Welcome to Burry Port Junior Community School

On behalf of the School Governors, the Headteacher and staff, welcome. If your child is joining us for the first time, we welcome you as parents and look forward to a happy and successful association, over the coming years. If you already have a child at the school, the welcome is equally as warm.

Preface

Burry Port Junior Community School came into being in 1981 - when the old Boys’ and Girls’ Schools were amalgamated. The Local Education Authority controls the school.

The children are encouraged to see the school as an integral part of their community and as an extension of their home and, as such, are taught to care for one another and for the world around as it unfolds to them as they progress through the school.

We hope that in the stimulating and caring atmosphere that we provide, every child will learn to work hard, enjoy their work and meet disappointments and setbacks with courage and determination, form relationships and adopt standards that will ensure a happy and well founded future.

The School Staff

Mr. D. J. G. Davies - Headteacher/ Art

Mrs. S. Reynolds - Deputy Headteacher Full time (6R/ English/PHSE/Assessment)

Mr. S. Evans - Full time (5E/P.E/Science)

Mrs. B. James - Full time (3/4BJ/SENCO/Maths)

Mrs. D. Vidrine - Full time (5/6V/Geography/History)

Mrs. J. Williams - Full time Senior Teacher (3/4JW/Welsh/R.E.)

Miss C. Evans - Full time (PPA/DT/I.T.)

Mrs. O. Rees - Administrative Officer

Mrs. D. Bonnell - Teaching Assistant

Mrs. G. Cook - Teaching Assistant

Mrs. L. Houston - Teaching Assistant

Mrs. M. James - Teaching Assistant

Mrs. J. Murphy - Teaching Assistant

Mrs. P. Ridgway - Caretaker

Mrs. S. Jones - Cook in Charge

Mrs. D. Curran - Mid-day Supervisor

Mrs. J. James - Mid-day Supervisor

Mrs. G. Morgan - Mid-day Supervisor

Mrs. M. Outen - Mid-day Supervisor

School Government

The official name of the school is Burry Port Junior Community School. It is controlled by Carmarthenshire Education Authority whose Director of Education is Mr. V. Morgan, Education and Children’s Services Department, Pibwrlwyd, Carmarthen, SA31 2NH. The school controls its finances under Carmarthenshire Locally Managed Schools scheme and is administrated by the Governing Body.

Members of the Governing Body

L.E.A

Dr. A. Davies, 38 Danlan Road, Pembrey, Burry Port. SA16 0UF

Cllr. S.R. James, 31 New Street, Burry Port. SA16 0RT

2 Vacancies

Parents

Ms B. J. Davies, 12 Carway Street, Burry Port.

Mrs G.A.J. Evans, 60 Gwscwm Park, Burry Port SA16 0YU

Mr. M. King, 21 Gwscwm Park, Burry Port. SA16 0DX

Ms C. Rees, 59B Stepney Road, Burry Port. SA16 0BP

Mrs. H. Williams, 12 Tan y Coed, Burry Port (Chairperson)

Headteacher

Mr. D.J.G. Davies.

Teachers

Mrs. D. Rees

Mrs. J. Williams

Community Representative

Mrs. H. Aston, 16 Waun Deri, Pembrey, Burry Port. SA16 0LF

Mrs. B. Lewis, 141 Pencoed Road, Burry Port. SA16 0PS

Mr. N. Evans, 146 Stepney Road, Burry Port. SA16 0BP

Mr M Ridgway, 50 Stepney Road, Burry Port. SA16 0BE

Additional Community Representative

Mrs. Sylvia Howell, Arfryn, 95 Stepney Road, Burry Port SA16 0RR

Staff

Mrs. M. James, 31 New Street, Burry Port. SA16 0RT

The Building

The school consists of three separate educational buildings and a newer separate canteen. We have six classrooms, a library, a hall, a staff room, Headteacher’s room, stockrooms, cloakrooms, A.V.A. and Science facilities. We also use the dining hall as an assembly and P.E. area. Around the buildings we have tarmacadam play areas. We would appreciate the help of parents in keeping the yard a safe area by asking you not to bring your cars into the play area at any time.

