Admission of Pupils to Sarisbury CE Junior School – September 2010

In consultation with Hampshire County Council (the Local Authority), the school’s published admissions number for 2010 is 90. The Local Authority considers all applications for admission to the school in strict accordance with the Admissions Policy and as outlined in the County Council brochure ‘A Parent’s Guide to Applying for a School Place in Hampshire – September 2010’.

Details about the catchment area for pupils at Sarisbury are available from the school admin team on 01489 573000 or via the Local Authority’s website at www.hants.gov.uk/learning

For further details of the admissions process, please see the school’s admissions policy in the appendices of this booklet. Admission to the school is calculated by ‘straight line distance’ and measured from the school gate.

Number on Roll:                      2008 - 2009               353

Absences:                               2008 - 2009               4.3% Authorised

0.1% Unauthorised

(As shown on the school’s annual absence return for the DfES – 1.9.08 to 2.6.09)

School Organisation

Headteacher                Andrew Stockton                    

Deputy Head                Karlaine Gilbert                                                            Learning

Support Staff

YEAR 3                         Rachel Matheson         YGL      Class 3M                      Jane Durnford

                                    Philippa Bridger                       Class 3B                       Susie Macadam

                                    Daniel Richards                        Class 3R                                                          

YEAR 4                         Emma Stevenson         YGL      Class 4S                       Emma Bowler                                                                                                                         Helen Lee                                Class 4L                      Sandie Doyle

                                    Rebecca Willcocks                    Class 4W                     Angela Gastrell

                                                                                                                        Sue Meatcher

YEAR 5                         Lucy McCutcheon         YGL       Class 5M                      Sandra Lewis

                                    Simon Munsie                           Class 5S                       Sue McClymont

Kate Picken                               Class 5P                       Mandy Jacobs

YEAR 6                         Vicki Harrington            YGL      Class 6H                      Sue Batho                                          

                                    Rachel Barclay                          Class 6B                      Annie Trotman

                                    Tina Varkey                              Class 6V          

PPA Teachers               Lynn Hart                                 (Tues & Weds)

                                    Kate Smart                               (Mon to Weds)

                                    Gilli Smith                                 (Mon to Weds)

                                    Ken Humphrey                         (Mon or Thurs)

Admin Team                 Ruth Elvery                              (Admin Officer)

                                    Karan Hobin                             (Admin Assistant)

                                    Claire Edwards                         (Admin Assistant)

Lunchtime Staff            June Adnitt                               (caretaker)

                                    Jean Glover     

                                    Julie Hendry                

                                    Julie Lawrence

                                    Charmaine Liddle

                                    Ann Nicholson

                                    Karen Sutton

                                    Dawn Farnham                                    (cook – Hampshire Caterers)

School Times                          8:45am - 12 noon                    Morning session

                                                1:15pm – 3:30pm                    Afternoon session

Children spend the majority of lessons with their class teacher, although there will be occasions each week when other members of staff are included in the teaching programme (planning and preparation time, learning and target groups etc).  Classes accommodate up to 30 children.

Break Periods:

Morning break is taken between 10:35 am – 10:50 am.  There is no break during the afternoon session although of course, activities are varied, providing plenty of opportunity for natural breaks and pupils will have access to toilet facilities.

Children should not arrive at school more than Fifteen minutes before the start of the school day. A member of staff will be on duty to supervise the children from 8:30am but no responsibility can be accepted for children arriving at the school before this time.

Communication

Newsletters are issued throughout the year. Parents are also sent a curriculum overview at the beginning of each term in Year Team newsletters. The school also has a text messaging and e-mail facility to communicate day to day activities to parents. Our web site provides a wide range of information about the school and can be found at www.schools.hants.org.uk/sarisbury-jun (please note that our web site is currently being updated).

Although provision is made for parents to meet class teachers at parents’ evenings, teachers are available at the start and end of the school day. However if unable to see parents, appointments can be made via the school office for a mutually convenient time.

There are many occasions during the school year for parents to visit and see the school at work. Information evenings and workshops are also held for parents to keep them fully informed about learning opportunities at Sarisbury.

We aim to keep you fully informed of your child’s progress. A written report on your child will be provided towards the end of the Academic Year.  In addition, a summary of targets called ‘Steps to Success’ for your child are shared and reviewed at the autumn and spring term parents’ evenings.

Please do not hesitate to contact the appropriate class teacher or the Head Teacher if you are concerned regarding any aspect of your child’s time in school, or if you feel there is some difficulty outside school which is having an adverse effect.

School access and information

Parents and visitors to the school who require special access arrangements should contact the school on 01489 573000 so that appropriate arrangements can be made. In addition, all school information, newsletters and policies are available in large print on request; please contact the school admin team for further assistance.

