Llancarfan Primary School

Handbook for Parents

Handbook for Parents Contents Index Page Welcome - Croeso 2 Teaching and Support staff 3 The Governing Body 4 General 5 Vision Statement 5 School Aims 5 Ethos and Values of the School 5 Home-School Agreement 6 Catchment Area and Admissions 6 Accommodation 6 School Security 7 Transport 8 School Session Times 8 Lunch Arrangements and Breakfast Club 9 Absence from School 9 Prescribed Medication 9 School Uniform 10 PE Kit 10 Pastoral Care 10 Discipline 10 Anti-Bullying 11 Child Protection 11 Extra-Curricular Activities 12 Charging for School Activities 12 The Curriculum 13 Basic Skills 14 Homework 14 Homework at Key Stage 1 14 Homework at Key Stage 2 15 Assessment 15 Reporting to Parents 16 Pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) 16 More Able and Talented Pupils 16 Complaints Procedure 16 Sex Education 17 Collective Worship and Religious Education (RE) 17 Welsh as a Second Language 18 Physical Education (PE) and Extra-Curricular Sport 18 Swimming 19 Equal Opportunities 19 Disability Equality 19 Pupil Participation 20 Parent Teacher Association (PTA) 20 Parental Involvement 21 After-School Club 21 Appendix 1 - Term and Holiday Dates 22 Appendix 2 - Attendance Record Regulations 23 Appendix 3 – National Curriculum Results - Key Stage 1 24 - Key Stage 2 25 1

Welcome - Croeso

Dear Parents

Choosing the right school for your child is very important. Parents want a good education for their children, but they also want them to be happy and to feel safe and secure. At Llancarfan Primary School we believe we can offer all these things. We pride ourselves on the broad and balanced curriculum which we offer to our pupils, the pastoral care we provide and the feeling of which exists within the school.

Llancarfan School Estyn Inspection Report of March 2008 states that “standards achieved and pupils’ personal development are outstanding as a result of the high quality of teaching and care given to pupils of all ages and abilities” and it is on this basis that we continue to develop and improve the existing standards of learning and teaching and the ethos of this village school.

This booklet is intended as a guide for parents. It briefly states the organisation of the school and its broad aims and objectives. It serves also as a practical reminder regarding school information to which parents may need to refer from time to time. It is a foundation for good relations between home and school, but it is not intended to replace the direct personal contact between school and parents which we feel is very important. Much of the information in this booklet is available in far more detail in school policies, all of which are kept in the school office and can be viewed and discussed by prior arrangement with the Headteacher. For the parents of pupils starting in the Reception year, a separate booklet, “Starting School” is also provided.

Families who are considering sending their children to Llancarfan are encouraged to visit the school to see for themselves all that we have to offer. Should you then choose to send your child to Llancarfan, I am fully confident that you will have made an informed decision which is right for you and your child.

If, as the parent of an existing pupil, you should wish to discuss any matter of concern regarding your child, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Mrs Sally Brereton Headteacher Llancarfan Primary School Llancarfan Vale of CF62 3AD Telephone / Fax Number: 01446 781375 email: [email protected] Website: www.llancarfanprimaryschool.co.uk

The information relating to the current educational year which appears in this booklet is correct at the time of printing but may be subject to change before the start of or during the school year or in subsequent years. 2

Llancarfan Primary School Teaching and Support Staff

Headteacher Mrs Sally Brereton BSc(Econ) Hons, PGCE, MA(Ed), NPQH

Deputy Headteacher Mr Huw Lewis B Ed(Hons)

Teachers Mrs Kym Freeman BA Ed (Hons) Cert Ed Mrs Catherine Christofides BMus (Hons) PGCE Mrs Julia Lee-Jones BA (Hons) PGCE Miss Melanie Watkins BA (Hons) PGCE Mrs Frances Williams BA (Hons) PGCE Mrs Susan Birkin BSc (Hons) PGCE Miss Heather Lane B Ed (Hons)

Learning Support Assistants Mrs Sue Stoodley Mrs Lou Way Mrs Lisa Archer Mrs Sian Morris Mrs Sarah Knevett

School Administrator Mrs Lisa Jones

Caretaker/Cleaner Mr Mark Cooper

Kitchen Supervisor Mrs Dawn Hardcastle

Midday Supervisor Mrs Wendy Morse

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Llancarfan Primary School Governing Body

The Governing Body has a statutory duty to conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement. The responsibilities include:  Setting strategic direction, objectives, targets and policies.  Reviewing progress against the budget, plans and targets.  Approving the school budget.  Taking general responsibility for the conduct of the school.  Making sure that the curriculum is balanced and broadly based.  Participating in the appointment of senior staff and regulating staff conduct and discipline.

The Governing Body works in partnership with the Headteacher and other staff to achieve these aims. The day to day management of the school remains the responsibility of the Headteacher.

