Walverden Primary School

Prospectus 2010-2011

Who teaches here?

The children are in classes of up to 30, however children are also taught in smaller groups

and at time 1:1 if additional support is needed. There are two classes in each year group and

class teachers plan together to ensure consistency throughout the school.

The staff working in Foundation Stage are:

Miss R Barkess (Foundation Stage Leader)

Miss R Brown

Mrs D Hoyle

Mrs K Naveed

Ms V Thompson

Ms J Forrester

Miss S Chatburn

Mrs S Yousaf

Mrs S Kauser The staff working in Key Stage 1 are:

Miss J Ratcliffe (Key Stage Leader)

Miss N Blundell

Mrs A Hammond

Mrs R Robson

Mrs J Johns

Mrs Z Malik

Mrs A Pool

Mrs J Moir

Mrs J Nutter

Miss D Smith

The staff working in Key Stage 2 are:

Mr G Donnan (Key Stage Leader)

Mrs F Brown

Miss L Cronshaw

Mrs K Entwistle

Mr C Keogh

Miss H Knight

Miss S Lee

Miss C Slater

Mrs N Akram

Mrs G Clarke

Mrs S Cox

Mrs J Duckworth

Mrs A Grimshaw

Mrs M Hill

Mrs A Jones

Miss C Nike

Mrs S Ormerod

Mrs N Tomlinson

Other Important People in Our School include:

Head Teacher Miss M Thacker

Deputy Head Teacher Mrs A Slack

Head of Key Stage 1 Miss J Ratcliffe

Head of Key Stage 2 Mr G Donnan

SENCO Ms T Townsend

Sports Development Manager Mr L Tate

1:1 tuition Teachers Miss T Beaven

Mrs S Bowden

PPA Teachers Mrs C Rawcliffe

Mrs G Scholes

HLTA/TA Co-ordinator Mrs R Ishfaq

HLTA Miss E Bevis

Office Manager Mrs J Peden

Attendance Officer Mrs W Crossley

Administrator (admissions) Mrs G Rostron

General Administrators Miss S Holmes

Mrs C Ruth

Family Support Officer Mrs J Denson

System Manager Mr M Dugdale

Technician Mr R Wormwell

Librarian Miss K Firmin

Caretaker Mr G Best

Cleaners Mr A Summers

Mrs J Buckley

Lunchtime supervisor Miss T Goode

Welfare assistants Mrs B Smith

Mrs S Metcalfe

Mrs L Shepherd

Mrs A Bashir

Mrs N Sarwar

Mrs S Moorhouse

Mrs C Royle

Mrs J Buckley

Mrs S Strutt

Mrs S Woods

Activity Assistants Miss K Firmin

Mrs L Morrisey

Miss D Langley

Mrs J Kennedy

What is Walverden Primary really about?

At Walverden Primary School we aim to create a happy and caring atmosphere where your child can

learn and develop. We focus on Literacy, Numeracy and ICT skills whilst providing an exciting and

stimulating environment where the children are encouraged to investigate, discover and create in a

range of other National Curriculum subjects. We promote good health and fitness and we have been

awarded Healthy School Status. We ensure that we value the cultures and languages the children

bring to school while developing their awareness of the wider world. In everything they do, the

children are helped to develop their ability to communicate in English, although where appropriate we

will give support for learning in your child’s first language.

At Walverden Primary we aim to:

• Give children the opportunity to achieve

• Provide a stimulating and caring environment

• Develop partnerships between the school, parents and the wider community

• Encourage pupils to develop self esteem, self respect and respect for the wider community

• Equip children with the skills and enthusiasm needed for learning

We believe that by doing so, we will prepare your child for a real future in a real world.

How does my child get a place at Walverden Primary School?

Walverden Primary School follows guidance from the Lancashire Education Authority, which states

that all children should be registered at a school at the beginning of the school year in which they will

reach their fifth birthday. The LEA produces a booklet outlining the procedures and this will be

available from the school during the academic year before your child starts, usually from September.

