The Whole Curriculum

 

 
 
THE WHOLE CURRICILUM
 
We aim to provide a broad and balanced curriculum matched to the children’s needs. We pride ourselves on a very wide variety of sports opportunities being offered to the children. We are a member of the Boston and District Sports Partnership. Lower KS2 children are given swimming tuition once a week.
 
 
 
 
 
FOUNDATION STAGE
 
When children first come to school the foundation laid down by the family is the starting point for your child. We place emphasis on the teaching of good listening and social skills through activity based learning experiences. This forms the foundation for independent learning skills.
 
 
 
 
 
KEY STAGE 1
 
The skills and attitudes learnt during the Foundation stage will be built upon in Key Stage 1 giving your child access to the whole curriculum as they practise and perfect the skills they have acquired and learn new skills. Their progress will be tested at the end of Year 2 (Key Stage 1 SATs) and compared to the progress of other pupils of the same age throughout the country.
 
 
 
 
 
KEY STAGE 2
 
At this stage, more developed learning skills will allow the skills and knowledge of discussion, experimenting, listening,thinking , and problem solving to be taught. Our older pupils are encouraged to take a more responsible leading role in the school, as prefects and peer mediators, helping younger pupils. At the end of Key Stage 2, our Year 6s take the Key Stage 2 SATs and we give every support to pupils where parents wish them to take common entrance tests for selective schools (11+).
 
 
 
 
 
HOMEWORK
Homework is a very important part of our “Success for All” philosophy. It is a chance to strengthen the home/school partnership. Reading books are allowed home every night. We like our pupils to share their books with parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, not only reading but also discussing stories, pictures and facts that have been gleaned from all kinds of books.
 
We also give children research tasks, designed to extend this learning and become self motivated and active life-long learners. Please support and encourage your child in order to maximize the benefits.
 
Our expectation is that a child will spend more time on homework as they progress through the school. Outstanding effort is rewarded with team points and celebrated in our achievement assemblies.
 
At all times we rely on your encouragement, as parents, to help your child with homework. However, it MUST NOT become a ‘battle’, as this de-motivates and destroys the love of learning we are aiming for.
 
 
EDUCATIONAL VISITS AND CHARGING POLICY
 
During the school year children may visit places of interest, usually in support of curricular projects or environmental work. Speakers or live theatre in school may also be arranged. Under the requirements of the Educational Reform Act 1988, we can only raise the cost of visits or activities by voluntary contributions and we hope all parents will support them. Should insufficient support be received the visit may have to be cancelled.
 
 
COLLECTIVE WORSHIP*
 
A daily act of worship is held, led by the staff, or an invited guest.
*Parents have the right to withdraw their children from acts of religious worship and RE lessons. This should be discussed with the Headteacher. Suitable supervised activities will be provided after consultation with parents.
 
 
ASSESSMENT MONITORING
 
It is our belief that assessment needs to be seen as a coherent whole and as a planned activity. We feel that it is important to approach this systematically, step by step, with each step informing future planning to move learning on. We assess children in all areas of the curriculum from Nursery through to Year 6. Children are tracked against the National Curriculum levels from Reception to Year 6 for reading, writing and mathematics. During parents evenings and through reports, parents are informed of their child’s achievements and targets for achievement.
 
SPECIFIC ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
 
Throughout a child’s education and for various reasons, there may be times when he/she requires specific additional support to overcome a particular issue. Should this occur, we have a team of specialist support workers within school who provide a range of support packages.
 
Should it be felt that your child would benefit from support you will be invited to discuss what we can offer and, with your approval, your child be placed on our additional support register (SEN – Special Educational Needs. The school prides itself in the identification and support of children with Special Needs. The school always does it’s best to ensure that the necessary provision is made available for any pupil who has special educational needs to achieve their full potential. All parents of children with S.E.N will be treated as partners to support and play an active and valued role in their children’s education.
Parents of all children on the SEN Register are invited to progress meetings three times a year. Please attend these short meetings, if at all possible. This will keep you well informed of your child’s progress and allows you to be a part of the decision making in planning future support.
 
Mrs L Morrow is the school’s SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator). Mrs A Simpson, Miss T Gartshore and Mrs S Bowman provide additional emotional support for both children and families. All staff are supported within their roles by the Headteacher.
 
GIFTED, TALENTED & MORE ABLE
 
As a staff, we believe in treating pupils as individuals and so catering for their individual needs. Children who display a potential to exhibit superior performance across a range of abilities, are identified through staff and parent nomination. Areas of identification include curricular, creative, artistic, physical, leadership qualities and the processing of ideas and information. Such children are identified as gifted, talented and more able. The term gifted refers to academic subjects, where children are working at a full level above the expected attainment. The term talented usually refers to the arts, sports and philosophical skills.
 
