St. Nicholas' Church of England Primary School Alcester

ST. NICHOLAS’

PRIMARY SCHOOL

ALCESTER

SCHOOL PROSPECTUS

WELCOME TO ST. NICHOLAS’ C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL

We would like to welcome you and your children to St. Nicholas’ C of E Primary School. We are a vibrant and friendly two-form entry Church of England, Voluntary Controlled Academy, situated in the small market town of Alcester, Warwickshire.

We aim to ensure that each child has a happy and successful time in our caring school. We do this by working in partnership with you to encourage, stimulate and motivate your son/daughter so that they develop to their full academic and personal potential. Your child’s education is a responsibility that we share with you.

The information in this prospectus provides details about our school which we believe you will find helpful. If there is anything else you would like to know, please have a look at our website or contact us. You may also wish to visit us; this provides an opportunity for you to hear more about the philosophy of the school and to see us in action!

We very much look forward to meeting you and your son or daughter.

Yours sincerely

Sally Staley Laurie Yearley Headteacher Chair of Governors

SCHOOL ADDRESS: St. Faith’s Road, Alcester, Warwickshire B49 6AG

TELEPHONE: 01789 762578 FAX: 01789 400503

COMPANY NUMBER: 08248830

Email: [email protected] Website: www.alcesterstnicholas.co.uk

HEADTEACHER: Sally Staley M.A. DEPUTY HEADTEACHER: Mark Walsh ASSISTANT HEADTEACHERS: Karen O’Shea (Key Stage 1)

SCHOOL NURSERY : Teddy Bear Corner. Please contact Sue Blundell on 01789 764519

CHILDREN’S CENTRE: Please contact The Parenting Project on 01789 764093

ADMINISTRATOR: Tina Ward BUSINESS MANAGER: Celia Holdstock

Warwickshire Local Authority: Saltisford Office Park Ansell Way Warwick CV34 4UL 01962 410410

2 AN INTRODUCTION TO ST. NICHOLAS’ C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL

Location of St. Nicholas’ School

Alcester lies 7 miles from Stratford-upon-Avon, 8 miles from Henley-in-Arden, 7 miles from Redditch and 20 miles from Birmingham. 90% of our pupils live in Alcester with the remaining 10% from the surrounding villages, Studley and Redditch. At eleven our pupils transfer to secondary school. We have excellent links with all three secondary schools in Alcester – Alcester Grammar School, Alcester Academy and St Benedict’s RC High School.

The School’s Origins

The school’s origins go back to 1843 when a National School, catering for 4 to 15 year olds, was opened in School Road, Alcester. In 1953 the school changed from being church aided to church controlled, providing the local education authority with more ‘say’ in how it was run. Due to increasing numbers, a decision was made to transfer older pupils to Studley High School in 1955. In 1964, a new school was built for the junior pupils in St. Faith’s Road with the infant pupils remaining in School Road until 1972 when they moved to a new building in Moorfield Road. In September 2003, following consultation with the Governing Bodies of Alcester Infant School and St. Faith’s Junior School, Warwickshire Education Authority decided to bring the two schools together again to form St. Nicholas’ C of E Primary School on the site of St. Faith’s Junior School. The new school opened on 1st September 2004. A nursery unit was added in September 2005 and a Children’s Centre in April 2008. Following a very successful Ofsted Inspection in March 2012, when the school was judged to be outstanding in every area, the Governing Body made the decision that the school should become an academy. This was approved by Coventry Diocese and St. Nicholas’ became an Academy on 1st April 2013.

St. Nicholas’ School Today

St. Nicholas’ C of E School is a large primary school, for children from 4 to 11 years old. The school has a welcoming entrance area, 14 class bases, two rooms for teaching small groups, four practical areas, an ICT suite, hall, a well stocked library, music room, an indoor swimming pool, and office accommodation. This is set amidst two large playing fields, two playgrounds and outdoor learning areas. Teddy Bear Corner, our private on-site nursery, caters for pre school children from 3 to 4 years old. They have a second setting in Seggs Lane, for babies and children under 3. The Children’s Centre is one of four local centres managed by the Parenting Project. The Centre provides support for children under 5 and their families by providing a variety of on and off site activities and services.

St. Nicholas’ C of E Primary school has a strong Christian ethos. We have excellent links with the parish church with the Rector regularly visiting the school and pupils celebrating various religious festivals at St. Nicholas Church in Alcester.

Our ‘After School’ Clubs offer our pupils a wide range of activities.

The ‘Friends of St. Nicholas’ Parents group is very active and supports the school with a variety of enjoyable fund raising events for pupils and parents and family members. Pupils, Staff and Governors also take part in a variety of community events.

3 OUR MISSION STATEMENT

St. Nicholas’ C of E Primary School, through it’s Christian ethos, aims to enable all pupils to achieve their full personal and academic potential. Through challenging and exciting experiences in a supportive and secure environment we encourage high levels of motivation, co-operation and stability.

THE AIMS OF ST. NICHOLAS’ C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL

At St. Nicholas’ C of E Primary School we:

 Encourage children to work and learn both independently and co- operatively, developing self-confidence and self-esteem.

 Provide quality learning and teaching in a safe, stimulating, caring environment so that pupils develop lively enquiring minds enabling them to strive to achieve their best.

 Work as a team in partnership with parents, governors, the church, the Local Education Authority and the wider community, for the benefit of each individual child.

 Reflect our commitment to a Christian way of life, encompassing tolerance, morality and self - discipline.

 Promote co-operation, friendship and consideration for others, we consider this to be essential in the development of the Christian ethos in our school.

4 ADMISSIONS

If you would like to apply for a place at our school, Tina Ward, School Administrator, will be able to provide you with all of the information that you need.

In Warwickshire, children start school at the beginning of the school year in which they celebrate their fifth birthday, i.e. when they are four years old.

