berkeley prospectus

Berkeley Primary School

Welcome to our SchoolWe welcome you and your family to Berkeley Primary School, a community school in the London Borough of Hounslow for children between the ages of 3 and 11. Our school has places for 420 full time pupils and 52 part time places in the nursery; there are two classes in each year group.

Children benefit from friendly and dedicated staff, well-resourced classrooms and an extensive outdoor environment which includes a large sports field, several playground areas including an adventure trail and games zones, and a wild life garden.

The school holds the Active Mark and has Healthy School Status..

Berkeley Primary School aims to provide quality education for all pupils and to encourage a trusting, caring partnership between home and school.

For more information about our school, please visit the web site at www.berkeleyprimaryschool.co.uk

Jeanette DaviesHeadteacher

1 Contents

Welcome to our School - Page 1

School Ethos - Page 2

Curriculum - Page 3 & 4

Attendance and Punctuality - Page 5

Additional Information - Page 5

Admissions - Page 6

1

“I love Berkeley because the teachers are kind and fun and you learn a lot.” Harjeet

1

2

3

4

5

6

We provide a happy and secure learning environment. Staff work hard to promote positive attitudes to learning and support children of all abilities to be successful and achieve their very best.

Children receive frequent praise and encouragement and positive behaviour, learning and achievements are rewarded in a variety of ways. Weekly praise assemblies involve celebrations of these achievements with certificates and awards.

We expect a very high standard of behaviour from all our children. All members of our school community should be considerate and polite at all times, and treat each other with respect. We have a clear policy on discipline and bullying, outlining our expectations, rewards and sanctions, which is available on request.

If we have any concerns about a child’s behaviour, we will discuss them with parents and carers. In the same way, if parents and carers have any concerns, it is important that we are informed as soon as possible.

Our commitment to equal opportunities

At Berkeley Primary School, we are committed to valuing all members of the school community in an environment of mutual respect. In 2009, a HMI survey of our school found that the quality of provision to promote equalities is good with some outstanding features.

School Ethos2

Children’s health and welfare

All staff are aware of their responsibilities in relation to child protection. We work closely with external professionals to safeguard the welfare of all the children in our care.

We have experienced members of staff who attend to minor injuries and contact parents and carers in cases of illness. We have a comprehensive health and safety policy which is reviewed regularly by the Governing Body.

Our school aim

All children aspire and achieve through challenging learning experiences and high quality teaching. 2

The curriculum at Berkeley Primary School is broad and balanced. Teachers plan learning opportunities carefully to meet the needs of all children and develop their full potential. Our pupils learn to cooperate and collaborate with others, develop good social skills and demonstrate mutual respect. We send out termly information to parents and carers giving details of the curriculum in each year group.

The Early years Foundation Stage Curriculum

Children in Nursery and Reception follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum which allows the children to learn through structured play, by taking part in hands-on activities. Children are offered carefully

Curriculum

3

“Berkeley Primary School is good

because if you are upset about

something the children here

cheer you up.” Tavleen

planned indoor and outdoor activities, based on their personal interests.

The curriculum covers six areas of learning:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development•Communication, Language and Literacy•Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy•Knowledge and Understanding of the World•Creative Development•Physical Development. •

3

The National Curriculum for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2

Children in Key Stage 1 (aged 5-7) and Key Stage 2 (aged 7-11) follow the National Curriculum which sets out a clear framework for learning in each subject.

English: The English curriculum, sometimes referred to as literacy, consistsoffivemainareas.Thesearespeakingandlistening,reading,writing, spelling and handwriting. One of the greatest gifts we can give a child is the ability to read, and we aim for pupils to develop a love of reading and literature. We follow a systematic approach to the teaching of phonics within a language-rich environment. Every child has a book bag and it is expected that children will read regularly to an adult at home.

Mathematics: The mathematics curriculum includes learning about number, shape, measures and data. We aim to equip the children with skills they need in every day life, such as telling the time and handling money.Wewantthemtobeconfidentandenthusiasticmathematicians.

ICT: Children use computers throughout the day to support their learning. The school is well-resourced, with computers and interactive whiteboards in each classroom, laptops and a dedicated computer suite. We equip children to participate in a rapidly-changing world where work and leisure activities are increasingly transformed by technology.We also teach science, history, geography, music, art, design and technology, physical education, religious education, social skills and citizenship.

We offer a range of additional and extra-curricular activities at lunchtime and after-school, including sports coaching, art and crafts, computers, musical instrument lessons including guitar and recorder, and eco-club. All children take part in trips and visits to places of interest which support the curriculum.