Curriculum

The children are taught a balanced blend of intellectual and practical skills, including speech, listening, reading, writing, mathematics, art, craft, design/technology, music, geography, history, science, religious education and physical education (including swimming for the older pupils at the Llanelli Leisure Centre). Sex education is taught in National Curriculum Year 5/6 with the emphasis on family relationships and love. Parents have the right to withdraw their children from these lessons if they so wish. The full policy on Sex Education is available at the school.

Religious Education

The school follows the Carmarthenshire guidelines for Religious Education and centres its whole policy, which includes assemblies and class lessons around the Christian ethos. The school caters for and is sympathetic to all other religious beliefs. Parents have the right to withdraw their child, wholly or in part, from Religious Education lessons and collective worship; other members of staff or the Headteacher would then cater for these pupils.

Full use is made of technological equipment such as televisions, VCRs, radio, tape recorders, cameras and computers.

Educational visits linked to Themes are undertaken and speakers are invited into school to broaden the children’s experience. The school has peripatetic classes in violin and guitar.

Sport

The school prides itself in the number of sports and sporting activities it takes part in. At present the school teaches Rugby, Soccer, Netball, Cricket, Rounders, Cross-Country.

The school is also proud of the clubs it runs as extra curricular activities in which all our staff are involved.

The school has close links with the Burry Port Infant School and Glan-y-Mor Comprehensive School.

The Welsh Language category of the school is "B", which means that we teach Welsh as a second language with English being the main medium of communication.

Organisation

The school is a Junior school and, therefore, takes children in who are eligible for N.C. Year 3 education, that is 7 years of age. Parents may view the school by appointment. Children leave the school in the August following their 11th birthday to attend local secondary schools - usually Glan-y-Mor Comprehensive - or other schools of their parents’ choice. Details of schools are sent out to parents during the Spring Term of the final year. The school has six classes at the present time.

Classes are numbered in the National Curriculum years, Year 3 to Year 6 and are identified by the initial of the teacher’s name.

Special Educational Needs

The number of pupils with Special Educational Needs as identified by the Code of Practice staged Referral Procedure were as follows:


	School Action	School Action Plus	Statement
Year 3	5	2	2
Year 4	11	2	0
Year 5	1	2	2
Year 6	6	2	3+1p/t
Total	23	8	7+1p/t

Initial Concern

Year 3 7

Year 4 4

Year 5 5

Year 6 0

Total 16

Identification

Children are identified initially as having Special Educational Needs either because of information received from the feeder Infant School, or from:

Teachers' observation/tests;
Parents' observations/comments.

Assessment

The school uses a combination of English/Mathematics tests and observations to assess children's needs.

Provision

Children's needs are catered for in the mainstream classes with additional support if necessary. Class teachers provide appropriate levelled work across the curriculum. Support teaching is given, either on a withdrawal or in-class basis.

Monitoring/Record Keeping

Children's work is reviewed by class/support teacher. Evidence of progress or areas of concern are noted in various recording systems.

Support Services/Agencies

When necessary, the school will call upon external specialists to support individual teachers in planning specific work or will help to assess children.

Speech Therapy
Education Psychology
Hearing/Visually Impaired Service
Family Therapy Support

Success of Policy

On going discussions by the whole staff ensures that the policy is a working one. We are constantly aware of children's needs, changing Government policy and are therefore concerned with the effectiveness of our provision.

Referral System

At present there is total integration with support. In the future there will be a change in the referral system in that the educational psychologist sees children in blocked units of time allocated for discussion, assessment, programmes of work. The school has to prioritise children referred.

The links are as follows:

Educational Psychologist - Support Services
Feeder Schools - meetings Summer term - Headteacher/
Year Group teacher/SENCO.

Allocation of Resources

Based on the L.E.A. Audit of Special Educational Needs.