Parents wanting their child to join St. Nicholas’ C of E Primary School, either in one of our reception classes or higher up the school, must apply directly to Warwickshire by completing the online form at www.warwickshire.gov.uk Follow the links from ‘Apply for it’ then ‘School Place’. This will then lead you to the relevant admissions date. Alternatively you can contact admissions on 01926 742084.

We encourage prospective parents and their children to visit St. Nicholas’ in order to see the school in action and have any questions answered. Appointments can be made via the school office. We also have an open day/evening in October.

The school aims to serve its community by providing a stimulating and challenging education of the highest quality within the context of Christian faith, belief and practice. The school encourages and promotes Christian values through the experience it offers to all its pupils and develops its religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church of England and in partnership with St. Nicholas’ Church at Parish and Diocesan level.

The approved admissions number into Reception Year and all other year groups is 30. Our designated priority area covers the Parishes of Alcester, Arrow and Kinwarton.

OVER SUBSCRIPTION CRITERIA

In the event of over subscription, the Governing Body will give priority using the following criteria in order of precedence:

1. Children for whom their Statement of Special Educational Need names this school. 2. Children who reside within the designated area at the time of admission, and are Looked After Children. (A child looked after by the Local Authority in accordance with section 22 of the Children Act 1989). 3. Children who have a sibling attending the school at the time of admission. 4. Children whose parents can demonstrate that their admission is necessary for the medical or social well-being of the child. 5. Children who reside within the designated area. In the event of over subscription priority will be given to children living closest to the school. 6. Children who reside outside the designated area and are Looked After children. (A child looked after by the Local Authority in accordance with section 22 of the Children Act 1989). 7. Children who reside outside the designated area. In the event of over subscription priority will be given to children living closest to the school.

INDUCTION INTO RECEPTION

Starting school for the first time is the beginning of an exciting new stage in your child's life and we want it to be an enjoyable experience. We therefore invite you and your child to spend some time in school during the summer term before admission. This helps your son / daughter to get to know their teachers, as well as some of the children in the same peer group.

Every child is different and we meet with parents individually, during the first few weeks in school, to talk about your child's pre-school education and any support they may need. Some children are confident and independent enough to stay in school full time from their second week at St. Nicholas’, while others may benefit from attending part-time for a little longer. It will help if you can prepare your child by talking about school routines and by encouraging independence in such things as:  dressing and undressing

 eating with a knife and fork

 going to the toilet and washing hands

 sharing and taking turns

 spending short periods of time away from you.

Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage are very keen to learn and demonstrate outstanding independent learning skills. They make choices and are confident in leading their own learning. Children choose activities wisely and in particular those that extend their personal, social and emotional development and communication, language and literacy skills. Ofsted Report March 2012.

We are always pleased to welcome children into older year groups, where spaces are available and take care to make the transition as straightforward and as smooth as possible.

PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS

We aim to foster close relationships between home and school so that we can work together to support your child develop and achieve to their full potential. Research shows that achievement is enhanced when parents actively support learning at home.

If you wish to see your child's teacher, this can be arranged. It is often difficult for staff to talk in the mornings when they are preparing the classroom for the days lessons, but staff are usually available at 3.15 p.m. for short discussions. For extended discussions with your child’s class teacher about progress at school you are advised to make an appointment.

The Headteacher is normally available at the beginning and end of the day, or by appointment at other times.

The school holds information meetings and special events throughout the year. Dates and all necessary information are communicated to you well in advance via the weekly newsletter. There is also a termly phase newsletter which describes the work we are covering at school and suggests activities which could be completed at home.

Each term we hold parents’ consultations where you will be able to discuss your child's progress and be involved in setting appropriate targets. Once a year you will receive a written report detailing your son/daughter’s achievements.

We care about your child’s welfare, therefore there may be occasions when our concern about your child means that we have to consult other agencies even before we contact you. The procedures we follow have been laid down by the Warwickshire Child Protection Committee. Further information about this procedure is available from the Headteacher.

Parents in school

The school positively welcomes help in the classrooms, at after school clubs and on educational visits. You may have a particular skill or experience that you would be willing to share with the children - if so, please tell us about it! We will be delighted to discuss how you can help. All parents helping at St. Nicholas’ need to complete a DBS clearance check.

There is an open invitation to parents for our Friday (Celebration) and Thursday (Class) assemblies.

Parent and Teacher Association ( Friends of St. Nicholas’)

The Parent and Teacher Association ( Friends of St. Nicholas’) work very hard for the school and aim to run a variety of events to raise money for "extras" around the school. We hope that you and your children find the events sociable and fun and that you will find time to support us. New faces, and offers of help, however small, are always welcome. Joining in is an easy way to make new friends and become involved with the school's community. The Friends notice board in the entrance hall displays all of the relevant information.

What to do should you want to discuss an issue formally

If you or your child wish to discuss an issue or are unhappy, please come and discuss it with us - we will do all that we can to help.

In the unlikely event of the Headteacher and staff being unable to help, you are entitled to contact the Chair of Governors via the school office.

PLEASE NOTE:  The school, including the playground, is a NO SMOKING AREA  Pets, including dogs, are not allowed on the school site. This includes the playgrounds and fields.  Dogs are not tied to the school railings when bringing / collecting your children to / from school. Even well behaved dogs can be frightened and dangerous when surrounded by large numbers of children.

Please help us to protect the health and safety of the children by keeping to these rules.