Emergency Contacts

In the event of illness, accident, or other emergency involving a child at School, it is essential that we should be able to contact parents, or a responsible person authorised by parents, without delay.  You are required to provide contact telephone numbers and addresses which may be used in these circumstances and to notify the Admin Officer if our existing records need to be amended.  Mobile phone numbers must be kept switched on, if they are the only point of contact.  Children are not allowed mobile telephones in school.

Absence

Should your child be absent from school for any reason, please send a note to the appropriate class teacher, or contact a member of the admin team by telephone (messages can be left on the answering service by pressing ‘option 1’).  Parents should contact the school on the first day of absence and provide an update during the week if your child will be absent for a longer period. Please note that where possible, medical/dental appointments should be notified in advance.

Holiday forms are available from the school reception area for planned absences. Authorised absences for holiday can be approved, at the headteacher’s discretion, for a maximum of 10 days per school year. Please note that these cannot be authorised unless a reason has been given on the form. However, in the interests of pupils’ learning, parents are encouraged to keep absence requests to a minimum.

Any child arriving after 8:45am will be marked as ‘late’. Please ensure that your child arrives in the playground between 8.30 am and 8.45 am each day.  Teachers are required to record in the register all late arrivals as well as absences; any child arriving after 9am will be recorded as an ‘unauthorised absence’ (information which is now required by the Department for Children and Families).

Withdrawal from School

We are responsible for a child once he/she has entered school premises and therefore, in the interests of the child’s safety and welfare, we request that you follow this procedure:

We ask that parents send a signed and dated letter to the appropriate class teacher should a child be required to leave school:

            a.         during school hours; or

            b.         during the lunch hour if school meals or sandwiches are normally

                        taken on the premises.

The letter should include details of the time, date and reason for release.  Appointment cards cannot be considered as written requests.

Children will not be released from school unless they are collected by a parent, or another properly authorised person.  Please collect your child from the school office if wishing to withdraw them during the school day. Should you wish your child to go home for lunch each day, please inform the class teacher and office staff at the beginning of the academic year, and inform us if there is to be a change in these arrangements.

Illness & Medicines

Please do not send your child to school if he/she is feeling unwell as we have limited facilities for the care of children who are ill. In our experience, children who are ‘off colour’ in the morning rarely improve and often become worse in the close confines of a classroom.  If you are not sure of the appropriate time factors with regard to keeping your child away from school, please seek medical advice or contact the admin team.

Asthma inhalers (relievers only) can be brought to school, and kept by children for convenient use. In the interests of safety, a second inhaler should be passed to the class teacher in case of emergency.  Should your child require medication of any sort during the school day, please contact the school office as a medication form will need to be completed to give details and consent for the medication to be administered.

School Uniform

School uniform is an important part of our school’s ethos and children are expected to wear uniform as follows:

Items of uniform, specially marked with the School’s logo, are available from Skool Kit (mail order service telephone 01329 822509) and Iresons telephone 01489 782667. 

Jewellery

In line with health and safety guidelines, children are not permitted to wear earrings, other than small stud type, or other jewellery.  Watches are permitted but children bring them to school at their own risk. All watches and stud earrings must be removed for PE activities.

P.E. Kit

Each class has two sessions of P.E. each week and it is important that children have the appropriate kit for these sessions:

·          Dark coloured shorts

·          White t-shirt

·          Plimsolls

·          Trainers (outdoor activities only)

During the colder months it is advisable for your child to wear either a track suit or jogging bottoms and sweatshirt.

Please note that we do not keep spare PE kit in school.

We appreciate that on occasions there may be reasons why your child should not take part in a P.E. lesson, when this does occur please send a note to your child’s classteacher explaining the situation.

We suggest that your child should not wear jewellery on days when PE is planned and remind parents that all jewellery should be removed for PE activities. The only items of jewellery permitted in school are watches and small stud earrings.

P.E. kit should be kept in a suitable bag.  All items of clothing and equipment should be clearly marked with the child’s name.  Due to lack of suitable storage space, large sports bags should not be brought to school.

Children formally representing the school in events or activities outside of school will be expected to wear full school uniform.  Our school uniform is a key aspect of our sense of community; therefore all children will be encouraged to keep themselves neat and tidy and to take pride in their general appearance.  The co-operation of parents in these matters is appreciated.

Lost Property

Items of ‘lost’ property are kept in the middle corridor and at regular intervals, are displayed outside for parents to check.  At the end of each half-term any unclaimed items will be donated to local charity shops, or disposed of. In order to keep lost property to a minimum, we ask that parents clearly label their child’s uniform and belongings with their name, using a permanent pen.

