Ushaw Moor Junior School on-line brochure

Contents:

1. Message from the Headteacher
2. School philosophy
3. The Curriculum
4. The Staff
5. The Governors
6. So what else is happening?
7. Uniform and Jewellery
8. School Meals
9. Absences
10. Discipline Policy
11. The school day and holidays
12. Home / School Agreement

Message from the Headteacher

Thank you for considering Ushaw Moor Junior School as your choice for your child’s education. I’d like this to be the first stage in a four year partnership in which we work together to provide the best education possible for your child. Education does not start and end at our gates. As parents you are your child’s best teacher because you know your child better than we ever can. Your help is vital.

We will try to give you the information you need about your child’s progress at school. We will provide:

Regular newsletters about the events and life of the school.

Three open nights a year.

Targets set for the children early in their first term of their junior school career. These are monitored and moderated throughout the four years. You are invited to be a partner in this process.

Homework is set each week. This gives you an opportunity to really get involved in the teaching process and to understand the standards that your child is working towards.

If your child has Special Educational Needs you will be invited to meetings at least each term where individual education plans are made.

Last year was a very successful one for the school.

We had an excellent OFSTED inspection report

We were awarded the Quality Mark from the Basic Skills Agency

We were awarded a £1000 computer from Education Extra because of our after school provision.

This year, we have gained an award from the DfEE because of our SATs results from 1999 / 2000

The school intends to provide the best quality education so that every pupil’s potential is fulfilled.

We have developed a definition of education which is:-

The development in children of an understanding of themselves as individuals and of themselves within the broader human context.

In practical terms this definition means that we will try:

To develop pupil’s awareness of spirituality both within themselves and others.

To develop respect for each other’s thoughts and feelings.

To give the children a feeling of being empowered, that they can make a difference to their own lives and those of others.

To develop an awareness of the pupil’s place in the natural and physical environment.

To encourage children to be active participants in their own education.

We will endeavour to achieve these aims by:

Ensuring that whatever is leaned is relevant to the child.

Ensuring that the children have real choices.

Giving some responsibility and control to the children.

Encouraging the children to ask their own questions and find their own answers.

Helping children learn to learn, to develop strategies and to understand that mistakes can be profitable in the seeking after knowledge.

Giving children the means to communicate.

Developing self esteem.

Encouraging creativity in the pupils.

Respecting children at all times and in all situations.

Ensuring that all pupils feel safe, secure and happy to be at school.

The Curriculum

This school caters for children from age 7 to 11. This corresponds to the National Curriculum Key Stage 2, years three to six inclusive.

The National Curriculum forms the basis of the education pupils receive. Mathematics, English, Science and Information Communication Technology form the core, with History, Geography, Art, Music, Physical Education and Technology. Religious Education is also taught although it is not part of the National Curriculum. Copies of policies are available for inspection upon request.

Music :Pupils will be encouraged to compose and play their own music. Some will be able to learn to play the violin and others a brass instrument. The pupils are also introduced to the work of major composers.

Technology: This is involved in the generation of a design, putting the design into practice and making a finished product or artefact. Finally the work is evaluated by the pupil.

Religious Education: Our teaching is in line with the Durham Agreed Syllabus. We aim to give the pupils an opportunity to learn about Christianity. Children will have studied at least two other world religions by the end of Key Stage 2. Please note that pupils may be withdrawn from Religious Education and Collective worship. Parents who would like to arrange for this to happen should contact the headteacher.

Parents are invited to regular meetings to produce individual Education Plans for their children.

Sex Education: This is not a subject in itself on the curriculum. However, many aspects of it occur naturally throughout the year, particularly in Natural Science.

The school nurse will, with parental permission, talks to the year five and six pupils about puberty. Parents have the right to withdraw their child from any sex education lessons.

Each subject is planned very thoroughly. We teach through National Curriculum subjects rather than cross curricular themes, although where links are obvious we make use of them.

Although we have mixed age groups through the school, the curriculum is so arranged that no matter which class or which teacher the pupil has, that child will not miss out on any of the programmes of study.

We have a two year cycle of programmes so that concepts will be met twice, once at a lower level and again at a higher level.

