A-Z of Little Parndon

Your child will participate in a variety of different assemblies during the week. We have an assembly four times a week and these will be led by Members of Staff or occasionally by outside speakers. Monday’s Assembly is taken by the Head Teacher. This assembly often relates to the School Values or a Special Event or Person from around the world.

On Friday, we have a Celebration Assembly; this is a lovely way to finish the week. We celebrate children’s efforts and successes during the week both for their Learning and their Behaviour. Each class has a Teacher’s Award and there are Assistant Headteacher, Learning Mentor and Head of School Awards given as well as subject specific awards. We have Key Stage singing assemblies and we also have collective worship in all of our assemblies and finish with the school creed each time. 

At the end of each term, we have a Governor’s Assembly and if your child receives the Governor’s Award, we secretly invite you to attend.

Throughout the year, every class will have their own Assembly, which Parent/Carers will be invited to. We have other Celebration or Special Assemblies plus our regular Newsletter and our School Website will keep you informed of these events.

Monday – Whole School Assembly - Head Teacher Assembly – 9.00am-9.15am

Tuesday-KS2 Phase/Singing Assembly-9:00am-9:15am

Wednesday – Whole School - Maths, School Council or Religious Festival information 9.00am-9.15am
Thursday – KS1 Phase/Singing Assembly 9.00am-9.15am / Class Assembly 2.30pm
Friday – Celebration Assembly 9.00am – 9.30am

Foundation Stage
When your child enters Reception, we complete an Initial Assessment. This enables us to plan activities that will address your child’s needs. Throughout the year we continually assess your child through observations and the work they do independently.

At the end of Reception, we complete an assessment using the Early Years Development Matters and Early Learning document. This assessment is statutory.

Statutory Test (SATs)

Statutory Tests are taken in Years 2 and 6, covering Maths and English. In Year 2 these take the form of a Teacher Assessment.  In Year 1 they take a Phonics Test and if they do not pass in Year 1 they resit this in Year 2.  There has recently been a Times Table test set for the end of Year 4 too.  

Non-Statutory QCA Tests

At the end of each academic year KS2 children will sit a Non-Statutory Assessment to help inform the Teacher of their end of year results. However, throughout the year there will be on-going informal assessments which will enable teachers to make judgements on the level your child is working at to ensure all our children are making good progress.

Whole School Target of 97%

Pupil attendance is recorded twice daily in the register and these records are also held electronically. Each day counts as two sessions. It is expected that children are punctual and attend school every day (unless ill). All absence is recorded as either Authorised – if a Leave of Absence Form has been completed or the School has been notified that the child is unwell; or Unauthorised – if no suitable reason has been given for the absence or permission has not been granted by the Head of School. Regular attendance checks are completed by the School and appropriate outside agencies. Attendance Certificates are issued at the end of the year to all children with attendance of 100%. Attendance data is submitted to the DfE termly. In September 2013 the Government announced that we are not allowed to authorise any holiday during term time and that each Parent/Carer will be fined (£60 rising to £120 if not paid). All medical appointments, unless emergency, must be taken outside of the School day.

At Little Parndon we are committed to creating a caring, safe and secure learning environment that inspires, motivates and challenges pupils. We believe the Whole School Community should be provided with the opportunity to develop their self-confidence and independence so they can achieve their goals.

Our approach is to encourage pupils to display positive behaviour and values; this is reinforced with a system of praise and reward for all children. We have six values and these underpin everything that all adults and children do in the school. The values are Respect, Responsibility, Perseverance, Honesty, Empathy and Trust.

We have a Merit System, through which children can be rewarded for Academic and Non- Academic achievements, for showing the School Values, Extra Effort and Achievements. Throughout the week the children will take part in two, fifteen minute spontaneous ‘Reward’ times where the Class Teacher will organise a special activity to reward the class. These can take place at any time the teacher feels is appropriate. However, pupils who have displayed inappropriate behaviour will have the amount of time reduced.

