Whitehill Infant School | Whitehill Infant School | |||||
| Luxford Road,Crowborough, East Sussex, TN6 2HW | Tel: (01892) 655846 Fax: (01892) 654928 | e-mail address: office@whitehill.e-sussex.sch.uk |
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CONTENTS Letter from the Headteacher School’s Vision Statement Information about the wrap-around care Parent – Teacher Contact The Foundation Stage Key Stage Areas of the Key Stage 1 Curriculum Behaviour Special Education Needs Gifted and Talented Educational Visits
Sex Education Teachers Planning Time The School Day School Uniform School Meals
The School Nurse | |||
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Email: office@whitehill.e-sussex.sch.uk
Tel: (01892) 655846 Headteacher: Mrs Tracy
Robinson
January
2010 Dear Parents/Carers I am very pleased to introduce you to Every child is valued, considered as an individual and
given the opportunity to develop to their full potential. We value good manners
and view them as being an important life-skill. Children are praised for
displaying good manners and for making good choices. “Parents are delighted with the way their
children flourish in the school. One parent said ‘My children have thrived in a warm,
enthusiastic and nurturing environment’.”
Ofsted February 2007
Children
learn most effectively when they feel happy, secure and experience success. At
Whitehill we endeavour to create a warm and friendly atmosphere where every
individual is welcomed. We promote respect for self and others and foster
qualities of initiative, independence, co-operation, resilience and
self-motivation through the delivery of a curriculum that acknowledges the need
for health in both mind and body. “The
pastoral care for pupils is outstanding.”
Ofsted February 2007
The
curriculum for all children at Whitehill is based on the acquisition and
development of a range of skills that promote independent learning. These
skills include communication, thinking, problem solving, decision-making, risk
taking, cooperation and concentration. “The
curriculum enables pupils to develop excellent problem-solving and
decision-making skills” Ofsted
February 2007
The
school provides curriculum enrichment opportunities with a range of educational
visits e.g. The Bluebell Railway, The Toy Museum (Tunbridge Wells) and Frog
Firle Farm. The children also take part in local visits e.g. KS1 act out a
Christian wedding ceremony at All Saints Church, children visit
Excellence starts with environment and we could not
have a more beautiful school and wildlife area to work in. Everything is
purpose built with infant children in mind. The school’s clear focus as an We
are proud to be a registered ‘Fair Trade’ school. The school uses as many Fair
Trade products as possible throughout the school, including the Breakfast Club
and offers families the opportunities to purchase goods for themselves with a
Fair Trade stall in school three times a year. The
school is proud to have received the Healthy Schools Silver Award in
recognition of the work we undertake in promoting healthy lifestyles. To
compliment this we do not sell sweets or products that are high in sugar, salt
and additives at fund raising events. “Pupils’
are very aware of the need to adopt healthy lifestyles and take good advantage
of healthy eating…….”
Ofsted
February 2007 I
look forward to meeting you, if you decide to visit us, and having the
opportunity to pass on further information as well as giving you a guided tour
of the school. Yours
sincerely Mrs
Tracy Robinson Headteacher
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A Vision Statement for
‘The
beginning of a bright future, where children can grow and learn together’ 1. We
will develop the confidence, independence and self-esteem of every child in our
care, so that they are equipped to live as global citizens in our fast changing
world. 2. We
will develop the good manners, social skills and personal values of every child
in our care and continue to promote ‘pupil voice’ through our School Council,
to ensure that all children have the opportunity to be involved in
decision-making. 3.
We
will care for our environment and continue to be aware of ‘green issues’ that
improve the health and well-being of our school and the wider community. 4.
We
will ensure that all individuals are equipped with the necessary ICT skills to
enable them to live and learn in the 21st Century. | |||
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The Whitehill Breakfast
Club The After School
Club and
The Joint Whitehill
and Herne Walking Bus
We
operate a Walking Bus for children from both Whitehill and | |||
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PARENT TEACHER CONTACT “The school’s links with parents are
excellent and play a considerable part in promoting pupils’ well-being and good achievement.”
