PE Kit

• Burgundy shorts (available from the school office)

• White socks

• White t-shirt (t-shirts with school logo available from the school office)

• Black daps/plimsolls/trainers

• Children may bring plain tracksuits for use in

colder weather. • Swimming kit for Summer Term including

swimming cap in House colours (available from

school office)

Uniform

Jewellery Children are not allowed to wear rings, bracelets or necklaces at school. Watches are

very useful but must be very clearly labelled. If your child has pierced ears a basic

stud is suitable for school, please no hoop or valuable earrings. PLEASE LABEL ALL OF YOUR CHILD’S BELONGINGS!

The School Day 08.50 - Wake ‘n’ Shake 08.55 - School Starts

09.00 - Registration Learning Session 1

10.40 - Playtime

11.00 - Learning Session 2 12.00 - Lunchtime KS1

12.20 - Lunchtime KS2 13.10 - Registration

Learning Session 3 15.30 - School Finishes

As part of the Health Promoting School

initiative, we encourage children who bring a packed lunch, to bring as healthy

and package-free, a lunch as possible.

Hot school meals are provided at school.

These are carefully prepared at a local kitchen, to current exacting healthy

standards. These meals are ordered and paid for by parents, in advance, and can

be taken every day, or as often as you want. We eat lunches together in the Hall

and children enjoy both the food and the

opportunity to eat with, and talk to, other children and staff.

For those children entitled to a free

school meal our school office can advise

families about entitlement to this benefit.

Lunchtimes

Admissions KEPS has close links with Kingsbury Episcopi

Pre-school and recommends that parents of

pre-school children make the most of the opportunities offered there. As children are about

to start school they are invited to visit our school during the term before admission and the

Headteacher is pleased to meet parents to

discuss their children’s future education.

Please note: Children who attend the Pre-School are not automatically guaranteed a place at KEPS.

Information on the school’s Admission Policy is available form our school office or online from our

website.

Children are admitted to school in the September

after their fourth birthday.

You will be given a Home-School Agreement signed by the school, which we ask you to read

with your child, sign and keep for future

reference.

The Reception children begin school for half days for the first weeks of term, half the class in the

mornings, then half the class in the afternoons until gradually, with close liaison between parents

and school staff, they attend school full-time.

On starting school children should be able to:

- dress/undress on their own - use the toilet unaided

- hold a pencil/crayon correctly

It is obviously extremely advantageous if a child is used to socialising with other children and to

accepting authority from adults other than his/her

parents.

Starting School

Page 15

Homework The school’s homework policy sets out what homework is expected for each year group.

Reading regularly each night is the basis of our

homework expectation and as children progress

through the school, the learning of tables facts, spellings and the researching of topics are included.

The school encourages parents to buy children a

book bag to help keep their reading book, Reading Diary and Homework Diary safe (bags in house colours are available from the school office).

Sharing books with people at home soon develops into

early reading, with words to learn and simple activities to enjoy.

As the weekly timetable develops, spelling lists and number

activities feature, in addition to more structure in reading.

Foundation Stage and KS1

We encourage every child to continue reading daily

at home - and still with an adult for as long as this is helpful.

The Home School Diary helps us to keep track of

your child’s progress and highlight any concerns.

Other homework comes from this list:

• Maths activities

• Multiplication tables / number facts

• Literacy activities

• Spellings and grammar practice

• Research and follow-up work connected with

the current theme being studied.

Lower and Upper KS2

We welcome frequent informal consultation

with parents, of an informal kind. If you want a formal discussion, we are happy to make an

appointment when time can be given for individual consultation.

This opportunity is open to all parents at any time of the year.

Parents’ evenings during the Autumn Term are

when you can discuss how your child has settled into the new school year and review

their progress by looking at Progress Books.

Spring Term parents’ evenings are to discuss

progress and look at e children’s work.

In the Summer Term each child receives an

annual report. Parents can talk to their teacher by appointment to discuss reports.

Assessment

Regular assessment of progress is key to us achieving our aim of excellent

progress for every child.

Year 6 pupils are required to take the

Standard Assessment Tests (SATs). The results of these, together with teacher

assessments, will be issued to parents during the summer term.

Year 2 children undertake a mixture of

tasks and tests and these are moderated

through teacher assessments.

Reports and Meeting Staff

Starting School Our booklet ‘Starting School’ includes some helpful information about preparing your child for life and

learning at school, and is based on the experiences of our children, parents and teachers.

Children joining us in other classes are invited to visit their new class before they start and we make

every effort to introduce new parents and carers to the parents of children in their child’s new class.

We hope that new parents quickly feel part of our

school family.

All parents are members of the school PTA.

The PTA exists to help parents become involved in the life of the school.

An elected committee runs the PTA. The

committee members represent each of the

classes in school and are the point of contact for parents.

The PTA holds an AGM in the Autumn term

and the committee meets during the year to arrange many fund raising and social events.

These include our Discos, Christmas Fair,

Summer Fair, Bingo nights, social evenings.

