The School

General Philosophy
The school's general philosophy is to provide a caring environment wherein each child can attain its full potential. Within the extended family community, we encourage the child to learn through experience, to co-operate with others, to appreciate the trust between parents, teachers and children; and by self motivation to move forward with confidence. We encourage children to question, learn independently and think for themselves. We aim to take each child along the path of discovery and will endeavour to meet each child's needs along the way. We aim to provide a stimulating and varied atmosphere, and make the learning process enjoyable , positive and flexible.

We encourage confident, creative, literate and numerate children who are morally and socially responsible. They will have respect for, and an understanding of, other races, religions and ways of life. As adults, we hope that they will have acquired the knowledge and skills relevant to their life in an ever changing world. Parental involvement within the school is welcomed, and enables us to provide a very broad curriculum. Everyone who works at the school has your child's best interests at heart.

The School
The school was built in 1876 and is of traditional construction, made of local red sandstone and brick. The main building consists of a large classroom currently used by Class 3, a hall, staff room, library, Headteacher and Secretary's office, group rooms, small kitchen, cloakroom and toilets. There are three mobile classrooms on the grounds; they are used by Class 1, Class 2 and a new building housing the After School room, school kitchen and Ladybirds Preschool. We have an adventure playground, a tyre park, willow dome, quiet area, a walled garden and  a grass playing space. We also have a detached playing field.

There are approximately 75 children on roll aged 4 to 11 years old. At age 11 years the majority of children progress to Kingsmead Community School at Wiveliscombe.
The children are taught in three mixed aged classes. Our catchment area extends across several parishes. Please contact the school if you are unsure if you live within this area. School transport is available if your child is within our catchment or if we are the nearest school. To be eligible your child must be under 8 and reside 2 miles from the school, or over 8 and reside 3 miles from the school. Children are transported using minibuses and taxis.

Organisation
Children will usually spend seven years at Primary School: R (reception) Year 1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5 and Y6.
We arrange our classes in the following way:

R/Y1 (age 4 - 6) Class 1	Y2/Y3 Class 2	Y5/Y6 Class 3

     

Year 4 pupils may be in Class 2 or Class 3. The criteria for this depend on the needs and size of each individual cohort, year by year.

School operates for 190 days per annum with 5 extra days for in-service training.

We start at 8.45 am and end at 2.45 pm (Class 1) and 2.55 pm (Classes 2 and 3), with an hour for lunch at 11.45 am.  We provide after-school care until 4.30pm.
Please deliver and collect your children promptly.

The lane outside the school is narrow so if you are unable to park outside the school (ensuring that you do not park in the staff and mini bus parking areas) the village hall committee have kindly allowed us to make use of their car park which is situated just down the hill from the school.
The whole school is a NO SMOKING AREA.
The school secretary is available Monday -Friday from 8.30 am - 3.00 pm.
The Headteacher is available by appointment.

Curriculum
The six areas of learning in the foundation stage (YR) are:

• Personal, social and emotional development
• Knowledge and understanding of the world
• Communication, language and literacy
• Physical development
• Mathematical development
• Creative development

There are 12 subjects in the national curriculum for 5 - 16 year olds:

• English
  
• Science
  
• Mathematics
• Modern Languages
  
• Geography
  
• Art and Design
• Design and Technology
  
• Music
  
• ICT
• Physical Education
  
• History
  
• PSHE/Citizenship

Most of our core Curriculum is taught in the morning. Children are taught individually, in small groups, large groups, whole classes, even as a whole school. Several activities may be taking place at any given time and small groups may be working outside the classroom.We are constantly developing our outdoor classroom and run Forest School activities for Class 1 and 2.

Equal opportunities and Multicultural Education are also addressed.

School Policies
School Policies are reviewed and renewed as necessary. If you wish to see a particular policy document, please check first on this site, and if it is not available, contact the school secretary.

Homework
All children are encouraged to read at home. Books are taken home - and all children have reading records or homework books to record their reading practice. The older children have tables and spellings to learn, and tasks are set by the class teacher. Some topic research will be required. Each class teacher will outline the homework expectations for the children in different year groups. Years 3 & 4 will have about 10-20 minutes per night and years 5 & 6 - 30 minutes.

Personal, Social and Health Education
Within the teaching of Personal, Social and Health Education, we cover sex and relationships education, drugs education and personal health and hygiene.