Ofsted February 2007
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The
Foundation Stage “Children’s progress in
Reception is excellent in speaking, thinking, reading and personal development” Ofsted
February 2007 Children in Reception Classes work within the Foundation Stage
Curriculum. The Foundation Stage of education is about developing key learning
skills such as listening, speaking, concentration, persistence and learning to
work together and co-operate with other children. It is a stage where children
are: ·
embarking on a journey of
discovery ·
developing socially and
emotionally ·
acquiring key attitudes,
skills and a core of knowledge ·
exploring learning
processes ·
active learners The Foundation Stage Curriculum “Provision for children in
Reception is good and excellent in communication, literacy and personal development.”
Ofsted February
2007 We
promote a well conceived, well organised, well planned resource-based
environment which provides opportunities for discovery across all curriculum
areas. Young children need opportunities for learning through play and the need
for experimentation is fundamental. Young
children learn holistically and our curriculum covers six areas of learning
which are inter-linked. The six areas of learning are:
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The Learning Environment Young
children need active exploration and opportunities for investigation and
discovery in both the indoor and outdoor environment. At · a wide range of quality
resources to stimulate, interest and nurture curiosity · safety and security · access to large and small
equipment · opportunities for
collaboration · materials to develop fine
and gross motor skills · a reflection of cultural
diversity and the wider world ·
an atmosphere that allows
for self-expression and creativity Key Stage 1 “Children
make good progress from the start of the Reception Year to the end of Y2 to
make
significantly above average standards in reading, writing and
mathematics by the end of Y2.”
Ofsted
February 2007 At
the end of the Foundation Stage children enter Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2). At
Whitehill the children are organised into mixed aged classes of Y1 and Y2
children. We embarked on this arrangement two years ago and have found it to be
tremendously successful. In this Key
Stage, children work within the National Curriculum ( · English (Literacy) · Mathematics · Science · Information and Communication Technology (ICT) The
foundation subjects are: · Personal, Health, Social Education and Citizenship (PHSE & C) · Art · Physical Education (PE) · Music · History & Geography · Design Technology “The curriculum provides a
broad range of interesting activities. It enables pupils’ to develop their academic, creative, practical and sporting
talents well, so they become well-rounded learners.”
Ofsted
February 2007 RE is included alongside the
National Curriculum and has equal standing in relation to other National
Curriculum subjects. “Pupils’ personal
development, well-being and spiritual, moral, social and cultural development are excellent.” Ofsted February 2007 | |||
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Areas of the Key Stage 1
Curriculum The Curriculum is delivered with an emphasis on the acquisition and
development of skills and an acknowledgement that cross curricular ‘learning journeys’
enable children to make links in their understanding of new ideas and concepts.
“Children
have very good opportunities to take responsibility for some of their own
learning and for
learning through both talk and practical activity. There is also a good
balance between Teacher-led and
child-initiated activities.”
Ofsted February 2007 PHSE & C At
Whitehill we use our PHSE & C curriculum to underpin all areas of
learning. The National Curriculum
includes guidelines to promote the knowledge, skills and understanding that
children need to lead confident, healthy, independent lives as responsible
Global Citizens. At this stage in their education, children learn about
themselves both as individuals and members of communities. Every class
undertakes a ‘Circle Time’ at the start of each new week where children learn
rules and skills for keeping themselves healthy and safe. “Pupils’
have a strong understanding of safety issues and say they feel safe at school.”
Ofsted February 2007 They
are encouraged to take responsibility for themselves and their environment.
They begin to consider their own feelings and those of others and develop
awareness of the views, rights and needs of others. As part of the Citizenship Curriculum,
children learn about issues in other parts of the world and how these impact on
the quality of life for the people living there. “Pupils’ make an outstanding contribution to the
school and wider community through raising funds for charities. Pupils have a very good
understanding of global issues and the meaning of Fair Trade.”
Ofsted February 2007 At
Whitehill we value ‘Pupil Voice’ and have a very active School Council made up
of elected representatives from all three year groups. The School Council meet regularly to discuss
issues relating to the whole school. Members of the School Council are required
to feed back to their class mates the main points of discussion following their
meetings. The children, being our largest ‘workforce’, need to have an insight
into areas of planned school improvement (identified on the School Improvement
Plan) so that they understand how important their role is in improving We
believe that high self-esteem is vital for children to grow, develop and learn
successfully. The school employs a Counsellor who works with individual
children, where necessary, to support their emotional needs. “The
very good relationships pupils have with each other and with the adults in
school help them
to develop good self-esteem.”