Behaviour at Sarisbury

At Sarisbury Church of England Junior School, we firmly believe that children have a right to attend a school in which learning takes place without disruption from other pupils and that praise, positive actions and rewards, best promote our high standards of behaviour. We value and respect all members of our school community and expect all pupils to adhere to the school’s Code of Conduct:

·          Work and play together safely and happily

·          Treat everyone and everything with respect

·          Consider the feelings and needs of other people

·          Take responsibility for our actions

Children are asked to move carefully and quietly about the school, classrooms and corridors.  In crowded areas keep to the left and be ready to help by opening doors and standing back for others. Details of our Behaviour Policy are included in the appendices of this booklet.

Children with Special Educational Needs

At Sarisbury Church of England Junior School, applications are considered from any child regardless of their ability, disability or behaviour.  We firmly believe that all children are entitled to a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum that is differentiated to meet their needs.  Where appropriate, the school will access external resources and outside agencies in meeting children’s special needs. 

Individual Education Plans are written to raise the achievement for pupils with special needs and will detail targets that are extra or different from those of most pupils.  All Education plans will be discussed with and distributed to parents.  The deputy headteacher (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator SENCO) has responsibility for co-ordinating the provision of support and works in close liaison with class teachers and learning support staff.  A copy of the school’s Learning Difficulty and Disabilities Policy (LDD) is available upon request.

Transfer to Junior & Secondary School

Comprehensive liaison takes place between our Feeder Schools, Sarisbury Infants’, and also Brookfield School, to which most of our Year 6 children transfer at the end of the Primary stage of their education. The programme runs throughout the year and as well as numerous visits by teaching staff, the children in Year 6 and Year 2 have the opportunity to visit their new schools on our transfer day. In addition, the Year 6 taster day in the autumn term gives pupils the opportunity to visit Brookfield and experience life in a secondary school. Bridging projects to support transition between the schools take place during the summer term.

Partnership with Parents

We all enjoy seeing parents in school and we are extremely keen to enable parents to share in their child’s learning in as many ways as possible. There are a number of special assemblies, events and celebrations throughout the year that parents can share with us; details of these will be sent via newsletters.

The School has an active Parent and Friends Association.  This properly constituted body has been responsible for raising many thousands of pounds for the benefit of the children in the School. Parents of children actually attending the School are automatically members of the Association but we are always looking for volunteers to sit on the committee.  The Annual General Meeting of the PFA takes place in the Autumn term of each year.

The School is fortunate in enjoying excellent support from parents in a variety of activities throughout the year.  Parents who volunteer to help in the transport of children to and from sporting events and school functions are asked to undergo a CRB disclosure and check that their car insurance cover is valid for this activity.

Health and Safety

We are very conscious of all health and safety issues as we want to ensure that Sarisbury is a safe and healthy environment for everyone connected with the school. The Headteacher oversees health and safety issues and in addition, the school has two Health and Safety Representatives. We have a comprehensive policy which is in line with recommendations from Hampshire County Council. Every effort is made to ensure that people on site are protected by the vigilance of all concerned. Children’s health and safety education is part of their personal development learning. A summary of our Health and Safety Policy is displayed in the entrance of the school for visitors to read.

Parking in Allotment Road

Traffic in Allotment Road presents a considerable hazard to children, particularly when major congestion occurs at the start and end of the school day.  Please help to ensure the safety of children by not parking vehicles in the bus lay-by or close to the Crossing Patrol Officer during these periods.  Please note that in the interests of safety, parents are not permitted to park cars in the Staff Car Park or enter the Car park when turning vehicles at the beginning and end of the school day, unless specific permission has been sought from the school.

In addition, residents in Coldeast Close, Woodlands Close and St Paul’s Road are particularly concerned regarding frequent congestion at the entrance to their estates.  Your co-operation in helping us to maintain a positive relationship with our neighbours would be appreciated. There is a bus service that serves the Sarisbury Schools for parents seeking alternative travel arrangements. This is a popular service and if interested, further details are available from the school office.

Bicycles

In line with the school’s Travel Plan, facilities for keeping cycles on school premises are provided. Details of our school’s Travel Plan are available from the school office. Cycling proficiency courses are available to Year 6 pupils who own bicycles; these are run by qualified instructors and school staff. Other pupils will be permitted to cycle to school when accompanied by their parents and having signed the appropriate consent form to obtain a cycle permit.