Each Friday the Class Teacher will choose one child from their class to receive the ‘Teacher’s Award’ in assembly. This will be for Academic/Creative Achievement or Improvement shown during the week.

In Key Stage 1 and 2 the Behaviour Ladder System is a way of praising good choices made in class and also used to target low level disruptive behaviour, which effects teaching and learning in the classroom. Children will all begin on green at the start of the day and then depending on their behaviour and choices made can move up or down. If a child is doing well in class, working hard and going above and beyond they can move to blue and purple. If a child is exhibiting low level behaviour they will move down the ladder, as shown below. When the children get to purple they will be issued a raffle ticket by the Head of School. There will be a Special Assembly every Half Term where the raffle numbers will be drawn and prize winners from EYFS, KS1 and KS2 will receive a prize.

Sanctions
There are a range of sanctions in place and these vary on the severity of the incident. 

A Breakfast Club runs from 7:50am – 8:45am each day and costs £2.50 per day. This includes milk, toast with spread or a bowl of cereal. It is run by Members of the Support Staff. Children are given breakfast and engage in a variety of activities during this time until it is time to go into class at 8:40am.

Please bring your child to School in time for them to go into class at 8:40am.

Arrangements for the Start of the Day.

• EYFS, Years 1, 2 and 3 enter the school through the EYFS gates and make their way around to their classrooms. 
• Years 4, 5 and 6 to use the Lower Playground KS2 gate and make their way across the playground to their classrooms. Adults will also be positioned on the playground to ensure children go directly to their classrooms.
• Gates will open at 8:40 am and Parent/Carerss are asked to drop the children at the designated gates before 8:50 am.
• Gates close at 8.50am Pupils who arrive after this time, will need to report directly to the Main Office to sign in, as they do currently.
• Two adults will be on duty at the gates every morning, they will have a notebook to take any messages from Parents and Carers that need to be passed onto the teachers or the Office Staff.

At Little Parndon we do not tolerate bullying of any kind, by children or adults. We recognise, however, that it is impossible to say that bullying does not happen at our school, as at any school, although we endeavour to keep incidents to a minimum and deal immediately with any that come to our attention. Any bullying incidents are dealt with in line with “The Essex Approach Systems”. We see the need to work with both the bully and the bullied. You are kept fully informed in any cases of bullying involving your child and together we work to ensure that incidents of bullying are extremely rare and dealt with quickly and effectively.

The School operates a policy that aims to ensure the safety of each and every child. We want your child to be sufficiently secure in School so that they feel able to share such concerns about their well-being with any caring adult in the School situation, knowing that their confidence will be respected and any appropriate protective steps taken. Steps must be in accordance with the guidelines in the Essex Child Protection Committee’s “SET Procedures”, which includes contacting Social Services if the Head of School is at all concerned about your child's welfare, in or out of school. All adults who have routine access to your child, Staff and Local Advisory Board are DBS checked. All other adults who come into contact with your child are also checked, and if we do not have DBS records they are not left with children without a Member of our Staff present.

Your child should normally be collected at 3.00pm for KS1 and 3.05pm for KS2 from the point designated for their class. The gates to the playgrounds will be opened at 2:55pm. Teachers will not release your child in KS1 until the designated person has collected them. Please inform the Office or your child’s teacher if you will be delayed or if someone else will be picking your child up so that we can ensure the safety of your child at all times. If no one is there to pick up your child, they will be sent to the Office area to wait for the person who is to collect them. When someone arrives for them, an adult will then open the door. It is very unsettling for children when they are left at the end of the day, so please endeavour to arrive on time.

The major means of communicating with you are our regular Newsletter, letters sent to you via ParentPay, text messages and our School Website; which is regularly updated. We also have a Twitter page @LittleParndon1 and a Facebook page which have regular updates!