4

Home Learning

We expect all parents and carers to support children with their learning at home. Children should read at home every day and complete any homework that has been set.

Special Educational Needs and Inclusion

We are committed to providing an inclusive education for all our pupils to enable them to learn and succeed. We plan appropriate activities, challenges and support for every child, including those with special educational needs, those who are new to the country or who speak little English, and those who are more able or who have a special talent.

“The quality of provision to promote

equalities is good with some outstanding

features.” 2009

School Uniform

Berkeley Primary School has its own distinctive uniform which all pupils are required to wear (except those in the nursery). It is based on our school colours which are navy blue and white. Wearing the uniform emphasises that all children at our school are of equal importance and creates a sense of belonging to our school family. All clothing should be clearly marked with your child’s name and shoes should be suitable for the playground, allowing children to run and play safely.

Healthy Snack and Lunch Arrangements

Children may have a school lunch or bring a packed lunch with them eachday.Theschoollunchmenuincludesmeat,fishandvegetarianoptions each day, as well as a salad bar. Drinking water is served to all children every lunchtime and is available throughout the day. Children may wish to bring water or juice and a healthy snack to eat after their morning break. Fruit is available to all pupils in Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. Milk may be purchased on a termly basis through the schooloffice.FamiliesreceivingIncomeSupportorsimilarallowancesare entitled to free school meals and milk and should ask for a claim formattheschooloffice.

Additional Information

It is very important that children attend school regularly and on time. Regular attendance at school enables children to make the best of the educational opportunities available to them. If your child is absent from school, please contact the schoolofficeonthefirstdayofabsencetoletusknowthereason why.

Term and holiday dates are printed regularly in the school newsletter and are also included with this prospectus. Children are not entitled to any leave during the term except in very exceptional circumstances. It is essential to make an appointment to see the Headteacher if exceptional leave is needed. The school works closely with the Local Authority’s EducationWelfareOfficerwhomonitorstheattendanceandpunctuality of all pupils.

Attendance and Punctuality

School council (Pupil Voice)

We value the thoughts and opinions of all the children who come to our school. Representatives from each class take part in school council meetings and contribute to decisions made throughout the school. The children have been responsible for redesigning and developing the playground areas, fundraising, planning events, resolving problems and contributing to school policy.

Working with Parents and Carers

We work closely with parents and members of the community to create a supportive environment for learning. Children learn best when parents/carers and teachers work together and we welcome parents/carers into our school. We consult about a range of issues and communicate through regular newsletters as well as formal and informal meetings. Parents and carers receive information about the progress of their child through regular discussions with teachers and an annual report.

Governors

Governors work very closely with the Headteacher and senior leadership team in making decisions about the development of the school. They areresponsibleforstaffing,finance,healthandsafety,premises,andcurriculum.

4

5

School Timetable

Key Stage 2 Start 8.55am Finish 3.20pmYears 3,4,5 & 6

Years 1 & 2 Start 9.00am Finish 3.15pmReception

Nursery Morning Session 9.00-12.00pm Afternoon 12.30-3.30pm

All children must be collected promptly at the end of the school day. Children in Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 must be collected by an adult that is known to the child’s class teacher. Please inform the school if you are going to be late collecting your child.

5

We welcome visits to the school from parents and carers who are considering sending their child to learn with us.

All primary schools in the London Borough of Hounslow admit children into Reception on a full-time basis in the September after their fourth birthday. We also have a nursery class where children may attend part-time (morning or afternoon sessions) from the September after their third birthday.

Enquiries for admission to the nursery should be made directly to the school office, and applications will be considered according to the number of places available and by following the criteria set by the Local Authority.

Admission to Reception from the nursery is not automatic and parents need to apply for a place in the main school. These applications are managed centrally by the Local Authority. Application forms can be obtained from the school or from the Civic Centre in Lampton Road, Hounslow.

Admissions

6

Admissions to all other year groups in school are also managed by the Local Authority, as are term-time transfers to and from other schools. Please contact the Civic Centre in Lampton Road for application forms. Term-time admissions to other year groups depend on the availability of places. Classes have a limit of 30 pupils.

“Our pupils learn to cooperate

and collaborate with others,

develop good social skills and

demonstrate mutual respect.”

“We work closely with parents, carers and

members of the community to create a

supportive environment for learning.”

Des

ign

and

Pho

togr

aphy

by

ww

w.s

choo

lweb

site

.co.

uk 0

845

262

2030

Berkeley Primary SchoolCranford Lane, Hounslow, TW5 9HQ

T: 0208 570 5700

[email protected]

www.berkeleyprimaryschool.co.uk