Ms R M Hall Deputy Headteacher

Miss C Hutton

Mrs M Padgett

Mrs J Smalley

Mrs A W Stephenson

Mrs J Kidd Special Needs Teacher

Mrs B Champion Special Needs Auxiliary

Mrs S Newton Special Needs Auxiliary

Mrs J Widdowson Classroom Assistant

Mrs G Ilczyszyn Classroom Assistant

Mrs D Hughes School Clerk

Mr R Storey Caretaker

Mrs J Hirst Cleaner

Mrs N Wood Cleaner

Mrs M Jones Cook

Mrs A Kirby Kitchen Assistant

Mrs K Fullard Supervisory Assistant

Mrs S Tawn Supervisory Assistant

Governors are elected or appointed for a period of four years. The Governors meet at least once a term to oversee the management of the school.

Sub committees, such as the "Finance and General Purpose" or the "Curriculum" Committee meet regularly and report back to the full Governing Body.

The Governors Make decisions regarding the finances of the school, staffing levels and appointments, the maintenance of the building and of the grounds. Indeed they are concerned with the whole life of the school.

If you wish to raise any matter for the attention of the Governors please feel free to contact the Headteacher or any of the Governors.

The Governors hold an Annual Meeting to which all parents are invited. A yearly report from the Governors is distributed to all parents.

Mrs J Egglestone LEA

Mr T Fullard Minor Authority

Mrs E Cummings Co-opted

Mrs K Grayson Parent

Mrs J Bell Parent

Mrs L Green Parent

Mrs L Nixon Parent

Mrs C Grimes Parent

Mrs D Hughes Non-teaching staff

Mrs A W Stephenson Teacher Governor

Mr J Ord Headteacher

You can get a flavour of life in the school from the following activities, which have taken place over the last year.

Soccer training is available every Tuesday evening, courtesy of Mr Storey. His team won the Deerness Valley League and were very unlucky semi-finalists in the Aged Miners Cup Competition. Our girls seven-a-side soccer team were the beaten semi-finalists in a 60 team soccer festival held at Maiden Castle.

Mrs Stephenson trains the athletics. We took part in the Festival of Athletics at Chester le Street, acquitting ourselves very well. Teams also took part in two Cross Country events.

Rugby was encouraged by Mrs Stephenson and Miss Hutton. We entered two competitions doing very well in both.

Our annual sports day takes place in July. All children compete and all receive a badge.

Classes 4and 5 will be going swimming during the year.

Membership is free and all parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles are automatic members. It is your association and the events and activities are organised by parents for parents, not only to support the school in fund raising but also to have a good time.

Every summer we have a well attended fair.

During last year we had a visit to York, quiz nights, bingo and discos.

We enjoyed the traditional fun of the Easter Parade, with bonnets and masks. Prizes were awarded for the best of those for each year group and also for the best decorated eggs.

During Harvest Festival each class contributed readings, poetry, music and plays to our celebrations. The generous donations of fresh fruit and tinned goods are distributed to the elderly of the village by the year six children.

Apart from the parties, the children celebrated Christmas with two performances of "Hosanna Rock" (thanks to Ms Hall and Miss Hutton) and a Carol Service at St Luke’s. This service was particularly special as we shared our singing with the children and staff of the Infants School.

A light blue or white blouse or polo shirt.

A royal blue or navy pullover, sweatshirt or cardigan.

Reasonable shoes without large platform or high heels.

Grey/black trousers or navy jogging bottoms.

A light blue or white shirt or polo shirt.

A royal blue or navy pullover or sweatshirt.

Reasonable shoes.

All items of clothing should be clearly marked with the child’s name.

Uniforms can be purchased from the school.

It is most important that you support the ethos of the school by insisting that your child wears the uniform

This is kept in a box in the central area of the school. The school reserves the right to dispose of unclaimed items at the end of each term.

Please provide the following for indoor PE:

A pair of gym shoes, shorts a vest or tee shirt.

Girls may wear leotards.

Please note that outdoor trainers should not be worn for indoor PE.

Any sports wear will suffice for outdoor PE.

In winter a tracksuit may be advisable.

Sweatshirts and jogging pants can be purchased through the school.