The first point of contact about any matter regarding your child is the Class Teacher, if not resolved you can request a meeting with a member of the Senior Leadership Team. If you are still not satisfied, you may then make an appointment to see the Head of School. If the matter remains unresolved after seeing the Head of School you can then put your concerns in writing to the Head of School and also to the Chair of Local Advisory Board c/o Little Parndon Primary Academy. (Complaints Policy is available on request).

So that we can contact you in an emergency it is very important that we have up to date contact numbers and details. When your child enters the school, you will be asked to complete a form and each September we will send you your child’s data collection sheet for you to review. This is to ensure that the information is correct and up to date. However, if anything changes mid-year it is very important that you let the Main Office know so we can update our records accordingly.

If you require a meeting with the Head Teacher please complete a Request for Meeting Form available from the Main Office, return it to Mrs Black, who will pass it on to the Head Teacher;s PA, who will then contact you directly.

What to do if ...

Our School Community includes many different cultures and languages and we actively encourage all children to share their heritage and culture with others. Almost a third of our children/families have English as an Additional Language (EAL). Our School Community includes over twenty five different languages, with children at all different stages of English Language Development. As a school, we support these pupils and their families in a variety of ways. This includes: using picture resources to support understanding; learning key vocabulary before a topic begins; two designated Co-educators who work specifically with

EAL pupils within class and in groups with good English speaking role models; dual language books and letters and assessment resources that enable our teachers to quickly pinpoint how to move EAL pupils on in their learning. Pupils who have English as Additional Language make good progress during their time at Little Parndon with many achieving highly and being on our Register of Gifted Pupils.

If there is an emergency e.g. fire, coach accident, burst pipes, we will follow our emergency procedures to make your child safe and will contact you to let you know what you need to do. This might include collecting your child from School. This will either be done by contacting you directly (please make sure that your contact details are up to date) or by passing information to local radio. Heart Essex Radio will also be used if the School is closed due to bad weather, etc. in accordance with Essex County Council Policy. ParentPay text facility will also be used.

The School aims to ensure that your child is given equal treatment as an individual and access to all the learning opportunities it is able to provide, regardless of ability, background, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin or gender. The DfE collects information on the ethnic background of all school children every year. When the Ethnic Background Form is sent home please complete it and return it to school. Pupils for whom English is an Additional Language are given extra support from a Learning Support Assistant (LSA).

A wide range of extra-curricular activities are offered so that children can develop particular interests and abilities. These can include: Choir, Judo, Art, Gardening, Hip Hop Pop and Sport Clubs according to season. Please ask at the office for a list of all the clubs we offer as this can change regularly.

We appreciate how important it is for families to learn together and therefore Parent’ Workshops are also a regular feature of the school year. In the Autumn Term the Foundation Staff run a series of workshops about a range of different subjects which our Parent/Carers have always found very helpful. Phonics, Maths and English Workshops also feature throughout the year. Check the websites for any dates or opportunities regarding family learning.

All emergency exits are marked with illuminated signs and fire procedures are displayed in all areas. A fire drill is carried out each Half-Term to ensure that your child is aware of what to do. If you are in the Hall when the fire alarm sounds, please leave the building via the Main Entrance or Nearest Emergency Exit if the Main Entrance is blocked by fire. Fire assembly points are in the staff carpark and on both playground

We have trained staff on duty and first aid equipment is available at all times between 8:45am and 3:05pm and during Extra-Curricular Activities. We also have established playground procedures in regard to first-aid. If your child has an accident at school we will give the appropriate treatment. You will be notified by text for a slight bump to the head and if your child’s injuries are more severe we will contact you by phone. We also hand out slips to the Class Teacher informing them of any injuries your child has had these then go home with the child at the end of the day. We keep an accident file where we record all scrapes and bumps.

Please let the School know if your child has any particular food allergy. The Kitchen Staff are able to provide food for these children. As we have a child in school with a Severe Nut Allergy, it is imperative that all Parent/Carers ensure that NO NUT products are sent into school with your child. If bringing in any food from home, including birthday sweets, please always check with the Class Teacher as to whether this is acceptable.