THE SCHOOL DAY

Morning session: 9.00 a.m. - 12 noon (Reception) 9.00 a.m. – 12.05 p.m. (Key Stage 1) 8.50 a.m. - 12.15 p.m. (Lower Key Stage 2) 8.50 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. (Upper Key Stage 2)

Afternoon session: 1.10 p.m. - 3.10 p.m. (Reception and Key Stage 1) 1.15 p.m. – 3.15 p.m. (Lower Key Stage 2) 1.30 p.m. – 3.15 p.m. (Upper Key Stage 2)

Arriving at school

The school entrance doors are open 5 minutes before starting time in Key Stage 2 and 10 minutes before the start of the day in Key Stage 1 and Reception. At this time Reception and KS1 parents are able to bring their child into school. KS2 parents are requested to say goodbye to their children either in the junior playground, or for Y3/4 children by the Y3/4 doors. Children should not arrive at school before 8.45 a.m. unless they are attending breakfast club, as we cannot guarantee supervision before that time. We do not allow any ball games immediately before or after school in the school outdoor area.

Teaching time is very precious and we do need to start promptly at the beginning of each session. We therefore appreciate your co-operation in making sure that your child arrives on time each day. If your child is late for any reason, please report to the school office before taking your child to their classroom.

Parents who arrive at school by car are asked to be mindful about where they park. The school is in a residential area and parents should make sure that they do not block driveways and access roads. We also ask that if you need to cross St. Faith’s Road, you use the guided crossing facility. Cars are not allowed in the school car park unless there is a prior agreement.

Collection from school

We expect all of our children to be collected promptly at 3.10 / 3.15 p.m. by a responsible adult. However, we do allow older pupils to walk home unaccompanied as long as the school has a letter from parents giving their agreement for this to happen. We ask parents to notify the school of any changes to their normal arrangements for the end of the school day.

It is really helpful if you could contact school should you be unavoidably delayed for any reason. We will only accept responsibility for pupils after school hours (3.30 p.m.) in the event of an urgent or unforeseen situation or your child is at one of our After School Clubs.

Before and After School Clubs / Care

From 8.25 a.m. each morning, the school has a ‘Breakfast Club’. This facility allows pupils to purchase a breakfast and chat to friends before the beginning of the school day.

We also have a wide selection of After School Clubs which are available to children from Year 1 onwards. Many are offered through Children’s University in partnership with Warwickshire Children’s Services and Warwick University. There is a small charge for some of the clubs.

Teddy Bear Corner, our onsite nursery, offers before and after school care facility for our children. Alcester Nursery, on the site of Our Lady’s School, offers a similar facility.

A number of local childminders already bring children to St. Nicholas’ School and collect them at the end of each day. If you would like further information on Childminders associated with St. Nicholas’ please contact Mrs Ward or Mrs Holdstock.

10 SECURITY IN SCHOOL AND CHILDREN’S SAFETY

Apart from infant parents who bring their children into school at the beginning of the school day, we ask that parents only enter school via the main entrance. If the office is unattended please ring the buzzer in the secured entrance area.

For safety reasons the external doors into school are closed at 9.00am. . Should you need to take your child out of school during the day, he / she should be collected from the office area by a known adult. You will also be asked to sign that you have taken your child out of school.

Parents wishing to visit a member of staff need to sign the visitors’ book and collect a visitor’s badge from the School Office before entering the building.

ABSENCES AND EMERGENCY CONTACT

It is very important that your child attends school as regularly as possible.

ALL ABSENCES FROM SCHOOL MUST BE EXPLAINED. It is a legal requirement that we record the reasons for a child's absence from school. Please help us to keep these records by remembering to contact us when your child is away.

PLEASE:  tell us in advance if your child has a hospital / doctors/dentist or similar appointment during school time,  telephone school if your child is ill or send a letter with your child when they return to school.  keep your child at home for at least one clear day after sickness or diarrhoea, before allowing them to return to school.  let us know if your child has an infectious illness as soon as you have confirmation from the doctor.

If you wish to take your child out of school during term time you MUST seek written permission from the Headteacher. Where permission is granted work will be provide for your child. We expect it be completed to their usual standard.

MEDICINES IN SCHOOL

Whenever possible, parents should ask their doctor to prescribe medicines which can be administered outside school hours. If it is considered essential, medicines prescribed by a doctor can be administered in school, with the permission of the Headteacher. The Headteacher or a person designated by the Headteacher will administer the medicine. You will be asked to sign a consent form and to provide information about the dosage. Such medicines must be clearly marked with the child's name and must be handed into the office by an adult. We do not recommend that children bring lip salves or decongestant sticks into school.

The school does have an asthma policy and this is discussed with parents when it is appropriate to the needs of their child.

If your child is taken ill in school, we will contact you.

PLEASE remember to notify us if you change your address, change your place of work or change the emergency contact number.

11 HEALTH

The school nurse visits school to arrange medical interviews and to test eye sight and hearing. The school dentist also checks teeth most years.

PLEASE check your child's hair regularly and treat any head lice promptly. Infestation is very common in schools and the ONLY way to avoid it is to routinely condition and comb the hair. It is helpful if you tell us at school if you discover that your child has head lice. . This information is confidential but we can alert other parents of an outbreak. We understand that this can seem embarrassing, but it is something which can and does happen to any of us! Further advice can be obtained from your health visitor or the school nurse.

CHILD PROTECTION

There may be rare occasions when staff in school are very concerned about the welfare of a particular child. In such circumstances, it is the legal responsibility of the Headteacher to protect the child by referring such concerns to the appropriate agency - usually Social Services

THE MID-MORNING BREAK

During the morning break, children in reception and the infants are provided with fruit free of charge. Children in the juniors can purchase toast from the hall at break time or bring fruit to eat. Milk can be pre ordered by all children (children under 5 receive this free of charge provided an application form has been completed) or fruit juice can be purchased from the hall. All children are encouraged to drink water at break time and throughout the day. We do not allow children to have carbonated drinks, crisps, sweets or biscuits at break time.

THE MID-DAY BREAK

The mid-day break is from 11.55 a.m. - 1.10 p.m. for reception, 12.05 - 1.10 p.m. for Key Stage 1, for Year 3 &4 from 12.15 - 1.15 p.m. and 12.30 -1.30 p.m. for Year 5 & 6.

