Prospectus
The school year 2008-9
The year was very successful in many ways. We have started a three-year Creative Partnerships project which has so far involved two artists working with Y3. The children have constructed jungles, used video cameras, and used drama to make their learning more exciting and engaging.
We have been working with the
We held a very successful inclusion week when children took part in a variety of activities. They enjoyed learning about equality, disabled Olympic stars and famous black leaders.
We took part in many sporting competitions and we have done well. We won the area gymnastics contest and went through to the
The football team continued to train and has taken part in several matches. We went through to the area finals of a football contest and came third. We won the area competition of the girls’ cricket competition.
Year 5 won a prize for the third year running in the Stan Kenyon Challenge which was about global warming this year.
We have continued our European project with
The Stan Kenyon Challenge- prize-winners for the third year running.
COMING TO SCHOOL
The school is in two buildings on the same site. The Aston building is the building nearest the main gate and houses key stage 2 (7-11yrs old) and the school offices.
Raynville building is the building furthest from the main gate and this houses Key Stage 1 (5-7yrs old) and the Foundation Stage unit (3-5yrs old). The new extension at the back of the KS2 building houses the computer suite and group room.
All the entrances are security controlled and instructions for access are displayed on the doors. Please go to the school office when visiting school after the start or finishing time of school.
ORGANISATION
The children are grouped in classes of the same age. Classes are no more than 30. Children are not put into their final classes until the end of the reception year. We can take 39 children in each of the nursery sessions. Nursery children can take their 15 hours as half days or as full days. Each class has at least one trained classroom assistant.
Classes may be taken by Higher Level Teaching Assistants, under the supervision of a teacher, at certain times in the week.
During the working day children may be taught as a whole class or in mixed ability or ability groupings. Extra help in literacy and numeracy is given in small groups to children who need it.
SPECIAL NEEDS
The school has the Inclusion Charter Mark for our work with children with special needs. We have a partnership with West Leeds Specialist Learning Centre. Many children will have some kind of special need during their time at school. Children may be included in the special needs register at School Action, School Action Plus or as a child with a Statement of Special Needs. We are proud of our early identification and good support for children with learning, emotional and physical difficulties.
Special needs support
Mrs Shaw and Mrs Wilson work with parents and children to cater for special needs. Children with disabilities are welcomed and the school is accessible to wheel-chair users with assistance. We have three disabled access toilets and a care suite. We have expertise in working with hearing impaired children and a sound system installed in three classrooms.
We have a very good reputation for working with children who have language impairment or delay. The foundation stage staff are fully trained in the use of Makaton and other staff members have had an introductory course.
The school is a satellite of the Pupil Development Centre in Armley and has two trained staff able to deliver groups on social and emotional issues such as friendship, self-esteem, confidence building, and conflict resolution. We have a specially converted room to do this work called Peaceful Paws.
Signing the colour brown in Makaton
LEARNING MENTORS
We have two learning mentors; Miss Chaplin and Mrs Kilner who work with children who are are having any problems due to poor attendance, lack of confidence, poor behaviour or other factors. They can often advise parents who have any problem. They also work with new children helping them to settle in school. Please ask in the school office if you would like to see a learning mentor.
HOMEWORK
Children are expected to take their reading book and notebook home every night and read at home. Homework will be given at least weekly in mathematics. Spellings will be sent home for learning once a week from year 1. The amount of homework given will increase as children get older. Children in year 5 and 6 have a special homework diary.
BEHAVIOUR
Children are expected to:
- behave so that they and other children can learn well
- behave safely and considerately
- respond politely to adults
- try to resolve difficulties without fighting
- look after their own and the school’s property
Rewards
We promote good behaviour through teaching it, rewarding it and providing interesting and challenging work for children. Children work towards getting star charts in KS1 which they will bring home. In years three to six children collect “blobs” and can gain bronze, silver gold and platinum certificates. Each week in our reward assemblies two children from each class are given the medal to wear for the day for good work or behaviour or for progress. Children are invited to sit on the Captain’s Table each week to reward good behaviour at lunchtimes.
Dealing with bad behaviour
We will punish bad behaviour by taking away free time (rule reminder playtimes in KS2), separating children from friends, and asking children to make up work missed. If there is a persistent problem we will use the Positive Behaviour Pyramid and parents will be contacted.
Children will be sent home at lunchtimes if they do not follow the lunchtime rules. Exclusion from class will be used where children behave deliberately or persistently in a dangerous or disobedient way. Exclusion can be internal (at school) or the child can be sent to
There is no corporal or physical punishment. Children will not be kept for more than ten minutes after school.
In extreme cases of disobedience or dangerous behaviour children will be restrained. Restraint will be for the shortest time possible and parents will be informed when and why this has been done.
All adults on the site are expected to behave respectfully to other adults and children. In particular parents should not tell off anyone other than their own children.
