Get documents about "School Prospectus 2012 2
Document Sample
Pulham Church of England
Voluntary Controlled
Primary School
Harleston Road, Pulham Market, Diss, IP21 4SZ
(01379) 676313
www.pulhamprimaryschool.ik.org
office@pulham.norfolk.sch.uk
School Prospectus
2012/13
Welcome to Pulham Church of England
Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Message from the Headteacher
On behalf of the children, staff and Governors, thank you for showing an interest in our
school. We hope you find this prospectus informative and that it helps you to get to know
us.
Pulham Primary School is a voluntary controlled Church of England school, founded in
1852 and located on the outskirts of Pulham Market. It serves Pulham Market, Pulham St
Mary as well as the surrounding villages. In addition we welcome children from other areas,
providing there are sufficient places.
We are very proud of our school and the warm and friendly atmosphere it offers. We place
a strong emphasis on our aims and values and work hard to make sure that every child
achieves his or her best. Through a wide, creative curriculum we provide our children with
a range of opportunities through which to discover and learn.
Through our Christian ethos, we aim to provide a safe and caring environment in which we
help each individual to develop morally, socially, culturally and spiritually. We want their
experience at Pulham to have a positive impact on their lifelong learning. Our mission
statement is to:
Live by Christian values
Respect and care for each other
Enjoy learning and teaching together
Develop our abilities to the full
To support our children it is very important that there is a partnership between home and
school. We hope you will involve yourself as much as possible in our school life so we can
build supportive lines of communication.
It is a great privilege to be the Headteacher at Pulham Primary and I enjoy working with our
dedicated and hardworking team of staff and Governors.
All our children are special in their individual ways and it is a joy to watch them develop
confidence and increased independence as they progress through the school.
We look forward to working with you and your child.
Yours sincerely,
Lesley Farrer
2
Vision Statement
Our vision is to be recognised as an excellent and inspiring school.
Our aims and values for our children are for them:
To have a happy and positive experience during their primary school years
To be inspired and confident
To develop a love of learning so that they become learners for life
To develop a positive attitude to life, sustained by Christian values
To leave school with the confidence and self worth to achieve their potential
To be fully prepared for the next stage of their continuing education
To recognise that they as individuals have something of value to contribute to our
diverse community
We will achieve this through:
An excellent teaching and learning environment
Recruiting and retaining the best staff for our school
Great links with parents, carers and our community
Sound financial management
Leading the school with a strong Governing Body
A supportive fundraising body
3
School Staff
Headteacher Miss Lesley Farrer
Deputy Headteacher Mrs Simone Goddard
Teachers Miss Tessa Higgins
Mrs Fiona Gordon
Mrs Elizabeth Brooks
Mrs Jenny Carlyle
Mr Ricky Brooks
PE Instructor Mrs Carolyn Whittleton
Forest Schools Coordinator Miss Sara Aldous
Secretary & Finance Officer Mrs Karen Rix
Admin Assistant Mrs Claire Hope
Classroom Assistants Miss Sara Aldous
and Mrs Julie Edwards
Learning Support Assistants Mrs Glynis Tipple
Mrs Claire Pulham
Mrs Linda Lange
Mrs Carolyn Whittleton
Miss Michaela Stubington
Mrs Carole Curson
Miss Alison Dennington
Mrs Theresa Dennis
Mrs Katrina Green
Mrs Kim Jones
Mrs Sally Allmey
Cook Mrs Amanda Taylor
Kitchen Assistants Mrs Sheila Baker
Mrs Eve Barrett
Mid-day Supervisors Mrs Linda Lange
Miss Sara Aldous
Miss Michaela Stubington
Miss Alison Dennington
Miss Danielle Elton
Mrs Claire Pulham
Caretaker Mrs Julie Bull
4
The Governing Body
The Governing Body is made up of fifteen Governors. It is the responsibility of the
Governors to see that the school is run effectively and to this end the Governors work in a
close and balanced partnership with the Headteacher. You may contact any Governor
about any issue, either through the school office, or through the Governors Clerk on 01508
499061.