Our children are cared for by Lunchtime Supervisors who help and encourage them to eat their food in the dining room and supervise the various play activities in the playground, field or in the classrooms if it is wet. All of our lunchtime supervisors receive training on a regular basis.

Excellent school meals are cooked on the premises with the children having a choice of menu. Dinner money can be paid termly, half termly, weekly or daily. It must be paid in advance and should be sent in an envelope or small container, clearly marked with your child's name and class. Some parents are entitled to free meals for their children. If you think this may apply to you, do not hesitate to contact Celia Holdstock, the school bursar, for details and forms to complete. All information given is strictly confidential and children who receive free meals are not identifiable either by other children or by the supervisory staff.

As an alternative, pupils can bring a healthy packed lunches. If you decide on this option we ask that parents limit the amount of crisps and biscuits in their childs’ lunchbox. Children are not allowed to bring nuts, of any kind, into school this includes peanut butter sandwiches. This is to protect children in school who have nut allergies.

13 HOW TEACHING FOR LEARNING IS ORGANISED

For the school year 2014/15, classes will be organised as follows:

FOUNDATION STAGE 2 Reception Classes

KEY STAGE 1 2 Year 1 classes 2 Year 2 classes

KEY STAGE 2 2 Year 3 Classes 2 Year 4 Classes 2 Year 5 classes 2 Year 6 classes

THE CURRICULUM

The formal subjects of the National Curriculum are:

English, Mathematics, Science, Information Technology, Design and Technology, History, Geography, Music, Art and Physical Education.

Religious Education is a statutory part of the curriculum.

At St. Nicholas’ C of E Primary School we aim to give every child access to a broad and balanced curriculum appropriate to their needs. The curriculum includes a range of learning experiences which encourage the all-round development of each child. Our teaching and learning takes into account the personal, spiritual, social, physical, creative and intellectual development of each individual.

The aims of our curriculum are:

 To reflect the individual needs of all children by sympathetically encouraging them to develop to their full potential in all areas of the curriculum.  To follow the National Curriculum with its many cross-curricular links, demonstrating the interrelation of knowledge, skills and understanding in each subject.  To develop a lively interest in and appreciation of the Arts.  To encourage clear logical thinking and to enable pupils to make informed, sensible choices.  To develop initiative and the ability to learn independently by providing children with a variety of opportunities and experiences related to problem solving, discovery, investigation and communication.

14 When planning and teaching the National Curriculum teachers at St. Nicholas’ C of E Primary ensure that they:

 set suitable learning challenges  respond to pupil’s diverse learning needs  overcome potential barriers to learning and assessment for individuals and groups of pupils.

We believe that each child's education is a unique experience.

We plan our work in school in two ways. Most of the curriculum is taught through topics with different skill based activities identified to provide a creative multi- curricular approach. However, where learning objectives do not naturally fit into any of the schools topics, they are delivered through subject specific lessons. We also aim to maintain a balance of teaching styles and strategies. Although for the majority of time your child will be taught as part of a class, there will be sessions when small group, or individual work will be completed.

St. Nicholas’ has been very successful in building good working relationships with local Secondary Schools. This includes support from Alcester Grammar School for literacy with the annual Shakespeare project and with the more able children, Alcester Academy through DT projects, music, ICT and our termly curriculum days, and St Benedict’s with maths.

Throughout our curriculum we aim to develop independent learning, which is learning that is influenced by teaching staff but which takes place away from direct instructions. This can happen within the classroom, in the ICT room or in the various working areas around school, such as the library, practical areas, and outdoor areas. Children who are skilled at learning independently are also able to:

 generate ideas and come up with ways of solving problems.

 persevere with a task and see it through to completion in the face of difficulties.

 choose resources which are relevant to the task.

 see where work needs to be improved and do so using their own initiative.

 take responsibility for the organisation of their work.

 set tasks on their own initiative in discussion with the teacher.

 initiate and carry out research into a topic, using appropriate information handling skills.

 use the resources of a library effectively.

 use information technology to research, organise, develop and present ideas and information.

We support each pupil to do their very best to acquire these capabilities.

15 The quality of teaching is outstanding. Teachers make learning interesting and engage pupils very well. Activities are challenging for pupils at all levels of attainment and firmly based on prior learning so that all pupils are given excellent opportunities to develop and apply their skills, knowledge and understanding across a range of subjects. Ofsted Report March 2012.

ENGLISH

The study of English develops children’s abilities to listen, speak, read and write for a range of purposes. We therefore give Literacy a high priority and promote the effective use of Literacy skills throughout the curriculum, including ICT.

The abilities to speak confidently, express ideas clearly and listen carefully are important skills for all children to learn, as they are the foundation of written communication. At school the children are given the opportunity to develop their listening skills. They speak in front of children in their own class and in whole school assemblies. All children are encouraged to take part in class assemblies and annual year group productions.

We use a structured approach to reading, following guidelines of the National Literacy Strategy. Children are exposed to a wide variety of texts, covering a range of different styles and genre, and are taught how to analyse and extract meaning from the text and assess the merits of the reading material. Infant classes use The Oxford Reading Tree Reading Scheme and Phonic Bugs as well as a variety of individual story and picture books. Junior classes use a variety of books at the relevant standard for individual children. Their reading/comprehension knowledge and skills is then tested and graded using the ‘Accelerated Reader’ online reading quizzes.

As children become more independent readers they are encouraged to select books from the classroom libraries. Parents are encouraged to help their child by reading and sharing books with them. There is a home/school link reading booklet which is filled in by both parents and teachers. We hope that all of our parents take an interest in their child’s reading and talk to them about it regularly. A love of reading can also be enhanced by using your local library.

We believe that children should feel confident about writing and from the start of their school life all attempts at written expression are encouraged and respected. As they progress through school, children use writing for a wide variety of purposes; to communicate and explore ideas across the whole curriculum and to express their imaginative thoughts in stories and poetry. Drama is used throughout the school to underpin writing skills; improvised drama and role play take place regularly to enrich understanding. The progression of spelling is closely monitored and children are taught to memorise words by the ‘Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check’ method. We also encourage the use of mnemonics and plenty of practice.