The Governing Body comprises of members of the local community, parents, staff and representatives of the Local Authority. This helps to ensure that the Governing Body has sufficient diversity of views and experience, but does not mean that Governors of a particular category "represent" that group on the Governing Body. All Governors are voluntary and are elected for a 4 year term of office.

4 Parent Governors Term of Office Ceases

Mrs E Marshman 30.09.12 Mrs J Potter (Vice Chair) 30.09.12 Mr A Llewellyn~Blakemore 01.10.13 Mr D Weir 13.10.14

3 Governors appointed by the Local Education Authority

Mr N Crane 14.10.13 Cllr J James 11.03.13 Mrs K Kemp 02.09.12

1 Teacher Governor

Mrs F Williams 01.09.13

1 Staff Governor

Mrs L Jones 08.09.12

3 Community Governors

Mrs J Davies (Chair) 22.06.13 Mr A Taylor 01.01.13 Mr M Crosta 23.10.14

1 Representative of Llancarfan Community Council

Mrs S Evans 21.04.14

Headteacher

Mrs S A Brereton 01446 781375

Clerk to the Governors

Mrs S Knevett 01446 781375

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Our Vision Statement

“The best we can be” “Gwneud ein gorau glas”

At Llancarfan Primary School we provide a safe, stimulating and happy environment where everyone is respected and valued.

We offer children and other learners in the school community the opportunity to develop and learn to the best of their ability.

The school promotes a sense of responsibility to meet the challenges and experiences of living and participating in the local and global community in a sensible and sustainable manner.

Our commitment as a school is to be the best we can be in order to enable our pupils to be the best they can be.

Statement of School Aims

It is our belief that, in order to meet the challenges of the 21st Century, our school should provide opportunities for all the learners in its community - pupils, parents, staff, Governors and friends. To this end, the school’s aims are closely linked to the Key Skills:

 To learn the skills to communicate effectively in the modern world.  To develop literacy and numeracy skills which will provide the foundation to become life-long learners.  To be able to use technology appropriately to support learning and to develop life skills.  To develop a problem solving approach to learning and to the world in which we live.  To develop the skills of co-operation, self awareness and mutual respect and support in order to work effectively with others.  To learn to take responsibility for understanding and improving one’s own learning in a culture of supportive self evaluation.  To encourage enjoyment and understanding of the Welsh language to enable pupils to participate fully in a bilingual community.

Ethos and Values of the School

Llancarfan Primary School is a happy community in which positive attitudes are fostered and pupils, staff, parents, Governors and friends are all valued and respected. Pupils play a key role in establishing and maintaining the rules which guide the daily life of the school and they are encouraged to develop good social skills, confidence and independence. Our pupils show a high level of concern, care and respect for one another and for adults and the spiritual, moral and cultural development of all pupils is a priority throughout all areas of the curriculum and school life. Our reward system is based on an approach whereby individuals are able to earn rewards for themselves, but also house points for their team at the same time, thus encouraging both individual effort and excellence and team spirit. 5

Home-School Agreement

Parents of pupils at Llancarfan Primary School are encouraged to support the home-school agreement formulated by the Governing Body under section 110(1) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. To this end, all new parents to the school are provided with a copy of the agreement which they should read, consider, discuss with their child and sign if they feel they are in agreement with its principles and intentions.

Catchment Area and Admissions

Llancarfan is situated in the heart of the beautiful , between Barry and .

The official catchment area of the school is the ward of Llancarfan which includes the villages of Llancarfan, , , , Moulton and . Subject to places being available at the school, and upon application to the Local Education Authority, children may be admitted from outside the official catchment area. We currently have many pupils at our school from , , St. Athan and Barry.

Llancarfan Primary School is a Local Authority, co-educational, community day school.

Pupils are generally admitted in September during the academic year of their fifth birthday (the academic year runs from 1st September to 31st August). As with all County Primary schools in the area, admissions are dealt with by the Local Education Authority. The Authority's aim is to ensure that, as far as possible, every pupil is given a place in a primary school within reasonable distance of home. If there is an alternative school which parents would prefer their child to attend, arrangements exist for parents to make application. These arrangements and other matters relating to admissions are explained in a booklet published by the Vale of Glamorgan Education Department. Applications are generally viewed with regard to the criteria listed below:

Criteria  Children living within the catchment area of the school i.e. the villages of Llancarfan, Llancadle, Llanbethery, Llantrithyd, Walterston and Moulton.  Children living outside the catchment area with brothers or sisters already attending Llancarfan Primary School.  Children living outside the catchment area but residing within the county of the Vale of Glamorgan.  Children residing outside the county of the Vale of Glamorgan.

Accommodation

The original school, built in 1875, houses a large teaching area where our youngest pupils are based. There are toilet facilities in this area as well as a resource room to support ICT and special needs.

There are three further teaching areas based in demountable classrooms which have their own cloakrooms and toilet facilities. 6

At the end of June 2000 a new building was completed - a hall area for use by the whole school and in December 2006, a further extension was added which houses a classroom with an outside learning area, a kitchen, toilets, offices, staff room and store rooms.