Bullying - Children are expected to tell an adult if they think that they are being bullied. Bullying is the persistent or premeditated hurting (by word or action) of one child by one or more others. Accusations of bullying will be taken seriously and investigated. Children who are found to have been bullying will be punished and taught to behave in better ways. The anti-bullying policy that was written with the children is on display in all key stage two classrooms.
Name-calling - We take all forms of name-calling very seriously. If children use language that is disrespectful of other races or religions, or of disability or gender, they will be spoken to by a senior teacher and punished for persistent or serious offences.
Racism - Racism is taken seriously and all incidents are recorded and dealt with according to the discipline and anti-racism policies. We teach children to value the differences between people though our curriculum and through opportunities to share in cultures other than their own. We have achieved level three of the Stephen Lawrence Racial Harmony Award and we are now supporting other schools in this work.
This is a summary of our full behaviour policy, which is available from the office.
The Harmony group on a joint visit with our partner school, Talbot Primary
SCHOOL DAY
Main school hours are:
8.50am-12.00 noon and 1.10-3.15pm
Children are allowed to enter school when the bell is rung at 8.45am. There is no supervision before this time. Children will be let in at 8.30 when the weather is bad.
We ask for your help in getting children to school on time and encouraging punctual habits. Lateness affects both the education of your own child and that of the other children in the class.
We strongly encourage walking to school. If this is not possible please park carefully away from the main entrance. This is vitally important for children’s safety, so that coaches can have access and for the sake of our neighbours.
Children in KS2 may cycle to school but parents must sign a safety contract which can be obtained from the deputy headteacher, Mrs West.
Nursery sessions are:
Morning: 8.45-11.45am
Afternoon: 12.30-3.30pm
Parents may take the fifteen hours nursery time as half days, as two and a half days or as one full day and three halves.
Parents are very welcome into the Nursery when bringing or collecting their children. Young people under the age of 14 should not collect children from nursery. Please do not go into the Key Stage One playground to see older children when on the way to or from Nursery as this can be very unsettling.
Key Stage One and reception children will only be released to a known adult, so you should tell us if someone other than the usual person is collecting. Older children should be reminded to come straight back into school if the person they are expecting is not there or if they encounter any problem.
Any child not collected will wait in the main office in the Aston building.
It is very important that children are collected on time and that we are told if you are unavoidably delayed. If a child is left until 4.30 or until 30 minutes after the end of an after school club social services may be informed.
CONTACT INFORMATION
If your child is ill or has an accident at school we will need to contact you. Please make sure that we have up to date contact telephone numbers for you and any relative or friend who will look after your child if you are not available.
ATTENDANCE
Children need to attend regularly if they are to make good progress at school. They should only be kept home for illness or unavoidable family problems. A note or telephone call should cover all absence or it will be recorded as truancy. Parents will be contacted by the learning mentor if reasons are not given for absence or if there are concerns about attendance.
Parents must apply to the Headteacher in writing for permission to take children on holiday during term-time. Up to two weeks can be permitted but this is not an entitlement and is only intended for families that cannot go away at another time. It is a very bad idea to take children away in the first two weeks of September as they miss their induction. Permission will not be given during SATs testing (usually May but possibly June next year in year 6 and the whole of May in year 2). Permission will not normally be given to children whose attendance is poor. If longer than two weeks a year is taken it will be recorded as unauthorised absence. Education
UNIFORM
The school colours are red and grey.
Uniform clothes in these colours can be purchased through the school office or from chain stores. Uniform is not compulsory but is strongly encouraged. Children who move schools during the primary years are welcome to wear their old uniform until a new one can be purchased. Children are not allowed to wear football or rugby team shirts in school.
No jewellery is to be worn to school (very small studs for children with pierced ears are acceptable). Watches are acceptable at the child’s own risk.
Shoes worn to school need to be without a heel and to have a back to them. Heelies may not be worn anywhere on the school site.
Children are encouraged to wear hats (named) in hot weather; these can be bought in the school office.
All children need a pair of indoor shoes (pumps) in a named pump bag (pumps are available from the school office).
Children need shorts or a leotard for PE. Suitable items can be bought from the school office.
All clothes must be named. We make every effort to help children look after their things but we are not able to accept responsibility for lost property. There is a lost property container in each building. Unclaimed property will be disposed of at the end of each term.
MONEY
The things that your child needs at school are usually free. Sometimes a charge may be made for cooking or craft materials. We ask for the cost of educational visits in school time but payment of the charge is voluntary. Children will not be excluded from activities in school time because they cannot pay. If not enough children can contribute to a trip it may be cancelled. Parental contributions are not used to subsidise the costs of children who do not pay. Where activities take place mainly out of school time the cost must be paid before the child can attend. We ask for 50p a week in nursery to fund extra items.
WHAT YOUR CHILD CAN BRING TO SCHOOL:
Years Reception-2
Fruit for playtime, skipping ropes, named soft balls.