The governing body is divided into five committees. These comprise Finance, Curriculum,
Personnel, Community and Premises. Via the work of these committees the Governors
have a range of powers and duties which include:
Helping to establish (with the Head) the aims and policies of the school, and how
the standards of education can be improved
Deciding the conduct of the school - that is how, in general terms, it should be run
Helping to draw up (with the Head and staff) the school development plan
Helping to decide how to spend the school’s budget
Making sure that the Early Years Foundation Stage, National Curriculum and
Religious Education are taught
Selecting the head
Appointing, promoting, supporting and disciplining staff
Acting as a link between the local community and the school
Drawing up action plans after inspections, and monitoring how plans are put into
practice.
Governors
Mr Steve Chapman (Chair) Parent Governor
Mrs Sara Herschel-Shorland (Vice Chair) LEA Governor
Miss Lesley A Farrer (Headteacher) Staff Governor
Rev James Roskelly Foundation Bishops Governor
Mr Matthew Scott Foundation Governor
Mrs Laura Vincent Foundation D.B.E Governor
Vacancy Parent Governor
Vacancy Parent Governor
Mrs Marie Gilbert Parent Governor
Miss Sophie Merry Parent Governor
Mrs Virginia Wakeley LEA Governor
Mrs Ann Ford LEA Governor
Mrs Joanne Jones Community Co-Opted
Mrs Simone Goddard (Deputy Head) Staff Governor
Mrs Karen Rix Support Staff Governor
Mrs Jackie Jackson Clerk to the Governors
5
About the School
We currently have 142 pupils across seven year groups, Reception through to Year 6. The
school has five classrooms and pupils are taught in mixed year group classes. Three
classes are located in the Victorian building which was extensively refurbished when the
school was extended in 1990. A fourth classroom is located in the extended part of the
school which also contains a large sports hall, kitchen, library, office accommodation and
cloakrooms. The fifth classroom is in a mobile located close to the main building.
Outside, the school also benefits from a large playing field and playground overlooking the
open countryside. This incorporates an adventure playground erected in January 2010, a
wildlife garden and a
quiet play area. The
school also has use of
the swimming pool at
Archbishop Sancroft High
School in Harleston.
Involvement in the
community is very much
part of school life, with
the children participating
in several local events
throughout the year
including Pulham Market
Music Day and Carnival.
We have a range of
activities focusing on
educating the children
about national and international events. We also have very strong links with our pre-school
facility, Pulham’s Playgroup. This includes hosting their Sports Day, attending events at the
school, plus an excellent transitional arrangement between our Reception class teacher and
playgroup supervisor. The ‘buddying’ system helps new children settle in with the support
of our older pupils.
The school forms part of the Harleston Cluster which includes three other primaries and one
High School. The cluster holds a unique status as it is the only one comprising solely of
Anglican schools. As a cluster all the schools aim to work closely to ensure the best
provision for all children from the age of 4 through to 16.
We are proud to have succeeded in achieving national accreditation in the following key
areas:
Healthy Schools 2012 - 2015
International School Award – Full Accreditation 2010-2013
Active Mark Schools Award
School Achievement Award
Our last Ofsted inspection took place in March 2010. The full report can be seen at
www.ofsted.gov.uk or there is a link to the report from our website
www.pulhamprimaryschool.ik.org
6
School Times
The information below gives practical guidance on life at Pulham
School.
School starts 8.55 a.m. and finishes at 3.15pm.
Lunchtime 12.00 - 1.00 p.m. (Foundation Stage)
12.00 - 1.00 p.m. (Key Stage 1)
12.10 - 1.00 p.m. (Key Stage 2).
Children should not arrive at school before 8.45 a.m. but should be on
the premises when the 8.55 a.m whistle blows. A teacher is on duty
each morning from 8.45 a.m.