MATHEMATICS

Mathematics is taught through practical work, investigations and solving problems related to everyday experiences. Children are encouraged to use practical equipment at every stage throughout the school so that they can explore and thoroughly understand each new concept. They are regularly offered problems and investigations so that they can apply their knowledge and understanding. The use of their mathematical skills in real life situations is encouraged. Computers, calculators and games are used as appropriate.

Our children encounter all aspects of mathematics as outlined in the National Curriculum, with the routine practice of mental calculation techniques forming an integral part of all our work. Once children are secure in their understanding, they are expected to learn number facts such as number bonds and tables, and to recall these with increasing speed and confidence. All parental support in learning tables and number bonds is most welcome.

SCIENCE

A series of planned topics involving scientific investigations and experiments are used to develop children’s scientific knowledge and skills in the following areas: scientific enquiry; life processes and living things, materials and their properties, and physical processes. The rich natural environment of school provides our children with the opportunity for detailed scientific investigation. The central role of making and testing hypotheses in a practical context is what makes science studies distinctive. This work takes place through activities which draw on increasing knowledge and understanding and the children use progressively more sophisticated skills to help them make sense of the world around them.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

St. Nicholas’ has an ICT suite as well as at least one computer in every classroom and practical area. All classrooms have an interactive whiteboard. Children undertake a range of activities including word processing, data handling, research and graphics. We also use programmable toys and a range of audio-visual equipment to support our work. All computers are protected by an internet restriction device so that pupils can work safely on line.

GEOGRAPHY

Geography is intended to stimulate the children’s interest in their surroundings and in the variety of physical and human conditions in their locality and in the wider world. Our children are introduced to the necessary skills for effective geographical enquiry and develop geographical knowledge and understanding. Whenever possible geographical research is undertaken through first hand experience, using visits to various localities within easy reach of the school. Through the use of secondary sources studies are extended to other parts of the world. In Year 4 pupils have an opportunity to take part in a three day residential to Edgmond Hall in Staffordshire to further develop a variety of geographical skills.

17 HISTORY

History develops a sense of identity through learning how Britain, Europe and the rest of the world have developed. From a variety of historical sources, the children are taught how to look for clues about the past, whilst understanding that people’s interpretations can vary. Wherever possible, pupils are introduced to history through the study of historical sites, artefacts and primary sources. These provide opportunities for the children to recreate the past in an objective, well informed and imaginative way and learn how society changes through time and how historians use evidence to reconstruct the past.

ART

Work in art enables children to develop awareness and appreciation of aesthetics, develop art skills and techniques, and promotes an understanding of colour, form, line, pattern, shape, space and texture. We also look at the work of some famous artists to encourage careful observation and appreciation of the work of others.

DESIGN TECHNOLOGY

This subject gives children the opportunity to design, make, test and evaluate using a variety of materials. In developing their design technology skills the children learn about the physical properties of materials and the mechanisms needed to make their models move. They work within a range of situations, starting from known experiences and have the opportunity to examine and appraise products made by people from other times and cultures as well as the work of current professionals.

MUSIC

From reception all of our children take part in weekly music sessions. In the juniors this is provided by a specialist music teacher. Our aim is to introduce all children to the joys of performing, composing and listening to music. Music specialists work in school to provide opportunities for children to learn to play the recorder, drums, violin, guitar, brass or woodwind. There is an additional cost for these peripatetic sessions.

PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION (PSHE)

PSHE is part of the curriculum for all age groups. Issues covered include hygiene, diet, exercise, road safety, lifestyles, peer pressure, etc. Formal Sex Education currently takes place in Year 6. Parents are informed when the Health Education programme deals formally with sex education. There is an opportunity to talk to the teachers and view the resources used beforehand. If you wish, your child can be withdrawn from sex education. Health Education is taught through a series of topics which are designed to provide all pupils with accurate information so that they can make informed choices about their future life.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

All pupils are provided with the opportunity to participate in a variety of lessons. Through work in gymnastics, games, dance, athletics and swimming they learn to extend their co-ordination, stamina and control. The emphasis is on inclusiveness and all children are encouraged to improve on their personal best, gain a sense of achievement, and to establish good habits for life through enjoyment of physical activity. Children are timetabled for a minimum of two hours Physical Education each week, plus any extra curricular activities.

In addition to our school hall and playground, we are fortunate to have a large school playing field on site and our own indoor swimming pool. We also use the Games area on the Conway Fields. If your child forgets their PE / sports kit and it is still possible for them to take part in the lessons then your child will be expected to do so. If this is not possible then they will be expected to take notes on the learning objectives and content of the lesson so that they are prepared for the following P.E. lessons.

At the end of Year 6, children are given the opportunity to take part in a residential trip to the Kingswood Centre on the Isle of Wight where they take part in activities such as fencing, wall climbing, quad biking, orienteering, zip wiring, etc.

19 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

At St. Nicholas’, we follow Warwickshire’s agreed syllabus for Religious Education. During class lessons, children are encouraged to acquire a knowledge of religion, explore human experiences, learn appropriate skills and develop sensitive attitudes. While teaching Christian values and beliefs explicitly, we also aim to foster respect for other religions, beliefs and traditions.

Parents do have the right to withdraw their children from RE, however, as this is a Church school, it is expected that all pupils will attend lessons and play an active part, supported by their parents.

COLLECTIVE WORSHIP

Our school's daily act of corporate worship includes a wide variety of themes. Worship is mainly led by the headteacher, members of the senior leadership team and clergy from St. Nicholas parish. Over the school year each class with their teachers lead collective worship. Worship sessions are Christian in nature and include hymns and prayers. In addition, a variety of visits to St. Nicholas’ Church take place throughout the year. These include a thanksgiving service at the beginning of the year, the Carol Service, the Easter Service. Parents are invited to join us for the carol service. Parents are always welcome to our Friday Achievement Assembly (9.10 a.m.) and the various class assemblies, usually held on a Thursday.