We meet the needs of GTMA children in three basic ways – acceleration, enrichment and extension:
  • Acceleration consists of enabling a pupil to access work which would typically be for older pupils. This can occur through moving the pupil up a year group or through simply giving them work which would be typically be given to older pupils.
  • Enrichment consists of broadening a pupil’s education. Concepts and skills are explored in greater depth, with an emphasis on investigation and the encouragement of creative thinking,
  • Extension occurs when pupils are encouraged to develop more sophisticated thinking and reasoning skills. Extension activities provide pupils with an extra tier of challenge.
  
 
ADMISSIONS POLICY
 
Pupils will be admitted to the Nursery in the September following their third birthday. The admission limit for the each academic year is 30, with the Nursery accepting 26. Pupils will be admitted to the Reception in the September of the school year in which they are four. The statutory admission limit for Key Stage 1 is 30. Where applications for admission in Key Stage 2 exceed 30, the Governors will review each application using the following criteria. It will be applied in the order set out below to decide which children to admit.
 
·         A medical reason why the school is most suitable e.g. meets the requirements of a disabled pupil. This should be supported by professional evidence.
·         Whether an established family member already attends the school.
·         Distance of applicant’s home from the school.
 
Reasons will be given if admission is refused, reminding parents of their right to appeal and details of the appeal process will be given. The Local Authority will also be informed of the refusal, they in turn will contact parents offering advice and support in finding a place for their child.
 
 
 
ABSENCE AND SICKNESS PROCEDURES
It is important that your child attends school regularly. If your child needs to be absent from school, a call on as early as possible on your child’s first day of absence explaining the child’s illness is essential. This will enable us to authorise the absence. Should you not follow this advice your child will be marked as an unauthorised absence. Should we have concerns about absence you will be contacted by a Learning Mentor initially to discuss any difficulties. Should attendance not improve the Educational Welfare Officer will be informed. A written request should be made beforehand if you wish to take your child out of school for medical/dental appointments or for holidays.
 
Lincolnshire County Council and the Education and Cultural Services Directorate are committed to raising standards in education. They recognise that this can be achieved only if pupils are in regular attendance at school. The Governing Body of Old Leake Primary School has decided that holiday absence will only be granted for a maximum of 5 days absence in any one year. Holiday forms are available from the office.
 
Any child with an attendance record of below 95% will automatically trigger contact from the Education Welfare Officer.
 
 
 
 
POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT
 
Effective education of pupils at Old Leake Primary and Nursery School is dependant on maintaining high standards of discipline through a positive approach to behaviour management. We strive to create a caring atmosphere where teaching and learning can take place in a safe and happy environment, supported by the whole school community.
·         We teach the children the knowledge and skills that promote responsible behaviour and discipline.
·         We encourage good behaviour through praise and providing a range of rewards.
·         We make it clear to the children the sanctions and consequences to be implemented for serious undermining of the behaviour code.
  • We manage problems when they occur in a consistent, sympathetic manner in order to role model desirable behaviour.
 
 
 
ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINE
 
Parents are advised that children who are unwell should not be sent to school.
Parents are responsible for the administration of medicines to their children. If your child needs to be given essential long-term medication, please ensure that you complete the relevant documentation from the office. Staff will not administer medicine to pupils who fall ill during the day and are advised not to take a pupil to hospital. If a pupil becomes seriously ill then an ambulance will be called and parents informed. It is thus essential for the school emergency contact details to be regularly updated.
 
 
 
HEALTH
 
Parents are asked to inform the school of any health problems that may affect their children or hinder their ability whilst at school. Asthmatic children who need inhalers are encouraged to keep their inhalers in the classroom. It is the parents responsibility to ensure that medication kept at school is in date and that the relevant documentation is completed with the school office.
During the school life of your child, regular health checks are carried out by the school doctor/nurse.
 
 
NO SMOKING
 
It is against the law to smoke anywhere on school premises.
 
 
 
PUBLICATION OF WORK & PHOTOGRAPHS
 
Examples of pupil’s work may be published on the school website. Any photographs published on the school website or for publicity purposes will not include names unless with prior agreement from the parents/guardians.
 