Free Transport

a)         If your home is more than 2 miles for year 3 children and 3 miles for year 4 and above from school (and the school is the designated school for your area), your child may be eligible for free transport. Application forms   are available from the school office but all enquiries should be made to: Passenger Transport Branch, County Surveyor’s Department, Hampshire County Council, The Castle, WINCHESTER SO23 8UD. 

b)         Privilege Travel:  Pupils who are not entitled to free transport may sometimes          be conveyed as a privilege on contract vehicles subject to the availability of spare seats.  A fare will be charged and the children will pay as they travel. Parents in receipt of Income Support or Family Credit, may be exempt from charge. Application should be made to Passenger Transport Branch, County Surveyor’s Department, Hampshire County Council, The Castle, WINCHESTER SO23 8UD. 

The Curriculum

We aim to offer a stimulating, creative and challenging curriculum that promotes the development of the whole child – so that they have a firm foundation for life long learning and a preparation for their future lives.

The subjects of the school’s curriculum are those of the National Curriculum and are followed by all children. We aim to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum that offers a wide range of learning opportunities. Numerous extra curricular activities form an important part of the school’s provision and cater for a wide range of interests.

The National Curriculum consists of five core subjects – English, Mathematics, Science, Religious Education and Information Communication Technology. There are five foundation subjects – Art, Design Technology, Geography, History, Music and Physical Education. The school also provides learning in French in each year group and is supported by colleagues from Brookfield Language College.

In addition, all children will study aspects of Personal, Social and Health Education (Personal Development Learning), including appropriate sex education for pupils in Years 5 and 6. Television programmes and a variety of visitors are used to support the PSHE curriculum. A copy of the school’s personal development learning programme (Personal Health Social Education), including the Sex Education Policy are available on request.

English and Mathematics are taught as separate subjects for part of the school day through the Literacy and Numeracy framework. They are also integrated into the children’s project work and linked closely with other subjects.

Project work, designed to stimulate interest, promote the acquisition of research skills and develop powers of observation, original thought, creativity and an awareness of the outside world, is an important feature of the school’s curriculum. The children have experience in researching from a wide range of books and materials, the internet and also learning from first hand investigation and observation. 20 Learning Skills have been identified to help provide links across the various National Curriculum subjects. They also ensure that children’s learning has breadth, balance, worth, match and progression across the curriculum.

English

Our aim in teaching English is to provide children with key skills that can be used across the curriculum and in every aspect of their future lives. To this end, we use the Literacy Framework on which to base our planning and to ensure coverage of all aspects of English. We aim to encourage the pupils’ confidence, competence and enjoyment in speaking, listening, reading and writing.

The organisation of the literacy framework ensures that children learn about a variety of writers and text types; search for implicit meaning as well as the obvious and read and write with greater understanding and enjoyment. In teaching spelling patterns, wider vocabulary and more complex sentence structures, we aim to encourage children to develop a more mature writing style. We endeavour to ensure that the skills learnt in literacy lessons are applied across the curriculum e.g. diaries and stories can be found within History.

Reports and instructions might appear in Maths or Science activities and research skills and note taking are appropriate to all subjects. Speaking and listening activities like ‘hot seating’ and role play are included in literacy lessons in order to provide the children with more creative and exciting learning opportunities.

We aim to make our library an integral part of the curriculum and of our school day. It is an inviting environment in which children may read and apply key learning skills. Children are taught library skills so that they can access information independently and confidently, giving them ownership over their learning. The library provides children with high quality information books on a wide variety of subjects and an excellent selection of fiction, both narrative and poetry by a range of well known children’s authors. We use the Dewey system to organise the library so that children become familiar with the system in all public libraries. Through membership of our school library, we aim to foster a love of reading in our children.

Speaking and Listening activities and Drama form an important part of our English work and there are many opportunities for children to develop these key communication skills.

Mathematics

We use maths in all aspects of our everyday lives and therefore the skills developed at school can be applied to problems encountered in the ‘outside world’. Mathematics teaches and develops a logical approach to solving problems. It also develops mental agility and mental strategies, which again are valuable in everyday life. It is our belief at Sarisbury that every child has a right to these skills, providing them with a ‘tool box’ that they can apply to ‘real life’ problems, thus helping them to use maths confidently and fulfil their potential, both at school age and beyond.

The majority of maths taught at Sarisbury is done through a daily maths lesson, linked closely to the National Numeracy Framework. The strategy enables children to explore the key concepts of place value, number, shape and measures, data handling and problem solving. By encouraging children to apply their maths skills and develop reasoning, we aim to ensure that they are confident, competent and enthusiastic in their approach to maths.

Science

The teaching of science at Sarisbury aims to stimulate an active curiosity in order to help the children find out why things happen and begin to make sense of the world around them.  By asking questions about the real world, and finding answers through first hand experience, children will acquire scientific skills and knowledge. They will begin to appreciate the way science will affect their future on a personal, national and global level. Children are encouraged to investigate, explore and discover through careful and safe experimentation.  Science teaches methods of enquiry and investigation in order to draw inferences, form hypotheses and reach objective conclusions. Science is organised into four strands:

Science 1 – Scientific Enquiry – focuses on the skills of gathering data and evidence through scientific experimentation and analysing this data to reach conclusions.  It is taught through the contexts of the other science strands.