There is a 15 minute break-time each morning. Children in Foundation Stage and Key
Stage 1 are provided with a piece of fruit through the Government funded fruit scheme. Key
Stage 2 children are encouraged to bring fruit. Sweets and crisps are not allowed.
The office is open until 9.30am for any queries and payments that have not been sent in via
pupils.
Should you wish to report your child absent or inform us of a medical appointment please
contact the school before 9.30am by telephone or e-mail
www.office@pulham.norfolk.sch.uk.
Dropping off and collecting children
For safety reasons we ask parents to operate a one-way system through the lay-by outside
the school. Entry is from the Pulham Market end of the lay-by. We also ask parents not to
use the school car park unless a prior arrangement has been made with the school.
Children should assemble in the main school playground between 8.45 and 8.55 am. The
side gate leading onto the playground will be unlocked at 8.45 am by the member of staff on
duty. In the event of bad weather the side gate will be unlocked at 8.45 am and children
should go directly to the school hall. The doors at the rear of the hall will be opened on
these occasions.
At the end of the day pupils can be collected from the main playground at 3.15 pm. The
side gate will be opened at this time to allow parents to access the playground. For class 1
children only – Parents should collect children from the class 1 playground this can be
accessed through the main school playground.
If a child is to be collected by someone else a written note needs to be sent to the class
teacher at the start of the day, informing them of the change of collection.
Absence from School
Please telephone the school before 9.30am on the first day of your child’s absence from
school. It is the school’s policy to contact parents if a child is absent from school without
prior notification. However if a child’s absence is planned e.g. dental appointment then an
explanatory note is required from the parent.
Only in exceptional circumstances will absence during term time be authorised by the
Headteacher. An absence request form must be completed with a clear reason for
absence and returned to the school beforehand.
7
Severe Weather or Emergency School Closure
In the event of an emergency or severe weather conditions, where the closure of the school
is unavoidable, information will be available on:
www.schoolclosures.norfolk.gov.uk
Heart (formerly Radio Broadland) (102.4 FM) and Radio Norfolk (95.1 FM)
the school website www.pulhamprimaryschool.ik.org
the school answerphone message from 7.30 am
School uniform
We would like pupils to wear the following uniform, as it helps to encourage a sense of
belonging:
Royal blue school sweatshirt,
pullover or cardigan
Light blue or white shirt, blouse
or polo shirt
Grey, black or navy blue
trousers, shorts or skirt
Blue and white checked dress
optional in summer term
Order forms for school uniform can
be obtained from outside the school
office or from the link on our
website
www.pulhamprimaryschool.ik.org
Shoes – In addition to sensible school shoes, we ask parents to provide their children with
a pair of indoor shoes to change into, ideally black plimsolls.
PE Kit - For PE children will need a pair of shorts, a plain or school PE T-shirt and a pair of
plimsolls or trainers. For outdoor games they will also need a change of socks, outdoor
sports shoes, a suitable top and tracksuit bottoms. For swimming, children will require a
one-piece swimsuit or shorts, a swimming hat and a towel. All children with long hair must
have a hair band to tie up their hair. School PE bags are also available to order on the
school uniform order form.
Jewellery - On the grounds of safety we do not permit children to wear jewellery in school.
Those children with pierced ears may wear studs, but these must be removed for PE
lessons. Newly pierced ears may be taped over for the first 6 weeks. Earrings are not
permitted when we use the swimming pool at the High School.
8
Other Useful Equipment
Wellington Boots – Class 1 pupils will require named wellington
boots to enable outdoor learning to be continuously accessible.
Water Bottles - For children’s health and well-being, we
encourage them to bring a bottle of water to drink in the
classroom. Water bottles should be named and have a sports-
cap where possible to avoid spillages.
Waterproof Coat – All pupils would benefit from having a
waterproof ‘pack-a-mac’ style jacket in school throughout the
year. With our unpredictable weather this would allow them to
continue outside play during any light showers in the Spring and
Summer terms.
Looking after your property
All clothing should be marked with your child’s name, including shoes. Please note that if
any items are mislaid, a lost property box is located in the main corridor.