 
 
 
HEALTHY SCHOOLS
 
Having attained the National Healthy School Standard, the school supports many healthy initiatives and activities. Key Stage 1 children receive a free piece of fruit each day. Healthy snacks are available to buy from the Healthy tuck shop, which is open before school and at break times. Children are provided with a water bottle in the classroom to enable them to access a drink throughout the day. Should this become lost, replacement bottles and are available from the office at a cost of £1 and replacement lids at a cost of 50p.
 
 
 
 
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
 
Equal opportunity is not only about ensuring that pupils are offered the same opportunities, but that provision is made to enable each individual pupil to take up these opportunities. All staff will endeavour to raise awareness of equality of opportunity in the day-to-day life of the school. It is our aim that all pupils feel secure and be respected, gain an awareness of the world beyond their local community and be guided to develop positive attitudes to all cultures and races. We aim to ensure that no unlawful or unfair discrimination (direct or indirect) or victimisation or harassment takes place within our learning community.
 
 
 
 
CHILD PROTECTION
 
All schools have a duty to care for their pupils, and it is now mandatory that school staff report cases of events suspected of harming children to Social Services. In line with County procedures for child protection, each school has a member of staff to liaise with outside agencies and the school, known as the “designated person”. The Headteacher who is trained in child protection procedures is the “designated child protection person” at Old Leake School.
 
 
 
 
SCHOOL CLUBS
 
Activities offered are seasonable and varied. Children who attend clubs must gain parental permission in writing and provision must be made for the safe collection afterwards. Should children decide to boycott a club without parental permission which has been relayed to school, they will go on to a register which forbids them attending after-school clubs in the future. Parents are required to advise the school in writing if their child will miss their club on a particular day.
 
 
 
BREAKFAST CLUB
All pupils are invited to attend the breakfast club which is held at the Giles School every weekday morning from 8am. Two of our own staff supervise the children, Miss Holland and Miss Williams, and escort them to school afterwards. Parents must complete a registration form, available at the school office or downloadable from the school website, prior to taking their children to the club. Breakfast consists of cereal/toast and a drink. The cost is 50p per child.
 
 
 
AFTER-SCHOOL CARE
 
From September 2009 after-school care until 6pm is available at the school. Children will be given an opportunity to complete homework, have a snack meal, and then have access to a wide range of activities. More details and booking forms are available from the school office. All children must be registered prior to attending. The charging policy for the after school club is as follows:
 
  • Care from 3.15pm until 4.30pm Charge of £4 for one child 
No meal will be provided to pupils that attend up to 4.30pm
 
  • Care from 3.15pm until 6.00pm Charge of £7.00 for one child
 
Children will be given a light meal and drink at around 4.45pm
 
Parents must register their child(ren) by completing a registration form, available at the school office or downloadable from the school website, prior to booking their child into the club. Full details of our charging policy will be provided at registration. Parents are advised to book in advance for after school care to avoid disappointment, as places may be limited.
 
PARENTAL SUPPORT
 
We recognise that there is a wealth of parental skills and knowledge from which the school can benefit. Parental volunteers are always welcome in school and will be under the guidance of the teacher at all times.  We prefer parent helpers to work within a different Keystage to their own child(ren). This is not always possible but parents will not be allowed to work within their own child’s class.
We adhere to a strict code of ‘confidentiality’ with regards to parental support. In line with the Child Protection Policy all parent helpers will require CRB clearance (Criminal Records Bureau). Relevant forms are available from the office.
 
 
PARENTAL ACCESS
 
Although we offer an “open door” policy, it would be appreciated if parents could make an appointment to see class teachers or the Headteacher so as not to disturb teaching sessions. When entering the school please do so by the main entrance so your presence can be logged in case of fire or emergency.
 
 
SCHOOL CLOSURES
 
If the school needs to close, for example due to severe weather conditions, announcements will be on Radio Lincolnshire & Lincs FM and a notice displayed on the school gates, if at all possible.
 
 
INSURANCE
 
The insurance market offers Personal Accident cover for pupils 24 hours a day. Parents who wish to avail themselves of this cover should make enquiries with insurance brokers or companies accordingly. The school is unable to accept responsibility breakage or loss of any personal property.
 
 
RAISING CONCERNS / SUGGESTIONS
 
Should anyone feel they wish to raise a concern, it would be normal to speak to the class teacher first. If the class teacher cannot resolve the concern, it may be referred to a member of the leadership team and ultimately the Headteacher. If the concern is still not resolved informally, then the Governors have adopted a General Complaints Procedure (copies are available from the school office) which should be followed. Should you wish to offer a suggestion for improvement to our practices, a ‘suggestion box’ for this purpose is located in the main reception area.