The school has a playing field with a low level activity trail and a tarmac playground with a variety of playground markings for games and activities. There is also a quiet area and school garden for children wishing to engage in quieter playtime activities. The youngest children also have direct access to their own fenced off area with a stage, sandpit, water tray and shelter for both curriculum use and outdoor play. The nature trail and biodiversity area with its various habitats for wildlife, as well as the pond and nesting boxes, offer further opportunities for the children to learn about the world around them.

As we are situated in the beautiful rural village of Llancarfan, we often make use of the wider outdoors such as local woodland and the stream to undertake activities such as pond dipping and forest school. The local Church with its unique, recently uncovered wall paintings, as well as the many historical remains within the vicinity are also a valuable resource for curricular activities.

Class 1

On a geography trail through the village.

School Security

The security, health and safety of our pupils, staff and premises are high priorities and the Governing Body is constantly reviewing the arrangements within the school. We are lucky that Llancarfan is a very safe village, but in order to maintain that safe environment for our pupils, all school buildings have a security entrance system in operation. Parents and all other visitors to the school are asked to report to reception before going anywhere else.

Parents and pupils should enter the school by the lower gate leading to the hall unless they come to school on the bus or walk from the other direction, in which case they may use the upper pedestrian gate into the yard. Under no circumstances are pupils to walk through the car park. Parents are not allowed to park in the staff car park unless permission has been given by the Headteacher for specific reasons.

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Parking in the village is an ongoing problem, so we ask that you show consideration at all times and, for the safety of your children, please:

 Park in the village car park and walk your children up the hill.  Do not drive along the road past the school when children are arriving or leaving school.  Do not use the bottom of the school hill to turn – it is extremely dangerous when pupils and parents are walking in the area.  If everyone adheres to these guidelines, accidents will be prevented.

Teachers and support staff follow guidelines for the supervision of pupils at all times, particularly during break times, when children are moving from one building to another, and during off-site visits. School gates are closed at 9.00am and the upper pedestrian gate is then locked. We ask that anyone arriving after that time ensures that the main gates are closed behind them on entering and leaving the grounds. For reasons of health and safety, we do not allow dogs into the yard.

Transport

A free school bus with an adult supervisor is provided for pupils who live within the catchment area but more than two miles away from the school. Please contact the school if you think you may be eligible to use this service. The bus starts to collect pupils at 8.20am. Please check with the bus driver for individual morning collection times and return times for the afternoon.

School Session Times

Infant classes Morning session 8.55am - 12.00 noon Afternoon session 1.15pm - 3.30pm Junior classes Morning session 8.55am - 12.00 noon Afternoon session 1.00pm - 3.30pm

A member of staff is on duty from 8.45am, but please note that we are not responsible for the supervision of children prior to this time. We would ask that all children arrive at school in time to start the morning session promptly, but not before 8.45am.

Children are not allowed to leave the premises during the school day or lunch period unless collected by an adult and signed out at Reception. If children find their parents are not there to meet them at home time they are asked to return immediately to reception. If you make alternative collection arrangements for your child, please inform the school as we do not allow children to be collected by adults we do not know. We ask that all infant children are brought into the yard every morning and collected from the yard in the afternoon.

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Lunch Arrangements

Pupils may have school meals which comply with nutritional guidelines provided by the National Assembly Government or bring their own packed lunch. Meals must be paid for in advance and you will be provided with payment details every half term. Children do not have to have a meal every day – just let us know at the beginning of the week which meals are required. In addition, the school meals service will supply baguettes, a drink and desert if your child prefers a cold meal. If you think you may be entitled to free school meals, please contact the school. The form required is simple and quick to fill in.

Free Breakfast Club

Our pupils enjoy Llancarfan Breakfast Club.

The Welsh Assembly Government funds our free breakfast club on the school premises. It runs from 8.00am until 8.45am, after which time the children will be supervised on the school yard as normal. Children may arrive to receive their breakfast any time between 8.00am and 8.20am. Please pick up a form at reception to register your child. We operate the club as a drop in, so that families may use it at their convenience when needed.

Absence from School

If your child is to be absent from school due to illness, please telephone the school between 8.30am and 9.00am on the first day of absence. If there is no- one at reception, please leave a message on the answer-phone. If possible, please give prior notice to the school administrator of any appointments etc.

If your child is ill or has an accident in school, you will be contacted immediately on your home or emergency telephone number. With this in mind it is very important that the school is informed if there are any changes in home, work or mobile telephone numbers in order that we may contact parents quickly should the need arise.

Prescribed Medication

If your child needs to take prescribed medication during school time, please ask for a consent form at reception. Please label the medication with pupil’s name, dose, time of administration and duration of treatment and hand in to reception.

