Brize Norton Primary School

THE SCHOOL STAFF

	Headteacher
	Andrea Moss
	Teaching Staff
	Janice Robison
	Julia Giddins
	Sophie Kerr
	Alexandra Rae
	Kerry Sawyer
	Sheila Henderson
	Learning Support Assistants
	Mair Cox
	Lyn Bostock
	Lin Godfrey
	Annie Coombs
	Kim Bartlett
	Jo Dickson
	Paula Pugh

	Secretary
	Rosie Drake
	Admin Assistant (Dinner Money)
	Celena Byng
	Kitchen Staff
	Tammy Howard
	Ruth Taylor
	Lunchtime Supervisors
	Anne Green
	Kim Bartlett

	Cleaner in Charge
	Karen Eason
	Lollipop Lady
	Rose Meadows

USEFUL INFORMATION

Children swim at Carterton pool on Tuesday afternoon on a rota basis and need swim-wear and a towel. They are required to wear a hat and these can be purchased from school. They travel by coach to Carterton. We ask for a contribution to help cover the cost of swimming. Children who are in school are expected to take part in this activity.

In the Autumn and Spring terms each class prepares an assembly, once a term on a Friday afternoon at 2.40 p.m. The children share their work and achievements. Parents are very welcome to join us for this assembly. We also hold a certificate assembly once a term when we present music, swimming and curriculum awards to children throughout the school. These include behaviour, progress and improvement awards etc. Again, parents are warmly welcome to celebrate their children’s success.

In the event of illness or an accident, parents will be contacted as soon as possible. It is therefore very important for us to have a day-time number where we can reach you and that this is kept up to date.

If a child is going to be late for school or absent through illness, we appreciate a message before 9.30 a.m. as we are concerned if a child does not arrive. We are required to record reasons for absence daily, so if for any reason your child is going to be away, please send a letter explaining the circumstances. Unauthorised absences are recorded and reported to the Department for Education annually.

We have a school patrol crossing and we urge parents to show their children the importance of using it as the safest place to cross. PLEASE encourage your children, even when they are with you, to stand by the Lollipop Lady until she goes out to guide them across. It could mean saving their lives.

Parking near the school is very limited so we ask parents to be very careful not to block our neighbours’ drives. They are very interested in the school and supportive of us so this is a consideration we would appreciate. There is a village car park which is free only a short distance from the school and there is a footpath from there to the school. It is parents’ responsibility to see their children into school and to collect them after school.

We always need help in the school. If you can offer us one session, or even one hour, each week we will be very grateful. Please contact one of the staff to arrange a time.

Please discourage your children from bringing toys and other valuable items into school since we cannot take responsibility for them should anything happen to them.

For reasons of safety children should not wear jewellery in school. If they have their ears pierced, they should wear studs. No responsibility can be accepted for these by staff and they should not be worn on swimming days or PE days.

Working time during a week for Juniors is 23 hours 10 minutes and for Infants is 22 hours 20 minutes. These times do not include registration, assembly and breaks.

 

STAFFING AND ORGANISATION

Brize Norton Primary School takes children from the ages of five to eleven. There are four classes and a part-time teacher shares the year 3/4 classroom with the headteacher. The school secretary is in the office each morning and we have learning support assistants for a least part of the time in each classroom. Other adults help on a regular or occasional basis.

There are around 90 children on roll. They are grouped into four classes for most activities and within these are smaller groupings. The organisation is as flexible as possible so that the needs of individual children can be considered. The children are grouped by age, ability, socially depending on the activity they are involved in.

Pastoral care is exercised by all staff while the children are in our care. This includes all teaching staff learning support assistants and lunchtime supervisors. It is our aim to create a family atmosphere where all adults care for all children and all children care for each other. Children are supervised at all times and should an accident occur, parents are contacted as soon as possible. Failing this, medical help is sought by the headteacher in loco parentis.

The children are encouraged to be responsible and thoughtful in their behaviour, considering how it affects others in the community. We have a school council. Two children represent each class. Issues are written by the children or adults into the school council book. The council meets with a member of staff’ on Monday morning to discuss issues that have arisen. These are then brought to the attention of the rest of the school so that all the children are involved in the decision-making regarding break times. Awards are then given out for good behaviour, kindness and the most well behaved dinner table. Other awards are given for excellence in curriculum areas focussed on each term. Circle Time plays a large part in the children’s involvement in the general behaviour around the school and their commitment to each other. Issues like bullying are addressed in this open ’No Blame" atmosphere and the children agree strategies to deal with them. Each class discusses and negotiates the class rules relevant to them. If a child’s behaviour is giving concern, this is discussed at a personal level with the child and later with the parents if this is considered appropriate. Kindness, helpfulness and responsible behaviour are celebrated along with other achievements at our certificate assemblies.

