Prospectus
Welcome to the School
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to Henley in Arden Primary School.
We are a one-form entry primary school for children from 4 - 11 years of age. That is Foundation to Year 6. We are a very friendly school full of happy children keen to learn and loving their experience of education. Ofsted have called us a ‘good school’ where ‘… pupils feel secure, valued and well cared for.’ We have been given Healthy School status, Dyslexia Friendly Award and Silver Eco-friendly Award. We are working towards Green Eco-Friendly and International Dimensions Award based on our partnership with a school in China and modern languages provision.
We believe that the partnership between parents and school is vital and invite you to be involved in your child's education.
I feel very privileged to be part of the Henley community and look forward to getting to know you and your child. As partners involved in your child's experience here at Henley, together we can make sure that you thoroughly enjoy these most precious years of your child's life and that we help them to thrive in preparation for the next phase of their education.
This booklet is an introduction to our school. Please visit or telephone or write to me for further information.
Help with choosing the right school for your child and your family is available on:
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Lindsay Nash
Headteacher
School Address: Arden Road, Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire
Telephone : 01564 792766
Fax : 01564 792766
e-mail address: admin@2031.wgfl.net
Description of our School
The school caters for children aged 4 - 11 years. There are seven classes and approximately 170 children in the school. Each class is allowed to take 29 children.
The accommodation comprises of seven classrooms, two of which are brand new, a new ICT suite, a brand new library, a large kitchen, a small quiet room, and a large hall. The hall is used for gymnastics, dance, assemblies etc as well as for eating school meals which are cooked on the premises.
The present buildings were opened in 1968 when the school moved from its previous location in the High Street. The location of the school is very attractive, situated at the foot of the ancient Mount, the site of the original castle, surrounded by wooded hillsides and fields. We have a very large school field which is used all year round for playing on and for sporting activities as well as an ample playground.
School Aims
In our school, we want to be
Safe
We want to be in SHAPE!
Healthy
Achieving our best
Positively contributing
Enterprising.
Through clear direction and collaboration, the staff and governors believe we can achieve this by providing…
- An innovative learning environment which promotes independent learning and self assessment
- A supportive learning community where high quality teaching shapes learning, ensuring high attainment
- A meaningful, purposeful and relevant curriculum to meet the children’s individual needs
- A partnership with families and the wider community
- A safe caring environment where high standards of behaviour are expected and valued
- Opportunities for social responsibility and a sense of awe for the world in which they live
…enabling everyone at Henley to develop a sense of self worth and a love for life long learning.
The School Council, made up of two representatives from each class, has made their own child friendly version of our school aims:
‘At Henley, we aim to give children the skills to succeed in their life in a safe and fun way’
‘Learning which is safe and fun’
Our School Code
Our school prides itself on the good behaviour of its pupils. We try to encourage a caring attitude towards other children, the school community and the local environment. Every individual is valued as unique and special, and all have the opportunity to feel part of a caring school.
We encourage all our children, through agreed codes of behaviour to:
- Sit, look and actively listen for learning
- Only use words that are kind, thoughtful and true
- Keep ourselves and others safe
- Look after our school and everything in it
- Arrive on time, dressed smartly with everything we need for the day
Admissions to School
All children who have reached their 4th birthday by August 31st are admitted to school in the September of that year.
Any parents considering enrolling their child at school are most welcome to telephone to arrange a visit to see the school and to meet with the Headteacher.
It is helpful to the school to know as far in advance as possible of any child wishing to be admitted into Reception Class in September. Admissions are through the Warwickshire Admissions Office (Tel: 01926 410410). Booklets for forms can be obtained from the school.
The school’s admissions policy is to compile a waiting list of children whose parents have applied for enrolment.
- Children living in the priority area who have a brother or sister at the school at the time of admission.
- Other children living in the priority area.
- Children outside the priority area who have a brother or sister at the school at the time of admission.
- Other children from outside the priority area.
In each category, decisions are based on the distance between home and school by the shortest walking route, with priority going to those living nearest the school. This applies equally to those living inside and outside the county boundary.
Priority Area: The Parishes of Beaudesert, Henley-in-Arden, Oldberrow and Ullenhall. Part of the Parish of Wootton Wawen north of the River Alne and part of the Parish of Preston Bagot north of the canal.
During the previous term new children are warmly invited to spend time in our Reception Class to meet the staff and to get to know some of the daily routines and friendly faces ready for September. Special ‘introductory’ information is available for new parents of Reception Class children at a Coffee Morning held during May.
