Ixworth Primary School Brochure

Ixworth Church of England

Voluntary Controlled Primary School

School Brochure

2011/2012

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Ixworth Church of England VC Primary School

September 2011 Dear Parents/Carers, Welcome to our school. This brochure has been prepared to give you a clear picture of the school and its aims. We hope it will be helpful to you. Our school building creates a warm, welcoming and stimulating environment to work in and our skilled and experienced staff work closely together on behalf of the children. All staff work hard to create an atmosphere in which each child’s personal talents can be developed to the fullest extent. We aim to work closely with each child and their family so that all the children will feel as safe and happy at school as they do at home. We are proud of the achievements of all our children and like them to take a pride in all that they do in our school. Ixworth Primary is a Church School where we share Christian values and celebrate the achievements of all our children. Visitors are welcome to come and see the school. Please phone the office and we will be happy to make an appointment. I look forward to meeting and working with you, so that together, we can give your child the very best possible start to their school life. Yours sincerely Anna Richards Head teacher

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Ixworth CEVCP Primary School Where children…

feel special and valued

are secure, happy and flourish

enjoy learning and celebrate achievement

learn Christian values to live by

are stimulated, challenged, inspired and encouraged to do their best

enjoy new experiences and opportunities

show respect, tolerance and understanding

become responsible, caring citizens and life-long learners

Where families feel valued, informed and involved, Where every individual matters and we learn together!

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Ixworth Church of England (VC) Primary School Crown Lane, Ixworth, Bury St Edmunds, IP31 2EL

Tel: 01359 230228 Fax: 01359 230352 E-mail: [email protected]

Head teacher: Mrs Anna Richards

Acting Deputy Head teacher: Miss Lorraine Downes

Suffolk County Council

Western Area Education Office

West Suffolk House, Western Way

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

IP33 3YU

Telephone: 01284 758000

School Governors

Mr Daniel Jones (Chair) Mr Maurice Hartill (Vice Chair)

Mrs Anna Richards

Mr Tim Coe Mrs Sam Patterson Mrs Lynne Johnson Miss Zoe Morrison Mr Adrian Harmer

Mrs Liz Bonnelykke Reverend Phillip Garbett Reverend Doug Neupert

The information contained in this brochure relates to the school year indicated on the front cover and is correct at the time of publication. (September 2011) It should not be assumed that there will be no changes affecting the relevant arrangements or details either before the start of, or during, the school year in question or in relation to subsequent school years.

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Meet the Staff Senior Leadership Team Head teacher: Mrs Anna Richards Acting Deputy Head teacher: Miss Lorraine Downes Administration Team Office Manager: Mrs Teresa Snowling Administration Assistant: Mrs Claire Howe Eagle Class (Year 4) Teachers: Mrs Sally O’Brien and Mrs Catherine Legg Kestrel Class (Year 3) Teachers: Mrs Carolyn Pashby and Mrs Sally O’Brien Kingfisher Class (Year 2) Teacher: Mrs Sharon Warland Owl Class (Year 1) Teachers: Miss Lorraine Downes Swallow Class (Reception) Teachers: Mrs Clare Lambert, Mrs Charlotte Pratt and Mrs Anna Richards Robin Class (Nursery) Teacher: Mrs Louise Price Nursery Nurse: Ms Jane Currey Teaching Assistants Mrs Sylvia Currie, Mrs Amanda Backhouse, Mrs Grainne Titlow, Mr Nigel Robson, Mrs Laura Werrell, Mrs Tara Sturgeon, Mrs Jo Hyndeman Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO): Mrs Sally O’Brien SENCO Assistant: Mrs Sylvia Currie Cook in Charge: Miss June Wood Caretaker and Cleaner: Mrs Alison Goldsmith Cleaner: Mr William Goldsmith

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Introduction to the school Ixworth CEVCP School is a village primary school serving the villages of Ixworth and Pakenham Fen. It has Voluntary Controlled status under the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. The school caters for children aged between 4 and 9 years. It is part of the Thurston pyramid which consists of 14 primary schools and 3 middle schools which all feed into Thurston Community College. The school day begins at 8.55am and finishes at 3.30pm.