You must complete the application form within a set time frame.

It is very important that you register your child before the deadline for admission, as it is the LEA

and NOT the school who make the decision about whether a place is available for your child. They

take into account whether your child has any brothers or sisters already at the school, distance from

your home or whether there are any alternative schools, which might be more suitable for the needs

of the child.

Can I visit the school before deciding?

If you are considering sending your child to Walverden, we would be pleased to show you around and

answer any questions you may have. Please contact the school to make an appointment.

Can I get a place for an older child?

If you have moved into the area and would like a place at the school for your child, please contact the

school office to check whether we have places available.

What if my child is going to be absent?

Please let us know if your child is or is going to be absent from school. The easiest way to do this is

to ring the school, or call in to speak to someone. If we do not hear from you, we will telephone you.

Please only keep your child off school if they are too ill to attend. Try to take medical or dental

appointments after school or in the holidays.

Out of school holidays

We do not normally authorise extended holidays for children during term time as absences

significantly affects progress at school. Unauthorised absences will result in parents being issued

with a fixed penalty notice from the Local Education Authority.

What time should I come?

Nursery sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am or 12:45pm to 3:45pm. Your child will be offered either

a morning or afternoon session.

For everybody else, school begins at 9:00am and ends at 3:30pm. Pupils are allowed in to class from

8:50am each morning.

Lunchtime begins at 12 noon and ends at 1:05pm for children in years 3 to 6 and at 1:15pm for the

infants. If your child goes home for lunch, he/she must be in school 5 minutes before the end of

their lunchtime.

What will my child be learning at school?

Nursery and Reception Classes:

During the early years of education, children work towards achieving success in areas of learning,

including Communication, Language and Literacy, Mathematical Understanding, Knowledge and

Understanding of the World, Physical Development, Creative Development and Personal, Social and

Emotional Development. In the first years of school the children will be learning to become

independent learners, e.g. putting on their own coats and fastening them, getting dressed and

undressed on their own. They will be developing their social skills by working with small and large

groups of children and adults. They will learn to develop a tolerance towards others and learn how to

get along with their peers in a variety of situations.

Parents can support their children through working with them at home (using the Early

Learning Goals) and by allowing them to do things for themselves and encouraging them to become

more independent.

Years 1 – 6:

In years 1 – 6, the school follows the National Curriculum. The National Curriculum divides the

curriculum for Primary Age children into the core and foundation subjects and Religious Education.

The core subjects are: The foundation subjects are:

English History

Maths Geography

Science Music

ICT Physical Education

PSHE

Art

Design and Technology

French (Junior classes only)

Religious Education is an additional subject and the RE curriculum helps children to gain an

understanding of different types of religions in the world.

The Curriculum for all these subjects is divided into Key Stages. Key Stage 1 is for five to seven

year olds (Years 1 and 2) and Key Stage 2 is for eight to eleven year olds (Years 3 – 6). Most of the

learning in these subjects is linked through topic work.

What will my child learn in English?

English and Literacy at Walverden is taught in line with the Renewed Framework. Lessons are lively

and engaging and involve a planned blend of approaches that direct children's learning and ensure the

needs of all learners are catered for. We encourage children to be active in their own learning and to

know what they need to do to improve their work and to reach their targets. Both Key Stages follow

the same principles of learning to speak, read, and write for a wide variety of purposes. Children are

involved in daily Literacy lessons so that they can develop into confident and effective

communicators. At Key Stage 1 and Foundation Stage, these daily sessions are underpinned by the teaching of daily

phonics, which supports early reading and spelling. We also focus strongly on speaking, listening,

drama and first hand experiences which we believe enhance the quality of children's writing. At Key Stage 2 children are given more opportunities to study the different text genres in detail. At

Walverden we follow the speaking into reading followed by writing approach to Literacy. Time is spent

creating interest in the text types with plenty of shared reading opportunities before moving onto

guided and finally independent writing. Alongside this we continue to teach sentence structure,

handwriting, spelling, grammar and punctuation.