How We Look After Your Children
Director Children’s Services: Ms Marion Davies
Teaching Staff:
Mrs Lindsay Nash (Headteacher)
Mrs Pamela Hayes (Assistant Headteacher)
Mrs Elaine Field (Assistant Headteacher)
Mrs Claire Robinson
Miss Alison Payne
Miss Emily Freeman
Mrs Sian Stevens
Mrs Paula Dhugga
Mrs Jane Kay
Mrs Helen Lancina
Miss Hannah Ulyatt (GTP)
School Secretary: Mrs Sally Evans
Teaching Assistants:
Ms Hedderman
Mrs Jennings
Mrs White
Miss Bradford
Mrs Jones
Mrs Bicknell
Miss Foster
Mrs Hill
Caretaker: Mr John Woodward
Cleaner: Mrs Rebecca Mills
Lunchtime Supervisors:
Mrs Powers
Mrs Barker
Ms Hedderman
Mrs Mills
Mrs Bamford
Mrs Jennings
Our School Governors
Mr Philip Tillman (Chair)
Mrs Louise Dale
Mrs Jan Morgan
Mrs Pam Hayes
Mrs Elaine Field
Mrs Rowena Silk (vice-chair)
Mr Duncan Bainbridge
Mr Simon Cossey
Mr David Mitchell
Mrs Katharine Walters
Mr Christian Paine
Mrs Charlotte McLuskie
Mr Jo Lopez
Mrs Sue White
Clerk to the Governors: Mrs Cheryl Powell
School Welfare Services
The School Dental Officer and the School Doctor come into school at regular intervals. Eyesight and hearing tests are carried out at various stages of your child’s school career.
We have access to a school nurse if you would like any advice on your child’s health or development.
Child Protection
We have a Child Protection Policy in school which you may ask to see. All staff receive regular training in dealing with disclosures from children and in reporting procedures for any concerns they have. We have a designated and trained Child Protection Officer and a deputy officer. We work in close partnership with Children’s Services.
All our staff and any other helpers who come into school regularly have been checked by the Criminal Records Bureau.
We keep children safe during the day by locking all outside doors and continuously monitoring our routines to ensure children are never exposed to unnecessary dangers.
All our activities are preceded by a risk assessment. The school has regular Health and Safety and Fire checks. Our Health and Safety Policy is available from the office.
Under the Education Act 2002 (Section 175), schools must make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Parent/carers should know that the law (Children Act 2006) requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child’s welfare, including risk from neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse. The staff will seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with the parent/carer, and where possible, seek their consent to a referral to Social Care. This will only be done where such discussion will not place the child at increased risk of significant harm. Schools will seek advice from Social Care when they have reasonable cause to suspect a child may be suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. Occasionally, concerns are passed on which are later shown to be unfounded. Parents/carers will appreciate that the designated person for child protection was carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and acting in the best interests of all children.
School Times and Procedures
The school day starts at 9.00 and ends at 3.15.
Children may start to come into school through their outside classroom door from 8.50 onwards and settle quietly in their classrooms ready for a 9.00 start. The children are not supervised before 8.50 so we ask parents not bring them early.
Parents and carers wait for children at the front of school at the end of the day.
Reception parents go into the classroom to meet their child.
Year 1 children come out through their outside door.
Year 2 and Year 3 children come out of the outside doors of the new part of the building.
Years 4, 5 and 6 will be brought round to the front of the building by their class teachers.
Children waiting for the school bus wait in the entrance to school.
Children who are going to Pathways after school care wait in the hall at school.
Please do not bring cars on to school grounds and try to park with consideration for our neighbours along Arden Road. If at all possible, try and park at a distance from school and encourage your child to walk part of the way home.
We have a new entrance at the back of school linking school to Beaudesert Lane via the public footpath.
Our School Travel Plan aims to increase the number of families who walk or cycle to school, even if it means parking further away from school and walking part of the route. Please consider car sharing with other families to reduce the number of cars coming to school.
Some children qualify for school transport - contact the office for details.
If your child arrives after 9.00, you bring them to the front door where you sign them in so that we can add them to the register. This is very important in case of fire etc.
In exceptional circumstances, if you know you are going to be late collecting your child, please call the office and we will tell your child and make sure they are safe until you arrive.