Reception & KS1 – Since September 2014 all Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils receive a free meal.

KS2 – Parent/Carers do not have to pay for school lunches if they receive Income Support, Income-Based Jobseeker's Allowance, support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, Child Tax Credit (provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed £16, 190 or the Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit. All pupils who do not qualify for free School lunches must be charged the same amount for the same quantity of the same item. Neither the Local Authority nor the School’s Local Advisory Board can provide free meals to any other pupils.

To apply for Free School Meals for your child please complete the form available in the Main Office. It is helpful to the school if all eligible families claim for Free School Meals, even if your child does not have them as some of our funding and assessment analysis is based on Free School Meals data. If you are unsure whether or not you qualify, contact Lyn Black in the Main Office. This information is confidential and other pupils, Parent/Carers will not be aware that your child is in receipt of Free School Meals.

The School engages in regular fundraising for charity. We support a wide range of different charities and we ensure that these include some of the Local Charities who help support our Community as well as National and International Charities.

If your child arrives after the start of registration they are considered “late” and should be brought to the Main Entrance where they will be added to the late book and asked what they will be having for lunch. The child then goes to their classroom through the Main School Door. If a child arrives after 9:00am without an adequate reason, they are considered to be absent for the session – and this is an unauthorised absence. It is your responsibility to get your child to school for the start of registration. Persistent lateness is detrimental to your child and can result in the involvement of the Educational Welfare Officer.

Schools have the discretion to decide how best to identify their Gifted and Talented Pupils but are likely to obtain the best results by drawing on a wide range of information sources, including both qualitative and quantitative information. At Little Parndon we use a range of popular methods for identification such as;

1. Teacher/Staff nomination
2. Checklists
3. Testing- Achievement, Potential and Curriculum Ability 4 Assessment of children's work
4. Peer Nomination
5. Parental Information
6. Discussions with Children/Young People
7. Using Community Resources

At Little Parndon to ensure we are meeting the needs of the gifted children we personalise learning. Personalised Learning is about tailoring education to individual need, interest and aptitude so as to ensure that every learner achieves and reaches the highest standards possible, notwithstanding their background or circumstances. For Gifted and Talented learners this includes:

• Effective assessment for learning, so that planning takes account of prior learning, stretching curricular targets are set with pupils, and differentiated learning objectives and outcomes are shared;
• Learning activities in the classroom which offer additional stretch through a combination of Acceleration, Enrichment and Extension;
• Opportunities for independent learning, and use of a range of learning styles; Learning in settings beyond the classroom, for example in real-life contexts which support problem-solving and application of knowledge and skills;
• Support in specific areas, for example, through Language Support or Mentoring, alongside increased challenge in areas of strength; and above all, a rich provision for all, which provides further opportunities for identification.

Gifted children have their achievements recognised and celebrated in assemblies and have the opportunity to participate in events where they work with children in other schools who are also Gifted or Talented. We also seek out opportunities for them to work with Staff and pupils from our Local Secondary Schools in order to stretch them and support them in reaching their full potential.

The strategic leadership of the School is the responsibility of the Local Advisory Board. Ask at the office for a current list of our School Board Members.

At Little Parndon we encourage healthy eating. All children are encouraged to eat healthily. We ask families to support their children’s healthy eating by ensuring that pack lunches do not contain chocolate or sweets and that foods included are not high in sugar or salt.

Within School, we provide a three week rota menu which allows children to choose from a range of hot and cold foods daily. This menu is designed and shaped with children, where they can taste and choose foods which they would like to have on the menu.

Lunchtime:

Hot meal - you and your child will get a copy of the three week menu rota from which your child needs to select what they would like to eat each day (£2.00 per day for KS2).