What will my child learn in Maths?

Mathematics is fundamental to the overall development of the child. Our maths teaching is

underpinned by the learning objectives stated in the Renewed Framework, providing a rich diet of

maths activities, experiences, and relevant maths language for our children. A published scheme

supports this maths learning (Abacus Evolve 2008/9). Therefore we plan progression and continuity

throughout the two Key Stages whilst the children are at the school.

We encourage pupils to talk about maths as this helps children to understand and consolidate their

learning. Practical experience is included at all levels; seeing maths in a concrete form is vital to

development too. We provide opportunities for investigational and problem solving work, as well as

ensuring that maths is linked to the real world wherever possible. When children have a firm grasp of

concepts they will be asked to develop instant recall of certain facts, for example multiplication

tables, so that this knowledge can be used and applied in more challenging maths tasks.

Pupils are asked to work in a variety of ways: as a class, in a group, in pairs or independently. We place

an emphasis on positive attitudes to working at a task individually and with others.

Why does my child have Religious Education?

At the heart of RE, at Walverden, is the quest to understand what it is to be human. By learning

about and from religion it is hoped that our children can become more open minded, respectful and achieve greater self awareness. The skills and attitudes developed though RE can thus make a significant contribution to developing community cohesion in our area.

During each year in Key Stage 1 and 2, the children will spend 50% of their RE lessons learning about

Christianity (in line with legal requirements.) They will also spend 1 half term each year learning about

Islam and Hinduism. In addition during each Key Stage, they will spend some time learning about

Judaism, Sikh Dharma and Buddhism.

RE seeks to educate children about different religious beliefs not to promote one religion over

another.

What will my child learn in Physical Education?

Physical Education develops children’s knowledge, skills and understanding so that they can perform

with increasing competence and confidence. Our curriculum covers a wide range of activities including

dance, games, gymnastics, swimming, athletics and outdoor adventurous activities. In addition the

school provides a variety of extra curricular sporting activities including; football, tag rugby, netball,

athletics, multi skills, street dance and cheerleading. There are also regular opportunities for

children to take part in both inter school and intra school competition. We encourage everyone in our

care to adopt a lifelong commitment to a healthy, active and enjoyable lifestyle.

What will my child be wearing for PE?

It is important for all pupils to wear the correct clothing

when taking part in physical activity. For PE and extra

curricular sporting activities children require a white T-

shirt, black shorts and either trainers or pumps.

Tracksuits or sweatshirts may be also worn during any

outdoor sessions. For Health and Safety reasons

jewellery must not be worn and long hair should be tied

back. All clothing should be clearly labelled and kept in a

bag with the child’s name and class written on.

What about the other Subjects?

At Walverden Primary School we believe that each child should be given the opportunity to

participate, progress and achieve, which is why our cross curricular approach to teaching is designed

to stimulate children’s curiosity to investigate the world and their place within it. Engaging children in

questions about people and events in the past helps them understand the present and prepare for the

future, to understand people’s relationships with the physical and built environment and help them

form ideas about how to live and interpret the world around them, from the local to the global. They

become aware of how communities are organised and shaped by people’s values and actions, and how

communities can live and work together. They begin to understand how events that happened long ago

or in other countries can affect our lives today and how we can help shape the future. In these ways,

children learn about similarities, differences, diversity and how we live in an interdependent world.

They learn about right and wrong, fairness and unfairness, justice and injustice. Their growing

understanding helps them make sense of the world and prepares them to play an active role as

informed, responsible citizens.

Will my child be going on any school trips?

We learn best when we can see, hear, touch and feel by experiencing things at first hand. It’s

because of this that the school arranges visits to help your child learn more about the subjects they

are studying.

How does the school help children with Special Educational Needs?