If your child is going to be collected by someone they were not expecting, again, call the office and we will tell them.
Absence from School
If your child is not well, please keep them at home and ring us at school to tell us they are going to be away and send a letter when they return explaining the reason for their absence.
If they have had sickness or diarrhoea in the night or early in the morning, always keep them at home. Please never send a child to school with a temperature or earache.
If your child should fall ill during the day, we will try to contact you for them to be taken home. In certain extreme circumstances, of course, we will call 999 for an ambulance and contact you as soon as we can.
Updated and clear information is necessary regarding means of contacting parents during the daytime, and forms are sent home in September requesting these essential details. The co-operation of parents is greatly appreciated. Certain information is required by law – e.g. the name and address of both parents.
Any absence for which a reason is known – e.g. illness, medical appointments etc., is termed an ‘authorised’ absence. If no explanation for an absence is given, then it is an ‘unauthorised’ absence, details of which have to be reported to the Department for Education and Skills.
Equally, if the Headteacher deems the absence unnecessary, it may be termed unauthorised. The total number of unauthorised and authorised absences will appear in the annual report to parents and your child's number will appear on their school report.
We work in close contact with the Educational Social Worker to follow up any absence which is not accounted for or is not deemed necessary.
Schools are required to give the following information in their brochures:-
(i) There was an average of 160 children of compulsory school age on roll during the 2007-2008 school year.
(ii) 4.7% of school sessions were missed through authorised absence
(iii) 0% of school sessions were missed through unauthorised absence.
Please notify the school if your child needs to leave school for any reason during the school day and sign them out using the book in the front hall. No child will be allowed to leave school during school hours unaccompanied, without parental permission.
Medicines
Medicine, as opposed to First Aid, cannot be given to children by members of staff. If a child in school does require regular medication then special arrangements must be made with the school.
Please inform your child’s class teacher if they need to use an inhaler for asthma during the day at school and provide the school with a labelled inhaler that can stay on the premises with clear written instructions.
Family Holidays
We are aware that this is a difficult issue as holidays are much cheaper in term time, but there are government guidelines we have to follow and good educational practice which we want you to be aware of.
The Headteacher is allowed to authorise 10 school days a year for family holidays, if other attendance has been good. There is a point system for working out whether having the family holiday will take you into a high percentage of non-attendance. Please enquire before you book the holiday to find out your category because you may not always be authorised.
You will also need to provide written proof from your employer to show the reason for holiday needing to be taken in term time.
Our experience shows that time out of school is always detrimental to a child's progress, especially in the autumn term when they are settling into friendships and routines and in the summer term when they have assessments. They will always miss something they will never get back by being away, so please think carefully before exercising that option.
Head lice
The occurrence of headlice and other easily transferable or infectious conditions is often a concern to parents. Headlice occur in every group of children in the world so please try not to be alarmed if you find any in your child’s hair. We send home extensive advice which is the result of the latest research available or you can speak to your pharmacist or look on the Internet for advice. Please tell us if you find any in your child’s hair so that we ask other parents to be aware.
If we suspect that your child may have live head lice, we may ask you to come and collect them so that you can treat them before they cause too much discomfort or spread to others.
Illness
If your child is unwell, particularly with sickness and diarrhoea, could you please inform school immediately and keep your child away from school for at least 24 hours after they have been sick. We have several children in school who have siblings for whom any of these infections can be life threatening so please help us by informing us promptly and keeping infections out of school as much as possible. Obviously there are times when children are fine in the morning and become ill during the day, but if they have been ill before school or in the evening before, they should stay at home.
School Meals
These are cooked on the premises and are of a high standard. Dinner money, £9.25 a week, £1.85 a day, is sent into school on Monday morning in a sealed envelope with your child’s name, class and the amount enclosed on it and handed in to the class teacher. Cheques are made payable to Warwickshire County Council. The county catering service handles its own administration.
The children take their mid-day meal in the Hall and are provided with a drink. As an alternative, children may go home or bring their own packed lunch. You need to provide a drink, but not in a glass bottle or a can. No fizzy drinks or sweets, please.
During the lunch period the children are supervised by mid-day supervisors and the Headteacher. After their meal, they are supervised on the playground where there is a play leader who organises activities for the children or they can play their own games. In good weather, children play on the field but in bad weather, they have special ‘wet play’ activities in their classrooms.
Free meals may be applied for in certain circumstances – details are available from our school office. If you find you are eligible for free school meals but do not want to take up the service, it is helpful to the school if you still register, as we get extra funding for the school.