Science 2 – Life Processes and Living Things – focuses on human growth and reproduction, green plants, variation and classification and living things in their environment.

Science 3 – Materials and their Properties – focuses on grouping and classifying materials, how materials change and separating mixtures of materials

Science 4 – Physical Processes – focuses on electricity, forces and motion, light and sound and the Earth and beyond.

Each of these strands are organised into topics which are taught on a two year rolling programme with Year 5 building and consolidating work taught in Year 3 and Year 6 building and consolidating work taught in Year 4.

Information Communication Technology (ICT)

At Sarisbury CE Junior School, we believe that I.C.T. is a vital skill in a constantly evolving technological society. We therefore aim to provide all children with the opportunity to access a rich source of materials through ICT provision. Through a structured and progressive approach to ICT, we aim to help pupils to become knowledgeable about the nature of information available, gain confidence with the range of technology (such as computers, digital and video cameras and tape recorders), and develop the ability to communicate and manipulate information independently in a variety of contexts through the use of control technology, PowerPoint presentations and complicated spreadsheet models. We use I.C.T. across the curriculum as a tool to support and extend teaching and learning. The children are introduced to a wide range of software, hardware and the internet which they are encouraged to access easily, safely and responsibly.

At Sarisbury, the children use ICT to:

·          Find and interpret information from sources including Internet and CD Roms

·          Present, develop and organise their ideas through reorganisation of texts, tables, images and sounds

·          Share information

·          Work collaboratively

·          Create test and improve sequences of instructions

·          Review modify and evaluate their work

·          Extend their understanding of today’s technology and apply it to everyday situations

Increased capability in the use of ICT promotes independent learning, and children leave Sarisbury Junior School as confident and enthusiastic users of a wide range of ICT technology. The installation of interactive whiteboards in each classroom, alongside a well equipped ICT suite, enable children to access a variety of ICT resources and help bring their learning to life.

During 2009, we are introducing a new learning platform which will provide a secure network for children to access resources, activities and collaborate on-line.

Art & Design

Art and Design is an important part of children’s education and it is our aim at Sarisbury Junior School to stimulate creativity and imaginations and to provide children with the opportunities to develop a wide range of skills and an enjoyment in the subject. The Art and Design curriculum includes painting, collage, print making, sculpture (clay and paper & paste), textiles and drawing. We introduce children to the work of artists, crafts persons and designers in order to develop their appreciation of a diverse cultural heritage. We aim to provide opportunities for pupils to sample first hand experiences wherever possible and provide visits to the local Art Gallery to enrich children’s learning. Visiting artists are also encouraged to work with the children to develop their skills.

Design Technology

In Design and Technology, children are given the opportunity to experience and use a developing range of tools and materials and learn basic skills such as cutting and joining. They have the opportunity to work with textiles, food technology, movements and mechanisms and electrical components, whilst also being taught the need for aesthetic presentation.

Technology projects require pupils to combine their designing and making skills with knowledge and understanding in order to design and make a variety of products. Exciting projects range from making sandwiches and marble mazes, to making cranes, shelters and glove puppets. Children are given the opportunity to work on their own or as part of a mixed ability team and are taught the importance of evaluating their work and making improvements.

Music & Instrumental Tuition

Making music is a wonderful way in which to explore and express thoughts and emotions. Music can calm, excite, inspire and entertain; it can be used to share information and ideas. Even in the poorest countries, people make instruments out of the simplest materials and create folk songs to accompany their work and play. Music is a timeless form of communication and is interwoven into all of our lives.

At Sarisbury, children are given opportunities through classroom music activity to develop their musical appreciation, experience a wide range of musical styles, extend their knowledge of pattern and structure, explore their creativity and imagination and improve their confidence through performance. Children in Years 3 and 4 are also given the opportunity to learn a musical instrument through the ‘Wider Opportunities Scheme’.

A newly refurbished music room, due to open in October 2009, will ensure that children have access to a wide range of musical instruments as part of our curricular provision.

Individual Music Tuition:

Selected children also have the opportunity to receive specialist instrumental tuition in

violin, cello, guitar, brass and woodwind instruments.  Tuition facilities are bought in from Hampshire Music Service, and a short period of tuition by a specialist teacher is provided each week.  Individual music tuition provided by the H.C.C. Music Service will be provided at a nominal charge of £35 per term (2009-2010).