Ofsted February 2007 Whitehill
is very proud to have been awarded the ‘Healthy Schools Silver Award’ in
recognition of the work we do to promote
a healthy life style. “Pupils’
are very aware of the need to adopt healthy lifestyles and take good advantage
of healthy eating,
exercise and fresh air opportunities.” | |||
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Literacy Literacy
is a term which brings together the four strands of English; speaking and
listening, reading, writing and spelling. English skills and knowledge are
taught within Literacy sessions following objectives from the Primary Strategy. Speaking and Listening Whilst communication skills are essential in their own right they are
also the means by which children increase their understanding of language,
develop their skills in reading and writing and crucially enables them to
refine and develop their thinking skills. At Whitehill we provide a curriculum
that places talk at its very centre. As well as group play and work situations
there are a number of planned opportunities, during the school day, when
children can come together as a class to share experiences, ideas, opinions,
questions, answers, observations etc. Understanding and enjoyment are central to the reading process. To
develop enthusiasm for reading we aim to: · provide a wide range of
books in classrooms, including those made by the children themselves · convey our enthusiasm for
reading · share reading experiences
with the children · provide time for children
to look at and read books both in the classroom and from the school’s extensive
library The
teaching of reading places the focus on equipping the children with effective
strategies to enable then to read independently. All the children in Years 1
and 2 read a shared text (big book) as part of a Literacy session where most of
the teaching of reading takes place. In addition to this, children also take
part in group or guided reading sessions as part of Literacy. These sessions
take place with the Teacher and again this is a time for explicit teaching of
reading. When children read individually, this is a time to practise and
therefore this may not be undertaken by a Teacher. Reading at home is a vital support
for children’s learning and we encourage children to read at home as often as
they are can. Writing Children
need time to develop an awareness of the communicative nature of writing. It is
essential therefore that a stimulating environment and range of experiences is
provided to motivate the children to write for different purposes. Writing work
is closely related to reading and within the Literacy session children cover a
wide range of skills. Composition, phonics, spelling and handwriting are all part
of the objectives within the Primary Strategy. Spelling Children
need time to develop an awareness of the communicative nature of writing. It is
essential therefore that a stimulating environment and range of experiences is provided
to motivate the children to write for different purposes. Writing work is
closely related to reading and within the Literacy Hour children cover a wide
range of skills. Composition, phonics, spelling and handwriting are all part of
the objectives within the National Literacy Strategy. | |||
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Mathematics Mathematics is a term that brings together the different strands of maths, those being: · number · shape and space · data handling · measures Teachers
plan units of work from the Primary Strategy, a summary of areas of learning in
Key Stage 1 are as follows: Year 1 – Counting and recognising numbers to
20 Vocabulary for comparison and
ordering Counting on and back and knowing
pairs of numbers totalling 10 Numbers 1 – 10 more or less that a
given number Addition, subtraction and related
vocabulary Use of mental strategies to solve
simple problems Comparison of two lengths,
capacities or masses, measuring length, mass and capacity Language to describe 2D and 3D
shapes Year 2 – Work with numbers to at least 100 Number sequence activities Know addition and subtraction facts
for each number to at least 10 Multiplication and tables, halving and doubling Measuring, estimating and comparing lengths, masses and capacities using
standard units Read a simple scale and use a ruler Know mathematical names for 2D and 3D shapes and describe some of their
features Use mathematical vocabulary related to position, direction and movement Problem solving | |||
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Science In
the classroom, science is an integral part of many of the activities that
children engage in. Children are natural explorers and through exploration,
discovery and investigation they build upon earlier experiences, make sense of
the world around them and develop scientific skills and knowledge. In
the National Curriculum, science is divided into four areas at Key Stage 1.
These are as follows: · Scientific enquiry · Life processes and living
things · Materials and their
properties · Physical processes Areas
of study are introduced in a progressive way over the three years and are
incorporated into wider topics being studied. Whitehill
is very proud to be an ‘ “Pupils’
make an outstanding contribution to the school and wider community through
their work as
‘Eco- Warriors’, for example they recycle waste products.”