Times:
Key Stage 1 (Infants) : 12.00 – 1.10
Key Stage 2 (Juniors) :12.20 – 1.10
These hours produce a school day of 5 hours 45 minutes for Juniors, and 5 hours 30 minutes for Infants.
SCHOOL UNIFORM
We are very proud of the smart appearance of all our children, but do want them to be comfortable during the day as well. We ask our parents to try to adhere to uniform as set out here, but if you have any difficulties obtaining items or replacing items when they have grown out of them, please use your own discretion or speak to us.
Winter
Key Stage 1 (R, Y1 and Y2) |
Key Stage 2 (Y3, Y4, Y5 and Y6) |
Grey Pinafore / Skirt / Trousers |
Grey Pinafore/Skirt/Trousers |
White polo shirt |
White school shirt |
Round Necked Navy School Sweatshirt |
Tie |
Navy / White / Grey tights |
V-necked Navy School Sweatshirt |
| (when you are ready to replace KS1 sweatshirt) |
|
White / Grey socks |
Navy / White / Grey tights |
Black Shoes |
White / Grey socks |
Dark coloured Coat |
Black Shoes |
Dark coloured Coat |
Summer
Key Stage 1 (R, Y1 and Y2) |
Key Stage 2 (Y3, Y4, Y5 and Y6) |
Navy Blue Gingham Dresses |
Navy Blue Gingham Dresses |
Navy / White Cardigans |
Navy / White Cardigans |
Grey Shorts/trousers/skirt |
Grey Shorts/trousers/skirt |
Short Sleeved White Polo Shirt |
Short Sleeved White Polo Shirt |
Round Necked School Sweatshirt |
V-necked Navy School Sweatshirt |
Black Shoes |
Black Shoes |
Dark coloured Coat / Kagoul |
Dark coloured Coat / Kagoul |
PE Kit
Navy Blue Shorts |
Navy Blue Shorts |
Navy School T-Shirt |
Navy School T-Shirt |
Black Pumps |
Black Pumps |
Football Boots / Trainers |
School trousers rather than fashion trousers.
White, black, grey or navy socks as far as possible. Shoes with high or narrow heels are not allowed for safety reasons and the continual wearing of trainers is discouraged.
Children are asked not to wear jewellery, apart from simple studs in pierced ears which will be covered or removed for P.E.
School sweatshirts, T-shirts and ties are available from Early Years. Occasionally, we have a supply of second hand uniform – look out for notices on the P.T.A. notice board.
It is very important that all your child’s clothing is clearly marked with their name. School sun hats are available this year as well.
Uniform is available from Early Years Schoolwear, 407 – 411 Stratford Road, Shirley, Solihull B90 4AA.0121 733 1456 and National Schoolwear 3/4, Bull’s Head Yard, Alcester B49 5BX 017889 400344
OUT OF SCHOOL VISITS
Studies of the local environment as well as educational visits further afield can be a most rewarding part of a child’s learning. We like to use our own grounds, the area around school, Henley High Street and the Henley Conservation Area as much as possible. Helpers are always welcome on visits far and near. When teachers are planning topics for the term ahead, the possibility of appropriate class outings is carefully considered.
An exciting event for our later year Key Stage 2 pupils is an extended educational visit during the week or over the weekend, for many children a first opportunity to experience ‘being away from home’. This is always a most enjoyable venture.
CHARGING FOR SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
The school cannot make charges to parents for any activities taking place during the school day, except for instrumental music tuition for individuals or small groups.
However, it would be impossible to fund school visits, certain special events in school, or even such activities as swimming out of existing school resources. Therefore, in order for such activities to occur it is often necessary to ask parents for specified voluntary contributions so that the cost of the activity can be met. Of course, if individual parents are not able or willing to make such voluntary contributions, their child’s participation in the activity concerned will not be affected in any way.
Details of the school’s policy on Charging for School Activities are available on request.
PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS
We feel privileged at Henley Primary that you entrust your child into our care for their education and welfare. You play a vital part in your child’s education, from teaching them good attitudes towards school to helping them with their home learning. We want to do all we can to help you to help your child. We put on training evenings to cover various aspects of the curriculum and explain methodology which may be new to you.
We also arrange two more formal consultation evenings when you can talk to your child’s class teacher about their progress and their targets. You can, of course, speak to teachers any time you have a question or a concern.