The School Building and Grounds There has been a primary school in Ixworth since 1840. The original school building was in Thetford Road but in 1969 the school was re-located to a purpose built modern building in Crown Lane. Since the current school opened 40 years ago, it has been significantly extended and improved. The school is centred around a large hall which is used for PE activities, assemblies and concerts. The midday meal is also served in here. There are six classrooms, each with its own resource area and an ICT

suite. Our Early Years Foundation Stage and Year 1 and 2 classes have outdoor learning areas. The outdoor playing space consists of a hard playground area, a large climbing construction and a carpeted play area with play fort and ship which is surrounded by shrubs. There is also a fenced environmental area with a pond. The school is able to use the village hall playing field for outdoor games and sports. Our children also use this area during playtimes under the supervision of teaching staff and Lunchtime Supervisors.

Links with the Church Ixworth Primary is a Voluntary Controlled School, and as such, maintains strong links with our local church. We have a daily act of collective worship, which is part of our assembly. The Team Rector, Reverend Phillip Garbett, comes into school to lead assembly on a fortnightly basis. At Harvest, Christmas and Easter, we hold services in the church where the children take a leading role in the worship. Parents are always invited to these services.

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Our Ordained Local Minister, Reverend Jill Walker, is a regular weekly visitor to school. She leads an assembly with Years 3 and 4 and runs story telling sessions with our younger pupils.

Admission Arrangements The Local Authority is responsible for admissions to both the Nursery and the main school. Children are admitted into our Reception Class at the beginning of the academic year in which they become five, although the youngest children attend on a part time basis to begin with. Our Nursery offers half-time early years education for the two terms prior to this. If there are places in the Nursery, children may be able to start three terms before they start full time school if parents feel their children are ready. Pupils will not be allocated a place in school automatically. All parents / carers must apply for a place, even if their child already attends the school’s nursery class. If any parents / carers would like a CAF1 application form and a ‘Schools in Suffolk’ booklet and/or further clarification on the admission process, they should contact the school or the Admissions Team on 0845 600 0981. The form is also available on line at: www.suffolk.gov.uk/EducationAndLearning/Schools/AdmissionsToSchools

Parents’ / Carers’ Visits to School

The school recognises the importance of establishing strong home-school relationships and aims to work in partnership with parents for the benefit of their children.

Parents are invited to attend formal interviews with their child’s class teacher three times a year. We operate an appointments system so all discussions are private. Teachers are always willing to talk informally to parents on a daily basis. We prefer you to see classroom assistants before school and

teachers immediately after school so that the teachers can concentrate on the children first thing in the morning. Parents who use child-minders to bring and collect children may find it easier to communicate with teachers on a regular basis through reading journals or log books. Should any problems arise, the school strongly urges parents to make an appointment with the class teacher without delay so that action can be taken as quickly as possible.

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Liaison At present, children leave Ixworth CEVCP School at the end of Year 4 to move onto a middle school. It is unclear at present when the middle schools in our area will be phased out. The primary schools in the Thurston pyramid work closely with each other to ensure that all children transferring to middle school have had similar opportunities and experiences. Regular liaison meetings are held with the staff of Ixworth Middle School. Year 5 tutors from the middle school visit the primary school towards the end of the summer term to talk to the children about the transition. Provision is also made for parents and children to visit the middle school. A range of activities are organised to enable year 4 pupils to meet with pupils from other feeder primary schools and to visit the middle school on several occasions. Transition arrangements will be made individually for any pupils who will not be transferring to Ixworth Middle school at the end of Year 4.