To further encourage the Christian ethos of our school, each class says prayers before lunch.

Their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding. Pupils are safe in school. They gain a good understanding of how to stay safe and are confident in asking for support when needed. Ofsted Report March 2012.

20 HOMEWORK POLICY

The aims of our homework policy are as follows:

 To improve learning in the subject set for homework.  To give children experience in doing homework and to aid their independent learning.  To enable parents to know some of what their children are learning in school and, in this way, to further the partnership between parents and teachers.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

Parents are asked to support teachers by ensuring that homework is completed and returned to school on time. If a child fails to return homework on more than one occasion, the class teacher will ask the child to complete their homework during break time. If this continues to be an issue the class teacher will contact the parents of the child involved. Parents are encouraged to help their child as appropriate and they may inform the teacher if they feel that the homework set is inappropriate, or if they want their child to have more time for its completion.

HOMEWORK

Five kinds of homework are set:

1. Reading. Infant children should read with an adult 4/5 times a week until they are fluent readers, then this changes to 2/3 times a week with an adult and 2/3 times alone. Junior children should read at least 4/5 times a week. This should be with an adult if they are not fluent readers. 2. Spelling. Each week all children receive a list of spellings to be learnt in preparation for a test later in the week. 3. Multiplication tables. All children are expected to learn their tables and are tested regularly from Y2. 4. Maths. All children from Y1 are expected to complete maths homework four times a week. 5. Topic. Pupils are asked to find out specific information linked to their termly topic.

Children struggling to complete their homework at home are able to access homework club between 8.20-8.50 a.m. each morning.

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

At St. Nicholas’ C of E Primary School we take an inclusive approach and are committed to providing quality provision and support for pupils who have special needs of any kind. This could be ongoing or for just a short period of time. The School Special Needs Manager has the responsibility for arranging support for pupils with learning difficulties.

We make sure that pupils with special needs benefit fully from all that the school has to offer. Children identified as having a special need through the school's monitoring and tracking procedures are placed on the School Action or the School Action Plus register. These children take part in additional assessments so that an 'Individual Educational Programme' can be designed to support them in making progress. The plan is then implemented by the class teacher and, in many cases, one of our special needs teaching assistants. Parental involvement is essential therefore parents are consulted and informed about what is happening at every stage. Sometimes it is considered necessary to enlist the help of outside agencies, including pupil support; the visiting teacher service; Educational Psychologist; Behaviour Support Service and again we would discuss this with you and ask your permission.

Disabled pupils and those with special educational needs make exceptional progress. The provision of extra help through a wide range of support programmes is prompt and effective. Support is well targeted and focused on individual needs so many pupils quickly develop the knowledge and confidence to work independently. Ofsted Report March 2012

MORE ABLE

We are committed to providing quality provision and support for more able pupils and pupils who have special gifts or talents. This may include children who are experiencing difficulties in one area of learning yet who excel at others. We acknowledge that pupils develop a “gift or talent” at different times during their school career. For support we use an extended curriculum delivery such as setting for Maths and English, club activities through Children’s University, and guidance from local High Schools and Grammar Schools. We actively encourage children to pursue activities that take place both in and out of school time.

Pupils in Year 5 and 6 have produced some high-quality literacy work. Pupils use expressive vocabulary, vivid description and excellent grammar such as similes and metaphors, often combined with excellent information and communication technology skills, to produce promotional flyers for their firework inventions, or comic strip stories. Pupils rise to the stimulating challenge and comment on how much they enjoy this type of learning. Ofsted Report March 2012.

22 ASSESSMENT

Assessment is a continuous process which takes place informally throughout the child’s school career. Teachers make decisions about pupils understanding and interest in order to plan effectively for that child. The school also carries out formal assessments to identify learning trends, to screen groups of pupils for special needs and to ensure that standards of achievement are of an appropriate level. There are currently three times in a child’s primary career where statutory assessment takes place: end of Foundation Stage (Reception), Year 2 (end of Infants) and Year 6 (end of Juniors). In Years 3, 4 and 5, we administer yearly formal tests which are not statutory but provide our pupils with valuable experience in taking tests and exams. The results from these tests are combined with ongoing pupil assessments and shared with parents in the end of year reports.

TARGETS

At the start of each term targets are set in mathematics and English. This follows discussions between pupils and their teacher about progress. Your child’s individual targets are discussed with you during Autumn and Spring parents consultations and can be found on the front cover of their maths and English books.

REPORTS

Parents receive detailed reports about their child’s progress at the end of each school year. For children in Year 2 and Year 6 the report also includes results of the statutory end of Key Stage tests.

2014 KS2 SATs Comparison LEVELS SUBJECT NATIONAL ST. NICHOLAS’ NATIONAL COMPARISON L4+ Reading Writing & 80 79 Above Maths L4B+ Reading Writing & 71 67 Above Maths L5+ Reading Writing & 36 24 Well Above Maths 4+ Reading 90 89 Above Writing 91 85 Above GPS 88 76 Well Above Maths 88 86 Above L4B+ Reading 85 78 Above Writing GP 80 68 Well Above Maths 78 76 Above L5+ Reading 68 50 Well Above Writing 41 31 Well Above GPS 68 52 Well Above Maths 49 42 Above L6+ Reading 2 0 Above Writing 7 2 Above GPS 7 4 Above Maths 17 9 Above 2+ Reading 95 91 Above Levels Writing 92 93 Below progress Maths 97 89 Above 3+ Reading 31 30 Above Levels progress Writing 30 30 In line Maths 36 31 Above KS1 Data Compared to National L2+ Reading 98 89 Above Writing 98 85 Well Above Maths 98 91 Above L2B Reading 88 78 Well Above Writing 71 67 Above Maths 86 78 Above Science 93 90 Above Speaking and 95 89 Above Listening L3 Reading 39 31 Above Writing 17 16 Above Maths 19 24 Below Science 32 N/A Speaking and 41 N/A Listening Y1 Phonics Test Children meeting the 78 74 Above required standard Early years - Reception Children achieving a good 85 52 Well above level of development Attendance Attendance 96.7 96.2 Above

24 HOUSE SYSTEM

A House system operates throughout the school, with brothers and sisters in the same House. Our Houses, named after local places are:

 Arrow (blue)  Kinwarton (yellow)  Oversley (green)  Ragley (red)

House points are given each day for good quality work, good manners and social skills. During July we have a number of inter house competitive sports competitions with cups presented to the winning house.