The school runs an "open door" policy whereby parents are kept in touch with their child’s progress by informal talks, termly parents’ evenings and by annual reports. Parents are welcome to consult the staff (including the Headteacher) at any stage of their child's education, but please, if possible, send a note or telephone a message in advance.

School Times

All classes:

08.45 - 12.30 morning session

13.30 - 15.15 afternoon session

There is a small tuck shop in school, which sells fruit and drinks, during the morning break.

Rules

Dress

Winter for the boys - Grey or black trousers, light blue polo shirt, navy jumper or sweatshirt.

Winter for the Girls - Grey or navy skirt or tunic, grey or black trousers, light blue polo shirt, navy jumper, cardigan or sweat shirt,

Summer for the boys - Plain blue or black shorts, plain t-shirt/polo shirt.

Summer dress for the girls - (blue/white gingham checks or stripes) or shorts or skirt, plus plain blue or white t-shirt/polo shirt.

Year 6 children only can also wear red polo shirts.

No multi-coloured shorts or t-shirts are to be worn in school. No cycling shorts are to be worn.

School Uniform is available for purchase from Claire Adams School Wear, Cowell Street, Llanelli and Manhattan Marketing, Thomas Street, Llanelli.

Children should not be in the school grounds before 8.30 a.m. unless they are attending the free Breakfast Club which starts at 8.15 a.m. Children should be in school for the start of the school sessions commencing at 8.45 a.m. and 1.30 p.m.

When the bell rings, all children should line up immediately in their proper areas.

No jewellery or make-up to be worn in school.

Sweets or chewing gum are not to be brought to school.

Children who bring bikes to school should push their bikes through the yard.

A note is required if your child is absent from school.

If a child leaves school early the child in question must be picked up from the classroom. Permission must be obtained from the Headteacher.

Children will not be allowed to stay in at break time or lunchtime if they attend school while they are unwell. (If they are fit to come to school they are fit to go out to play). This rule does not apply to children who become ill while they are in school. Should children need to go to the toilet during break time, the toilets in the middle block will be used.

All children must stand still (wherever they may be) when a vehicle enters the school yard.

Due to vandalism, no children should play in the school grounds after school hours.

The children of Burry Port Junior School should behave with courtesy and responsibility both in and out of school. Do not forget that wherever you go, you are ambassadors of your school.

The observance of these simple rules will help us look after the children in our care.

Equal Opportunities/Racial Equality

The school provides equal opportunities throughout all educational facilities for all its pupils no matter what creed, colour, religious or cultural persuasion they may be. The school also provides equal opportunities for children with emotional or physical disabilities.

Attendance

Over the last three terms attendance at the school has been 93% with 2.31% unauthorized absences.

School Behaviour

The one rule for all of us in school is "Everyone will act with courtesy and consideration at all times".

This means that:

You always try to understand other people's point of view.
In class you make it as easy as possible for everyone to learn and for the teacher to teach. This means listening carefully, following instructions and helping each other when appropriate and being quiet and sensible at all times.
You move gently and quietly about school. This means never running, barging or shouting, but being ready to help by opening doors, standing back to let people pass and helping to carry things. In crowded areas please keep to the left.
You always speak politely to everyone (even if you feel bad tempered!) and use a low voice. (Shouting is always discourteous)
You are silent whenever your are required to be.
You keep the school clean and tidy so that it is a welcoming place we can all be proud of. This means putting all litter in bins, keeping walls and furniture clean and unmarked and taking great care of the displays, particularly of other people's work.
Out of school locally or with a school group, you always remember that the school’s reputation depends on the way you behave.

Homework

It is the policy of the school that homework be set.

Reasons for Homework

It provides a means of involving parents in their child's education, by enabling them to see examples of school work, and to give assistance and encouragement if needed. It will provide a means of consolidating school work.

It will help develop good habits, e.g. setting aside time at home for regular study.

Frequency of Homework

Homework will be set at a minimum of twice a week.

Format of Homework

Written exercises in language or mathematics.

Investigation, e.g. problem solving, independent study skills, or project.