School Rules We endeavour to develop courtesy, respect, good manners and consideration for others in all our children. We trust that parents support us in this. In conjunction with parents, governors and pupils, the school has developed a ‘Behaviour Policy’. Copies of this are available for parents to read. Our school rules are: Follow instructions straight away Keep your hands and feet to yourself Be kind to others and show respect Take care of the things belonging to yourself and others

The Curriculum

Ixworth CEVCP School provides a broad and enriched curriculum which aims to promote the intellectual, personal, social and physical development of all pupils. We aim to make our curriculum as creative and exciting as possible. Although emphasis is placed on developing skills and knowledge in the core subjects of Literacy and Numeracy, other subjects are taught predominantly through topics in a cross-curricular way. This ensures a stimulating context to the children’s learning. The school

follows the Local Authority’s “Agreed Syllabus” for Religious Education. PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) is timetabled and taught throughout the school. Throughout the curriculum, opportunities to develop children's social, moral, spiritual, emotional and cultural development are fostered.

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Literacy Literacy is concerned with the use of language for communication and includes: Speaking and listening Opportunities to speak and listen exist throughout the school day. They may consist of children relating experiences, describing activities, discussing how to solve a problem or using creative language in a play situation. The talk may be with one other child, in a small or large group, or with an adult. There are frequent opportunities for children to listen to stories and poetry.

Reading Children learn to read at different rates and times. We aim to help children to learn to read fluently and to learn to love reading texts for the enjoyment and the knowledge they can impart. Children are helped to develop their reading skills through a variety of methods including whole word recognition, phonics and the use of contextual and picture cues. A wide variety of reading material is available in school, including the very best of reading schemes, real books, poetry and non-fiction material. Children are able to take their reading books home and are provided with either a reading log book or a journal to record the texts they have read and enjoyed. When they are learning to read, we encourage children to read to an adult daily at home and value the contribution parents make. The school library contains a wide range of reading material. Writing Children are encouraged to express themselves in writing as soon as they feel confident to do so. Initially this may take the form of a short sentence to describe a picture they have drawn. Later their writing may take the form of a story or book they have made up, a poem they have created or an article for a school newspaper. We aim to make children aware of different forms of writing for different purposes. We also encourage them to draft their work, then in conference with the teacher or a peer, self correct and alter, coming finally to an end product of which they feel proud. Mathematics The mathematics curriculum is broad and balanced with priority given to the teaching of ‘number’ and the using and applying of number facts in different contexts through practical and problem solving activities. We aim to develop children’s enthusiasm and confidence alongside their capabilities in the subject. A variety of teaching methods and materials are employed to achieve this.

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Science

Science is taught throughout the school either as part of a wider based topic or as an individual unit. The children are encouraged to observe, explore, experiment, investigate and to ask questions about their work, to help them acquire a sound scientific knowledge and understanding. They are taught to communicate and record their findings and ideas in a variety of ways. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) There are computers in all classrooms and a total of nineteen in the computer suite. The children also benefit from a bank of 20 laptops which can be used in any classroom. Children learn to use software programs for word processing, data collection and design. ICT is used to support all areas of the curriculum. Interactive whiteboards are installed in all classrooms and the school has wireless internet throughout.

History and Geography These subjects are taught through the medium of topic work. In both subjects, local studies as well as more distant regions are used as contexts for learning. The village of Ixworth is used to help children develop fieldwork skills.

PE Regular exercise and participation in sports activities are vital if we are to produce a healthy generation. Within the curriculum, children participate regularly in gymnastics, games, dance and in the summer term and athletics and rounders. Art Art is planned to ensure that children have the opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge and to work with a variety of media. This includes work with textiles, 3D work, painting, drawing, printing, collage and clay

Design and Technology Children are given the opportunity to develop their D T capability through: assignments in which they design and make products focused practical tasks in which they develop and

practise particular skills and knowledge activities in which they investigate and evaluate items