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I Information and Communication Technology At
Whitehill we are very well resourced for ICT. There are at least two PCs in each
class (with access to the Internet) as well as access to laptops and other
computers around the school. The school has a well resourced ICT Suite which is
used for whole class teaching of specific ICT skills. Children are encouraged
to view the computer as a valuable resource and are taught practical skills
that enable them to use the computer efficiently. Every class has an
Interactive Whiteboard. There is a wide range of software and CD ROMs in the
school to support the children’s learning and we are constantly adding to this
resource bank. Children are introduced to different programs as part of their
learning and given time throughout the week to practise and refine their
skills. Religious Education (RE) In a
a. develop their knowledge and
understanding of the nature of religious beliefs and practices b. acknowledge the importance
of these beliefs and practices to those who follow the religion c. explore aspects of human
experiences which give rise to spiritual awareness The
syllabus is drawn mainly from the Christian religion although children also
learn about a range of faiths and beliefs that influence different cultures. Collective Worship This
is the term used to describe assemblies within school. At Whitehill the
children take part in a daily coming together and it is during these times that
themes supported by stories, songs, poems, and topical events are explored. All
classes lead an assembly on a regular basis and we also have a wide range of
visitors who also lead our assemblies from time to time. Whatever form the
assembly takes it is a time for reflection, celebration and ‘coming together’. Art Art
activities provide a wide range of learning opportunities for young children as
well as being an important means of communicating, developing observational
skills and recording experiences. At Whitehill, children are introduced to a
variety of different materials and techniques. The children are encouraged to
select materials, appropriate for particular tasks, and discuss their work and
that of others. Artwork from the past and a range of cultures provides a broad
spectrum for the children to learn from.
Design and Technology Through
the use and understanding of materials and tools, children acquire many of the
skills and much of the knowledge related to design and technology. Careful
consideration is given to the range of materials provided and the children are
encouraged to make their own choices as to which are the most appropriate
resources to use and to evaluate their choices when the models are completed.
Children are provided with planned opportunities to apply knowledge when
developing their design ideas so that new learning always builds upon previous
learning. Food technology is a large part of the curriculum at Whitehill and
all children cook on a regular basis. Music | |||
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Geography Geography
is divided into the following areas: · Geographical enquiry and
skills, e.g. using and making maps, understanding geographical vocabulary and
developing fieldwork skills. · Knowledge and understanding
of places, including landscapes, employment, weather, position and comparison
with other places · Knowledge and understanding
of patterns and processes, e.g. where things are located, features and changes
in these · Knowledge and understanding
of environmental change and sustainable development, e.g. changes in the environment
and how the environment can be improved Many
skills are developed through the work in the local environment and further away
where appropriate. A wide range of
resources are used to support the children’s learning. History Children
are given opportunities to understand and interpret the past. Important skills
include those of handling evidence, investigation and developing a sense of
chronology and the passing of time. Stories, accounts of historical events and
historical sources such as pictures, books, videos, DVDs, ICT, first hand
accounts, personal memories, photographs and artefacts are used throughout the
school to support children’s learning. Physical Education (PE) Children
follow the programme of study for three areas of activity: · Gymnastics · Games · Dance | |||
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Behaviour The
school has a rigorous Positive Behaviour Policy (paper copy available on
request and a copy is on the school website) which all staff follow, this
enables the fostering of a sense of security for all. In addition the school
has a separate Anti-Bullying Policy (paper copy available on request and a copy
is on the school website). At Whitehill we adopt a very positive approach to
behaviour and children are supported and encouraged to take responsibility for
their conduct. Staff refer to the making of individual choices by children in
respect of their behaviour and through assemblies and regular Circle Times
children are encouraged to reflect on the consequences of making both good and
bad choices. All adults in the school encourage and praise good behaviour and
good manners. All
individuals follow the ‘Golden Rules’ which are as follows: · We are gentle · We are kind and helpful · We listen · We work hard · We look after property · We are honest These
rules underpin the school’s Behaviour Policy and are linked to ‘Golden Time’
which is a special time during the week when children can choose from a range
of activities as a reward for keeping all the Golden Rules throughout the week.
Children select their Golden Time activity at the start of the week, children
who have broken one or more of the Golden Rules can lose part of their Golden
Time. Children with Special Educational Needs “Pupils’ with learning
difficulties and disabilities make good progress because they are given good support
to help them to achieve their targets.”