School meals
Children are encouraged to have a school lunch. Meals are cooked on the premises and
cost £2.10 per day. Free meals for families claiming certain benefits are available on
application to the school or Norfolk County Council.
Dinner money should be brought to school each Monday morning in a sealed envelope
clearly marked with the child’s name and the days that meals are required. Cheques are
acceptable and should be made payable to Pulham Primary School. Copies of the lunch
menu are available from the school office. If preferred, children may bring a packed lunch.
However parents are requested not to include sweets, fizzy drinks, nuts or breakable
containers.
School Council & Year 6 Ambassadors
Each September Year 6 pupils are invited to be School Councillors to represent their ideas
and points of view. They discuss any aspect of the school they would like to improve or
develop. Weekly meetings of the Council with a member of staff, enable their ideas to be
integrated into school development plans. Year 6 pupils are also appointed as
ambassadors for the school. They are mentors for the younger children and model the high
expectations the school have for all our pupils in terms of behavior and attitudes toward
learning. They are easily identified by their special red sweatshirts which the school
present to them.
School Houses
All pupils joining the school are allocated a school house. The names are chosen by the
children and are named after inspirational British Olympic athletes: Ennis, Wiggins,
Peacock, Farrah and Simmons. Through all aspects of school life pupils are able to earn
merit points for their team thereby supporting the school ethos of building self-esteem,
encouraging teamwork and rewarding high quality work, effort and behaviour. A house cup
is awarded to the winning team every half term.
9
Health Matters
Administration of Medicines in School - The administration of medicines in school is
legally the responsibility of the parent and there is no requirement for the Headteacher or
the school staff to administer medication during school hours although we will continue to
be sympathetic to requests from parents. The school will do its best to help where possible
but there are legal requirements that need to be followed:
Prescribed Medication
Very few courses of medication prescribed for short term illness require
administration during school hours. If possible parents should come to school
personally to administer the medication. If this is impractical then there is a form that
must be completed before a member of staff is allowed to take over this duty. This
form is available from the school office. Under no circumstances should the child be
given medication to administer themselves.
Medicines not prescribed by the Doctor
Other medicines given for minor ailments i.e. colds, coughs, headaches and sore
throats are not strictly necessary for healing but do provide comfort. These must be
handed in at the office and not left with the children, in bags, cloakrooms etc.
Our advice to parents is not to give this kind of medication unless absolutely
necessary. If parents wish, they can make arrangements to administer medicines
personally. It would be preferable, for parents to arrange the timing so that children
take medication before and after school.
Asthma Inhalers
An index of children with asthma is maintained in school. If your child uses an inhaler
please contact the school office so an Asthma Care Plan can be completed. An inhaler
should be available in school for your child’s use at all times. Inhalers must be identified by
the original prescription label detailing your child’s name and will be stored in their
classroom in a secure container for ease of access.
Medical Conditions
In the case of children with complex medical needs e.g. diabetes, anaphylaxia or epilepsy,
an individual Healthcare Plan must be maintained, initiated by the responsible healthcare
professional. An adult will be organised to administer medication/care as appropriate.
Sickness and Diarrhoea
If your child has sickness or diarrhoea we ask parents not to return their children to school
until 48 hours after they were last sick or had diarrhoea. We understand entirely how
difficult this can be for families, but a child who is still infectious might well have caught the
illness from someone who was sent back to school too soon.
10
Admissions
Pulham School follows the Admissions Policy operated by the Local Education Authority. By
law children must start education full time at the beginning of the term following their fifth
birthday. All parents of children born between 1st September 2007 and 31st August 2008
must be offered a full time place from September 2012. Parents are entitled to defer their
admission or request that their child attend on a part time basis, however the child must
start school on a full time basis during academic year 2012/13 and no later than the
beginning of the term after their fifth birthday.
