Prospectus2007

Details: Abernant County Primary School, Abernant, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire SA33 5RR Telephone : 01267 281418 E – Mail : head. abernant@ysgolcce. org. uk Headteacher : Mr. A.R. Davies B.A. P.G.C.E. Teaching Staff : Mrs. L. Davies Cert. Ed. Mrs. A. Elphick BSc (.3) Mrs. N. Pejsak - Special Needs Mrs. E. Page - Athrawes Bro. Mrs. M. Jennings - Peripatetic Music Mr.N. Roberts – Peripatetic Music Mrs. N.Scourfield- Care Assistant Miss E.Kitchen – LSA .5 School Governors: Chairman of Govenors Mrs.G. Lewis Esgair Hir Henfwlch Rd. Name Status Term Expires Mrs. K. Gabillia ACG May 2010 Mrs.L.Beynon Parent Nov 2010 Mrs. E. Kitchen C R Jan 2008 Mrs. S. Phillips LEA Dec 2007 Mrs. L. Davies Teacher Dec 2007 Mr. P. Smith Parent Dec 2007 Mr. W. Mills C R Jan 2008 Mrs. G. Lewis Parent Dec 2007 Mr. A. Davies Headteacher Mrs.M Griffiths L.E.A. Feb 2010 Cleaner in Charge: Mrs D. Evans School Cook: Mrs J Snarski Mid Day Supervisor : Mrs N.Scourfield Parents’ Association: Mr. P Smith (Chairperson) Mrs L. Mc Trundley (Secretary) Mrs W. Bradford (Treasurer) Times of Opening: 9:15 a.m. – 12:15 a.m. 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 pm. Type of School The school is a County Primary School having both infant and junior classes. Our pupils are drawn from a large catchment area stretching from Henfwlch to Talog; an area which essentially rural in nature. Our school is situated in a beautiful valley, surrounded by farmland and well away from any main roads. Abernant is a Category A school in accordance with the authority’s language policy. The aim of the policy is to ensure that all children are proficiently bilingual at the age of eleven. Until the beginning of year three, the vast majority of childrens work will be through the medium of Welsh. Structure of the School. The school is organised in two classes according to the childrens’ age: Class 1 - Reception, Years 1, Year 2 Class 2 - Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 & Year 6 Entry of Children to School Being a junior plus infant school, admission is in the term during which a child has its fourth birthday. All children are invited to visit the school in the term prior to entry and to spend either half or a full day in the Reception Class. Transfer of Children to Secondary School. Children leave the school at the end of Year 6 and begin secondary education in the September following their eleventh birthday. The majority of children transfer to Ysgol Bro Myrddin or Queen Elizabeth High. The problems that might arise for pupils transferring to either of these schools are eased by visits there and by visits to Abernant C.P. by members of their respective staff prior to the transfer date. Pupils transferring to Bro Myrddin are invited to Llangrannog Camp for a week, prior to transfer, to meet their peers from other schools and enjoy the activities on offer. School Hours The school day commences at 9:15 a.m. with school assembly which all pupils are expected to attend unless exempted on religious grounds. Morning session 9:15a.m. - 12:15p.m. Afternoon session 1:00p.m. - 3:30 p. m. It helps if children can be in school a few minutes before the morning session commences, but the school can take no responsibility for any child who arrives more than fifteen minutes before the morning session starts i.e. before 9.00 a.m. A member of staff is on duty fifteen minutes before the commencement of each day and fifteen minutes after its close. Attendances for 2006 Abernant has an excellent attendance record. Term No. on Roll % Unauthorised Absences Autumn 36 94.5 0 Spring 35 92.5 0 Summer 35 99.0 0 Absences Parents are requested to send notes or to telephone giving reasons for absence. Application for short leave of absence for any child can be arranged through the Headteacher, preferably in writing, up to a period of two weeks per academic year. Requests for longer periods should be made to the Local Education Authority. If your child has a doctor's, hospital or dental appointment during school hours then you are welcome to collect your child from school. Unfortunately we have no additional staff to deal with children who become sick in school, so these children have to be sent home. It is imperative that we have a contact telephone number for each child. In the event of inclement weather forcing the early closure of school, every attempt will be made to contact parents, either to collect their children or to inform them that they are on the way home by bus. The Aims of the School The general aims of the school are : • To stimulate the emotional and social development of the children so that they will be able to realise their maximum potential. • To create an awareness of and desire for the spiritual dimensions of life by giving the children knowledge of religions, particularly Christianity. • To instill a sense of moral values and to foster an awareness of the needs of others. The school sets out to provide every child with the opportunity of acquiring the following experiences in a caring society: • The development of basic skills in all subjects taught at the school with due consideration to the age, aptitude and ability of each child. All staff are committed to the development of basic skills. • The development of numerical skills and mathematical knowledge and understanding. • A sound introduction to the world of science and technology. • The development of language in all its various forms so that it becomes a purposeful and meaningful means of communication. This will include listening, speaking, reading, writing and literary appreciation. • An awareness and appreciation of the child's locality, language, culture, traditions and physical environment. • The encouragement of self expression through music, mime, drama, art, crafts and physical education. • An awareness of the need for personal hygiene, good manners and courtesy. • The encouragement of safe practices in the school, home and in the community. The Curriculum The school covers the National Curriculum in the core subjects of Welsh, English, Mathematics and Science and in the Foundation subjects. Infant pupils work in Key Stage 1 covering levels 1-3 depending on their individual ability. Junior pupils work in Key Stage 2 on levels 2-5. The school implements the curriculum mainly through a cross curricular approach. This entails teaching selected parts of the National Curriculum under a topic e.g. “Food” or “Our Environment”. There are certain times when work will be subject based. Teachers use a variety of teaching methods which involve pupils working individually, in small groups or as a class. We will be aiming to deliver a curriculum that will be: • Bilingual - pupils will be required to study English and Welsh culture and history as well as language. • Broad - introducing the pupils to a wide range of knowledge, understanding and skills. • Balanced - each part will be allocated sufficient time to make its special contribution, but not so much that it squeezes out other essential parts. • Relevant - subjects taught so as to bring out their application to the pupils' own experience and to adult life and to give due emphasis to