Please also keep us informed if your child ever needs to use an asthma reliever. We encourage parents to provide a duplicate set of relievers in order that we may ensure they are always to hand for pupils’ immediate use - both at home and in school. 9

School Uniform

We feel that uniform contributes to a sense of belonging to the school community and generates a feeling of pride in Llancarfan School. Remember to provide a hat for your child during the summer months to protect them from the sun, particularly during the longer lunch break. Uniform bearing our school logo may be purchased or ordered from LM Sports at 2, The Precinct, , telephone 01446 792332, but please be assured that uniform without the logo may be worn and can be purchased from any retailer. We also keep a number of good quality, clean, second hand uniform items in school, if required – please ask at reception.

Uniform List:

Red Fleece Red round neck sweatshirt Red cardigan White or red polo-style shirt Red and white checked or striped summer dress Grey or black trousers or shorts Dark shoes

Please ensure that all items of clothing and footwear are clearly labelled with your child's name as we have no facilities to store lost property. Summer uniform

PE Kit

T-shirts and shorts with daps or trainers should be worn for outdoor PE, with warmer clothes, such as joggers and a sweatshirt, needed for the winter months. It is preferable for pupils to work in bare feet for indoor gymnastics and dance, but lightweight daps may be worn if necessary.

If children train with and play for school teams at Key Stage 2, they may require some special equipment, such as football boots, but the school provides team strips which must be returned to school clean after every match All PE clothing should be sent to school in a drawstring bag which will hang easily on cloakroom pegs. Drawstring PE bags and PE t-shirts are available to purchase from the school. Jewellery should be avoided because of possible accidents and loss and must be removed for P.E. If a child has pierced ears, a pair of stud earrings may be worn, but they must be covered for PE.

Pastoral Care

Class teachers have initial responsibility for the general welfare of pupils in their classes. Day to day matters of a routine nature may be reported directly to the class teacher. Overall responsibility lies with the Headteacher, who should be contacted immediately, regarding any matter of serious concern.

Discipline

Our Positive Behaviour Policy provides clear guidelines and it is available from school for anyone who wishes to view it.

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The emphasis at Llancarfan is on the development of self discipline and mutual respect. The school enjoys a family atmosphere and our pupils are generally very caring and well behaved.

Staff develop discipline by positive means and teachers agree a class behaviour plan with their pupils at the start of every year which clearly outlines expectations. Children are also awarded house points or a Pupil of the Week award for producing pleasing work in all curriculum areas, for acts of thoughtfulness towards their fellow pupils, for good behaviour and courtesy, for sporting and other achievements both in and out of school, for showing concern for the environment etc.

Anti-Bullying

Our Anti-Bullying Policy provides clear guidelines for staff, pupils and parents who encounter bullying behaviour and it is available from school upon request. The Headteacher, staff and Governors of Llancarfan Primary recognise that all children, regardless of individual differences, have an entitlement to a caring, understanding and sympathetic learning environment and to create and maintain such an environment is one of the main priorities of the school. The School Council has a role to play in maintaining good behaviour and discouraging bullying and this is made clear to all pupils.

Our current School Council

Pupils are encouraged to report incidents of bullying or intimidation to a member of staff, a parent or a member of the School Council and most children feel confident to use this approach. If, however, you feel that incidents have not been reported, we would be grateful if you would alert us to them. If a child is experiencing any form of bullying at school, it impacts upon the whole family, and we would prefer to know about any problems, however minor, as soon as possible to avoid further distress.

Child Protection Statement

The school has a statutory duty under the Children Act 1989 and the Education Act 2002 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

The Governing Body of Llancarfan Primary School is committed to practice which protects children from harm and, as such, staff and regular volunteers are CRB checked. We accept and recognise our responsibilities to develop awareness if the issues which cause children harm and to protect our pupils 11 from all forms of abuse. As such, staff will report any concerns they may have about pupils to the school’s child protection co-ordinator (Mrs Sally Brereton, Headteacher). The Governors responsible for Child Protection issues is Mrs K Kemp. The school has a detailed and comprehensive policy for Child Protection which is reviewed regularly. It is available from the Headteacher for parents to view at any time.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Pupils in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 are currently able to participate in a variety of lunchtime and after-school activities, including netball, football, rugby, hockey, choir, recorder and chess club. Availability, days and times vary from year to year, but pupils will be informed regularly of details.

Music lessons are taken by peripatetic teachers during the school day and are sustained by contributions from parents, but there are bursaries available – please ask at reception. Junior pupils are also given opportunities to take part in outdoor activity courses at residential centres such as PGL.

Recorder Club rehearsing for St David’s Day

Charging for School Activities

At Llancarfan, all activities offered wholly or mainly during normal school teaching time are available to every pupil, regardless of their parents’ ability or willingness to help meet the cost. No charge will be made for admission to the school or for the cost of teaching materials, books or other equipment.

We do however retain the discretionary right to charge for optional extras involving individual or small group tuition e.g. instrumental tuition, except when specifically required in the syllabus or to fulfil statutory requirements relating to the National Curriculum.