Reception - Soft toys
Key Stage 2 – Fruit for playtime, pencils and pens, inexpensive toys and games, named soft balls (only mini footballs and mini rugby balls can be used at lunchtime).
They should not bring:
Expensive toys, sweets, crisps, money (except that needed for school), penknives or anything that could be dangerous. Sometimes the school will ban certain items if they are causing problems. If your child needs a mobile phone it must be left in the office during the school day.
SCHOOL MEALS
The authority provides a high standard of healthy school meals at a reasonable cost. There is always a choice of meal and vegetarian and other diets can be catered for.
Dinner money is paid in advance on Mondays and should be sent in a named envelope.
People who receive certain benefits are entitled to free school meals and you should enquire at the school office if you would like advice on this.
Packed lunches must be brought in a named box. Please try to include healthy sandwiches, snacks and fresh fruit. Fizzy drinks and sweets should not be brought. Parents are asked to remember that the child has to be able to manage the lunch on their own (yoghurt can be very difficult for little children). We have no refrigeration for lunch boxes so parents should consider this when packing lunches in hot weather.
MEDICINES
Children cannot be given medicine by school staff. Children can use asthma inhalers but they must be labelled clearly and kept in the special box in their classroom. Parents of children with asthma will be asked to complete an information sheet. Children in year 5 and 6 may keep their inhalers with them. Where children have ongoing medical conditions appropriate arrangements will be made with medical advice.
SAFETY
Please do not bring dogs onto the site.
Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the school site.
Please take care when parking outside the school. Do not park on the yellow lines. Where cars are blocking access to emergency vehicles and coaches police will be informed.
FIRST AID
We have two named first aiders on the site who will look at any injuries that cause concern. All support staff are trained in basic first aid. We have no medically trained personnel so you will be contacted in any situation that causes concern. A note will be sent home with any child who has sustained a minor injury.
The gymnastics team
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
We run an exciting programme of sports and creative activities after school. Children will be invited to sign up for these at the beginning of each half term.
The Playstation is based in the portakabin and provides care for children before and after school and in the school holidays. There is a charge for the service. If you are interested please call in at the portakabin or ring Harriet Smith on 0788 1858762.
HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED IN SCHOOL
Parent partnership is vital to our work here. We know how important it is that parents and staff work together so that the children will be successful learners. Parents are regularly consulted by the school on all aspects of our work.
All nursery parents will be visited at home. All reception parents will be invited to a meeting at the school before their child starts school.
All parents and carers will be asked to sign a home school agreement that sets out the responsibilities of the school, the parent and the child.
There are two parents evenings each year to which you will be invited to discuss your child’s work and progress.
An appointment can be made to speak to your child’s teacher about any concern at any time in the year. You may want to make an appointment to see the Headteacher and this can be done through the school office.
Please remember that teachers cannot attend to 30 children in the morning and discuss a problem. Only very short messages should be given to the teacher at this time.
If we are worried about any aspect of your child’s work, progress or behaviour we will contact you. Please contact us by phone or visit to let us know of any concern that you have or of any circumstance that might affect your child at school.
Parents and child cooking course
At certain times of the year workshops are held for parents or grandparents to work with their children. At present English workshops are held for Year 1, mathematics workshops are held for Year 2 and there is a reading workshop for reception. Many courses for parents are on offer during the year including volunteering, parenting, and computers.
Many parents help us in school by working regularly in the classroom with children and by coming on educational visits with us. We run a course for parents who would like to volunteer. If you would like to help in this way please speak to your child’s class teacher.
GOVERNORS
The governors are responsible for setting policy for the school. Five governors are elected by the parents to represent their views. Parent governors can be contacted through the school office. Ms Leonard, Mrs Parkin, Mrs Edwards, Mr Arnison and Mrs Frost are parent governors and can be contacted through the school office. The governors have full meetings every term. There are two sub-committees that meet regularly to support the school which are teaching and learning and resources.
COMPLAINTS
Any complaint about the school should be made to the Headteacher, preferably in writing. You will get a reply within five days. If you are not satisfied with this you will be advised on the next step to take. In most cases this will be to make the complaint to the chair of governors, Alison Lowe, in writing. Please ask in the office if you want to see the full complaints policy.
FURTHER INFORMATION
The school has adopted a policy on freedom of information which can be obtained from the school office. The school has policies on all curriculum areas and on behaviour, special needs and other aspects. We were inspected by OFSTED in March 2008 and the report is available on request. If you would like further information on the school, the curriculum or another aspect of school life please ask in the school office.
CONTACT US
Our address is:
Cross Aston Grove,
Bramley
LS 13 2TQ
Phone 0113 257 9590 fax 0113 255 5490
Email: secretary@raynville.leeds.sch.uk
The school web-site is raynvilleprimaryleeds.org.uk