At Walverden we believe that all children have needs which are special and individual but some

children require extra attention in some areas. We will try to identify the needs of your child as soon

as possible and endeavour to offer the best support for him/her to obtain the maximum learning from

the time s/he spends at our school. Children experiencing difficulties will be identified through

tracking / screening procedures and from the recommendations of the class teachers. Parents can

also play a part in this too.

Once a child has been identified as having additional needs, an Individual Educational Plan will be

written by the class teacher, with specific targets in mind to help the child, with the areas of

concern. If a child continues to have difficulties and is still a cause for concern, they will be

assessed by a member of the Lancashire Education Inclusion Service or the Educational Psychologist.

It may be that support is necessary to help with progression; in some circumstances the SENCO may

make a request for statutory assessment.

At each stage, parents will be notified by letter or with a telephone call. IEPs (Individual Education

Plans) are sent home twice per year with a comments sheet to complete and sign. Parents are also

updated at the parents’ meetings. A home / school diary is sent home daily to create a link between

school and parents, specifically for children with funding.

Miss Townsend operates an open door policy whereby parents can call into school to speak with her, if

convenient. However, to ensure that it is mutually convenient to both parties, it is advisable to

telephone school in the first instance.

Parents may request to see a copy of the school policies including the Special Educational Needs

Policy.

How will I know what my child is doing at school?

You can help your child by talking to them about what they have done at school. To help you support

your child we send home leaflets telling you what your child will be learning about and making

suggestions for how you might help at home. We also encourage parents to come into school as

volunteers so that they can help the school but also understand how they can support their own

children’s learning at home.

How will I know about my child’s progress?

We hold two parents’ evenings each year, one in the Autumn term and the second in the Spring term.

These are for you to find out how your child is doing and discuss with your child’s teacher any issues

of concern. You do not, however, have to wait for these meetings. If you want to discuss your child

at any other time of year, please contact school and we will arrange for you to do so. We will give you

a written report every year and will let you know your child’s results in National Tests in Year 6 and in

moderated assessments in Year 2.

Can my child join any clubs?

Walverden Primary School is very proud of its wide range of extra curricular activities. Your child

can choose from a range of clubs which take place either at lunch time or after school.

What are the school rules?

We expect high standards of behaviour from all our children. There are four school rules. They are:

Our caring rule

• I will treat all people with respect and look after property and equipment.

Our speaking and listening rule

• I will speak politely and listen to what others have to say.

Our moving rule

• I will move calmly and sensibly around the school.

Our learning rule

• I will allow everyone to learn without interruption.

These rules are reinforced with the children every year and form part of our home/school

agreement. If a problem does occur, it will be dealt with sympathetically, and you will be informed if

necessary. Our policy on behaviour management is available on request.

What does the school do to prevent bullying?

Bullying is rare event but does sometimes happen in all schools. We teach children how to resolve

conflicts and deal with difficulties through our PSHE lessons and we teach them that bullying can

take many forms. Children do fall out with each other from time to time and there can be instances

of aggression. School staff deal with these events fairly and listen to all sides before making

judgements. Bullying is different than one off instances of aggression or conflict and any report of

bullying is taken very seriously. We always inform parents if we feel that a child is a victim or

perpetrator of bullying and we often ask parents to work with us to improve the situation. All

instances of bullying are recorded. We encourage children to report bullying but they may not always

do so. If you suspect your child has been bullied, please let us know. Our anti-bullying and racial

equality policies are available on request.

Who can I contact with a worry or concern?

The first person to talk to is your child’s class teacher, but you can pass a concern onto any member

of staff and they will make sure it is dealt with. You can talk to the Headteacher or Deputy

Headteacher. The governors will also help you. Please telephone the school to make an appointment.

If no-one is available at that time, leave a message and we will always get back to you. We have a

complaints policy, which you can ask to see at the school office.

