Miscellaneous curricular matters

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

The school provides every child with work which is appropriate to their level of attainment. However, if a child is experiencing particular difficulty with some aspect of learning, he or she will receive a special programme aimed at helping the child overcome the difficulty. Children who have statemented Special Educational Needs may receive extra help from a designated part-time classroom assistant or teacher. The school's policy for Special Educational needs incorporates the 1994 Code of Practice and parental involvement is sought at an early stage. Mrs. P. Martin is the school's Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator and she works closely with the class teachers to provide independent educational programmes. If you have any concerns about your child's progress, please, in the first instance speak to your child's class teacher. If your concern should continue please arrange to see the Headteacher.

PUPILS WITH DISABILITIES

At the present time our admissions policy is under review. The basis principle which we apply to admissions is that we will not refuse a place to a child who is disabled unless we feel that we would not be able to support their learning in a safe environment. We do not have specialised resources or provision for children who are physically disabled. The recent building work which has taken place has incorporated a ramp to assist access to the building.

ABLE PUPILS

The School has a policy for able and talented pupils and this if available to parents by request. All pupils are catered for in mainstream classes. Pupils are set for Mathematics from Year 3 upwards, this enables the differing abilities to be catered for. In all other subjects work is matched according to the needs and abilities of the pupils. Our Special Needs Co-ordinator also spends a percentage of her time supporting able pupils.

HOMEWORK

The school does have a homework policy. This is included on a separate leaflet. There is one policy for the infants and one for the Juniors.

ASSESSMENT, TESTING AND REPORTING

When your child enters school in Reception we will carry out a form of testing known as Baseline Assessment. This is to discover what your child can already do, so that we can plan for future learning accordingly. This testing will be carried out in your child's first few weeks at school. During your child's time at school he/she will be continually assessed by their class teacher. This may be in the form of tests or simply by observing what your child has achieved and the progress he/she has made. This continual assessment helps us to plan for your child's future learning and also gives us regular information on how well your child is doing, or whether additional support is needed in some areas. At the end of each school year, every child is tested in Reading and Mathematics. This gives us information as to how your child is performing nationally and also measures the progress made each year. The annual report is sent out in July. This is a summary of your child's achievements and progress during the year. If you require more frequent information this can be given verbally at the termly Parents Evenings. Please remember we are always happy to talk to you about your children's progress and how you can help them, but it is advisable to make an appointment first.

THE DAILY ACT OF WORSHIP

Collective Worship Co-ordinator - Ms. C. Dutton An Act of Collective Worship takes places each day, either as a whole school group, key stage groups or individual classes, with an emphasis on providing practical examples to children of how they may live. Most Acts of Worship are of a Christian nature but examples from the other major religions are included as appropriate, in order to inform and also value all children represented in our school. We frequently have visiting speakers into school from a variety of religious orders. Reverend Grey from St. Michael's has been a frequent visitor over the last twelve months and Mr. Wiseman from Bamford Chapel has also been involved. Over the next twelve months speakers from both the Jewish and Muslim faiths will be also invited into school. At various times during the school year, such as Christmas or Harvest our Act of Worship may take place at either St, Michael's CE or Bamford Chapel. Permission for these visits is always sought from parents prior to the visit taking place. Parents may withdraw their child from Collective Worship by written agreement with the Headteacher and Governing Body.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Religious Education Co-ordinator - Ms. C. Dutton This school is a non-denominational Grant Maintained Primary School. As with other County schools in Rochdale, this school follows the Authority's Agreed Religious Education Syllabus. Children learn about the teachings of the major religions with the emphasis on Christianity, as designated by National Guidelines. Parents may withdraw their child from Religious Education if they so wish, after consultation with the Headteacher. Polices for Religious Education and Collective Worship are in place and, as with all polices, are available to parents at their request.