Packed lunch from home in a named lunchbox, but no sweets, chocolate, fizzy drinks or glass bottles please.

Snacks:

In Reception and KS1 your child will be given a healthy snack, usually a piece of fruit. From January it has now been decided that children should bring a bottle of plain water only, (not flavoured), to drink with their piece of fruit or vegetable sticks. Any fruit juice, biscuits, processed fruit or cereal bars will not be allowed and will be returned.

EYFS and KS1 children are provided with a healthy snack each morning. In addition to this, EYFS children receive free milk. In Reception we will ask you for a voluntary contribution of just 50p a week; this is to enable the children to have the opportunity to try different foods, which include, on occasions, hot snacks which we will cook with the children in class. Children in Years 1-6 can also bring in a piece of fruit from home.

Whilst this is principally the responsibility of the Local Advisory Board and the Head of School, everyone should think about their own and the children’s health and safety. Edward Yates (Caretaker), is the Member of Staff responsible for Health and Safety and the Local Advisory Board has appointed a Governor with specific responsibility for Health and Safety. All staff are made aware of current Health and Safety policies and a check is carried out monthly. There is also the opportunity at the beginning of each staff meeting for Members of Staff to raise concerns. All health and safety issues should be reported to the School Office and they will pass relevant information on to the Caretaker. Please be careful not to block fire exits. Where possible buggies should be left outside the building.

We are developing a Maths and English Booklet so that you can help your child at home right through their primary education. Please see your child’s Class Teacher if you would like to discuss homework.
To help develop your child’s reading, please show an interest in their ability by hearing them read, reading to them from favourite books and taking them to the library.

We have a School expectation for your child to read a minimum of 4 times a week.

For Maths, use everyday opportunities to extend and enrich their experience, e.g. counting stairs, sorting, counting and multiplying cutlery; when shopping, estimating and calculating change. When helping your child to write their name, please use capital letters only for the beginning of each name.
Please help your child to become more independent by teaching them to dress and undress themselves; use a knife and fork; allowing them to be responsible for communications between home and school and encouraging them to look after their own property.

Since September 2013 the Government has not allowed schools to authorise any holiday during Term Time. Parent/Carers will be fined £60 per Parent/Carer per child increasing to £120 if not paid within 21 days.

We will ask you and your child to sign the Home School Agreement when they start at our school. This outlines our mutual responsibilities to work in partnership.

EYFS

• Reading Buddying - read them a story, write about it and share it with the class the next day
• Writing Wizard
• Reading Books
• Maths Teddy
• Mathletics
• Using Bug Club
• Speaking and Listening Activity
• Summer Term spellings

Key Stage 1

• Reading at least 4 times a week for 15 minutes a day - change books twice a week
• Access to Bug Club
• Access to Mathletics
• Maths – Times Tables
• Spellings - 5 spellings each week
• Long Term Homework- based on following topic to build excitement and producework for display. To encourage creative homework and cooperation with parents.
• Half Termly challenged linked to the Little Parndon Community Values Passport

Key Stage 2

• Spellings- which are differentiated daily and can be learnt orally or written
• Maths- Times Tables
• Access to Bug Club
• Reading at least 4 times a week, for 15 minutes each day
• Long Term Homework- based on following topic to build excitement and produce work for display. To encourage creative homework and cooperation with parents.
• Half Termly challenged linked to the Little Parndon Community Values Passport

• Any valuable or precious item
• Balls – these are provided for the children
• Glass Bottles
• Mobile phones or electrical games (if your child brings a mobile with them to School they will have to leave it with the School Receptionist for the duration of the day.)
• Toys, unless asked by the Class Teacher
• Any of the latest crazes!!
• Scooters – unless left in the designated scooter racks
• Bikes – unless left in the designated bike racks
• Sweets and chocolate, fizzy drinks
• Heelies
• Hoodies

The only items of jewellery allowed are ear studs and only one per ear. These must be removed by your child for PE and placed in a named ear-ring box provided by you. If your child cannot remove their own earrings, it is best if they do not wear them to School at all. No other piercings are allowed. In addition, your child may wear a watch and a medical alert bracelet. Watches must be removed for PE and Medical Alert Bracelets must be covered with a sweat band. Necklaces and rings are not allowed.