Special Education
We believe that all children require the greatest possible access to a broad and balanced education. The school provides additional support for children with additional needs, whether they have learning/physical difficulties or are high achievers. All children have access to the whole curriculum. Work given will be matched to the child's needs and abilities. Group work or individual support will be provided as appropriate. Targets will be agreed jointly between the child, parents and teachers. If a parent or teacher is concerned with progress or development they are encouraged to ask for an informal meeting to share their concerns and discuss the most effective support.

Reporting to Parents
We have at least two Parents evenings and one full written report to parents each year. The results of national tests and internal, optional testing will be given to children and parents at these meetings or on reports.

Should you have any queries or concerns please make an appointment to discuss this with your child's class teacher.

Starting School
We follow the Somerset policy on admissions and in our school children start part-time to begin with. We welcome discussions with you regarding your child's needs. Many of our children have come to us from the Preschool and know our routine, our personnel and our buildings. They will have made several visits to class 1 and met the teachers at the Preschool and at home. If you could help with the following, the settling in is easier:

• Teach your child (gradually) to sit still for 10 minutes for a story.
• Make 'please' and 'thank you' a natural response.
• Encourage independence in dressing, toilet use and remembering books and bags.
• Encourage good eating habits and manners.
• Do not expect your conversations to be interrupted.
• Ensure that your child does not always expect to have their own way.

We have a new Parents' meeting with the Class 1 teachers, support staff and Head teacher in the summer before the children begin school.
 
Parents  bring them into school and collect them from the classroom at the end of the day. You will be asked to sign a home/school agreement, which outlines the responsibility of school, parent and child in our learning partnership. Should your child be anxious or concerned about anything at school and you think we may not be aware of this, please come and see us as soon as possible, so that this can be addressed and you and your child reassured/helped.

School Transport
School transport is available for those families that live 2 or more miles from the school and is free if we are the catchment school or are the nearest school.
Please let us know if your child will not be using the school transport. They will be put on the usual transport unless you have contacted us. A verbal message from a child is not sufficient.

After School Club
We provide after school care until 4.30pm.  Children can be booked in advance or on the day, and payment must also be in advance or on the day.  The charge is £3.00 per hour, minimum of I hour.

Newsletter
The School Newsletter goes out once a week and is usually printed on bright yellow paper. Please look out for this, and read it, as it is the main source of information for parents, regarding events happening in school.  The newsletter can also be found on this website.

Collecting your Child
Please be prompt in collecting your children after school. We try our best to have the children ready in time and they look forward to seeing you at the end of the day. If your child is to be picked up by someone other than a parent or regular carer, please inform the Office, or Class Teacher. It is also helpful if the child knows the arrangements, when possible.  If you arrive at school very late you will find your child in After School Club, and will be charged for supervision.

Money
All money should be sent to school in an envelope with the child's name and what the money is for written clearly on the outside and put in the tray in the classroom.  Please don’t take your money straight to the office, as we have to comply with auditing requirements.

School Trips and Visits
We are fortunate enough to live and work in a beautiful Somerset village. This offers many opportunities to use our local environment. We will ask you to sign a form giving permission for teachers to take the children for walks out of school in the course of their curriculum studies. This would be with due regard to the legal adult/child ratio. This also includes Forest School activities. We actively promote visits out of school and welcome visitors to enrich the children's experiences.

You will be notified about other trips or visits and a permission form will need to be signed in order for us to take the children out of school. The cost of most of these trips is met by voluntary contributions from parents, often subsidised by school funds and/or PTFA.  A minimum level of support is required for them to go ahead. If you have any difficulty making a contribution, please contact the headteacher.

Years 5 and 6 go on an annual residential trip. Our intention is to change the venue of this trip every two years to give the children a wider range of activities and environments. We hope to take all the children in these years, and because these trips are more expensive, and the payment is not optional, parents have the opportunity to pay in instalments.

Cheques should be made payable to Somerset County Council or Lydeard St Lawrence School as requested.

Absence
If your child is absent from school due to illness or any other reason, please call into school as soon as possible. We check if pupils are not present and will telephone if we have not heard. On return to school please send a note of explanation or we can let you have a green absence slip to complete.

Holidays should be taken during School holiday periods. If, however, you have an exceptional reason to take your annual family holiday during school time, you need to fill in a holiday form, available from the School Office, and obtain approval from the Headteacher

Should you wish to take time off other than this you are free to do so, but these will be unauthorised absences. The Schools Attendance Officer monitors all absences on a termly basis and follows up issues of poor attendance (less than 90%).