COMPLAINTS

If you are unhappy or have a complaint, please tell us. It is very difficult for us to put something right if we don't know about it. Working together all problems can usually be rectified very quickly to everyone's satisfaction. How to complain: 1. First of all see the class teacher. 2. If still not happy speak to the Headteacher. 3. Write to the Headteacher outlining your complaint. 4. If still unhappy write to the Chairman of Governors at the school. 5. Finally write to the Secretary of State.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Art Club This takes place, usually on a Wednesday evening after school and is open to Year 5 and 6 pupils. Places in the club are limited, but there are plans to extend the club to younger pupils in the future. Book Club Your child will bring home leaflets from various book clubs throughout the year. If you would like your child to buy a book. please send the money into school with the order form. This is an excellent way to give your child a love a reading.. The school also runs the occasional 'Book Fair' which normally lasts for a week and is meant to give the children an opportunity to choose books to buy, with their parents. The school gets commission on sales and we use this to buy more books for our school library or class libraries. Choir This sometimes takes place during the school day, but more frequently after school, especially when rehearsing for concerts, shows etc. The choir takes part in various festivals, school assemblies and concerts. Computer Club There are plans to establish a Computer Club for both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils during this academic year. Cricket This takes place in the Summer Term and is open to all Key Stage 2 pupils(Boys and Girls). Football This takes places during the Autumn and Spring terms and is open to all Key Stage 2 pupils, (Boys and Girls) Maths Club This takes places throughout the year, usually on a Wednesday evening and is open to pupils in Years 3 and 4. There are plans to extend this to all pupils. Netball This takes places during the Autumn and Spring terms and again is open to all pupils in Key Stage 2 Nursery Rhyme Club Open to all Key Stage 1 pupils and runs throughout the year. Recorders The club runs at lunchtimes and begins with the younger pupils learning the decant recorder. Treble recorders are introduced later for those children reasonably proficient with the descant. Children perform in Assembly and for Concerts. Rounders This takes places during the summer term and is open to all Key Stage 2 pupils.

BEHAVIOUR POLICY

We have developed a policy of rewarding children for good behaviour. All new parents will be given a copy of this policy. We see it as of great importance that staff, parents and pupils work together if our policy is to succeed. Our policy includes a rewards system and also a sanction system for children who may find difficulty in co-operating with school rules. We try to keep school rules to a minimum, thereby maximising the impact of those rules which we expect children to keep. All of our rules are based on common-sense, respect for others and property. We establish our codes of conduct together with the children, which we feel gives them an understanding of the reasons for them. Each child has an achievement book which stores their reward stickers. 15 Reward Stickers=Bronze Medal 30 Reward Stickers=Silver Medal 45 Reward Stickers=Gold Medal 60 Reward Stickers=Lucky Dip We are aiming to develop this system into a 'School Citizen Award', which is intended to be a very prestigious award attracting privileges in school. The sanction system incorporates a 'red card' which indicates to the child that following a reminder they have continued to disrupt others or break rules. At the present time; The time schedules for our system is measured on one week. Each week a child begins a fresh. 1 red card=To stay behind in classroom 1 minute after everyone else has left. 2 red cards=To stay behind in classroom 2 minutes after everyone else has left. 3 red cards=To stay behind in classroom 3 minutes after everyone else has left. 4 red cards=A visit to see the Deputy Headteacher and explain their behaviour. This will result in a lost playtime. 5 red cards=The Headteacher will contact parents and arrange to see them in school in an attempt to solve problems before they become serious. Children are requested to stay behind at morning breaktimes or lunchtimes. They will never be expected to remain behind at the end of the day.

CHILD PROTECTION

The responsibilities for schools in the area of child protection are laid down in the Children Act of 1989. Because of their day to day contact with individual children during school terms, teachers and other school staff are particularly well placed to observe outward signs of abuse, changes in behaviour or failure to develop. All staff at school are aware of the need to alert Social Services and Child Protection Personnel when they believe a child has been abused or is at risk of being abused.

INFORMATION, POLICIES, REPORTS ETC.

All schools are now required to make information available relating to the School's statutory instruments, DFEE Circulars etc. HMI and OFSTED Reports concerning the School Polices and Schemes of Work etc. All these documents are available on request from the Headteacher. In some cases it may be necessary to make a small charge to cover photocopying costs e.g. OFSTED Reports.