Families where two children are having instrumental tuition at school will receive a 50% reduction for their second child. Charges will be made termly and reminders sent at the beginning of each term. Should a payment not be received for tuition, a reminder will be issued. If payment is still outstanding, a final reminder will be issued and at that point the child will be withdrawn from instrumental tuition until appropriate fees are paid.

The criteria for selection: 

·          The pupil must have demonstrated a responsible attitude towards School work

·          The pupil must have a general aptitude for music and a commitment to practise the chosen instrument

·          Pupils will only be offered lessons in one instrument

·          Some instrument lessons may initially be offered to pupils in the Upper School (Years 5 and 6)

·          If an instrument is over subscribed, pupils will be placed on a waiting list

(These criteria are reviewed annually by the Governing Body) 

Although the School has a few instruments for loan purposes, pupils are usually required to provide their own instruments.  Instruments are costly e.g. flute £200+, trumpet £150+, although most local instrumental retailers operate a hire/buy scheme.  All children receiving tuition from a peripatetic teacher will be encouraged to take part in the school’s extra curricular music activities.

History

The study of History at Sarisbury Junior School is an active, rich and encompassing experience. We believe in fostering a dynamic curiosity about the past, inclusive of world and personal history. Through the teaching of a chronological framework, children develop a sense of identity and a cultural understanding based on their historical heritage. We teach children to understand how past events have influenced our lives today and through investigation, develop enquiry and problem solving skills.

At our school we value the ability of History to support and extend learning and development across the curriculum. Clear and purposeful links are made with many other subjects including English and ICT. History is taught through a variety of mediums and therefore caters for a range of learning styles and opportunities. Visits to educational sites, the use of artefacts and resources, role play, hot seating, living history groups and specialist visitors all enhance and enrich the children’s learning experience.

At Sarisbury, key elements in History are taught through topics across the Key Stage which includes:

·          Invaders & Settlers

·          Southampton

·          Ancient Egyptians

·          Ancient Greeks

·          Britain since World War II

·          The Tudors

Geography

At Sarisbury Church of England Junior School, the geography we teach aims to be relevant, meaningful, exciting and challenging. It helps children make sense of the world in which they live and to respect the many cultures present in the world today. Through geography, children develop a sense of care and responsibility for the immediate location as well as for environmental issues which are current in today’s society. Through a creative and exciting curriculum, children in geography are encouraged to be brave, confident, original and to take calculated risks.  By using outside locations (field trips), children have the opportunity to ‘touch’ geography through real life and first hand experiences. Each year group incorporates an enquiry into their topic, as it enables children to solve problems, decision make, investigate and develop their thinking skills.

At Sarisbury, key elements in geography are taught through topics across the Key Stage which includes:

The Local Area

Southampton

India

Rivers

Cherbourg

Physical Education (P.E.)

Opportunities are provided throughout the school for pupils across all year groups to practise and develop their abilities in a range of sports and skills.

Gymnastics and dance take place in the well-equipped school hall. Skills with balls, ropes, bats and rackets are developed on the school playground. Football, netball, hockey, cricket, touch rugby, rounders and athletics take place on the playground or the large school field on a seasonal basis.

The school netball, football, athletics and cross-country teams take part in local leagues and competitions. This provides the children with opportunities for many inter-school events during the year. The children also have a variety of opportunities to participate in extra-curricular sports activities.

We hold a number of sporting events during the school year. In May the school takes part in a sponsored Fun Run to support the school and a local or national charity. In July an enjoyable and popular Sports Day is held which is well attended by parents and where all children participate.

Swimming

Swimming instruction is given to children in Year 5 during the Spring and Summer term. The sessions are led by fully qualified swimming instructors at Fareham Leisure Centre and therefore a small voluntary contribution is requested from parents.

Educational Visits

To enrich our curriculum studies, educational visits are arranged to take place at various times during the School year.  These visits help to bring children’s learning to life and therefore are very worthwhile.  Parents are usually requested to make a voluntary contribution towards the cost of these activities.  All ‘off site’ programmes are highly organised and closely monitored to accommodate safety regulations and guidelines issued by the Local Education Authority.

The School may seek voluntary contributions for curriculum enhancement activities such as school trips and visiting entertainers where charges are not permissible but costs will be incurred.  Such contributions must be genuinely voluntary and no pupil may be treated differently according to the parents’ ability to contribute.  There is no limit to the level of voluntary contribution that parents or others can make.  The School may wish to indicate the level of contribution per pupil which would be required if the activity were to take place and make it clear that it may not take place if there is insufficient voluntary financial support.

