Beaufort Primary School Prospectus

The aims of Beaufort Primary School are:

to inspire in children a curiosity that enables them to explore, enjoy and protect the world around them; to be engaged in the learning process by understanding what it means to be a learner and to derive satisfaction from learning; to demonstrate a respect for each other and themselves enabling them to be confident members of our society.Beaufort Primary School not only believes in delivering a high quality educational programme, but has the welfare and care of children at the heart of everything that we do.

Every Child Matters, the Government’s vision for children’s services, was published in September 2003.

It proposed reshaping children’s services to help achieve the outcomes children and young people told us, are key to well-being in childhood and later life.
- Be healthy
- Stay safe
- Enjoy and achieve
- Make a positive contribution
- Achieve economic well-being

Therefore, these outcomes for children guide us daily and shape our practice.

We know that children make the best possible progress with the support, involvement and encouragement of parents. We welcome your help in school and encourage you to take an interest in your child’s learning. We hold parents’ evenings in the autumn and spring terms when we invite you to discuss your child’s work with the teacher. We send home a written report before the second parents’ evening. In the summer term we hold an open evening when everyone interested in the school is invited to visit the whole school to see the full range of work.

Teachers are always happy to see parents at other times. It would be appreciated if conversations before school could be kept to a minimum so that teachers can meet the children and organise their work. It is easier to see parents after school - making an appointment would ensure a teacher’s availability.

The Head invites anyone to discuss his/her worries, fears or praise. Parents will be invited to sign a home/school agreement when their child begins school. Children in Key Stage 2 are encouraged to be involved in their own agreement.

Newsletters are written weekly and are available on the school website. Although paper copies are available, it is hoped that the majority of parents will access the newsletter on line so that we can save some more trees!

Homework is given across the school.

Be Healthy

As a healthy school we encourage all of our pupils to adopt healthy lifestyles. Our science and PSHE curriculum investigates the benefits of a balanced diet and exercise on health. It also encourages children to have healthy, happy relationships with their peers and all adults in the school. All relationships are built on respect for each others’ points of view.

In PE all pupils take part in a wide range of activities. Recently, the current Government has extended its mandatory 2 hours of PE a week to create a new ’5 hour offer’ for all 5-16 year olds. So, our aim is to continue to increase the number of primary age children taking part in at least two hours high quality PE and sport at school each week; and create new opportunities for them to participate in a further three hours each week of sporting activity, through school, voluntary and community involvement.

To do this, we offer a range of after-school clubs available most afternoons. Currently we have netball, dance, running and athletics/ field events (summer term only) clubs. Football coaching is available for a small termly fee offered by a qualified coach.

Pupils are encouraged to take part in local teams and activities and enjoy sharing their successes. Swimming instruction takes place during the summer term for all children in Reception and Key Stage 1. A catch-up programme is offered to pupils in Year 6 who are not able to swim 25 metres by the end of their primary school phase.

" Wake up and Shake up" is a feature of Early Years and Key Stage 1 curriculum, ensuring that children are all ready for the learning ahead.

We encourage our pupils to keep well hydrated and everyone has access to water during the day. Children are encouraged to keep a water bottle in school.

Pupils in KS1 receive a piece of fruit or vegetable snack every day. Pupils are also encouraged to bring in fresh fruit or vegetable snacks for break times, no other snacks are permitted. The daily milk scheme operates in school and details of how to take part are available from the school office.

Catered meals are provided by our on - site cook. A wide and varied menu is on offer catering for vegetarian and religious requirements. Dinners are nutritious and carefully balanced. Current costs and half termly booking forms are available from the school office. It is possible to pay by Direct Debit.

Pupils may also bring packed lunches, although we do ask parents to respect our "no nuts" policy for the safety of our pupils with extreme allergies.

As we are a registered Healthy School, children eating packed lunches are requested to eat only chocolate bars that contain a biscuit centre. Drinks should only be water - plain not flavoured.

Our lunch time staff strive to ensure that all pupils experience a positive dining experience.

We believe in developing in our children an awareness of the environment and ways that we can reduce pollution. We currently have two undercover cycle racks. Children are encouraged to ride their bikes to school each day, preferably wearing a helmet. Bikes may be chained to the rack, although the gates are locked at the start of the school day and not opened until the end of the day to ensure bikes are safe.

At Beaufort we design our learning activities to meet pupils’ needs and to engage their interest. We aim to develop a thirst for learning and to help children commence their journeys as lifelong learners.

We adopt a creative approach delivering a broad and balanced curriculum in line with national requirements meeting local and individual needs.

Prior to children entering school in Reception, home visits are made by the class teacher and teaching assistant to meet the child in their own safe environment. Children are encouraged to share their favourite book or toy with staff. It is also a time when any medical information can be passed on, such as any allergy issues. Additionally, children are invited into school in the weeks leading up to the end of the school year, to ensure that the transition into school is a happy one. Children in Reception work on the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum covering six broad areas of learning which follow on from their pre-school experiences.