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Music Work in music includes singing, listening, composing and performing. Children in Year 4 learn to play the recorder. Religious Education Ixworth Primary is a voluntary controlled school and Religious Education is taught in accordance with an Agreed Syllabus approved by the Local Authority. Children learn about themselves and the groups they belong to. They explore ideas, feelings, opinions and beliefs of people from the major world religions. Collective Worship We have a daily act of Collective worship in accordance with the doctrine of the Church of England. Parents, if they so wish, may withdraw their children from Religious Education lessons and Collective Worship assemblies. Such requests should be made, in writing, to the Head teacher. PSHE Personal, Social and Health Education is a timetabled subject with a scheme of work that includes citizenship. Sex and Relationship Education The school accepts its responsibility to prepare all pupils for adult life. Teachers use a sensitive approach, taking into account each pupil’s person values, needs, beliefs and family circumstances, and endeavour to guide each child to make their own effective and responsible choices in matters of personal behaviour. A copy of the school’s policy document, which has been approved by the School Governors, is available for any parent to view if they wish.

Children with Special Needs

The school has a policy of inclusion and aims to meet the needs of all children. Differentiated activities are included in the class teachers’ planning. Individual Education Plans are written for any child whose progress or behaviour needs monitoring more carefully. These are written in co-operation with parents and reviewed regularly. Some children with more pronounced special

needs may require provision additional to that normally provided in the school and may need to be referred for specialist advice and support. Where children have specific learning difficulties advice may be sought initially from the Local Education Authority’s

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Advisory Teacher and then, depending on need, a range of specialist advisory services. The school expects to work in partnership with parents to provide the best possible result for their children.

Gifted and Talented The school has a policy of identifying children with special gifts and talents and developing them in a variety of ways.

Educational Visits In support of the curriculum, children regularly benefit from educational visits. Visits are generally financed through voluntary contributions from parents or through grants awarded from outside the school. The school governors’ policy on “Charges and Remissions” allows for part or all of the cost of an educational visit to be met from the school’s budget in cases of personal financial hardship. Further information should be sought from the head teacher.

School Council The purpose of the School Council is to provide a forum for the children to raise items of concern or interest, and take part in agreeing any resolutions or activities. Children elect members of the school council each year and these representatives from each class meet regularly with the head teacher.

Extended Schools Provision Throughout the year various clubs and activities are organised by the staff. Some of these take place at lunchtimes whilst others are after school. Sometimes specialist teachers or coaches visit the school to lead some of the activities. Some of the activities provided recently are: football, gymnastics, French, art and choir. A small charge is made for most after school clubs to cover staffing costs.

The school also runs a breakfast club from 7.45am every school morning. Children have a healthy breakfast and take part in a range of games and activities before the start of the school day. The charge for this is currently £3.50 per session.

Medical Matters It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that children who are unwell receive proper care. Consequently children who are unwell should not be sent to school. Parents should advise the school of any medical condition which may affect the child during the school day. Should the doctor consider it necessary for a child to receive medication during the school day, where possible, this should be administered by the parent. In certain circumstances, a member of staff may agree to administer medication. In this case, parents will be requested to complete a medication form and sign a legal disclaimer in favour of the staff involved in administering the medicine. The medicine

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must be in the original container and be clearly labelled with the contents, child’s name, and the dosage and/or other instructions from parent or doctor. It should be handed to the Head teacher or Administrative Assistant by the parent together with the completed signed disclaimer. If a child suffers from asthma, the school needs to be made aware and an inhaler provided for use in school. Inhalers are kept in the classrooms and will always be made available when needed. They are also taken on all trips out of school. Members of staff will deal with minor injuries and contact parents immediately if they have concerns. In the case of a more serious injury or illness when parents cannot be contacted the head teacher will act on the advice of the medical officer consulted. If there is any doubt the child will be taken to the local surgery or hospital and the parents informed as soon as possible.