We send a Newsletter home every month with dates for your diary and other useful information. We also send many other information letters when needed.
We have class Assemblies on Friday mornings throughout the year when children present aspects of their recent work and learning in school, or present a particular assembly theme. All are welcome on these occasions. Dates will be in the newsletters. You are also welcome to come into our Celebration House Assembly on Fridays at 2.50.
We also send home a summary of the curriculum each half term so that you can talk to your child about their learning more easily. Sometimes, there may be topics you have a special interest in or have some interesting resources your child could bring in to school.
At the end of the year, in July, we have an open evening when you can visit school and look at your child’s next classroom and some of the resources they will be using in that class as well as meet their next teacher.
School Reports are sent out each July. You may make an appointment to discuss the report if you wish.
We welcome and are always grateful for parents offering their services as helpers in school with swimming, reading practice, computer work, art and craft, cookery and school outings.
Just talk to your child’s class teacher if you would like to get involved. Equally, we are always looking for parents or grandparents who can offer their skills to children in after school clubs. Please let us know.
The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is very active and enthusiastic at our school. The aims of the association are to:-
- Generally foster the vital relationship between parents and the school, through information and social events.
- To encourage interest in and support for the school among parents and in the local community.
- To raise funds to provide extra materials and equipment for the school.
Examples of the fruits of fund raising efforts in recent years have been the purchase of a new stage for performances, equipping the library, music and sports equipment and a beautiful play trail.
The PTA has their own notice board outside at the front of school where parents wait.
A file of past letters to parents, in case any parents have not received letters for any reason, is also kept in the front entrance hall.
Letters may be sent to parents via e-mail if they so wish.
We willingly send information to parents not living with their child. Please inform us if this is needed and we do ask that you supply us with some stamped self-addressed envelopes.
We also work with Warwickshire Adult Learning who run a variety of workshops in the school to help you to help your child more effectively at home. Sometimes they can help you to gain accreditation and point you in the right direction to a new career path.
Although our key aim is to work in partnership with our parents, occasionally there may be instances where you disagree with something that has happened in school. Please do come in and see us to sort it out, as most issues can be talked through quite easily with a chat. Please see your child’s class teacher if it concerns your child’s academic or social development. If it is of a more serious nature, or a private matter, the Headteacher is available to talk to.
Please try to keep your child unaware of any grievance you have, since for his/her sake it should always appear that school and home are working in co-operation. It is harmful for your child to be present whilst you and the teacher are discussing a problem.
For some impartial advice on how to approach the school, look at:
www.bbc.co.uk/wales/schoolgate
www.parents.org.uk
www.parentscentre.gov.uk
What do we learn?
Our curriculum for Years 1 - 6 is governed by The National Curriculum which gives us the expected outcomes at each stage of the children's learning. The Reception class takes their curriculum from the Early Learning Goals for the Foundation Stage which is children from 3 - 5.
Although in some ways our curriculum is prescribed centrally, we still have a lot of freedom to choose what we teach and when we teach it. We are constantly reviewing our annual map to meet the children's needs more effectively.
We have to cover all the subjects laid out in the National Curriculum along with R.E. We are free to choose our own learning and teaching philosophy as long as children make good progress and reach high standards.
We believe at Henley that children should be involved in their learning and have an understanding not just of what they are learning but also of why they are learning. We want to teach them skills that they can transfer to any subject such as organisation, research, investigation. We spend time finding out from latest research the best ways to help children learn as well as tried and tested traditional methods. All children learn best if they are starting from what is familiar to them.
From September 2008, we have been using a topic-based cross curricular approach to learning which the children really enjoy. The topics will run on a two year cycle and involve a certain amount of personal research and presentation.
Foundation Stage
Structured play is an essential aspect of the daily routine in our Reception class. Children work from the six areas of learning as laid out in the Early Learning Goals in the Foundation Stage curriculum.
Our children learn to make choices and plan some of their learning themselves as well as learning to co-operate with their peers. We teach our children to read and write through a combination of ‘Jolly Phonics’ and an excellent handwriting scheme. We use a range of reading books. Children will bring a reading book and a reading diary home every day and change their books as they need. The emphasis is on enjoying the pleasure of sharing a book and appreciating the story.
Every Wednesday, our children put on some sturdy waterproof clothes and explore the great outdoors where they can safely get muddy and cover many areas of the curriculum through nature. We call it ‘Welly Wednesday’.