The school policy encourages children to attend full time as soon as possible and no later
than the start of the spring term. This is both for social integration and optimal academic
benefits. It is our normal practice for all children to settle into school in September by
attending a short period of mornings only. From then on your child will either become a full
time student or will remain part time until the start of the spring term.
Children are invited to spend two afternoons in school in the summer term prior to them
being formally admitted.
Assessment and Attainment
Children’s work is assessed on a regular basis during the year to ensure that the work set
is matched to the ability of the pupil and that they are supported and challenged.
These assessments and records inform planning and teaching and are used when
compiling yearly reports. They may also be discussed in parents evenings. We also
involve the children in their own self-assessments of work, skills and qualities. We feel it is
important to record positive achievements in order to motivate the children and set targets
for future progress.
School Results
Further information can be obtained from the Department for Education website using the
following link:
http://www.education.gov.uk/cgibin/schools/performance/school.pl?urn=121051&superview=pri
11
Parents and School
The Friends of Pulham Primary School (FOPPS)
All parents who have children at Pulham School are automatically members of FOPPS.
Their aims are to foster close home-school links and to provide school with additional
resources through fundraising activities. These events and functions also play an important
part in the social life of the school. Members of the local community are also welcome to
attend these events and to be involved with their organisation.
There is an elected committee which meets regularly but these meetings are open to all
interested parents. Details of meetings and events are circulated through regular
newsletters and are displayed on the noticeboard in the main playground.
FOPPS also sell the school sweatshirts featuring the school's logo, PE shirts and coats.
Order forms are available from the school office or can be downloaded from the school’s
website www.pulhamprimary.org.uk
Helpers in the School
The school greatly values the support given by parents and friends both in the classroom
and with other activities. If you would like to help in some capacity please contact your
child's class teacher or the Headteacher. We require an enhanced Criminal Records
Bureau check for all voluntary helpers in school; this can be completed by making an
appointment with the school office.
Parents' Evenings
School arranges parents' evenings twice a year to give parents and guardians an
opportunity to discuss their child's progress with the class teacher. Teachers are happy to
see parents at other times by making a mutually convenient appointment. Parental termly
consultations take place during the Reception
Year in order to complete their child's
Foundation Stage Profile.
Each year, in July, parents will be provided
with a written report of their child's progress.
Other Events for Parents and Families
Parents and families are also invited to
various events during the course of the year
including concerts, sports events, family
lunches, open classroom events and church
services to name but a few.
Mother’s Day Lunch
Newsletters
A newsletter is sent home regularly, keeping you informed of what we have been doing in
school including forthcoming events.
Extended Schools Co-ordinator
Through the Cluster the school has an Extended School Advisor - Emma Johnson, whose
roles is to ensure we develop a wide and effective range of out of school activities in
partnership with parents and the community.
Through this partnership we have successfully held a number of Cluster Events including:
Eco day, Mad Science Event, Family Kite Day and a number of Family Learning Events.
12
Parent Support Advisors
The school has two Parent Support Advisors – Heather King and Gemma Leggett. Their
role is to work together with the school and families to help children get the best from their
education and includes:
offering advice on the way children's needs change as they move through school
finding ways to help parents get more involved with children's learning
confidential advice on who to contact regarding issues that affect families.
If you would like to talk to a Parent Support Advisor they can be contacted through the
school.
The Curriculum
In primary schools the curriculum is divided into three stages. Parents and guardians
receive information from their child’s class teacher, setting out the curriculum for the term
and how topics will be delivered.
Early Years Foundation Stage - Reception Year (ages 4 - 5)
Key Stage 1 - Years 1 & 2 (ages 5 - 7)
Key Stage 2 - Years 3 to 6 (ages 7 - 11)
Circle Time
At Pulham we have whole school circle time on a weekly basis which allows pupils to take
the lead in developing the way the school is run and to take ownership of developing their
own learning. Some of the topics for discussion have included behavior management,
feedback on new initiatives.
Early Years Foundation Stage
In class 1, the reception children continue their Early Years Foundation Stage which leads
to early learning goals. These in turn lead on to the National
Curriculum.