We also reserve the right to invite voluntary contributions in support of the cost of providing any activity organised by the school, whether during or outside school hours. Where an activity is dependent on a sufficient level of voluntary contributions being forthcoming, the school has the right to cancel the activity if insufficient support is received. Sometimes it is possible to subsidise certain activities from School Fund.

We may make charges to cover the actual cost of board and lodging in respect of residential activities occurring wholly or mainly in school hours and may make a charge for activities that take place wholly or mainly outside school hours and which are not provided as part of a syllabus or to fulfil statutory duties relating to the National Curriculum.

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We would not want any family to feel disadvantaged if the costs of any such activity would be prohibitive. We encourage all families to take part in payment by instalments, thus aim to give as much notice as possible about such events. In addition, the school is sometimes able to access additional funding and we would encourage families to apply in cases of hardship. Please ask at reception, or contact the Headteacher directly.

Class 3 at Cardiff Castle

The Curriculum

Learning and teaching is the main purpose of our school and it is through this that we offer a curriculum which is broad and balanced and meets the statutory requirements of The National Curriculum for . We implement the Foundation Phase Curriculum in the infants, and Curriculum 2008, with its emphasis on skills, in KS2.

The curriculum of Llancarfan School covers the age range from 4-11 years, that is the Foundation Phase (infants) and Key Stage 2 (juniors). Whilst sharing areas of similarity in ethos, organisation and teaching methods, there are also significant differences as children move from the home/school transition stage, through the structured play, pre-numeracy and pre-literacy stages of early years education to the more structured, yet topic-based approach adopted in Key Stage 2. Each phase requires different expertise, resources and strategies to promote each child’s full and broad development.

Being a relatively small school with fluctuating numbers in year groups, some classes are of mixed ages. Within these classes, pupils may be taught as a class, in a variety of groupings – ability, friendship or mixed – or as individuals, according to the subject or activity. Learning is a continuous process and each pupil is ready to progress to the next step at different times in different areas. Whichever class they are in, therefore, pupils will be involved in learning activities which are appropriate to this stage of development.

Pupils of primary age must, under requirements of the National Curriculum, study three Core Subjects - English, Mathematics and Science. In addition, pupils also receive instruction in the Foundation Subjects - Art, Design Technology, Geography, History, Information Technology, Music, Physical Education, Welsh and RE. At Llancarfan, we also teach French in Years 5 and 13

6. Each Core Subject has clearly defined objectives, outlining what children should know and be able to do at each stage of schooling. Copies of the National Curriculum documents are available on the Welsh Assembly Government website and school policies and schemes of work for all subjects are available to view on request.

Opportunities are provided to broaden experiences through visits to places of interest linked with the class topic or a specific element of the curriculum. A variety of visitors from the local community, local businesses, drama companies and sports facilitators also participate in the life of the school, thus enhancing the curriculum for all pupils.

Class 5 making films at the Apple store

Radio broadcasts, television, video, computers with Internet access and interactive whiteboards are used to enrich the children's experiences in all aspects of their work.

Basic Skills

Llancarfan Primary School is proud to have attained the Basic Skills Quality Standard during the academic year 2010/11. We constantly strive to achieve the highest standards possible in the basic skills of literacy and numeracy with all our pupils.

Homework

We do not want homework to be too onerous nor do we ever wish to create stress within the family. We also understand that there will be times when pupils will not be able to carry out homework due to family circumstances. Pupils will not be punished if homework is not completed. If parents have any concerns they should not hesitate to contact the school. Normally, more than one day will be allowed for the completion of a homework task, except where daily practice is to be encouraged e.g. reading, spelling and times tables.

Homework at Foundation Phase and Key Stage 1 Regular reading practice is vitally important. All pupils have a reading record book which is used to communicate comments regarding the child's progress between school and home. This is kept with the pupil’s reading book in a reading bag which is sent home every evening and must be brought to school every day. Children in Year 1 and Year 2 will have spellings to learn each week and may also bring home mathematics, language or topic work from time to time. Please check your child’s book bag daily for any communications from school. Please ensure that infant pupils complete their homework in pencil, not pen.

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Homework at Key Stage 2 In lower Key Stage 2, we ask parents to continue to hear their children read on a regular basis until fluency is attained. Discussion between parent and child about their reading books is also encouraged so that children practise higher order reading skills such as comprehension, inference and deduction. It is important that the reading record book is dated, signed and comments made where appropriate as this is intended to provide good communications between the home and school. Even when pupils have attained fluency, reading is still important as a homework activity, to aid the development of advanced skills required by the independent learner.

Every week pupils will bring home spelling homework. The words may be based on a spelling pattern or rule or they may be topic related. We ask that the children use the "Look, Say, Cover, Write and Check" method to learn their spelling. Your child should be able to explain this to you. and an explanation can be found in the “Parents' Guide to Helping Literacy Development at Home”.