Ofsted February 2007 The school works closely with outside agencies and
takes advice with regard to supporting children with special educational needs.
Please see enclosed SEN leaflet. Children who are identified as being Gifted and
Talented The
school employs a Teacher for one afternoon per week to work with children who
have been identified as being gifted and talented in one or more areas of the
curriculum. Educational Visits As
a school we enjoy using the local area to support learning and would ask all
parents/carers to sign and return the consent form allowing children to be
included in local visits. From time to time the children are able to visit
places of interest to both support and enhance their learning. Where cost of
transport and admission are involved we are unable to cover the cost of this
from our own budget. The Governing Body of the school has agreed that voluntary contributions will be invited
from parents/carers for all educational visits which incur a cost. All off site
activities are well planned and a rigorous and detailed risk assessment is
always undertaken before any educational visits take place. Sex Education At
this early stage, sex education relates to topics in the National Curriculum,
approved by the Governing Body of the school, and is linked to personal and
social development. It includes the following: · Know that humans develop at
different rates and that human babies have specific needs · Be able to name parts of
the body · Understand the concept of
male and female · Know about personal safety · Appreciate ways in which
people learn together, listening, discussing and sharing | |||
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Providing Teachers with Planning, Preparation and
Assessment time (PPA) A
National Agreement between Government, employers and trade unions was signed in
January 2003. The intention was to retain teachers in the profession and
improve their work/life balance by reducing the amount of time they have to
spend, during the evenings and at weekends, on school work. This National Agreement highlighted the need
for the following: A
progressive reduction in teachers’ overall hours Schools are able
to decide how best to provide for the National Agreement. At Whitehill we
created a School Change Team, led by Mrs. Sue Bowden (Senior Teacher),
membership of which included staff representation from Teachers, Governors,
Teaching Assistants and Mid Day Supervisors. Their task was to explore a range
of feasible options for our school and reach agreement on how best to meet our
statutory requirement to provide PPA time. In order to
provide our Teachers with their legal entitlement of a minimum of 10% PPA time
we have appointed four Teaching Assistants (Grade 3). TA3s are permitted to
supervise classes for no more than 30% of their contracted hours. We use these
TA3s to cover classes for an afternoon at a time to undertake activities that
Teachers feel to be an appropriate use of their skills, e.g. Golden Time,
Library, ‘show & tell’ etc. The TA3 are supported by a TA colleague at all
times. We have found this arrangement to be an extremely successful and
effective way to provide Teachers with PPA time. | |||
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The School Day The
day can start at 8am and finish at 6pm for children who use both the Breakfast
Club and After School Club, however for others the school day begins at 8.45 when the doors are opened and
children can come into their classrooms to begin the day by taking part in a
range of activities set out by the Teacher. The register is taken at 9.00. The morning session ends at 12.00 and the afternoon session begins at 1.10. The school day ends at 3.10.
Children who attend on a part time basis (mornings) are be collected at 12.00. When bringing and collecting your child we must ask
that you do not bring dogs onto the school site. The school car park is for staff members only and
should not be used by parents/carers at any time unless with prior agreement
with the Headteacher. Change of Routine If
there is a change in your child’s usual routine, e.g. if they are to be
collected by a different person, we would ask that you inform the Class Teacher
or School Secretary. Play Times The
fifteen minute mid-morning and afternoon playtimes are supervised by both
teaching and non-teaching staff. The lunch play session is supervised by Mid-Day
Assistants, we also run the ‘Quiet Club’ at lunchtimes for children who need
extra support during the lunch break as well as for children who are chosen to
take part each day. We also have a group
of children who are chosen to be Playground Friends. The Playground Friends are
on hand to play with children who need a friend or want to join in with a game
and feel they need support with this. The Playground Friends are easily
identified by their red baseball caps. This is an initiative that we started in
September 2004 and is proving to be extremely successful. Snacks and Drinks Whitehill takes part in the Government’s Fruit and
Vegetable scheme which offers every child in the school a free piece of fruit
each day. Different fruits are delivered every day and Mr. Drinkwater, our Site
Manager, washes and distributes them to classes. The school offers milk to
every child if they wish at a cost of around 15p per day. Children under five
are offered milk for free. The school provides each child with a free water
bottle (replacements bottles can be purchased from the school office). Children