In Reception, the curriculum is planned to develop each child’s abilities in a safe and caring environment. This includes opportunities to work with teachers and support staff in a wide range of learning activities both in the classroom and in our dedicated outdoor learning area. Younger children are supported by skilled teaching assistants working alongside class teachers.

At least once in each school year, the whole school may focus their learning on a specific theme or topic. This current school year, the school will study the Moon and Space Travel which will coincide with the 40th Anniversary in July 2009 of man’s landing on the moon.

In KS1 and KS2 the planned curriculum meets national requirements and includes ICT which is a key feature of our learning. Our well equipped ICT suite enables pupils to use technology to support learning across all curriculum areas. All classrooms are equipped with interactive Smartboards. Teachers are encouraged and supported to integrate this technology into their daily teaching.

In addition to an emphasis on key literacy, mathematical and scientific skills pupils have opportunities to learn French and broaden their experiences with humanities projects that are taught in a cross-curricular manner.

Pupils may be taught by their class teacher, qualified support staff or visiting instructors during the course of the week.

At times, children are grouped according to their learning needs rather than their year level. This is particularly true in English and Maths where we believe that children benefit from being grouped with other children of similar ability e.g. children in years 3 and 4 can be grouped together during Phonics sessions to ensure that their knowledge of sounds and letters is consolidated. Similarly, children in year 5 may work with children in year 6 in Maths as an extension activity.

In Spring term, children are offered Booster classes in both years 2 and 6 to ensure that children are offered every opportunity to reach national curriculum expectations.

Assemblies are held twice weekly. At Monday’s assembly, children’s achievements are recognised by staff in the form of a certificate. These awards are published weekly in the school newsletter. This is also an opportunity for children to be recognised for achievements outside of school such as in sport, Scouts/Guides, Brownies/Cubs and other community organisations.

On Friday, classes share their learning with the rest of the school. All classes are timetabled to run an assembly at least once per term. Parents are invited to attend these assemblies.

We place great value on working in partnership with parents to encourage good behaviour and find that this is best achieved when there are good channels of communication and consistent support between home and school.

Pupils are encouraged to attend punctually and regularly. This is important for good progress with learning to be made. Parents must inform the school office if a child is absent or an unauthorised absence will be recorded. The school works closely with education welfare services to help families ensure high attendance levels. No requests for leave of absence for holidays or family visits are authorised during May and June due to national tests taking place.

All children from reception to Year 6 have their own personal library card which they may use to borrow up to two books at a time for a period of a fortnight. Children are given overdue book notices after this time which may incur a penalty. Parents will be asked to make a donation towards the cost of replacing lost or damaged books. Children are encouraged to bring a book bag to school every day which can also be used for carrying library books safely.

The school operates primarily in a consultative mode. All members of the community are invited to participate in decision making. This is true of staff, children, parents and Governors. All of these groups are surveyed annually to ensure that all those involved with the school have a say in the important decisions that shape and guide the school.

All staff, including our Teaching Assistants, meet weekly not only for professional development and to learn new skills but to participate in policy making. We believe, that everyone’s ideas are valuable and so actively encourage all to contribute to the development of the school.

At the beginning of each year, children in years 5 & 6 elect members of the School Council. They hold this position for the school year. Children in Years 2,3 and 4 are also invited to join in, but office bearers change every term in an attempt to involve as many children in developing leadership skills as possible.

The newly formed Friends of Beaufort group is vital to our school community. Not only do they raise much needed funds for the school but this group is seen as a vehicle for parents to participate in many aspects of school life.

Governors play an important strategic role and representation is encouraged from a wide range of community groups. Parents are elected to the governing body and serve a four year term of office. Interested parents are encouraged to take on associate governor roles and learn more about the role that governors play in the strategic direction of the school.

The governing body meets termly with task groups or committees meeting in between meetings. Our clerk maintains a full public record of all meetings, copies of which are available on the school website. If you are interested to know more about the work of the governing body please contact our chair person via the school office.

We have high expectations regarding behaviour. Disruption of any kind to the learning and teaching of all is unacceptable and is not tolerated. All children are encouraged through positive behaviour management practices.

Achieve Economic Well Being

We believe that it is our responsibility to ensure that children leave our primary school literate and numerate in line with national standards. If children achieve at least a level 4 at the end of Key Stage 2, they are well equipped to cope with the next phase of their schooling.

This in turn, can ensure that at the end of their compulsory schooling they can then earn a living and become independent members of our society.

Children are also encouraged to learn skills that will support them in their later working life such as punctuality (being on time for school); meeting deadlines (handing in homework on time); being organised ( remembering to bring in PE kit, library books ,etc); cleanliness and taking a pride in their appearance (wearing school uniform correctly and neatly); and respect for all in the workplace (the classroom and playground) by learning how to deal with different situations that can impinge on the day-to-day working life (friendship issues) are all important skills to learn.