Attendance The Education (Pupils’ Attendance Records) Regulations of 1991 attempts to ensure that children are present in school as often as possible. Parents are asked not to make non-urgent appointments with the doctor or dentist during school hours unless it is unavoidable. We have to record each absence carefully noting in the register whether the absence is ‘authorised’ or ‘unauthorised’. We operate “first day calling” of parents if a child is not present in school. It is vital, therefore, that parents phone the school each time their child is absent, stating the reason for absence. Unauthorised absences include truancy, visits to town to buy clothes and holidays. Parents should telephone school before 9.15 am on the first day of absence, and send a letter when their child returns to school. There is a form to fill in to request absence during school time. Requests for holidays in term time will not be authorised.

Pastoral care The class teacher is the person who normally assumes the responsibility for the day to day pastoral care of children in their class. A child’s behaviour can be affected by many factors, e.g. family bereavement, loss of a much loved family pet, parental separation, etc. Teachers are better able to help your child through a difficult emotional crisis if they are taken into your confidence, so please keep us informed.

Safeguarding The school management team takes its responsibility to ensure the safeguarding of our children very seriously. All staff are checked thoroughly following government guidelines and regular voluntary helpers will be asked to complete a Criminal Record Bureau check. Details of all checks are kept in a Single Central Record in the school office. If members of staff have concerns about a child, they follow widely known procedures to report their concerns to the Designated Person (the head teacher). Children & Young People’s Services (Social Care) will be informed if children are thought to be at risk. Parents are expected to work in cooperation with the school in the best interests of their child/ren.

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Every Child Matters Our school fully supports the Every Child Matters agenda. We are committed to ensuring all children in the school can:

o be healthy o stay safe o enjoy and achieve o make a positive contribution o achieve economic well-being

Improving outcomes for children and young people also involves ‘narrowing the gap’ for the most disadvantaged. Schools, parents and the local community all have a part to play, especially in encouraging participation. Working with other agencies our school has increased the support available for families and carers, and has aimed to intervene in the best interests of children before they reach crisis point. Our staff are trained to use the “Common Assessment Framework” and can make a CAF referral in order to obtain support for families from other agencies. This close working relationship with other agencies such as health, social care, police and the voluntary sector means that information about children and their families will be shared strictly on a ‘need to know’ basis.

School Meals Meals served at this school are cooked on the premises. A nutritionally balanced two course meal is served which complies with all the Government’s guidelines for school meals and is of a type which appeals to children. The menu is displayed in our school hall and is also sent home at the beginning of term. The price of meals is currently £2.10 per day. All meals should be paid for in advance, at least weekly, on the first day of the week. Parents are requested to put the correct money (cash or cheque) in an envelope on which is written their child’s name, number and name of days for which payment is enclosed and amount enclosed. Cheques should be made payable to Suffolk County Council. If your family gets state benefits you may be able to get extra help. The extra help will depend on the type of benefit that you claim. If your child is about to start school and you want to make a claim please let the school know straight away. Children whose parents do not wish them to have school meals may bring a packed lunch. If you wish to send a drink for your child, to drink with his/her lunch then please ensure that it is in an unbreakable container, otherwise water is always available. Fizzy drinks, sweets and chocolates are not allowed. Water bottles are encouraged for use in the classroom.

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School Uniform We take pride in our presentation and expect all children to wear our school uniform. Please ensure that all items of clothing are clearly labelled. Name tapes can be ordered through the school. Named clothing can quickly be returned if it is mislaid. Fleeces, sweatshirts, cardigans can be purchased from the school. Book bags and PE bags are also available. Please ask in the office for the latest price list.

