General information

Admissions

Organisation of classes for 2008-09

The school day

Dress code

Special educational needs

Pupil welfare and security

Behaviour policy

Collective worship

Homework

Extra curricular activities and visits

Admissions

In keeping with Northamptonshire County Council's policy, we admit children to our school in the September following their fourth birthday. Therefore, we have only one intake a year, and all our pupils benefit from a full year's education in Foundation Stage.

Usually, children entering Foundation Stage attend mornings only for their first fortnight in school. 

We have a published admission number of 60 pupils for 2008-09 and beyond. In the event of the school being oversubscribed, the headteacher and school governors will allocate places in accordance with the following criteria:

1. Children who live in the school's designated area: i.e. the villages of Deanshanger, Wicken, Puxley and Passenham.
2. Children who have brothers and sisters at the school at the time of admission of the younger child.

In the event of over-subscription, parent/carers are entitled to appeal against the school's decision by following the procedures laid down by Northamptonshire County Council's Education Department.

Admission forms can be obtained from our school secretary.

 

 

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Organisation of classes for 2008-09

The organisation for 2008-09 will depend on the numbers on roll in each year group and the available budget for staffing.  The school governors will have the necessary information to finalise the plan in April 2008. 

The number of children in each class may vary during the year as pupils arrive and depart.

 

 

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The school day

8:40: School gates open.
8.50: Start of the school day
10.20: Morning break
10.40: Lessons resume
12:00: Lunch break for younger pupils
12.20: Lunch break for older pupils
1.15: Afternoon lessons begin
2.15: Play for younger pupils (10 mins)
3.15: End of the school day






Using a 'hundred square' to investigate number patterns
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Dress code

Our uniform for pupils is detailed below, and we strongly request that parents/carers ensure their children are appropriately dressed for school:

Items marked * are available embroidered with the school logo, and may be ordered from the school office.

Autumn / Winter/Spring:
White polo shirt*, or other plain white blouse or shirt (not t-shirts); black formal trousers, skirt or gym-slip; red sweatshirt* or sweatshirt-cardigan*, black low-heeled shoes (not trainers or boots)

Spring / Summer:
As above, and also black or grey formal shorts - or summer dresses (red and white striped or gingham); black or white sandals.

P.E.
White T-shirt*; black shorts; black or white plimsolls for indoor games; tracksuit and trainers for outdoor use in cold weather. (Slogans, football club affiliations or designer labels are not permitted)

We request that children do not wear non-essential jewellery during the school day. All items of jewellery must be removed for P.E. lessons. We may, from time to time, prohibit children from wearing unsuitable 'fashion' items or hairstyles.  We are pleased to work with faith communities to adapt school  uniform in line with their traditions.

 

 

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Special educational needs

We aim to meet the needs of all our pupils within an inclusive environment, so that every child achieves his/her full potential. Teachers set work which is appropriate and relevant to the individual needs of the pupils in their care, and assessments are carried out regularly to monitor progress. If a teacher sees that a child is not progressing as well as one might expect, he/she will liaise as soon as possible with our own Special Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) to develop a special programme of work.

Depending on the nature of a child's educational needs, we may implement an 'individual education plan', and use teaching assistants to give the child extra help in class. If necessary, we will seek the advice of external specialists such as educational psychologists and health professionals.

We always share our concerns about a child's educational progress with his/her parents, and keep them fully informed of the support we are providing.

 

The photo shows an art lesson in Foundation Stage

 

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Pupil welfare and security

In the event of minor illness or injury, we will look after your child along the lines that many parents would take if they were caring for a friend of their own child. Therefore, we will clean small cuts and grazes with antiseptic wipes and apply plasters, and we will treat minor bumps with ice packs or cold compresses. We will comfort your child if they are upset, and sometimes hold their hand or put an arm around their shoulder if we feel this would be helpful. We will not give any medicines unless you have provided them.

If we feel your child's injury or illness is more than can be dealt with effectively in one of these ways, we will telephone one of the emergency numbers that you have given us and ask you to collect your child as soon as possible. We will, of course, give first aid if necessary pending your arrival.

 

If your child needed urgent medical attention and we could not contact you, we would act 'in loco parentis', call an ambulance and accompany your child to hospital.

Regarding security, once parents have departed after dropping off their chidlren in the morning, all gates are shut and the school becomes a secure site. Children are only released into the care of their parents or carers, or others for whom we have written permission.

We promote a healthy lifestyle by providing hot lunches produced to very high nutritional standards. We also provide fruit for our younger pupils, and milk can be ordered.

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Behaviour policy

All those involved in the life of the school are expected to show a high degree of care and respect for other people, their property, their health and safety, and for the school environment. Where necessary, specific rules are established to underline this policy, and these are clearly explained to the children.

We make a special effort to praise children who are working to the best of their ability. Also, we are keen to recognise those who show thoughtfulness and helpfulness towards others. Children who do their best are awarded team points, and these are recorded on a class chart or in a personal log book.
If individuals act thoughtlessly or unkindly, they are told in straightforward terms why their behaviour has been unacceptable and they are expected to do what they can to put matters right. Also, they may lose certain privileges such as playtime, or they may be required to do extra work in their own time or attend a detention. In the case of more serious misdemeanours, parents are involved in the disciplinary procedure. Very rarely, in cases of extremely bad behaviour, children may be temporarily suspended from attending school. Corporal punishment is not used.

Children who feel that others are treating them unkindly - especially if they feel they are being bullied - are encouraged to confide in an adult. Where necessary, support and counselling for all parties concerned will be used to provide a long-term solution to any problem.
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Collective worship

In line with statutory requirements, our pupils have the opportunity to participate in collective worship of a broadly Christian nature every day. We have a whole-school assembly three times a week, and on the other days the children have an assembly specifically for their own age group.

Our annual programme of assemblies includes many opportunities to explore the beliefs, festivals and celebrations of all major world religions, and we use assemblies to reinforce sound moral principles such as 'right and wrong', kindness, sharing and respect.

Children of any religious belief should feel comfortable participating in our assemblies as we treat all faiths with equal respect. Nevertheless, parents may withdraw their children from collective worship if they so wish. However, children usually prefer the option of attending assembly so that they may listen to the story, but they opt out of joining in the hymn and prayer. If children are withdrawn from collective worship, they may use a quiet area for private prayer or the study of religious material brought from home.

 

 

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Homework

Children are expected to develop their learning in school by completing homework. We encourage parents/carers to support their children?s homework as this strengthens the home-school learning partnership.

Each September, class teachers set out a programme of weekly homework tasks. Typical homework assignments are:
Years 1 and 2:
Approx. 1 hour per week of reading practice, learning spellings, other literacy work and number work.

Years 3 and 4:
Approx. 1½ hours per week - as above, plus other occasional assignments in other subjects.

Years 5 and 6:
Approx. 30 minutes a day on a regular weekly schedule with continued emphasis on literacy and numeracy, but also ranging widely over the curriculum and including extended research tasks.The amount of homework we set for each age group is in keeping with government guidelines.
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Extra curricular activities and visits

We offer a range of extra curricular activities throughout the year. These take place either during lunchtime or after school. The programme may include activities such as drama, art, mathematics, philosophy, outdoor games, football, country dancing, modern dance, chess, netball, basketball, recorders and singing.

Children in Years 4 and 6 have the opportunity to go on residential visits, and all year groups participate in occasional day visits linked to the curriculum.   Back to top