Child protection/Safeguarding Policy

Children’s safety and well being is central to all the work undertaken by staff at Walverden Primary

School. Staff and volunteers working within the setting receive training on a regular basis and are

encouraged to develop skills to enable them to respond appropriately to any situation where a child

might be at risk from abuse or neglect.

We believe that the best place for the vast majority of children, to reside and develop, is with their

families in the community where they live. Staff work in partnership with parents in so far as it is

possible and in the best interests of each child. However, the safety and welfare of children will be

our paramount consideration at all times and we have a duty to protect children and will pass on any

concerns to the appropriate agencies when required.

If you require additional information regarding the school’s Child protection Policy it can be

viewed on the school’s website and a copy can be requested via the administration office.

Data Protection and Information Sharing

Personal information about children and families held by professionals and agencies is subject to a

legal duty of confidentiality and will not normally be disclosed without the consent of the family.

However, the right to confidentiality and respect for private and family life is not absolute (Article

8, Human Rights Act 1998).

Professionals have a duty of care which requires them, in certain instances, to share information with

appropriate agencies and other professionals when they believe that a child is suffering or likely to

suffer significant harm. However, the school always gives due regard to the legislation which relates

to maintaining records and sharing information. For further details on guidance see document ‘What

to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’ summary from the Department of Health 2003.

Can my child have lunch at school?

We provide full meals in school for Infant and Junior children. There is always a choice and your

child will be able to have halal food if that is required. We always provide a drink with the meal. If

your child has allergies, or any other dietary requirement, let us know and we will do our best to cater

for them. Please pay dinner money at the school office on a Monday.

If your child prefers to bring a packed lunch, we are happy for them to stay at school during the

lunch break. Please label and send drinks in plastic bottles, plastic flasks or cartons. Packed lunches

must be healthy and balanced to conform to the school’s commitment to providing healthy meals. We

can provide guidance on this.

We prefer it if you choose one lunchtime option for your child – ie stay for a school lunch, bring a

packed lunch, or go home, and keep to this consistently for at least a term.

What will my child be wearing?

We like our children to wear the school uniform, listed below.

White shirt or polo shirt

Grey or black school trousers

Grey pinafore dress, or skirt, with or without shalwar

Green checked dress in warm weather

Grey sweatshirt or cardigan with or without the school logo

White, grey or black socks – socks must be worn

Grey tights

Black, waterproof school shoes

A warm waterproof coat in cold or wet weather

Can I help at School?

We are very grateful to parents, family and friends who give their time to help in school. You can

come and help with all aspects of school life and activities. You might want to come for an hour each

week just for a half term, or you might like to join us for longer. We try to find places for everyone.

If you can offer a skill, or just like the idea of supporting children with their learning, contact Mrs

Ruzia Ishfaq at the school.

Can I take courses at school?

We will be running a range of courses for parents at school. Contact the school office for further

details.

How can I help my child at home?

The most important way you can help your child is to show an interest in what they do at school,

ensure they attend regularly and get plenty of sleep. Make sure they have a quiet place to work when

they are older and have homework tasks to complete.

What are SATs tests?

The law says…

• All children must take the national tests at the end of Key Stage 2. That means at the end of

the juniors.

• Testing must take place during a set week in May. All children in Year 6 must take the tests

on the same day.

• Key Stage 2 tests are sent away to be marked by outside experts. This is to make sure that

all results are absolutely fair.

• The children in Year 2 also take national tests in English and Maths. Although the school uses

the tests for these children as guidelines and the teachers mark the tests themselves, the

results are reported to the national body.

We will send you more information about SATs tests when your child is due to take them.

The school will fulfil its commitment to race equality by dealing firmly, consistently and

effectively with racist incidents, harassment and bullying. Walverden will ensure that all such

incidents are recorded, investigated and reported to the L.E.A.

Photographing your Children

Due to legislation, the school request that families do not take photographs/ videos of groups of

children at special events such as Christmas Concerts/ Sports Event. You are, however, very welcome

to take photographs of your own child.