Sundridge and Brasted C of E Primary School “An Outstanding Church School” SIAS inspection, 2011 A Message from The Headteacher Welcome to Sundridge and Brasted... …where small really is beautiful. We are a church school for around a hundred pupils aged from 4 to 11 years. We are proud of our focus on each individual, drawing the best out of each and every child no matter what their particular talents or abilities. Our warmth and the family atmosphere of the school are tangible and frequently commented upon by parents and visitors. ‘Small class sizes enable children to make excellent progress’ Following an excellent start to school life in Maple class, children move into Cedar at year 2. This very small setting with just 12 pupils, ensures that the core skills in Reading, Writing and Maths are completely secure before they move into the upper school. Throughout the school children are encouraged to achieve and expectations are high. We provide a rich, exciting and challenging curriculum. We plan frequent school trips and invite visitors into school, to inspire learning and bring our topics to life. ‘There are excellent relationships between teachers and pupils.’ Our dedicated team of outstanding staff work tirelessly to ensure that every child receives the education they deserve. Within our Christian setting, children are helped to develop a sense of responsibility and self-discipline, to show consideration for one another and to grow into confident, caring and articulate individuals. ‘I would love to meet you and personally show you around the school.’ We are proud of the education we offer here and would be delighted to share our school with you. Choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions you make as a parent. By showing you what we have to offer, we may be able to make that decision a little easier. Kathy Taylor Headteacher “…the Headteacher, who leads the school very well with a passion and drive and a refusal to accept anything less than the best for the pupils, has secured improvements in the key areas of teaching and achievement.” Ofsted 2013 Our Aims Our aims at Sundridge and Brasted are as follows: • To develop and maintain enquiring minds, which are excited by learning • To strive for excellence in all that we do • To provide first class teaching which meets the needs of each individual child • To create a secure and safe community in which each child is able to grow spiritually and morally within a Christian ethos • To nurture each child’s awareness of personal needs and those of others • To develop responsible and effective members of the wider community. Introduction Sundridge and Brasted Primary School is beautifully situated 3 miles from Sevenoaks on rising ground, close to the thirteeth century Parish Church of Sundridge. A school has stood on the present site since 1826, when the National Society absorbed the earlier village school which had been founded by private bequest in 1719 and had educated the children of Sundridge for over a hundred years. The original part of the present building was opened on 15th November 1861. In September 1988 the schools in Sundridge and Brasted combined and Sundridge was chosen as the site for the school to serve both communities. Visitors always comment on the friendly family atmosphere in the school, which is a strong feature and is built on the commitment from parents, teachers, children, governors and the local community. These have all supported this village school over many years and helped to make it a very special place to learn. Organisation of the School The school is organised in four classes: Maple Class for Foundation Stage and Year 1; Cedar Class for Year 2; Willow Class for Year 3 and Year 4 and Elm Class for Year 5 and Year 6. Every child belongs to one of four houses: Chartwell, Hever, Knole and Penshurst. The house system encourages and strengthens our community life, and provides an opportunity to celebrate achievements and successes through house points and achievement cups for sporting events. One distinct advantage of a small school is the number of opportunities each individual has to take part in activities, representing both themselves and the school. This builds confidence and articulacy in our children and we are proud of the number of times secondary schools report that our children are excelling for these reasons. Ofsted, 2013 Buildings and Grounds The Victorian building, which houses all but the Maple classroom, has been well maintained and maximum advantage is made of the space. In addition to four well “Pupils are equipped classrooms with interactive whiteboards and Apple TV there is: proud of their • a pleasant hall used for P.E., dining and assemblies • a mobile laptop computer suite with up-to-date hardware and software school and really • a well stocked and catalogued library • two distinct areas for small group work or individual music tuition. appreciate the The grounds provide plenty of opportunities for active, quiet and imaginative play in small, family idyllic surroundings: atmosphere.” • a trim trail for active play encourages co-ordination and balance skills • marked pitches for ball games • a nature area often used for imaginative play • an outdoor stage • an outdoor classroom for additional lessons and activities • a ball wall for target practice and striking skills • grass and playground space for free play • benches and tables for sitting • planters for gardening. We use The Dairy Field, just across the road, for outdoor sports and games. Swimming lessons take place at Combe Bank School in the indoor heated swimming pool. Admissions Policy The Local Education Authority operates a scheme to co-ordinate arrangements for admission for all maintained schools in its area. There are 15 places available in our reception class. If more parents express a preference for this school than the number of places available, the places will be offered by the Governors in accordance with the following criteria: • Children in Local Authority Care and those who were and who have been adopted • Brothers and sisters of children already attending the school • Children with medical problems supported by a doctor’s recommendation • Proximity to the school. We operate a single intake in September, offering full time education for children who are four years of age before 31st August, if this meets with parental preference. Starting School Starting school is a big step for both the child and the whole family. We aim to make the transition into school both smooth and exciting. Your child’s first experience in school will be an afternoon in the summer term before they start in reception. This is organised by our oldest children and will include a healthy picnic as well as plenty of fun in the school grounds. Your child will be greeted by their buddy (one of our older pupils), who will be a special friend when your child starts school. This buddying system helps to develop the strong family feel amongst our children, which has been praised by Ofsted. On a separate occasion parents are invited to meet staff, governors, other parents and some year 6 pupils. At this meeting we explain the school’s philosophy and organisation and we hope to answer any questions you may have. We will give you a pack of information explaining such aspects as the day to day organisation of the school, information about uniform, school meals, educational visits, medical issues and suggestions for helping your child prepare for school. In addition our Early Years Teacher will visit your child in their current setting to observe them, speak to their key worker and ensure good transition from pre-schools into primary school. In September children begin school attending in the mornings only, but within a couple of weeks are settled in to staying for lunch and then for full days. The Curriculum At Sundridge and Brasted we follow the National Curriculum for England which includes: • English • Geography • Maths • History • Science • Languages - French • Art and Design • Music • Citizenship • P.E. • Computing • R.E. • Design Technology Parents have the right to remove their child from Religious Education and if considering this, should make an appointment to discuss the matter with the Headteacher. Maple Class Children in Early Years Foundation Stage follow a curriculum which emphasises the three ‘Prime Areas’ of: • Communication and Language Development • Physical Development • Personal, Social and Emotional Development. and provides good coverage of the four ‘Specific Areas’ of learning, which are: • Literacy • Mathematics • Knowledge and Understanding of the World • Art and Design. In Year One, children move across to the full National Curriculum. They are assessed against the National Curriculum levels from this point forward. Both year groups share a variety of interesting and inspiring themes, such as Living and Growing, Transformers, Around the World and Pirates. These provide a rich foundation for tasks and activities, appropriate to each age and stage of learning, giving both groups scope to excel and achieve their potential. Some aspects of mathematics and literacy however are taught separately in order to address the children’s different needs. Cedar, Willow and Elm Classes The curriculum is planned thematically, ensuring full coverage of the National Curriculum, in a manner that encourages understanding and enjoyment. We aim to incorporate practical activities, school visits, outdoor learning and external visitors, so that by drawing on a range of experiences we will provide for the individual learning styles of the children. Children are taught to work both independently and collaboratively, building autonomy as well as teamwork and leadership skills. Our curriculum is planned so that children develop an understanding of how they learn. We encourage them to analyse their learning, their successes and their targets, as well as whether they feel confident and why.