Girls

Grey skirt or trousers

Blue or white blouse or polo shirt

School sweatshirt or cardigan

Blue and white checked dress

Dark shoes/boots / sandals without a heel

Change of footwear when it is wet or muddy

Boys

Grey shorts or trousers

Blue or white shirt or polo shirt

Burgundy jumper or school sweatshirt

Dark sensible shoes or sandals

Change of footwear when it is wet or muddy

PE Kit Children will need a named drawstring bag containing: Plimsolls and/or trainers Shorts (black or navy) White tee shirt or polo shirt Track suit (for cold weather)

Jewellery In the interests of safety and security, jewellery should not be worn in school. If your child chooses to wear a watch, they must be responsible for looking after it. The staff can take no responsibility for the loss of jewellery or any injury to a child arising from the wearing of jewellery, such as torn ears or fingers. Earrings can cause a particular problem in school and we would urge parents to consider carefully before deciding to have their child’s ears pierced. If worn, earrings should be the sleeper type only and should not have any protrusions which extend beyond the butterfly clip. For safety reasons we ask that children are able to remove and replace their own earrings before participating in any PE activities.

Friends of Ixworth Primary School (FIPS) The school has an active group of parents who organise social, educational and fund raising events. Any person with a child at the school automatically becomes a member and will be sent details of events via their child.

Dogs In the interests of hygiene and safety, dogs should not be brought into the school grounds.

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Parking Parking space outside the school is very limited and the road is narrow. Please avoid bringing your car to school unless absolutely necessary. If you need to use your car, please use the lay-by whenever possible, especially if you expect to be parked for any length of time. Vehicles should not be driven into or out of the school grounds when children are arriving or leaving. Except in emergencies e.g. when collecting a sick child, parents should not use the staff car park. Please exercise extreme caution and consideration at all times when driving in Crown Lane, especially when children are entering or leaving school.

Charging and Remissions Policy The Governing Body reserves the right to make a charge in the following circumstances for activities organised by the school:

- activities taking place outside school hours - charges for ingredients / materials if parents wish to own the finished product

The school will also invite parents to make a voluntary contribution towards the cost of education visits (to cover transport and admission fees.) It is understood that it may be necessary to have substantial voluntary parental contributions in order that the proposed activity can take place. However, no child should be deprived of any activity due to the inability of their parent to contribute.

In circumstances of financial hardship which make it difficult for children to participate in particular activities that form part of the curriculum, sympathetic consideration will be given for remission. The Governing Body invites parents to apply in confidence to the Head teacher for the remission of charges in part or in full.

Public Access to Documents Access to the following documents and information is available on request to the head teacher: Any statutory instruments (including statutory orders for the National Curriculum

subjects). Circulars and administrative memoranda relating to the powers and duties under chapter 1 of the Education Reform Act

Any published HMI/OFSTED reports concerning the school Any schemes of work currently used by teachers in the school Any school policy documents Signed copies of the minutes and agenda of meetings of the Governing Body Any educational records maintained on pupils attending the school may be

examined by parents/guardians on request to the Head teacher.

Complaints Procedures Any parent who has a complaint or particular worry may contact the head teacher at any time. If, however, the issue cannot be resolved in this way, it may be referred first to a panel of governors of the school and as a last resort to a Local Authority panel for formal consideration.

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Photographs From time to time children may be photographed as part of normal school activities. Any parent who does not wish their child to be included in this should make this known to the school. Parents who do not want their children to be videoed at school plays and performances must make this known to the school. At present, video cameras are permitted at these events.

Safety We welcome all visitors to our school. We ask all visitors to report to reception and to sign the visitors’ book in the

entrance hall. We aim to ensure that it is a safe place for pupils, staff and all other members of

the school community. If visitors threaten or assault anyone in the school, or persist in abusive behaviour,

they will be removed from the premises and may be prosecuted. Outside doors are closed at 9 am. Children who arrive at school late should come in through the main entrance and report to the school office so that they can be registered. Teachers keep a careful watch on children as they are collected from school and we would ask that you inform us if someone different is collecting the child, or if you have been delayed. We are aware that some Year 4 children are encouraged by their parents to walk home independently. Please make the class teacher aware of this.

And finally … We hope that this brochure has given you useful information about our school. We would be delighted to show you around and would ask that you phone to make an appointment. If you require further information about Ixworth CEVCP School, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Brochure updated— April 2012