practical aspects. • Differentiated - what is taught and how it is taught need to be matched to pupils' abilities and aptitude. • Continuous and Progressive - planned across the curriculum within a whole school policy - records kept by every teacher - dialogue between teachers Homework Homework is offered on a regular weekly basis but parents have the choice of refusing this extra work for their child. However, if it is accepted then the school expects support in seeing that the child completes the work set. Reading is seen as an important part of homework and children are encouraged to read at home as often as possible with either mum or dad. In line with the national strategy of raising the attainment of boys, we encourage reading at home with father, or the male guardian. Special Education Needs Parents who experience problems regarding the development of their child from an educational, behavioural or physical standpoint are encouraged to discuss their problems with the Headteacher. Children with special needs will receive as much individual attention as the class teacher is able to allocate, plus individual help from our Special Needs teacher. If greater in depth help is needed then referral to the Educational Psychologist may be necessary. In the event of no solution being possible within the framework of the school then transfer to a specialist unit - where expertise and resources are better geared to solving such problems - is possible. No referral for assessment by the Psychology Service will be made without prior discussion with parents. Access For Disabled Pupils and Carers At Abernant C.P. School, we are committed to ensuring equal treatment of all its employees, pupils and any others involved in the school community, with any form of disability. We aim to develop a culture of inclusion and diversity in which people feel free to disclose their disability and to participate fully in school life. The achievement of disabled pupils and students will be monitored and we will use this data to raise standards and ensure inclusive teaching. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure that the school environment is as accessible as possible. At Abernant C.P. School, we believe that diversity is a strength, which should be respected and celebrated by all those who learn, teach and visit here. This Disability Equality Scheme sets out an approach to promoting disability equality in all and every aspect of our school’s life and relates to: • Pupils • Parents/carers • Staff • Members of the wider school community Please contact the School if there are queries. Equal Partners We would like to work in partnership with you in providing an all round education for your child at Abernant School. Such a partnership would require you, as parents to: • support the school's aims and objectives • encourage self-discipline in your child • ensure that when homework is given it is satisfactorily completed and returned on time • keep us informed of anything that happens at home which might cause a change in behaviour/attitude of your child e.g. illness in the family • support extra curricular activities, such as school productions, open evenings, parents' meetings • take care of school books etc. when in your child's possession. School Uniform We encourage pupils to wear school uniform whilst noting that it is not compulsory. Our school uniform is a royal blue polo/sweatshirt with the school badge. Contact school for details. School Meals Lunch is at 12.15 p.m. each day with the choice of a cooked meal from the kitchen or a packed lunch. The school meals are prepared freshly every day following the L.E.A. guidelines for nutrition. Vegetarian options are provided every day. Pastoral Care The Headteacher has the overall responsibility for the school, but of necessity, in the matter of pastoral care he will depend on the co- operation of members of staff. Class teachers will be expected to undertake responsibility for pastoral care over those children registered in their classes. Minor accidents are dealt with by the class teacher, N.N.E.B., or in recreation times, by the teacher on duty. In the event of a major accident we will contact parents or convey children to a doctor, depending on the seriousness of the injury. Parents' home and work contact numbers are given to the school at the time of the child's enrolment, updating of any changes of these numbers is essential. Parents who wish essential prescribed medicines to be administered must give written permission and instruction of dosage and, on arrival at school, all medicines must be handed to the Headteacher for safe keeping. Parents are urged to bring to the attention of the school, any relevant information regarding their child, which may be useful to the school. Parents and School A happy partnership between home and school is very important to us. We run an “open door” policy at Abernant. Parents are always welcome here. There are annual Parents Evenings held so that parents can discuss and examine their child’s progress. Any parent wishing to discuss their child’s work during the term can do so by arranging an appointment with the Head Teacher. Do not be puzzled by anything connected with the school. Come and find out!! Home and school are the two most important influences on your child and he/she must feel that we are working together. If you do not understand Welsh, don’t worry about it. Please come and discuss it with us. We can help you. Complaints Procedure In the event that any parents are unhappy with an issue relating to the school then you are asked to contact the Headteacher immediately, either by telephone or in writing. Failing this, please write to the Chairperson of the Governing Body or The Director of Education, Education Headquarters, Pibwrlwyd, Carmarthen, SA31 2NH. Helping your child at home before starting school There are many ways in which you can help us to give your child the best education possible. Here are some of them - Talk and chat with your child. Answering his or her many questions helps to develop language, (in the car/bus is a good place) Story reading, watching television, listening to tapes or a radio programme as a shared activity When cooking or baking, let them help with the weighing of ingredients or mixing sometimes Do not neglect the old nursery rhymes and lullabies you knew as a child - teach them to your children When you are reading stories to young children it is helpful to explain that you are reading rather than simply telling a made up story. This helps the child to understand what print is Give your child as many experiences outside and inside the home as possible Encourage your child to become more independent in terms of dressing and tidying books and toys. Communication Letters are always sent to parents informing them of school functions, activities, closure days and holiday dates. A letter detailing arrangements for poor weather, e.g. snow, is sent out to parents before bad weather sets in. When children need to go home in a way which is different from their usual manner then we ask parents to send a brief note or telephone us in advance, e.g. going to another child's birthday party.