The six areas of learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage are:
● Communication and Language
● Physical Development
● Personal, Social and Emotional Development
● Literacy
● Mathematics
● Understanding the World
● Expressive Arts and Design
The children access these areas of learning through a broad and
varied balance of child initiated and adult led activities. Assessment of
the individual child’s progress is supported by adult observations, gathered in learning
diaries and used to inform the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile.
Key Stages 1 and 2
The curriculum describes the overall learning programme the school uses to provide a
framework to the children's education. This includes:
English History Primary Languages
Mathematics Geography Art
Science Design and Technology Religious Education
Music Physical Education Information Communication & Technology
13
Teaching the curriculum
The following information gives a background to how each of the curriculum areas are
taught at the school.
English, Literacy and the Study of Media
English is vital for communicating with others in school and in the wider world, and is
fundamental to learning in all curriculum subjects. In studying English, pupils develop skills
in speaking, listening, reading and writing that they will need to participate in their learning,
in society and employment. Pupils learn to express themselves creatively and imaginatively
and to communicate with others confidently and effectively.
Literature and media texts used in English are rich and influential. They reflect the
experiences of people from many countries and times and contribute to our sense of
cultural identity. Pupils learn to become enthusiastic and critical readers of stories, poetry
and drama as well as non-fiction and media texts, gaining access to the pleasure and world
of knowledge that reading in its widest sense offers.
Looking at the patterns, structures,
origins and conventions of English
helps pupils understand how language
works. Using this understanding,
pupils can choose and adapt what they
say and write in different situations, as
well as appreciate and interpret the
choices made by other writers and
speakers.
We aim to provide children with a
broad cross-section of reading
materials. Reading books are colour-
coded according to reading ability, giving a structured reading programme. Parents are
encouraged to read with their children and the emphasis, both at school and at home,
should be on the enjoyment of reading. Other school activities, such as the teaching of
phonics, are also used to help develop children’s reading.
Pupils will be given the opportunity to produce written work in different contexts and for a
variety of purposes and audiences. This will often be connected with children’s own first-
hand experiences, or related to work in other subjects, and will include opportunities for
creative writing. Pupils will also take part in Drama activities to enrich their experience of a
wide variety of texts.
A joined style of handwriting is taught from Year 2 onwards, initially using pencil, but with
pupils being encouraged to use ink pens.
At least an hour per day is given in each class to the teaching of English using learning
objectives from the renewed Primary Framework for Literacy.
We have recently introduced whole school peer reading to instill in children a love of books
and reading.
14
Mathematics
Through clear aims, objectives and strategies we provide quality mathematics teaching and
learning which will provide our pupils with:
A positive approach towards mathematics through their enjoyment, interest and a
keen desire to learn
Encouragement in the use of mathematics as a tool in activities across the
curriculum and outside school
Science
We teach a 2 year rolling programme of different units in science with the aim of:
Giving our children an understanding of scientific processes.
Helping our children to acquire practical scientific skills.
Developing the skills of investigation - including observing, measuring, predicting
hypothesising, experimenting, communicating,
interpreting, explaining, concluding and
evaluating.
Developing the use of scientific language,
recording and techniques.
Developing the use of ICT in investigating and
recording.
Enabling our children to become effective
communicators of scientific ideas, facts and
data.
Creative Curriculum
Our Creative curriculum is a carefully planned, thematic approach to teaching and learning
designed to support children’s natural curiosity and stimulate their creativity.
The curriculum is built around selected topics which support the Primary Strategy, the Early
Years Foundation Stage Profile and the demand for more creative, cross-curricular
teaching.
Primary Languages
A rolling programme of modern languages including Spanish and French, is taught in
classes 3, 4 and 5. Children have access to a wide range of resources. Lessons focus on
a number of key areas including Literacy, Oracy, Knowledge about Language, Intercultural
Understanding and Language Learning Strategies.