Please note that stud earrings are the only jewellery allowed in school. These should be removed before swimming or PE lessons. If this is not possible them they should be covered by a sticky plaster provided by yourselves.

These are delicious and nutritious. Mrs Jones, the cook, provides no nonsense, value for money with her varied and tasty meals.

Pupils usually have a choice of two main meals, together with a choice of dessert, often a steamed pudding, yoghurt or fresh fruit.

At the moment a school meal costs £1.30 per day. Dinner money should be sent to school each Monday morning. Cheques are accepted, made payable to Durham County Council. If a cheque bounces this facility will be with drawn.

Application forms for free school meals are available from the school clerk.

Those children who wish to bring packed lunch may do so. It is important to remind pupils who take this option that they are still under the supervision of the Supervisory Assistants and must be well behaved.

Please inform the school immediately by telephone if your child is absent. If this is not possible, it is most important that a letter explaining even the shortest absence is sent to school with the returning pupil. Absences without a letter/phone call are treated as "unauthorised" and pupils are noted as possible truants.

For their own safety, children are not allowed to leave school during the day for any reason, including dental treatment or doctors/hospital appointments, unless collected by a parent or other known adult.

We consider good and sensible behaviour to be very important. We have developed a number of strategies to encourage this.

As well as rewarding children with verbal praise and encouragement, the teachers use house points and certificates.

During the day as the teacher notices the pupil behaving well or working hard, the teacher will reward the child with house points.

When children have received 75 house points they will be rewarded with a bookmark. 150 house points entitles the child to a Bronze Award and a special pencil. A Silver Award and a pen are awarded for 250 house points. A special prize and certificate is given to any child who achieves the Gold Award for 400 house points.

All certificates and awards are given out during assemblies so that everyone can share the achievement.

Each week a number of pupils will receive a Merit Badge. These are for pupils who have made a great effort with their work or behaviour during the previous week.

At the end of term one child from each class will receive a Merit Trophy for outstanding effort.

The parents of pupils who fail to respond to such encouragement and misbehave or display a poor attitude to their work, will be contacted. We have high standards and know that parents will continue to support us in keeping them.

Each day begins at 9.00 a.m. Morning break is from 10.30 until 10.45. We then work until lunch time at 12.00. The afternoon session starts at 1.00 p.m. with afternoon break at 2.15 until 2.30. School closes on the afternoon at 3.30 p.m.

The school holidays are as follows:

School closes Friday 20^th July 2001.

Reopens Wednesday 5^th September 2001.

School closes Friday 19^th October 2001.

Reopens Monday 29^th October 2001.

School closes Wednesday 19^th December 2001.

Reopens Thursday 3^rd January 2002.

School closes Friday 8^th February 2002.

Reopens Monday 18^th February 2002.

School closes Friday 22^nd March 2002.

Reopens Wednesday 10^th April 2002

School closes Friday 3^rd May 2002.

Reopens Tuesday 7^th May 2002.

School closes Friday 31^st May 2002.

Reopens Monday 10^th June 2002.

School closes Thursday 18^th July 2002.

Reopens Wednesday 4^th September 2002.

As parents, we will do everything we can to help our children be successful at school by:

Encouraging hard work

Encouraging good attendance

Being firm against bad behaviour

Rewarding good behaviour

Insisting that school uniform is worn

Insisting that jewellery is left at home

Helping with homework

Attending open nights and other meetings

Parents signature ……………………………………………………

As a pupil I will:

Keep the class and playtime rules

Try my best with my work

Be friendly towards everyone in school

Child’s signature …………………………………………………….

As teachers, we will do everything we can to help our pupils be successful at school by:

Delivering high quality lessons to the best of our abilities within a broad and balanced curriculum.

Providing a secure and caring environment in which every child feels valued and safe to learn.

Rewarding good behaviour.

Ensuring that the needs of children of all abilities are met.

Setting targets for your child and sharing them with you.

Giving regular feedback to parents during open nights, individual Education Plan Meetings and on other occasions as required.

Providing three written reports on your child’s progress throughout the year.

Sending home suitable reading books together with literacy and numeracy homework.

Providing regular information about life in school, in the form of newsletters and diary sheets.