In the rest of the school, we follow National Curriculum using a combination of schemes from different sources, including some we have compiled ourselves. The three ‘core’ subjects are Mathematics, English and Science. The rest are called ‘foundation’ subjects.
Mathematics
We want to produce children who are confident mathematicians. It is really helpful that all those who care for the children speak positively about the subject and support the new methods they will use from the National Numeracy Strategy.
They may work individually, in a group, with their thinking partner or as a whole class. They will be introduced to mathematical terms, perform basic operations, use practical skills, learn to use calculators, problem solve, work out word problems, make estimations, learn to visualise number and shape and apply number patterns to real life situations.
All children will have a Numeracy lesson most days and will use Numeracy in other areas of the curriculum. They will also use ICT extensively where it enhances or helps to practise mathematical skills.
The full scheme of work is available to look at on request.
English
We want children to learn to read, write, speak and listen effectively and creatively. We teach from the Literacy Strategy and want children to learn to take risks and explore the use of language. We want to develop a pleasure in reading intelligently and a freedom to write beyond the words they have already learned to spell correctly. We look for texts which are rich in interesting language and expression to use as starting points for the children's writing. We want our children to be fluent speakers who can express their opinions clearly and listen actively to other people.
Our children develop a flowing handwriting style very early on which gives them access to writing with confidence and pride.
Science
All our classrooms display the four stages of the investigative process because we believe that the greater part of science for primary children is done through hands on investigation and exploration. They learn to use their senses to observe and explore what is in the world around them and how it works when they are younger and move on to displaying their findings in charts and tables when they are older. We have theme days when we devote the whole day to one aspect of science. We use the Henley Conservation area as part of our studies as well as our own gardens and grounds.
ICT
We have a big computer suite, data projectors and interactive whiteboards throughout the school, two classrooms with teacher toolkits operated from tablets, and two standalone PCs in every classroom. We also have several laptops which are used throughout the school and a spare data projector. ICT is used to enhance other areas of the curriculum as well as being taught as a discreet subject. We also have several music keyboards, audio visual equipment, digital microscopes, digital cameras, movie makers and programmable devices which are all part of ICT.
Modern Languages
Our main aim is to encourage global awareness and understanding. In line with the Primary Strategy to provide language learning for Key Stage 2 (Junior) children, we have chosen a model which introduces a new language in each year group. Year 3 learn Italian, Year 4 learn Spanish, Year 5 Italian and Year 6 French. This includes speaking, listening, reading and writing at a basic level as well as learning about the culture of the country. As members of the Global Gateway, we will be linked to schools in these countries so that children can have pen-pals and find out for themselves what life is like for their peers in their partner country.
In addition, we will be offering Mandarin to some children through our partnership with our school in Shenzhen which several of our staff have visited and from whom we have received teachers.
History
We start with children's own experiences of having a past themselves and then looking at their family's past with special events or photographs of past holidays and take them on to understanding the more distant past. They learn about major events, famous people and great civilisations. They are developing the skills of research and examining sources right from the outset. We have close links to Henley Heritage Centre which enriches the children's experience of the history of Henley.
Geography
We learn to read maps, to look at places similar to our own and very different to our own. They explore climates and landscapes, often visiting when possible. Again, our own locality offers a rich experience of landscapes and town features.
Music
We follow a scheme which ensures continuity and progression through the school. We have a range of tuned and untuned instruments which are an integral part of the scheme. We have strong links with the county music service who provide us with class teaching for each class at some point throughout the year. They also provide peripatetic teaching for a range of instruments with very reasonable charges.
We also have a school orchestra and choir who perform regularly in school and at festivals around the southern area of the county.
Physical Education
This includes gymnastics, games, dance and swimming all of which demand co-operation and team skills from the children and all serve to help them to learn the value of exercise and keeping fit.
We have several after school clubs which generate teams to play against other schools around the county, sometimes in tournaments. We are always very proud of our teams in Henley as they often do very well but they always give an excellent account of themselves in terms of their behaviour and their sportsmanship.
We are supported by Warwickshire College whose sports campus is in Henley. They collect our children on a weekly basis and take them to the college where they receive one to one coaching from the college students and tutors and then are brought back to school again. It is an arrangement that has many benefits to us as a school and to the college. The children enjoy it immensely.
Art
We have some very talented practitioners on staff who lead the children to produce work of a very high standard. Children explore the work of famous artists and also various media of 2D and 3D visual expression.