Reading at Home

Reading at home will be in addition to the above, and could take the following form:

Reading for PLEASURE

Reading for INFORMATION

SHARED READING with parent or others

Punishment for infringements of rules includes sharp rebukes, repeating or completing work or loss of privilege as is deemed appropriate to the age and the offence of the individuals.

Corporal punishment is not used. If a child repeatedly breaks the rules or bullies, the parents will be informed.

Project Work

Projects are given to the children in all year groups, with the number of projects increasing as the children get older. However, they do not exceed two projects per year. The school feels that they help the children with their work and prepare them for their Comprehensive education.

Educational Visits

The school believes that educational visits give stimulus to the work undertaken in the classroom and that they are an invaluable experience for our children. We try and keep these to a minimum, but all educational visits must be financially viable for them to take place.

Annual residential visits are made to The Lady Stepney Centre, Pendine, in Year 5.

Charging Policy

At present, the school has a charging policy for school visits. The parents for school trips are asked to contribute fully to the cost of the trip (50% reduction if more than one child from the same family attends the trip). However, no children will be excluded from school trips that run during school time. The full policy is available in school.

Home/School Agreement

The school operates a Home/School Agreement policy, which outlines our partnership with parents. These are given out to all new children joining the school.

Medicines

Staff will take care of inhalers for asthma sufferers for use as required. The staff may not administer medicines and children must not be in possession of medicines while at school. The Headteacher will administer (all necessary medicines after consultation with parents).

Most members of staff are fully qualified as first aiders and parents will be notified immediately if it is felt that the child needs to be examined by a doctor.

Lunchtime

Children may go home, eat a lunch cooked in the school kitchen, or bring a packed lunch. A drink is available with school lunch, a drink (no glass bottles)may be brought to accompany a packed lunch (please, no shandy).

Children who cannot behave in the canteen will be asked to have their lunches at home. Meals are served at 12.30 p.m. Many children are entitled to free meals, and these can be obtained on enquiry from the Education and Children’s Services Department, Pibwrlwyd, Carmarthen (Tel. No. 01267 234567). Those paying should try and pay on the Monday, but monies can be brought on the Wednesday or Friday. Children are not allowed to eat during school time, but children may bring a small snack from home if parents wish, but this is to be eaten during morning break.

School Inspection

As part of the national programme of school inspection, an inspection of the school was undertaken on the 4^th, 5^th and 6^th November, 2002. A copy of the Inspectors summary report is available at the school.

Complaints Procedures

The school operates a complaints procedure in line with L.E.A. practice. Initially parents should approach their child’s class teacher and, if this does not resolve the problem, they should make their complaints known to the Headteacher. The full policy is available at the school.

Home School Association

A Home School Association has recently been re-established and the Committee are arranging various fund raising event. A warm welcome is extended to all new parents to join the organisation.

Non-Smoking Policy

The school has a strict non-smoking policy for all adults in the school buildings. Could you please help us with this policy, please refrain from smoking within the boundaries of the school.

Collecting Children

No cars are allowed in the school yard at any time to pick up children. Non-compliance with this request could lead to accidents.

All parents visiting the school must firstly report to the Headteacher or Deputy Headteacher. Please follow arrows from gates.

Admission

Parents of new Year 3 children are invited up to the school in the Summer Term to discuss the child's new school and our philosophy of education within the Key Stage 2 phase. New intake children also visit the school in the Summer Term to meet their new teachers and to familiarise themselves with the building.

National Curriculum Test

SAT’s were abandoned in Wales in 2005. Teacher Assessment Levels, based on the years work, and current NFER tests scores, are submitted, to the WJEC for scrutiny.

Health and Safety

The school operates a Health and Safety Policy, which is available in the school. Every effort is made to make sure that the environment of the school is a safe and happy one. The school is monitored by C.C.T.V. and all doors are fitted with digital locks.

Useful Websites

NGfL Cymru

BBC Schools

Burry Port Junior Community School is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Click here to view a full list of the School Holidays

Click here to visit the Glanymor website

Burry Port Junior Community School is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.