Should any parent have a complaint regarding school curriculum, or any other matter, they should first contact the class teacher or the headteacher as appropriate. If attempts to resolve the complaint fail at this stage the next step would be to contact a governor who would advise on the appropriate action.

Study visits are an important extension of the children’s learning and visits are often planned as part of the children’s topic work. The older children are given the opportunity to make at least one field study outing where they can study an environment different from their own. In line with county recommendations, the governors have adopted a policy where voluntary contributions are requested to cover the cost of visits and other activities. Each request will state that there is no obligation to contribute and that a child will not be treated differently should their parent choose not to pay. In the event of the cost of a visit not being met, the activity would have to be cancelled. Activities for which the school charges, include the board and lodging element of residential visits activities outside school hours and the costs of materials that are used at school and later taken home.

Our studies are planned to ensure that all children are given every opportunity to gain maximum achievement in the skills and knowledge outlined in the National Curriculum, and that individual needs are recognised and catered for. These studies provide a focus for our work each term and give the children the opportunity to find information through personal research, observation, discussion and reading. They offer the children experience in recording their findings in writing, mathematically, in drawing, painting and music. All of these activities will be going on during an ordinary school day.

Reception children (4-5 year olds) are at the Foundation Stage and work towards achieving Early Learning Goals (ELGs) through the provision of Foundation Stage Activities. The children are in a mixed age range class consisting of Foundation and Year 1 children. We have recently opened our new garden, which has been developed to support the Early Learning Goals.

Children are taught to read in small differentiated groups guided by the teacher or other adult helper. Children are taught a range of reading strategies to get at the meaning of the text and are encouraged to explain their response to the text. The teacher also models reading strategies to the whole class using both big books and enlarged texts. We have a wide fiction and non-fiction library and children are encouraged to use these for their studies, their personal interests and simply for pleasure. Please read our ’Sharing Books with Children’ booklet. Children will need a book bag to take their books and reading record to and from school. These can be bought from school if desired. Writing is closely related to reading – the two activities enforce each other. Writing is a process modelled by the teacher who plans composition, spelling and handwriting activities to teach children both within the whole class and in small groups.

MATHEMATICS

Mathematics is taught through a wide variety of activities. We use a maths scheme, which follows the Numeracy Strategy guidelines. We will draw on other materials and encourage cross-curricular maths. Our teaching is aimed at understanding and enjoyment. We aim to provide the children with basic numerical skills, practice in these and the ability to apply them in a problem solving situation. We run a RM maths computer programme as a support to children’s mathematical learning. There is an after school maths club for Year 4, 5 & 6 children.

SCIENCE

Our aim is to encourage the children to think scientifically and to apply their thinking independently and in a wide variety of situations. Children learn to apply scientific methods of investigation and to acquire scientific knowledge of the world around them. Our science work follows the QCA Scheme of Work using Collins resources and topics are covered through a 2 year study programme designed to cover the National Curriculum programmes of study. We are very fortunate to have our own garden, willow dome, wild flower area, pond and chicken run. We use these facilities to enhance the science curriculum.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

The children use computers as a tool, to extend their recording, to handle data, and to challenge their mathematical thinking. The word-processor is widely used by all the children. Each class has its own computers which have internet access. I.T. is taught as a discrete lesson and computer work is incorporated into other areas of the curriculum. Other equipment which is used as appropriate includes digital cameras, video, audio equipment, dictaphones, and a roamer and turtle which are used for control technology.  All classes have interactive white boards.

DESIGN TECHNOLOGY

Each year group works independently and children are encouraged to plan their design work and follow it through to the production stage, redesigning and evaluating as necessary.

THE ARTS

Music and art hold a strong place in the life of the school. The children sing and have the opportunity to play their musical instruments, as well as to listen to recorded music, each assembly. From Year 3 children have lessons on the recorder each week. Some children have violin, flute, clarinet, cornet, trombone & saxophone lessons once a week from the Music for Schools Foundation music teacher or Oxfordshire Music for Schools Service. These are children who have shown some interest and aptitude. We have a wide range of percussion instruments for general classroom use. We take the older children regularly to the concerts in Oxford given by the Youth Orchestra and we take part annually in the Festival of Voices at Dorchester. The school produces 2 concerts a year, where children perform any instrument they learn either at home or school. All children take part in singing, irrespective of ability. The concerts are usually combined with a drama production, which again involves all children. Observational drawing is particularly encouraged both to help the children to look carefully, and for the satisfaction they gain from their finished piece of work. They also have many opportunities to work in a variety of media including paint, clay, collage and print as well as studying the work of other artists. The children benefit from occasional visits of a local artist.