Personal Development Learning (PDL)

The personal development learning (Personal, Social and Health Education) of our pupils is at the core of our curriculum. We endeavour to provide our pupils with rich experiences that support the development of a positive sense for themselves, respect for others, key social skills and a positive disposition in which they feel motivated to achieve. The personal, social and health development of children is explicitly taught within the PSHE and Citizenship curriculum, whilst offering children the opportunity to develop these key skills in all areas of school life.

The PSHE curriculum explores a range of topics. It promotes a healthy lifestyle through greater understanding of; healthy nutritious diets, the importance of exercise, the effect of drugs including tobacco and emotional health and well being. Our topics explore safety by encouraging children to recognise the risks and dangers they may face in everyday life, including drugs and peer pressure; leading to strategies to cope with these situations.

Children will become more confident recognising different emotions, whilst gaining coping strategies for uncomfortable feelings. We explore different types of relationships, developing key social skills that will allow children to interact with a variety of people. Initiatives used to support our curriculum include: Rights, Respect and Responsibility, PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies) and Circle Time.

Citizenship develops pupils’ awareness of their community and how to become good citizens. Fostering respect for law, justice, democracy and the different opinions, values and cultures. Pupils in Year 6 are invited to join the school’s Civic Award programme which encourages a participation in variety of community service activities.

Key social skills refer to generic skills such as; communication, cooperation, evaluation and reflection, decision making and managing emotions. We feel that teaching these skills contributes to a child’s personality growth, enabling our pupils to improve their own learning and performance whilst preparing them for life in general.

The programme for PSHE is organised as follows:

Year 3:            Settling In; Friendships; Focus on Feelings; People and Their Work;

Keeping Safe in School; In Someone Else’s Shoes.

Year 4:            Feeling Good; Keeping Safe Outside of School; Being Involved in the Community; Changes in Families; Ups and Downs in Relationships; Looking Ahead.

Year 5:            We’re all Different; Keeping Healthy; Looking at the World; Risks and Pressures; Who Decides? It’s My Body.

Year 6:            Managing Conflict; Respecting Choices; Taking responsibility for my Safety; Changing Relationships; Transition and Managing Change; Rights, Responsibilities and the Law.

Religious Education

Sarisbury Junior is a Church of England School “Controlled” by the Local Education

Authority.  The church plays an important part in the life of the school and there are children from a variety of religious denominations on roll, most of whom participate in Collective Worship and Religious Education lessons. However, we do not seek to indoctrinate the children and religious education, predominantly Christian, is given in accordance with the Authority’s “Agreed Syllabus” and the legal requirements. Units on Islam and Hinduism enable children to understand other world faiths. Our regular Collective Worship invariably includes topics in moral education. The school works in close partnership with the Church and once a week visitors from St Paul’s Church, Sarisbury Green, lead an assembly with the children.   Parents have a legal right to withdraw their children from Religious Education and Collective Worship should they wish.

Collective Worship

Worship is an important of the school’s ethos at Sarisbury and children are encouraged to think, reflect, share and participate in a variety of ways. We are fortunate to have a number of regular visitors to the school who add to the children’s experiences and learning. Our approach to collective worship encourages the development of a community spirit, promotes a common ethos and enriches the school through our Christian values. Collective worship forms a key part of our children’s spiritual and moral development.

Collective worship at Sarisbury is organised as follows:

Monday                        whole school with Headteacher;

Tuesday                       whole school with our friends from St Paul’s Church;

Wednesday                 whole school with Deputy Headteacher or Year Leaders;

Thursday                      songs of praise;

Friday                           year group worship.

Our policy is based on the guidance given by Hampshire County Council and the majority of our acts of worship are of a Christian character.  Other faiths are given attention when appropriate.

We endeavour to create an atmosphere that enables the children to be receptive to the ideas or themes of the worship and to feel a sense of reverence for the values being expressed:

·          On occasions a candle will be lit at the beginning of the “special time” and extinguished at the end;

·          Suitable themes will be planned as a focus for a number of acts of worship;

·          Stories may be read or told;

·          Music performed and/or listened to;

·          Songs/hymns sung;

·          Poems read.

Children will have the opportunity to reflect on the worship through oral or silent prayer. Visitors may also be invited to lead an act of worship after being familiarised with this policy. Parents are reminded of their right to remove children from an act of worship.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Opportunities exist for children to participate in some activities which are

arranged by teachers on a voluntary basis during lunch times and after school, according to the season. 

Some of the activities are oversubscribed and applicants may have to wait until vacancies occur, whilst others are run by professional coaches and therefore attract a small charge.  Some examples of the activities offered to children are: 

·          art club,  choir,   recorder clubs,  netball,  football,  badminton

·          chess club,   cross-country club,  drama club,  cricket,  civic award (Y6)

·          indoor games club,  Hotspot ‘school newspaper’,  French club, Yoga

Home Learning

We believe that Home Learning is important for:

·          Reinforcing positive attitudes to work.