ICT
The pupils use ICT in a variety of ways
across the curriculum. We use it as a tool for
learning and the key for raising standards
across the curriculum. Pupils use these tools
to communicate and handle information and
present it in a variety of ways. They learn to
control a variety of electronic devices and
develop an understanding of the use of
control in everyday life. They use computer
models to explore and test the answers to
questions.
15
Religious Education and Collective Worship
Religious Education is provided in school within the framework of the County’s Agreed
Syllabus, drawn up by the Norfolk Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education.
A daily act of collective worship is held and is in accordance with the school’s Trust Deeds,
and consequently is in line with the teaching of the Church of England.
As well as the Rector, Methodist Minister and staff leading worship we also have ‘Open the
Book’ assemblies, led by community members, diocese advisors and children from every
class in the school. One of the aims is to develop and improve the way Collective Worship
is offered within the school so that it becomes more meaningful and accessible to the pupils
and also becomes an integral part of the Christian ethos of the school.
Parents can arrange for the withdrawal of their child from religious education and collective
worship by writing to the Headteacher.
Physical Education
All classes receive the statutory amount of PE lessons each week. Some are delivered by
the class teacher and some by a NPETCS qualified instructor. These include games,
gymnastics, dance activities and outdoor adventurous activities. At Key Stage 2 pupils also
receive swimming lessons from a qualified instructor at Archbishop Sancroft High School.
Each year the school competes against other local schools in the Small Schools League for
Football and Netball. We also enter teams into a number of activities that are organised by
the South Norfolk Schools Sports Partnership. These include: Cross Country, Tennis,
Rounders, Tag Rugby, Kwick Cricket, Dance Festivals and Gymnastics. Our pupils have
achieved particular success at Football, Netball, Tennis and Cross Country regularly going
through to county finals and Norfolk School Games.
Forest Schools
“Forest schools is an inspirational process that offers children and young
people opportunities to achieve, develop confidence and self-esteem
through hands on learning experiences in a local woodland environment” -
Forest School (England) Network
“Let nature be your teacher” –
William Wordsworth
We currently use Forest Schools to
complement the Foundation Stage
curriculum where we aim to encourage
and enable children to make
choices, take responsibility
and become independent
individuals. They will learn
to appreciate and care for
their natural environment
but most of all HAVE FUN!
If you wish to see
documents and policies relating to the National Curriculum, programmes of study
and schemes of work, then contact the Headteacher, who will make them available.
16
School Policies
The school has a range of policies covering most aspects of school life. Copies of these are
available to parents on request or some can be found on the school website. This section
describes some of the key policies essential to the running of the school.
Home School Agreement
The Home School Agreement sets out the expectations between families and the school.
All families are invited to sign an agreement when their child starts school. Details of our
agreement are set out below.
The School will endeavour to:
● Care for your child’s safety and happiness
● Ensure that your child achieves his/her full potential as a valued member of the school
community
● Provide a balanced curriculum and meet the individual needs of your child
● Achieve high standards of work and behaviour through building good relationships and
developing a sense of responsibility
● Keep you informed about general school matters and your child’s progress
● Be open and welcoming and value offers of help in the daily life of the school
We trust that parents will endeavour to:
● See that their child comes to school regularly and on time
● Make the school aware of any concerns or problems that might affect their child’s work
or behaviour
● Support the school’s policies and guidelines for behaviour
● Support their child in homework and other opportunities for home-learning
● Attend parents’ evenings to discuss their child’s progress and achievement
Homework
The school actively encourages parents to
participate in their children's education. Children
from all year groups have books to bring home to
read. In later years they have weekly spellings to
practice. In Key Stage 1 and 2 other pieces of
homework, often relating to current literacy, maths
or topic work, will be set.
Safeguarding including Child Protection
Pulham School is committed to promoting the health
and welfare of all pupils. We are required by law to follow procedures laid down by the
Norfolk Children's Services if we see signs which suggest that one of our pupils may have
been the victim of abuse. Use of the procedures in this way is an obligation placed on the
school by legislation and in no way infers that any parent/guardian is being accused of
wrong doing.