FRENCH

French is taught to children in Year 5 and Year 6.  The emphasis is on spoken French but the scheme followed does involve written French.

PE

We have a village hall which is used for Gymnastics, dance and drama on Mondays and Fridays and the recreation ground is used for games when and where there is not enough space on our field. The children are encouraged to use their breaks for activities such as skipping and team games. The school house garden has recently been redesigned as a Foundation Stage and Infant play area during the year. A football club takes place on Monday from 3.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. This is run by a football coach formerly from Southampton Football Club.  Sports Club is on Wednesday from 3.15 pm - 4.00 pm.  This includes sports such as netball and cricket.

The children travel to Carterton each week, on a rota by coach to swim at the sports centre there. In keeping with County policy, most children are able to swim by the age of eleven. Sports achievements and awards are celebrated at the sharing assembly. Matches are arranged against other schools every half term and more frequently if possible.

SCHOOL ASSEMBLY/ RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

We gather each day either as a whole school or in class for assembly to consider some aspect of our relationship with each other, with the wider community and with our planet. This time also gives recognition to the spiritual dimension in our lives. The children participate in these assemblies by contributing to discussions, answering questions and posing their own experiences related to the subject or the assembly. This might be drama, a piece of music, or some particularly remarkable achievement they have made. Besides Christianity, two other major religions are studied throughout the school. Parents have the right to withdraw their children from religious education and collective worship if they so wish.

SEX EDUCATION

Our sex education programme is presented in the context of a broad and balanced programme of health education. It is integrated fully into the curriculum and is not isolated in any way. The aim of sex education in our school is to communicate to the children the knowledge they need to appreciate the individuality and uniqueness of each person, to cope with the physical and emotional changes of growing up and to give them the skills needed to build close relationships, expected of themselves and others. In the summer term, the school nurse gives a talk to the Year 6 children and deals with the onset of puberty. Parents are notified when this will be and they have the right to withdraw their child should they so wish, as they do for all or part of the Sex Education provided, except that which is required as part of the National Curriculum.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

SPECIAL NEEDS

We recognise that all children bring with them their own special needs; emotional, social, intellectual and physical, just as they bring with them their own gifts. Educationally there are needs to be met both in enabling children to overcome difficulties and in ensuring that their gifts are recognised and opportunities provided for them to extend their abilities.

We strive to identify children with particular learning difficulties as early as possible and to provide for them appropriately seeking outside help where this is desirable. The Educational Psychologist visits the school regularly to give advice or support to these children. Parents are always consulted before any referral.

ROAD SAFETY

This school endorses the County policy on road safety education, which states that it is a parent’s responsibility to train their child to cope with roads and traffic. The County provides and distributes a free training programme, Footsteps, to help parents do this. Schools will support this work by offering opportunities to reinforce learning both within and outside the curriculum, appropriate to the age and experience of the child. Cycling Proficiency is usually taught during the final year at the school.

THE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

We have a thriving School Association dedicated to the well-being of the school. In addition to fund-raising which has provided items the school could otherwise not afford, the Association organises social events both for families and for the village as a whole. They meet and plan various events throughout the year and always welcome the involvement of new families with fresh ideas. If you would like to know about the group, please contact Mr Shane Rae - telephone 07976 913555.

BRIZE NORTON SCHOOL MOTHER AND TODDLER GROUP

The local Mother and Toddler Group meets each Wednesday from 9.00 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.  This provides an opportunity for mothers of young children to meet. If you would like to know more about the group contact Christine Naus telephone number 01993 844010.

PLAYGROUP

We have a thriving village playgroup which meets four times weekly in the village hall and one session a week in the early years class at our school. There are close links with the school and the children benefit from this co-operation. If you would like further details about how to enrol your child or any other matter concerning the playgroup, please contact Christine Naus telephone number 01993 844010.

Key Stage 1 and 2 SATs results for Brize Norton School and Nationally

These can be found on our parents page on the web (click here)

The number of pupils on roll at January 2004 was 94.

Authorised Absence The percentage of half days missed through authorised absences was 3.68%

Unauthorised Absence The percentage of half days missed through unauthorised absences was 0.015%