·          Encouraging self organisation and self discipline.

·          Reinforcing, broadening and extending the school curriculum.

·          Developing home/school partnerships.

·          Preparing pupils for life opportunities and experiences.

All Home Learning activities are carefully planned and structured to support progression in learning and will cover all aspects of the primary school curriculum.

Further details about the organisation of home learning at Sarisbury will be sent via year group newsletters; parents may also request a copy of our home learning policy.

In supporting your child at home, the following is recommended:

·          Talk with your child about the task that has been set.

·          Provide a suitable surrounding for home learning to take place.

·          Provide a “home learning” kit to include a writing pen (no biros please), pencils, colouring pencils, scissors, erasers, ruler, calculator and glue stick.

·          Encourage your child to do his/her very best in completing the tasks set.

·          Talk through the task when completed.

If difficulties occur, for whatever reason, please notify your child’s classteacher as soon as possible.

Assessing Children’s Progress

Assessment is a continual and vital process so that we can see the progress that children are making and help them to reach their potential in all aspects of their learning. Day to day assessment is carried out in class based on key learning outcomes and these are used to inform planning and children’s individual targets. More formal assessments, including the Standard Assessment Tests in Year 6 (SATs) are also used to help teachers to make judgements about the overall level children are working at. 

We aim to involve children fully in the assessment process so they can build an understanding of their strengths in different subjects. A summary of these strengths and future targets (Steps to Success) are used as a focus for discussion at the autumn and spring term parents’ evenings.

Progress is measured against National Curriculum levels and the expected attainment of children at the end of each year is as follows:

(because these levels are broad and cover a range of skills and understanding, levels are divided into three bands (c,b,a) a ‘c’ indicates attainment at the lower end of the level; an ‘a’ is the upper etc)

Should you have any concerns about your child’s level of attainment or progress, please contact the classteacher who will be happy to discuss these further.

Parental Access to a Child’s Records:

Sarisbury CE Junior School is the Data Controller for the purposes of the Data Protection Act.  We collect information directly from you and your family, but we may also receive information about you from your previous school and/or other professionals providing services to you. 

We hold this personal data and use it to:

·          support your teaching and learning;

·          monitor and report on your progress;

·          provide appropriate pastoral care, and

·          assess how well our school is doing.

Information held by us includes your contact details, national curriculum assessment results, attendance information, characteristics such as ethnic group, special educational needs and any relevant medical information.

We will not give information about you to anyone outside the school, without your consent, unless the law and our rules permit it. Please refer to the privacy notice in the appendices of this brochure for additional information.

Food in School

We encourage pupils to eat a healthy and balanced diet and aim to promote healthy living as part of our healthy school’s policy. Your support with this is much appreciated and therefore we ask that sweets given to a gift to the children (e.g. on birthdays) are taken home and not eaten on school premises.

Children are able to buy their lunch from the school cafeteria run by HC3 caterers on a daily basis at a cost of £2.00. A wide ranging menu on a three week cycle offers 4 set meals for your child to choose from, including a ‘light bite’ consisting of filled roll and sandwiches. The recipes have been specially designed by Hampshire Caterers to ensure a healthy balanced diet; details of the menus are available from the school office. Children choose their meal during morning registration and pay when they collect their meal. Lunch money is the responsibility of the child and therefore it is advisable to keep money in a purse or wallet clearly marked with your child’s name. Please note that children will need to bring lunch money in each day if they require a cooked meal. As lunches are ordered during registration, please contact the school if your child requires a school lunch and is going to be late.

Sometimes children forget lunch money and in emergencies the school office is able to lend your child small amounts. If this occurs, a message will be sent home; your prompt reimbursement would be much appreciated.

Packed Lunches

Provision is made for children to eat packed lunches during the midday break.  Packed lunches should be placed in a suitable lunch box, which is clearly named. In line with our healthy schools policy, we ask that you support us in encouraging a balanced diet and ensure that you child has access to a ‘healthy lunchbox’. Please contact the school should you require further information.  

Snacks

Snacks are highly beneficial to pupils during morning break as it provides an energy boost during the long morning. We encourage children to eat healthy snacks of fruit or vegetables. Cereal bars should be avoided as they can be less healthy and increase litter on the playground.

Free School Meals

Entitlement to free school meals is restricted to those children from families in receipt of Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance.  Applications must be renewed at the beginning of each new term.

Water

Water consumption is very important in maintaining healthy alert children, who are able to concentrate in class. To promote the consumption of water, the weekly ‘Fit Factor’ competition is held, where pupils need to bring in their water bottle each day. The class with the largest points score for the week is awarded the ‘Fit Factor’ trophy.

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