SCHOOL UNIFORM

The basic items can be purchased from most of the large chain stores. However, school items with logos can only be purchased from The National Schoolwear Shop in Alcester. They also stock fleeces, baseball caps, book bags, pump bags and school bags with the St. Nicholas’ logo.

GIRLS: BOYS: WINTER: WINTER: Grey pinafore dress/ skirt Grey trousers short or long Grey / black trousers White polo shirt White polo shirt Navy Blue sweatshirt with logo Navy Blue sweatshirt or cardigan with Grey socks logo Black shoes Navy / grey / white tights or socks SUMMER: Black flat-heeled shoes Grey trousers SUMMER: White polo shirt Navy Blue and White checked dress Navy Blue sweatshirt with logo Grey pinafore / skirt Grey socks White polo shirt Black shoes / sandals Navy Blue sweatshirt or cardigan with logo All children will also need: White socks T-shirt and black or navy shorts for PE Black flat-heeled shoes or Navy Dark coloured track suit for sport sandals Black pumps for PE

25 Children are not permitted to wear jewellery at school. If your child has pierced ears, small stud earrings are the only safe type of earring. Watches can be worn and are the child’s own responsibility.

Long hair should be tied back. Hair accessories must be navy, dark blue, black or white. We do not allow large claw type clips, extreme hair styles, colour, gel, wax or mousse. We also ask that boys do not have their hair cut shorter than a ‘number 2’.

A navy or black baseball cap can be worn outside in the summer term.

For health and safety reasons we do not allow children to wear ankle boots, boots, open-toed sandals, jelly shoes or sling backs in school. Trainers can be worn for outdoor sport only. In wet or winter weather boots should be left in the cloakrooms. Girls are not allowed to wear flesh coloured tights.

During sunny weather you may wish to apply high factor sun cream on your child before they come to school. Sun cream can also be brought into school for your son/daughter to apply at lunchtime if there is a need.

For swimming girls need a black or navy one piece swimming costume and boys a pair of black or navy lycra type swimming trunks. All children need a towel and a pair of flip flop type shoes.

All items of clothing, including shoes should be clearly marked.

Staff cannot be responsible for any valuables brought into school by pupils. If it is valuable - leave it at home. This rule also applies to those precious things that are of sentimental value to your child.

CHARGING AND REMISSIONS

At times it is necessary for us to ask for a voluntary contribution for visits to the theatre and educational visits organised as part of the curriculum, usually one per year group each year. Where parents opt for musical instrument tuition or for their children to take part in residential visits in Years 2, 4 and 6, we ask for the full payment of the trip or music lesson to be paid in advance. If payment is difficult for any family we ask parents to speak to either the Headteacher or your child’s class teacher. We also ask for a small contribution towards the cost of swimming each year.

PASTORAL CARE AND DISCIPLINE

There are few discipline problems in an atmosphere of kindness, tolerance, patience and understanding. We have worked hard to establish such an atmosphere at St. Nicholas’ and are grateful for your continuing support. We have an acceptable code of behaviour and endeavour to be fair and consistent in its implementation. We aim to ensure that everyone in our school community has a clear understanding of the consequences of keeping or breaking the school rules. Our system of rewards to encourage positive behaviour is particularly successful. There is a special celebration and sharing assembly every Friday when children are congratulated on their achievements.

It is our policy to inform parents of any concerns about behaviour so that we can work together to improve the situation.

OUR CODE OF CONDUCT IS:

 Treat others as we would wish to be treated  Move sensibly and quietly around the school  Keep our hands and feet to ourselves  Help keep our school clean and tidy  Look after our own things and those which belong to others  Be polite

ANTI-BULLYING POLICY

St. Nicholas’ School has a determined approach to dealing with bullying in any form. Children are encouraged to value each other and keep away from children with whom they may quarrel. The teaching staff is watchful for any aspects of behaviour that might be intimidating. Children are encouraged to tell an adult if another child is upsetting them. When an incident of bullying or teasing has taken place the teacher dealing with the incident will talk to all of the children involved. We then expect support from parents to help their child to modify his or her behaviour.

Pupils’ behaviour is outstanding. Behaviour in all lessons observed and around the school was at least good and more often outstanding. Pupils believe behaviour to be good and say that any inappropriate behaviour is dealt with effectively. Ofsted Report March 2012.

TRANSFER TO SECONDARY EDUCATION

On completing their education at St. Nicholas’ C of E Primary School, the majority of our pupils transfer to Alcester Academy. Children also regularly transfer to Alcester Grammar School, St. Benedict’s High School, Stratford Girls Grammar School, Stratford High School, Studley High School. Over the last three years pupils have also moved on to, Bromsgrove School, King Edwards Grammar School Stratford, Kings High School for Girls.

We aim to prepare all children in a positive way for the secondary schools to which they will be transferring. Towards the end of Year 5 we invite parents to a meeting to discuss options available and completion of secondary transfer forms. Parents can be sure that, whatever their first choice for secondary education, their children will be well prepared for entrance and equipped for the future.