The school has a full and up to date policy which is available from the website
www.pulhamprimaryschool.ik.org
17
E-Safety
At Pulham Primary School we encourage the pupils’ use of the rich information and
communication resources available through the Internet, together with the development of
appropriate skills to analyse and evaluate these resources. These skills will be fundamental
in the society our pupils will be entering.
However, the school recognises its responsibilities in ensuring safe use of the internet and
other communication systems for all pupils and so we have a stringent policy which outlines
our strategy to protect pupils.
Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)
There may be times during a child’s education when they find learning more difficult than
other children of a similar age. Often the child’s needs can be met by the class teacher
providing additional individual help. The teacher may also seek the advice of the school’s
Special Needs Co-ordinator. Occasionally the school may judge that more specialist advice
is needed.
Where necessary, children’s special needs are met through individual plans and in some
instances, the provision of additional tuition or support. It is the school’s policy to keep
parents and pupils informed and involved in the development of these educational plans.
Gifted and Talented
For pupils with high academic, sporting or
creative abilities we set out to extend and enrich
their learning opportunities through our Gifted and
Talented policy. Class teachers plan
differentiated tasks in all curriculum areas and we
maintain good links with Archbishop Sancroft
High School who offer Key Stage 2 pupils
opportunities to attend activities with specialist
teachers.
Educational Visits
Educational visits are arranged in connection with work that your child is covering. The
school considers that these visits form an essential and desirable part of your child’s
education.
These visits are greatly enjoyed by children, staff and parents alike, allowing the children’s
learning to extend to the outside world in both a fun and informative way.
Every year we take our year 6 pupils on a residential trip to experience outdoor adventurous
activities. The challenges they face help to develop their self-esteem and confidence.
Charging Policy & Remission
Only parents who are in receipt of Income Support, Working Families Credit, Disabled
Person’s Tax Credit or Income Based Job Seekers Allowance are eligible for remission of
charges.
Remission of charges only applies to board and lodging charges, which are levied directly
by the LEA or the school and where they relate to activities, deemed to take place wholly or
partly in school hours. Remission will not apply to charges when they relate to activities
wholly outside school hours.
18
Extra-Curricular and Extended School Activities
Our extended school’s policy aims to offer our children, families and members of the local
community opportunities to enhance their wellbeing, achievement and standards. These
opportunities are in addition to the normal school curriculum and include activities such as:
Instrumental tuition and brass band Choir
Drama Sewing
Cookery Sports clubs
Craft
Sex and Relationship Education (SRE)
We deliver lessons to our year 6 pupils on relationships, sexual health and puberty. The
aims is to:
Provide accurate and relevant information about physical and emotional changes
that children and young people will experience through their formative years and into
adulthood.
Foster self-awareness and self-esteem.
Develop a sense of responsibility and respect for
themselves and others.
No Smoking
The school has a strict no smoking policy, covering all the
school premises and grounds at all times.
Behaviour and Discipline
It is a primary aim that every member of our school
community feels valued and respected, and that each person is treated fairly and well in a
safe and secure environment. Courtesy, good manners and consideration for others are
promoted by all teaching and non-teaching staff. Our Behaviour and Discipline policy is
designed to promote this ethos.
Single Equality
At Pulham Primary we promote equality in our policies, procedures and most importantly in
our day to day practices and interactions with the whole school community.
Our Single Equality Scheme and Action Plan enables us to achieve a framework for action
which covers all six equality strands ensuring we meet the responsibilities in an inclusive
way.
The Equality Strands are: Race, Disability and Accessibility, Gender, Transgender,
Community Cohesion and
Age, Sexual Orientation, Religion and Belief
Complaints Procedure
Despite our best endeavours, we understand that there may be occasions when you have
concerns. We would hope to deal with your issues as quickly, efficiently and informally as
possible. Please refer any complaints in the first instance to the class teacher. A copy of
the complaints procedure is available from the school office upon request.
19
20