Rewards
Children's achievements in every aspect of their school lives are valued and celebrated by the school. Good work or kind and considerate behaviour are recognised both informally and through a variety of reward systems.
All classes give recognition to children's achievements, such as: Worker of the Week, Special Person, certificates, stickers etc.
Every term a Class 'Owl' is awarded to the pupil in each class whom staff feel has made an outstanding effort or achievement over the term.

We have half-termly assemblies, shared with parents, where the children share good work.
These are  held in the School Hall or the church.

Discipline
There are very few School rules and they concern safety and respect for others. Each child is expected to treat others as they would like to be treated. Parental support in upholding these principles is very important to us.

If a child behaves in a way that breaks our rules there will be a sanction. Wherever possible the adult involved or approached will deal with the incident as soon as practicable.

Children will be warned (visually or/and orally)

If the behaviour continues an adult will apply appropriate sanctions.

Further unacceptable behaviour will involve an informal discussion with the Head Teacher.

Parents will be contacted to discuss the situation if it continues.
Any kind of dangerous or physically aggressive behaviour will be dealt with immediately for the safety of others.

Ladybirds Preschool
Ladybirds Preschool was first established in 1983 and is run by a management committee consisting of parents and members of the community. It opened on its present site within the grounds of the school in January 1997.

Sessions are held on term time Monday until 12.00 midday, and on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00pm.

A baby and toddler group runs each term time Friday morning within the building from 9.30 - 11.30 a.m.
The Playgroup staff are Ali Morley (Supervisor), Theresa Parry (Deputy Supervisor) and Nicola Darlow (Assistant).

Application forms to attend Ladybirds can be obtained from the Playgroup by calling (01984) 667342.

The Preschool and School have good liaison and communication which makes transfer to school carefully structured to minimize worry and anxiety for parents and children and share a foundation stage agreement to ensure the best continuous provision for under-fives..

School Dress and Appearance
School colours are red, dark green and black. We like children to be smart and comfortable but not too casual.  We suggest grey pinafores, skirts, or trousers and white tops, under sweatshirts or cardigans. In the summer grey or black shorts or red/green and white gingham summer dresses can be worn. Sweatshirts and cardigans are available from the school secretary. Footwear should be sensible (no heels) and easily removed for PE. Infant children should be able to put on and fasten their own footwear. Regarding jewellery, stud earrings may be worn but anything else should remain at home for safety reasons.

A named PE bag should contain black shorts, dark jogging bottoms (in cold weather), white t-shirt, white or black socks and plimsolls or trainers.  School team kit is red and black, and if you are buying football socks, black would be helpful.
Please note that all items should be clearly named.

First Aid
We have first aid facilities and members of staff who are trained to administer first aid. You will of course be contacted should the need arise.

If your child needs medication, such as antibiotics, then they should be at home whilst they feel unwell. However, whilst finishing a course we will administer medicine provided that:

1. It has been prescribed by a GP
2. It is clearly labelled with name, dosage and contra-indications
3. A request is made to the class teacher or support staff
4. All forms are completed before administration

All medicines are to be held by a member of staff, except asthma inhalers held by individuals. We need to know dosage and frequency and any medical information needs to be regularly updated and passed to the class teacher.

If children or staff have stomach bugs or sickness they should not return for 24 hours after the last occurrence – 48 hours if we notify you that we have a particularly virulent or contagious bug.

Complaints
If you have any concerns regarding the school please contact, in the first instance, the class teacher. Should your concerns be ongoing, then you should make an appointment to speak to the Head teacher. If these concerns are not resolved at this stage then the agreed LA complaints procedure should be followed:

The complainant should submit, in writing, the nature of the complaint to the Clerk to the Governors (who will acknowledge receipt of the letter and inform the LA).

If the matter is not resolved by the governing body, the complaint can be referred in writing to the LA who will appoint an Investigating Officer to investigate the matter.
Full details of the complaints procedure are held by the school secretary. We also hold information on the following:

Statutory instruments (including National Curriculum, circular and memoranda relating to powers and duties)

School Brochure

Secondary Transfer
Most of our children transfer to Kingsmead Academy, Wiveliscombe in their final year. An induction programme takes place in the Summer Term involving staff, parents and Year 6 children to ensure a smooth transition. The school visits Kingsmead for events throughout the year. Their telephone number is 01984 623483
Other children transfer to local Private schools or Danesfield Middle School (if in that catchment area).