Hair accessories should be in School colours (white, red or black) and preferably soft. Long hair MUST be tied up at all times whilst in School.

We have one Learning Mentor, who works with children individually and in groups, who will teach children how to overcome Low Self-esteem, Social Disorders and Anger Management Issues. Children who find socialising difficult are effectively supported and encouraged to learn key social skills within Class, at playtimes and lunchtimes. We also help Parent/Carers to access further outside agency support groups if this is needed. Our Learning Mentor is a person who our children know they can turn to and talk to if they are experiencing problems with friendships. They also provide a listening ear for those who are experiencing a difficult time in their life such as Family Bereavement or a Parental Split.

If your child has lost an item of clothing, lunch box, bag or a water bottle and it is handed in, it will be placed in the Lost Property Box which is by the Main office and by the KS2 doors. Staff encourage children to take responsibility for their property, but please help us by ensuring everything is named. At the end of each half term any unclaimed items will be disposed of. Please encourage your child to look in the lost property box if they have lost any items – it is amazing what is not claimed each week and REMEMBER – NAME EVERYTHING

Reception               12:00pm - 12:50pm
Year 1 and Year 2   12:10pm - 1:00pm
Year 3 and Year 4   12:20pm - 1:10pm
Year 5 and Year 6   12:30pm - 1:20pm

Teachers will bring their classes to the Lunch Hall where they will be met by Duty Staff – if it is too busy the Duty Staff will take them out for 10 minutes.

Vegetarians Only will be identified by a green band.

Once children have Finished Eating, one adult in the Duty Pair takes a group onto the playground. The second adult follows with the remainder.

Wet Play – Two classes into one in each year. Adults and Play Leaders supervise with games and films. The Duty Staff from KS2 playground and SLT to monitor throughout.

End of Normal Lunch Time Period – Colour Card System – Year group specific colour card and whistle marks a 5 minute warning before the end of break. Year group specific colour card and whistle marks the end of play time and line up.

Children Line Up in designated area for Teachers to collect and bring in to class for their afternoon learning.

At the beginning of each year all Parent/Carers are required to complete an Information Form. If any medication is required it should be sent in clearly labelled with their Name and the dosage. We also need to know if they can self-administer their medication or if they require assistance and we will make the relevant Staff aware. REMEMBER, to tell us if your child’s condition changes or if your contact details change. You need to renew medication regularly to ensure that it is in date. When children are on short term medication (antibiotics), with a dosage of 4 x times a day, this can be administered by the Office Staff ONLY. One dose can be given at lunch time, if it is a clearly labelled, measured dose and you have signed a consent form. Only Prescribed Medication can be administered by the Office Staff.

As of September 2015, Little Parndon Primary Academy has been a cashless School. Payments for trips, clubs, school meals and swimming are all made via ParentPay.

We welcome Parent/Carers in School on a regular or irregular basis to help in classrooms or to perform a specific task. If you have a few hours to spare, please speak to our Head of School and arrange a convenient time. All regular Parent/Carer helpers will be required to complete a DBS check in line with DfE procedures.

Communicating with Parent/Carers is an important part of what we do. Making sure Parent/Carers get all the correct information about activities, events and things that really matter is something we care about. At Little Parndon we use ParentPay to communicate letters and information to parents via email. Delivery of printed letters via the children can be unreliable and we are pleased that parents can now have all the information to hand in their emails. We do recommend that you check your emails daily for any new letters the School may have sent out. Parents are given a unique registration code to open their ParentPay Account; please see a member of the office staff for more details. Please ensure your details are always kept up to date on ParentPay, especially your mobile phone number, to ensure you receive texts.