Additional homework tasks will also be set most weeks. These will vary from week to week, involving different areas of the curriculum. Older children may be given homework tasks requiring more independence, given tasks that require more time, or tasks of more complexity than those given to younger children. Year 6 pupils will have a homework book in order to aid their transition to Key Stage 3. Parents are free to use this book as a means communication between yourself and the class teacher.

Assessment

Teachers and pupils are constantly involved in a variety of “Assessment for Learning” activities. These are carried out during the course of normal classroom teaching and provide pupils with feedback which helps them to improve and move forward. Pupils will also be regularly involved in self and peer assessment activities.

In addition to this ongoing assessment, standardised tests are administered at the end of each year in mathematics, spelling and reading in order to monitor pupil progress and for diagnostic purposes within the school.

At the end of Year 2 your child’s progress in English, maths and science will be assessed and reported upon; and at the end of Year 6 progress in English, maths, science and Welsh second language will be assessed and reported. You will find Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 teacher assessment results for the last academic year at the back of this booklet.

Class 2 are listening carefully to their science challenge.

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Reporting to Parents

In the autumn and spring terms you will be invited to discuss your child's progress with individual class teachers. In the summer term you will have the opportunity to visit an open evening to view your child’s work. An annual written report is sent out to all parents in July, together with teacher assessment levels at the end of Year 2 and Year 6.

If you feel your child has any problems whatsoever that are likely to affect his/her life in school, please contact us immediately rather than wait for a parents’ evening to discuss the problem. Serious matters of concern should be referred to the Headteacher without delay.

Regular newsletters are sent home with the oldest child in each family to keep you informed of events at school. In addition the “Schoolcomms” system ensures parents can receive information electronically, and urgent information via text message. Please ensure we have up to date contact details.

Pupils with Special Educational Needs

Within the classroom each pupil works at his/her level of ability, but some pupils may require special educational provision of some kind at some point. This may be on a long term basis or just for a short period, to overcome a particular problem.

It is usually the class teacher who initially identifies a pupil as having special needs. The parents, Headteacher (as Special Educational Needs Co- ordinator) are then consulted so that an individual programme of work may be implemented and progress closely monitored. If a pupil still does not appear to be making sufficient progress, it may be necessary to consult outside agencies, such as the educational psychologist or specialist teachers. At all times, parents will be kept fully informed of progress and action.

Our SEN Policy provides further, detailed information and it is available for anyone who wishes to view it.

More Able and Talented Pupils

Sometimes, a pupil shows a particular ability or talent in an area of the curriculum or in an extra-curricular activity such as sport or music. In such cases, the school will aim to support that pupil and the family in any way it can by providing specifically differentiated activities and opportunities, offering advice, supporting time out of school for training or consulting specialists in the field if deemed appropriate.

Our Policy for Able and Talented Pupils provides further, detailed information and it is available from reception for anyone who wishes to view it.

Arrangements for making complaints about the curriculum

The school has a detailed Complaints Procedure which is based on current guidelines from The Welsh Assembly Government and the LEA. If any parent wishes to complain about the curriculum or other related matter under section 16

409 of the Education Act 1996, they should request details of the procedure from the school administrator or the Headteacher.

P.C. Kevin Pennell in Class 1 Class 5

learn about life in Stuart times at Llancaiach fawr. Sex Education

Staff and Governors at Llancarfan feel it important that a comprehensive and well planned programme of Sex Education be given to pupils in order to help them cope with the physical, social and emotional aspects of growing up and to prepare them for adulthood. The content for teaching about many of the aspects of Sex Education is that of responsible, healthy personal relationships and in the lower years is integrated into topics which are studied, such as “Myself”. The Governing Body has decided that Sex Education as a specific subject, however, should be taught in Years 5 & 6 and the policy and scheme form a part of the Year 5 and 6 Personal and Social Education curriculum.

Parents will have an opportunity to examine materials used in the classroom and familiarise themselves with the school's overall approach to Sex Education. Parents are entitled to withdraw their child from some or all aspects of Sex Education.

Collective Worship and Religious Education

Collective worship of a broadly Christian nature is held in the hall or in classes every morning. Staff and children conduct these sessions. Worship in Welsh (or Welsh in nature) is held once a fortnight and parents are invited to class worship as well as for other special occasions. The school celebrates Harvest, Christmas and Easter at St. Cadoc’s Church each year which is a few minutes walk from the school.

RE is based upon the SACRE Agreed Syllabus. The syllabus contains elements of comparative religion and encourages an understanding of and respect for all cultures and religions within our society.

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Parents may withdraw their child from some or all aspects of religious education and collective worship. These pupils will be provided with alternative activities and will be supervised in a classroom.

Llancarfan children celebrating Christmas and St. David’s Day.

Welsh as a Second Language

All children from Reception to Year 6 are taught Welsh as a second language, as required by the National Curriculum, through a variety of stimulating activities e.g. videos, songs, poems and games, as well as more formal oral work, reading and writing.