Design and Technology
Children investigate objects around them and how they work to design and make their own ideas using a variety of different materials. We follow the national curriculum and include food technology, sewing, working with wood and paper.
Religious Education
At Henley we follow the Warwickshire Agreed Syllabus throughout the school. This involves learning the beliefs and practices of Christians in this country and around the world as well as learning about other main world religions. Often a unit of work is on a theme such as celebrations or rites of passage and the children look at how this is dealt with in the different religions and cultures. Children often visit places of worship or go on a virtual tour of a significant place on the Internet.
Parents are entitled to withdraw their child from Religious Education if they wish.
Assembly
We have a weekly pattern for our Collective Worship:
Monday - Headteacher's Assembly for the whole school
Tuesday – Singing |Practice for each key stage separately
Wednesday - Assistant Head’s Assembly for the whole school
Thursday - Birthday Assembly for each key stage separately
Friday - Celebration Assembly for whole school.
The worship element of the assembly is basically Christian but non-denominational. Worship may include singing, a story, prayer or sharing. We follow a theme of values each month.
Parents may withdraw their child from assembly if they wish.
The above summary of the school’s curriculum is only offered to parents as a general outline. The National Curriculum, The Literacy Strategy, National Numeracy Frame and school policy documents, which are constantly under review, are available to parents on request.
The Headteacher will be very pleased to discuss the curriculum in more detail with any parents who may wish to do so.
Equal Opportunities
Throughout the whole of the school curriculum we endeavour to ensure that equal opportunities exist for every child, regardless of ability, gender, race or social background.
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
The school has a Special Educational Needs Policy to address the needs of all pupils who have special educational or behavioural needs at any time during their education at our school. We operate a provision map which ensures that all children have extra support at some stage in the year when they need it. We also buy in LA support which helps us to identify needs early and deal with them promptly. Our special needs process and support framework is a strength in our school – we have been awarded the ‘Dyslexia Friendly’ award which is a quality assurance of our provision.
Arrangements to support children’s special needs are made on an individual basis involving outside agencies, parents, staff and the children themselves.
We use Widgets visual symbols throughout school to help children with speech, language and reading difficulties to access the curriculum and find their way around school. We also have staff who are trained to use Makaton if needed. We have access to disabled facilities for all children and adults if needed and an access plan to improve our facilities further (see Appendix).
MORE ABLE/GIFTED AND TALENTED
We expect at least a third of each class to be working above the expected level for their age which will be encouraged through the class teacher’s regular planning and provision. Above that, we also keep a Gifted and Talented register which covers all areas of the curriculum, including personal skills and leadership skills. We aim to challenge children within their own year group as we believe we create plenty of problem solving opportunities within the existing curriculum without diverting from what other children are learning.
Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)
We follow a structured curriculum which helps children explore their own development and how they relate to others around them. They learn through a weekly 'Circle Time' when they play a few warm up games and then learn to talk about their feelings on various issues. They learn about healthy lifestyles and making good choices that may affect their health, safety and well being. They have drug awareness training as part of this course but also in their science curriculum.
They learn about their bodies and taking care of themselves. We have also included some sessions on 'protective behaviours' which are linked to child protection. They learn that there is nothing so awful that can't be talked about and whom they can talk to.
Sex and Relationships Education
In the lower school, the PSHE curriculum covers respecting our own and other people's body personal hygiene and what makes us feel comfortable and uncomfortable.
As children progress through KS2, they learn more about the parts of the body through science and through PSHE. They learn that we are all special, different to look at but all with the same needs.
In years 5 and 6, we invite the School Nurse in to talk to the girls about menstruation and show them various products they might use.
Parents will be informed before any specific sex education sessions are given and have the right to ask for their child to be excluded from them if they so wish.
School Clubs
We are very proud of our after school opportunities for children here at Henley. We run a variety of clubs at different times of the year. They range from sports with football, netball, tag rugby, rounders, gymnastics and dance, to art and craft clubs. There is a regular drama club, for which there is a small fee. We have a school orchestra which practices once a week and plays frequently in our assemblies and a school choir. We are very keen to increase our range of clubs even further and are always glad to hear of any talents parents have to offer that we can use.
Home Learning
We believe that a child is always learning whether at home or at school and we wanted to have a policy which reflected this. The home learning set for the children throughout school is a mixture of research from their own resources and experiences and practising skills they have learned at school that week or preparing for a task to be completed in school.