If you drive to School, you need to be aware we have double yellow lines outside on the roadside. If you live close enough to School, it is better for your child if you walk them to and from School where possible. We also encourage children to cycle and now have a cycle shelter on the KS1 playground where bikes can be left securely. We do understand that sometimes this is not possible or you have no choice but to drive, please be advised that you cannot park in the School car park or playground at any time. When parking outside School, you should park where it is not impacting on the Community or safety of the children. We are concerned about the safety of our children and families crossing the road at these busy times.

Your child may have a PE activity every day. It is therefore essential that your child has the correct PE kit in School at all times. PE kit should be in a reasonably sized, named bag that can be hung on a peg. Your child needs trainers/plimsolls to change into for PE, they cannot use their normal day shoes. Your child must take part in PE unless they have a medical condition that prevents them taking part. If your child is not able to take part, you must inform the Class Teacher in writing in advance explaining what they cannot and for how long.

Earrings must be taped up
All long hair must be tied back with a scrunchie or soft band.
Football boots are an option for KS2; KS1 do not require football boots

PE Uniform

Kit List

• White t-shirt
• Black shorts, trainers or plimsolls (KS1)
• Football boots are an option for KS2 Colder weather
• Black jogging bottoms
• Black sweatshirt

These take place in Autumn and Spring terms giving you the opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, in a 10 minute session with their Class Teacher. If you have a concern about your child’s progress at any time during the year, do not hesitate to make an appointment to discuss your concerns initially with the Class Teacher, then Key Stage Leader, then one of our Assistant Headteachers and Head of School.

If your child is on our Special Needs Register you will be invited to additional review meetings each year.

In Year 1 in June the children will take part in a Phonics screening check. The Phonics Screening Check is meant to show how well your child can use the phonics skills they’ve learned up to the end of Year 1, and to identify students who need extra phonics help. The Department for Education defines the checks as “short, light-touch assessments” that take about four to nine minutes to complete.

The checks consist of 40 words and non-words that your child will be asked to read one- on-one with a teacher. Non-words (or nonsense words, or pseudo words) are a collection of letters that will follow phonics rules your child has been taught, but don’t mean anything – your child will need to read these with the correct sounds to show that they understand the phonics rules behind them.

At any celebration or event, e.g. School Play, Sports Days, Concerts, people naturally want to take photographs. We also like to invite the press to cover any event for the local paper as it raises the profile of our School. However, we will not allow photographs to be taken of your child unless you have given your permission beforehand. Photography permission is included on our Permission Form which is completed and signed by Parents and covers the whole time your child is at Little Parndon. If managed and staged photographs are being taken, e.g. by the press, we will only pick children to be part of a photograph for whom we have been given permission. Only when we have explicit permission for every child in the class can parents photograph or video events. We allow you to take photos at School events however please do not share on social networking sites due to data protection.

The School has a policy to deal with racist incidents. All incidents will be recorded on the children’s records.

Studies show that reading for pleasure makes a big difference to children’s educational performance. Here’s how you can get your child off to a great start.
 

Evidence suggests that children who read for enjoyment every day not only perform better in reading tests than those who don’t, but also develop a broader vocabulary, increased general knowledge and a better understanding of other cultures.

In fact, reading for pleasure is more likely to determine whether a child does well at school than their social or economic background.

Parent/Carers are the most important educators in a child’s life – even more important than their teachers – and it’s never too early to start reading together.

Our aim is for every child to read at home with an adult at least 4 times a week. We would also love you to share a book with your child daily and for them to see you read as well.

Your child will bring home a reading book which will be appropriate for their reading ability.

Assessment is a big part of School and it is important that you understand how and why we assess your child.

In the Foundation Stage your child is assessed against the EYFS Development Matters and Early Learning Goals statements.

As your child moves into Year 1 we will begin to assess them against the National Standards.