In addition to this, wherever possible, teachers and support staff will help to develop the pupils’ competence in bilingualism by using both English and Welsh in the learning environment and in informal situations around the school. The pupils’ ability to speak, read and write in Welsh will be encouraged alongside their English.

The aim is to foster an enjoyment and understanding of the Welsh language and the confidence to use that which they have learnt with others. We also feel it is important that pupils should be aware of their Welsh culture and heritage, giving them a sense of identity, belonging and tradition in an ever changing world.

Physical Education and Extra-Curricular Sport

A varied PE programme is offered at Llancarfan. The aim is to give children experience of a wide range of sporting and recreational activities. Pupils have two PE lessons a week, either in the hall, on the yard or school field or on the tennis courts (by arrangement with Llancarfan Tennis Club).

Activities provided include gymnastics, games, athletics and dance. We encourage all pupils to participate fully and develop basic skills in all areas leading to the development of bodily co- ordination. Basic games skills are then consolidated in small side games such as hockey, The hockey team cricket, rounders, soccer, rugby, netball etc. in action

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Some sports are also offered as extra-curricular activities through the year, including netball, football, rugby and hockey at present, but this depends on the qualifications and availability of staff as well as the numbers of interested pupils in any year. Use is also made of recognised and recommended outside sports bodies offering coaching in schools, such as the Cardiff Blues coaches and the local council’s sports development officers.

Our pupils take part in a variety of local sporting competitions and events, such as the local netball league, football, rugby and hockey festivals, swimming gala and “We are the Champions”.

Swimming

All pupils will participate in swimming lessons during KS2. During the instructional sessions, the children are fully supervised in ability groups and pupils have the opportunity to enter for various swimming awards at the end of the course.

Equal Opportunities

Llancarfan Primary School aims to provide equal opportunities for all, in accordance with our equal opportunities statement:

Education is concerned with the development of the potential of young people within the context of an agreed framework of values. At Llancarfan Primary School, discrimination of any kind and on any basis is unacceptable. We consider all pupils to be of equal worth. We aim to provide each pupil with the best possible opportunities for his or her future.

It is, therefore, the policy of the school to ensure equality of opportunity for all its pupils, parents, employees and Governors, irrespective of race, ethnicity, nationality, colour, cultural background, language, religious or political beliefs, gender, marital status, family circumstances, socio-economic status or role within the school, sexual orientation, disability, age, HIV or AIDS status and any other grounds or conditions which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

Llancarfan Primary School is fully committed to equality of opportunity in education and will undertake the implementation of strategies to achieve this.

Disability Equality

Llancarfan Primary School is an inclusive school which encourages the full involvement of pupils and members of the school community with disabilities. Parents, carers, staff and Governors with disabilities or anyone who has children with disabilities are encouraged to share their knowledge, understanding and concerns with us so that we can further improve our service to them. We welcome opportunities to discuss any issues by making an appointment with the Headteacher at any time. Due to the difficult access to the school, visitors with mobility difficulties are welcome to make arrangements with the administrator or Headteacher to use the staff car park. 19

A disability access audit has been carried out and the Governing Body has formulated an access plan in accordance with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 2002. This, along with the school’s Disability Equality Scheme, is available on request from the school administrator or Headteacher.

Pupil Participation

We encourage as many pupils as possible to become involved in school activities which give them greater knowledge and insight into the world around them. We are a Fair Trade School and are part of the Healthy Schools Network; have an active Eco-committee, School Council and Junior Road Safety Club. We are currently involved in a Commenius project with schools from the Czech Republic, Sweden, Norway and England. Each year we support a range of local, national and international charities. Students from the nearby Atlantic College at St. Donat’s volunteer at the school and bring an added international dimension to the curriculum.

Winner of the

Healthy Harry Junior Road Safety Club Christmas Shoebox Award 2011 distribute Appeal for Romania reflective badges.

Parent Teacher Association

The school has a very dedicated PTA. The association arranges numerous fund-raising activities throughout the year and raises a great deal of money for school funds. The money raised is used to purchase resources which enrich the curricular provision, thus improving the quality of education provided at the school.

In addition, the PTA encourages close links between staff, parents, local residents and others associated with the school. New parents are always welcome and their support is much appreciated.

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Parental Involvement

Many parents are involved with various activities at school on a voluntary basis and teachers find their contribution invaluable. If any parents or grandparents have particular areas of expertise, or would simply enjoy helping out at school, please contact the Headteacher as your support would be greatly welcomed. For a variety of reasons, it is not always appropriate for you to help out in your own child’s class and it would be greatly appreciated if you would respect our decisions with regard to this.