Information about the choice of schools available for secondary education is available from school or you can contact admissions on 01926 742037/742047

FINALLY The information in this prospectus is based on the present situation. At St. Nicholas’ we continually review our policies and processes, which means the school is always moving forward. So, while most of the information does not change drastically, some minor details do. You can be assured that we keep parents fully informed of any changes at all times through our weekly newsletters distributed each Friday.

We would like to reiterate our hopes that all children will continue to flourish at our school and that we shall work effectively together to ensure that your child will lay sound educational foundations on which to build in the future.

GETTING TO KNOW US

All the school staff and Governors are listed on a board in the entrance area. There are photographs to help you get to know us!

ST NICHOLAS’ STAFF FOR 2014-15

LEADERSHIP TEAM Sally Staley Headteacher Karen O’Shea Assistant Head Key Stage 1 Mark Walsh Deputy Headteacher

CLASS TEACHERS Faye Pritchard /Jo Tomkinson Reception Emily Day Reception Alex Kolb Year 1 Sarah Turvey Year 1 OFFICE STAFF Kelly Kalaker/Emma Brain Year 2 Tina Ward Administration Karen O’Shea Year 2 Celia Holdstock Business Manager Lorrin Campbell Year 3 Lesley Rowland Admin Support Rachel Woakes Year 3 Corinne Maycock Admin Support Jo Finch Year 4 Carol Smart Year 4 MIDDAY SUPERVISORS Sarah Kabrian Year 5 Maggie Brewer Anita Hartley Year 5 Sarah-Jane Cherry Sue Godson Year 6 Anita Frost Karen Reynolds Year 6 Judith Gravestock TEACHING ASSISTANTS Tracy Hoskins Sarah Spires Reception Sue Newitt Lucy Strain Reception Ruth Wilford Kerry Badger Reception Callie Wyer Ollie Sallis Year 1/2 Kath Peachey Lesley Jennings Year 1/2 Gail Beach Lesley Rowland Year 1/2 Julie Burgoine Karen Laydon Year 1/2 Kate Guzman Kelly Shurmer Year 1/2 Cherril Turner Sherryll Dean Year 1/2/3/4 Kerri Sparkes Year 1/2 CATERING STAFF Gill Thomas Year 3/4 Nikki Davies Sue Newitt Year 3/4 Julie Davis Helen Watson Year 3/4 Anne Jones Rebecca Satchwell Year 3/4 Josie Pickering Carla Searle Year 3/4 Nicola Ottley Alison McAdam Year 5/6 Sarah Wright Lin Randall Year 5/6 Hilary Capron Year 5/6 SITE MANAGER Helen Bennett Year 5/6 Andrew Blundell Callie Wyer Year 5/6 Lindsey Armstrong Year 5/6 CLEANING STAFF Lucy Strain Year 5/6 Kath Peachey Jenny Harwood HLTA Cover Sylvia Reeves Sue Le Resche HLTA Cover Di Rogers Susan Washbrook SEN Adam Blundall Tammy Howl Sport Dave Geden Sport Corinne Maycock Sport

THE GOVERNING BODY 2014 - 2015

The Governors have a wide range of responsibilities and play a major role in school life, being sufficiently involved in defining the long-term strategy and in ensuring that delivery of the curriculum and education services are effective.

School Governors represent all groups with an interest in the school. They meet regularly to discuss school developments and have sub-committees to formulate curriculum and financial policies.

Alison Howson Parent Governor Peter Alexander Parent Governor Adam Denby Parent Governor Caroline Harris Parent Governor Gary Manning Parent Governor David Campbell-Kelly Parent Governor Jane Blayney LA Governor Vincent Foy LA Governor Sue Heap LA Governor Andrew Deeks (Vice Chair) Foundation Governor Julie Lindsay Foundation Governor Trish Bowler Foundation Governor Virginia Von Malachowski Co-opted Governor Laurie Yearley (Chair) Co-opted Governor Richard Chapman Co-opted Governor Carol Smart Teacher Governor Hilary Capron Non Teaching Governor Sally Staley Headteacher Jane Griffiths Clerk to the Governors

HOME SCHOOL AGREEMENT

THE PARENTS / GUARDIANS I / We shall try to:  contact the school by 9.30am on the first day of my child’s absence  see that my child goes to school regularly, on time and properly prepared for the school day  make the school aware of any concerns or problems that might affect my child’s work or behaviour  support the school’s policies and guidelines on behaviour  support my child in all opportunities for home learning and encourage them to complete any work asked to be completed at home, to the best of their ability  attend parents evenings to discuss my child’s progress  attend an assembly, when invited, where my child’s achievements are being celebrated  encourage my child to take care of their belongings, which are clearly marked.

THE SCHOOL Will try to:  promote your child’s safety and happiness with a secure environment  ensure that your child achieves to his / her full academic and personal potential  recognise your child as an individual  provide a balanced broad curriculum in line with national requirements  encourage high expectations of children in order that they can achieve their best standards of work and behaviour  communicate clearly and regularly about your child’s progress  promote a partnership with parents and children by being approachable and welcoming  provide a range of extra curricular activities  inform parents about the events and activities taking place in school

THE PUPIL I shall try to:  do my best at all times  attend every school day and be on time  bring and take care of all the equipment kit I need  wear the school uniform and be tidy in appearance  do all of my class work and homework as well as I can  be polite and helpful to all adults and children in school  be kind to other children in all my words and actions  take care of school equipment, buildings and surroundings.

CHILD PARENT HEADTEACHER

HOME SCHOOL AGREEMENT

THE PUPIL I shall try to:  do my best at all times  attend every school day and be on time  bring and take care of all the equipment kit I need  wear the school uniform and be tidy in appearance  do all of my classwork and homework as well as I can  be polite and helpful to all adults and children in school  be kind to other children in all my words and actions  take care of school equipment, buildings and surroundings.

CHILD PARENT HEADTEACHER