Children in Years 2 upwards will bring home spellings which they have to learn for a test each week. Whilst we do not believe that learning 10 spellings a week will make our children into good spellers, the task does teach them a learning skill and will help them in the process of how to memorise spellings. They will need you and school to push them to learn a lot more spellings than just the ones for the tests!
We firmly believe in learning multiplication tables, starting in Year 2 with x2, x5 and x10 and then progressing as they move through KS2. Our home learning policy was written through discussion with staff, parents and children.
Years 1 and 2 |
Years 3 and 4 |
Years 5 and 6 |
Assessment
In line with the National Curriculum, children will be formally assessed at the end of each Key Stage, (i.e., at age 7 and 11 years; at the end of Year 2 and Year 6).
This system will mainly involve continuous assessment by the teacher, supported by Standard Assessment Tasks, in English, Mathematics and Science for Year 6. Year 2 end of year assessments now involve a combination of teacher assessment and tests in English and Mathematics. Science at the end of Year 2 will be assessed by teacher assessment.
The County Policy in South Warwickshire, is that Year 6 children can, if parents wish, sit the 11+ Secondary Selection Examination for a Grammar school place.
We assess children every lesson before we plan what to teach them next but we have other assessments that happen at the end of units and at the end of the year. We use the information gathered from the various forms of assessment we use to set targets for the children to work towards and plan how we are going to help them to achieve their target. Children are involved in this process as much as possible, particularly through our marking system. Your child's class teacher will discuss these targets with you at Parents' Evenings.
Complaints Procedure
You should discuss any concerns you have with your child's class teacher and/or the Headteacher. If the matter is not resolved, you may raise the matter with the Governors who have a complaints committee. If you are still dissatisfied, you may make a formal complaint to the LEA.
This process is explained clearly in our school Complaints Procedures Policy which reflects the LEA policy.
Public Access to Information
You are entitled through the Freedom of Information Act to view any information the school holds on your child, after giving the school some notice to produce it. You may be charged for the cost of administration. You are entitled to read any of the school's policies but I would like to draw your attention particularly to
- The full governing body policy on charging
- The complaints procedure
- National curriculum documents, LEA policies, school schemes of work, Early Learning /goals
- Annual Report to Parents (Governing Body
Transfer to Secondary School
Selecting a secondary school for your child is an important issue and our aim is to help you make as informed a choice as possible.
The School will help you make the best choice for your child to continue to build on the excellent education already received.
The Headteacher is happy to assist parents in their fact-finding and decision making but asks that parents do not place undue stress on their children in relation to any entrance examinations. We will be running a club in the second half of the summer term for Year 5 children who would like to develop their reasoning skills in preparation for any external examinations they may wish to sit.
At the end of the school year 2007/2008 our 22 of our Year 6 children moved on to Henley High School and 1 to Alcester Grammar.
We start training our children in using verbal reasoning skills in Year 3 specifically but also throughout the school as we teach learning skills and thinking skills in preparation for any external examinations children may wish to sit in Year 6.
Every effort is made to ensure that the move to secondary school is a smooth and happy one. All Year 6 children have a chance to visit their future schools in their final term, and we have systems for communicating with the local secondary schools to create continuity and a sound development in your child’s education. Extra visits for those feeling less confident about the move can easily be arranged. Our Year 6 teacher can visit the pupils in their new school in September.
Wrap around care
Before and after school care is provided for our children by Pathways Nursery which is situated on our site. The children are met in our hall and taken round to the nursery with out leaving the school grounds at all. They have an interesting and popular range of activities which the children can do. For more information, please call 01564 795494.
Say NO to Bullying
We have an anti-bullying policy whose aim is to reduce the number of pupils who experience bullying through increasing awareness of this behaviour, its causes and consequences in the pupils, staff, parents and carers who make up the school community, and to help pupils find and put into practice a series of solutions to the problem of bullying.
We believe it is very important to keep looking at the definition of bullying and not label all unpleasant or aggressive behaviour as bullying. We have a Behaviour Policy which deals with unacceptable behaviour. This policy concerns itself with bullying alone.
The policy also aims to ensure that individual cases of bullying will be dealt with consistently and in a constructive and fair manner when they occur. Procedures for dealing with bullying are clearly set out so that all members of the school community know what they can expect from the school and what the school expects of them, with regard to bullying. Copies are available from school or on the school website.