The school’s annual Easter duck race is a favourite event with pupils and parents

An After-School Club is run by an external provider for parents who require after-school childcare. It is staffed by qualified and experienced staff and runs from 3.30pm to 6.00pm. Registered pupils are collected from school at the end of the day by the play workers and are taken to the village hall where the club meets. In the summer, in good weather, the club has access to the school grounds. For further details, or if you have any questions, please contact Vicki Dixon ~ 07526 505005

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Appendix 1

Revised version - 10 February 2011

SCHOOL HOLIDAY DATES 2010/2011

Term Begin Half term End No. of School Begin End Days

Autumn Monday Monday Friday Friday 2010 6 Sept 25 Oct 29 Oct 17 Dec 70 2010 2010 2010 2010

Spring Tuesday Monday Friday Friday 2011 4 Jan 21 Feb 25 Feb 15 April 69 2011 2011 2011 2011

Summer Tuesday Monday Friday *Monday 2011 3 May 30 May 3 June 25 July 55 2011 2011 2011 2011

TOTAL 194

i) Monday 6 September 2010 and *Monday 25 July 2011 will be designated INSET days for all LEA Maintained Schools. The remaining three INSET days to be taken, will be at the discretion of each individual school. ii) *It is intended that this INSET day will either be taken on Monday 25 July 2011 or at an alternative time to be decided by individual schools following appropriate consultation with staff i.e. on a weekend, during existing holidays or in the form of twilight sessions.

All schools will be closed on Monday 2 May 2011 for the May Day Bank Holiday.

Significant dates: Christmas Saturday 25 December 2010 New Year Bank Monday 3 January 2011

Additional Inset Days (Staff only to attend) Monday 1st November 2010 Friday 18th February 2011 Friday 15th April 2011

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Appendix 2 Attendance Record Regulations

Under the Education (Pupils Attendance Records) Regulations 1991 all schools must distinguish between authorised and unauthorised absences on their attendance registers. An authorised absence occurs when the school has been informed that a child has been unable to attend for the following reasons:

 Through sickness or any other unavoidable cause.  To observe a religious holiday required by the religious body to which the parents belong.  When suitable transport has not been provided and the school is not within walking distance.  When the Headteacher has granted permission for an annual holiday of not more than two weeks duration (please note that permission for holidays in school time is currently not being given, except in very exceptional circumstances)  When the Headteacher has granted permission following the death of a close member of the child’s family.

Any absence not covered by the above is considered to be an unauthorised absence. The figures below show the percentage of authorised and unauthorised absences for each Year group for the academic year September 2009 – July 2010

Unauthorised Unauthorised Authorised Absences Absences Attendance Absences (total) (holidays) Autumn 2009 3.0 0.6 0.4 96.4 Spring 2010 2.2 1.7 0.8 96.1 Summer 2010 5.3 3.2 2.8 91.5

It is important to note that almost all of the unauthorised absences identified in the table above are a result of holidays being taken by families during school time – such absences are currently not being authorised.

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Appendix 3 National Curriculum Results 2010

You may find the following useful (as a guide only) to levels of attainment in the National Curriculum:

 Level 1 typical attainment of 5 to 6 year olds (end of Year 1)  Level 2 typical attainment of 7 year olds (end of Year 2)  Level 3 typical attainment of 8 - 9 year olds (end of Year 4)  Level 4 typical attainment of 10 - 11 year olds (end of Year 6)  Level 5/6 typical attainment of 14 year olds (end of Year 9)

Key Stage 1

Summary of National Curriculum Assessment results of pupils in the school (2010) and nationally (2009) at the end of Key Stage 1 as a percentage of those eligible for assessment.

D W 1 2 3 2+ English School 0 0 0 69 31 100 National 0 4 13 63 20 83 Reading School 0 0 0 56 44 100 National 0 4 15 55 27 81 Writing School 0 0 0 100 0 100 National 0 5 16 67 12 79 Oracy School 0 0 0 56 44 100 National 0 3 10 63 24 84

Maths School 0 0 0 94 6 100 National 0 2 11 65 22 87

Science School 0 0 0 38 63 100 National 0 2 8 65 25 90

17 pupils

D Disapplied under sections 113 to116 of the Education Act 2002 W Working towards Level 1

Key Stage 1 Core Subject Indicator 2010

School: 100% National: 81%

To achieve the “Key Stage 1 Core Subject Indicator” (Teacher Assessment only), pupils must attain at least level 2 in Mathematics, Science and English in combination. 24

Key Stage 2

Summary of National Curriculum Assessment results of pupils in the school (2010) and nationally (2009) at the end of Key Stage 2 as a percentage of those eligible for assessment

D N NO 1 2 3 4 5 4+

English School 0 0 0 0 0 6 75 19 94 National 0 0 1 1 3 15 53 28 81

Maths School 0 0 0 0 0 13 50 38 88 National 0 0 1 1 3 14 53 29 83

Science School 0 0 0 0 0 6 56 38 94 National 0 0 1 0 2 11 56 31 86

16 pupils

D Disapplied under sections 113 to 116 of the Education Act 2002 N Failed to register a level for reasons other than absence NO National Curriculum Outcome 1,2,3

Key Stage 2 Core Subject Indicator 2010

School: 87.5% National: 77%

To achieve the Key Stage 2 Core Subject Indicator, pupils must attain at least level 4 in Mathematics, Science and English in combination.

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