Friday afternoon cake or ice-cream and produce sales are run during the year and

are a further opportunity for fundraising.

These funds help support trips and resources

aimed at enhancing your child’s experience at school.

Parent Teachers Association

The Staff In the year 2010/11 the school is organised into

5 classes. The teaching staff are well qualified

and experienced in general primary teaching and specific areas of the modern primary curriculum

which require particular expertise.

The teaching staff are supported by Learning

Support Assistants or Higher Level Teaching Assistants.

We have a dedicated Special Educational Needs

teacher who supported by Special Needs Assistants.

Non teaching staff are led by the School Finance and Office Manager, supported by

the Clerical Assistant . There are five Lunchtime Supervisors and a School Caretaker/Cleaner.

Page 13

Special Educational Needs Many children experience a degree of difficulty with

some aspects of their learning during their time at

school.

Mrs Sue Clarke is our Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo).

The special needs of children are identified by the class teacher or colleague by observation, testing,

assessment and consultation with parents, previous school records and health agencies.

Parents are consulted at each stage and are invited

to attend meetings with the Special Needs

Co-ordinator and support services.

When a child has special needs the class teacher and teaching assistant give the child

individual help and set appropriate tasks.

Our SENCo regularly helps to assess children with learning difficulties, helping children individually and working with the class teacher to plan suitable programmes of work.

If you have any concerns about your child’s progress please discuss them with your child’s class teacher.

The school maintains a routine of

assemblies and collective worship that fulfils statutory requirements, and are of

a mainly Christian character.

The children enjoy a range of assemblies

and opportunities to worship together.

The local clergy, the Headteacher or members of the teaching staff, lead

assemblies.

Our Celebration and Praise assemblies

are held on Fridays when children from each class are nominated for a

certificate and their parents are invited to join us to celebrate their children’s

achievements.

The School Council

Children from every class are elected and in turn to serve as representatives.

The school council gives pupils the opportunity to have their say; it also provides a

living example of democracy and provides a forum where children can learn and practice their skills of debate and argument.

Recently our school council have designed new playground markings, written new ‘School Golden Rules’ and made changes to the organisation of playtimes.

Assemblies and Collective Worship

Curriculum Provision All the children learn Mathematics, English, Science, ICT, Design & Technology, History,

Geography, Art and Design, Music, RE, PSHE as required by the National Curriculum. Additionally

we teach Spanish in KS1 and French in KS2.

Our Curriculum is creative and stimulating and

aimed at engaging children’s needs and interests. We encourage real life learning that is relevant to

the lives led by our children both now and in the future as well as teaching basic skills thoroughly.

As in all schools, curriculum policy is constantly under review. Copies of these

documents are available on our website or from the school office on request.

The curriculum framework sets out the main areas of study for all pupils and follows the National Curriculum 2000 for England and Wales. The Early Years Foundation

Stage prepares children for the best possible start to their time at school, and covers

the following six areas of learning:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

• Communication, Language and Literacy

• Problem, Solving Reasoning and Numeracy

• Knowledge and Understanding of the World

• Physical Development

• Creative Development

Key Stage 1 covers Years 1 and 2

Key Stage 2 covers Years 3,4,5 and 6

As children move from Reception into Year 1, and until they leave at the end of Year 6, we follow the National Curriculum.

Curriculum Provision The curriculum aims to develop children’s knowledge, understanding, skills and

attitudes in all curriculum areas and aims especially to:

• Help children to acquire excellent literacy and language skills;

• Help pupils to develop their mathematical skills and to apply those skills

effectively;

• Develop their knowledge, interest in and understanding of science,

technology and the natural world;

• Encourage children to express themselves through performing and creative

arts; • Give children sound skills and understanding of history, and geography

relating to local and global issues;

• Help pupils develop their physical skills, co-ordination, fitness and

confidence;

• Help pupils develop respect and understanding for the beliefs, culture and

values of other people.

Creative Curriculum

Much of the curriculum is taught in a cross-curricular

way through a topic approach.

We believe that this is the best way to engage children’s interest; they can see connections and a

purpose to their study.

Visits and visitors are a key element of our curriculum

and are used to inspire and enthuse the children.

Page 11

Extra Curricular We have lots of after school clubs for all age groups.

Children are given a list at the beginning of every

term from which they are able to select from a

wide choice of sporting, creative and enjoyable activities.

Extra curricular clubs generally run from 15.45 -

16.30 in the summer months and 16.15 in the winter.

Class teachers arrange visits to bring the curriculum to life for the children.

The educational value and the health and safety of our children are issues that are carefully considered by staff when organising visits.

The Key Stage 2 children are usually taken on three residential visits. These visits are

beneficial in many ways. The promote personal and social and emotional development

as well as enhancing the curriculum.

However these require the goodwill and voluntary contribution of time from teachers and a monetary contribution from parents in order for them to take place.

Educational Trips and Residential Visits

school prospectus 2011

Documents

school office

school premises

relationships education

safeguarding children

childs education

specific sex education

dear parents

safety of pupils