have easy access to their water bottles and they are encouraged to drink
regularly throughout the day. Absence from School The
responsibility for ensuring that children attend school regularly and
punctually rests with the parents/carers. If your child is absent due to
illness or any other reason, please contact the school on the first day of
absence, before 10am, and send a letter
on their return, the absence line number is 01892 613471 Request to be Absent During Term Time No
holidays in term time will be authorised by the school. School Uniform
All
clothes should be clearly named please! The Budget Shop A
budget shop is organised by our parents. If anyone is interested in purchasing
items, forms are available from the Parent Information Point (situated next to
the main school office) which, when completed, can be brought to the school
office. If you have any unwanted items
of school uniform, in good condition that you are willing to donate to the
budget shop please bring them to the school office. All proceeds from the sale
of budget shop uniform will go towards school funds. Photographs A
photographer visits the school each year during the Autumn and Summer. Individual
and family group photographs are taken. Proofs are sent home and you may choose
whether or not to place orders. A percentage of the cost of the photographs
will go towards school funds. Valuables in School Please
do not allow your child to wear jewellery (small stud earrings are acceptable)
or bring valuables into school. If these get lost or broken it does cause
considerable upset. Newsletters Newsletters
are written each week and are emailed to parents, paper copies can be requested
if access to email is not available and a copy can be found at the Parent
Information Point and on the school’s website. Text Messaging Parents
are also kept informed of important school information via a text messaging
service and all parents are requested to provide the school office with a
mobile number in order to access this service. School Web-Site Information
about the school, photographs of the building and links to web-sites that could
support your child’s learning can be accessed from the Whitehill School
Web-Site School Meals A
cooked meal is available each day and is cooked on the premises. Chilled milk
or water is provided for the children to drink and fresh bread is offered every
day. Meals
are paid for on a daily basis (£1.87 - correct at time of printing) and
children should bring their money in a named purse or envelope. Monies are
collected in the classroom and taken to the hall at lunchtimes. Parents/Carers
are provided with copies of the menu to enable them to decide whether their
child is to have a cooked meal or packed lunch on a daily basis. Vegetarian
options are available each day and children who select this option are given a
red badge to wear at lunchtime so that they are not given the wrong meal. Special diets are catered for and any parent
wishing more information is invited to discuss their child’s needs with Mrs
Sharon Wheatley, the School Cook. Packed
lunches are stored on a special lunch box rack and children collect them when
they enter the hall to eat their lunch. Although these racks are kept away from
direct heat it is strongly
recommended that an ice pack is used with an insulated lunch box in order to
ensure the highest standard of food safety. Sweets
and fizzy drinks are not permitted in school. If
you think that your child is eligible for free school meals, application forms
are available from the school office. The criteria for eligibility is that
parents should be in receipt of any of the following:
All information is treated in the strictest
confidence. Medical Matters Illness at School Occasionally,
children are taken ill or have an accident at school and we need to contact
parents/carers. It is important, therefore, that we are notified of changes of
address and contact telephone numbers. It is also important that parents/carers
provide the telephone number of a friend or relative who can be contacted if
parents/carers are unavailable. Medicine in School If
it is necessary for your child to be given medicine prescribed by a medical
practitioner whilst at school, the Local Education Authority’s guidelines
should be followed: i. The medication should be
clearly marked with the child’s name and information about dosage should be
written on a form that can be obtained from the Parent Information Point ii. Medication must be handed
to the school secretary or office staff who will store it in a secure place iii. Please do not ask children to take medicines to the office The School Nurse The School Nurse is part of the Community Health Team. School Health is about prevention rather than cure and it is for this reason that each child has a health interview either on entering school or within the Reception Year. If the School Nurse or Doctor has any concerns following the interview they will often ask to see the child again at an agreed time. The children have an eye test every three years and a hearing test on entry to school. If
you have any queries about health please contact: The School Nurse during school hours
01892 669393
Grove
House Community Centre
The
Grove
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Whitehill Infant School, Luxford Road Crowborough, East Sussex. TN6 2HW.
Headteacher: Mrs T. Robinson BEd(Hons) Tel. 01892 655846 Fax. 01892 654928 Email. office@whitehill.e-sussex.sch.uk