Pupil progress is monitored by staff on a daily basis using tracking grids. These grids are used to identify pupils with Special Educational Needs and our High Achievers.

As we all know children are all different and some will progress steadily whereas others will make big jumps and then need to consolidate their level of learning and understanding The assessment system is matched closely to the National Curriculum for Reading, Writing and Maths. As a result, we are able identify what the children can and cannot do with far more precision. This results in children being identified for effective targeted interventions to ensure that all children make progress.

We have a merit system, through which children can be rewarded for Academic and Non- Academic Achievements, for example for showing the School Values, Extra Effort and Achievements. Throughout the week the children will take part in two fifteen minutes spontaneous ‘Reward Times’ where the Class Teacher will organise a special event for the class. However, children who have displayed inappropriate behaviour will have the amount of time reduced.

Each Friday the Class Teacher will choose one child from their class to receive the ‘Teachers Award’ in Assembly. Children across the School will also be selected to receive the Assistant Head Teacher, Head of School and Learning Mentor Award.

At the end of each term the Local Advisory Board will choose one child from each class for the individual awards. These will be for Academic Achievement, Creative Achievement or Positive Behaviour. The Chair of Local Advisory Board (or representative) will attend the final assembly each term to present the award.

At the end of each half term there is a reward organised for the five children from each class who collect the most merits. The ‘Top Five’ is very popular with children and there are a range of different activities organised including trips to the cinema and bowling as well as events within the School.

• For the School, Parent/Carers and Local Community to work alongside each other in educating our children and one another.
• Provide breadth and balance, ensuring cross curricular links and context for learning To ensure pupils have the key social, academic and creative skills.
• To ensure equality of opportunities for all whilst remembering individual needs.
• To maintain pupils, moral and spiritual development through the School ethos.
• Provide opportunities for pupils to develop their personal skills, talents and interests through a range of extra-curricular activities.
• To create an open and transparent School.
• To maintain a happy School where everyone is valued as an individual.
• To promote and provide the highest academic achievement across the whole curriculum.
• To be reflective learners who constantly strive to improve.

Telephone 01279 425600
School email admin@bmatlittleparndon.org.uk

In accordance with DFE Regulations your child will be taught for at least 21 hours a week at KS1 and 23.5 hours at KS2. School starts at 8:50am. Lunchtime is from 12:10pm to 1:00pm for Key Stage 1 and from 12:30pm to 1:20pm for Key Stage 2. School finishes at 3:00pm for Key Stage 1 and 3:05pm for Key Stage 2.

We endeavour to ensure the absolute safety of your child at all times. All visitors to School are asked to sign the visitors’ book. All external doors to the building are fire doors which can only be opened from the inside. There is a door entry system on the main gates. If you see a door open, please close it. Children are not allowed to open the main door. All Staff and Local Advisory Board are DBS checked on appointment and all adults working in School are checked. The whole site is enclosed by a fence and entry gates to the School are only open at the start and end of the day when staff are on duty.

We teach the children about internet safety as part of their main curriculum.
We would advise Parent/Carers to be vigilant and monitor the children’s use of the internet at home. Facebook and Instagram have an age 13 restriction, which means that no Primary School children should have access to an account.

Little Parndon is an inclusive School. We are happy to admit children with Statements of Education if Parent/Carers name us as their preferred School, and we feel able to meet their child’s individual needs. Many children, at some time in their School life, experience a difficulty in their learning or with the way they behave at School. This is not unusual; about one in five children have these types of difficulty and need some extra help during their time at School. At Little Parndon we aim to help all children. We do this most effectively when Parent/Carers and Teachers work closely together, sometimes with the help of other specialists. We care for children with Special Educational Needs in accordance with the Code of Practice for Special Needs. If you want more details about our approach to Special Needs, please make an appointment to see our SENCo who is responsible for Inclusion or ask at the Main Office.

Please also see the SEND Provision and Support Guide for Parents – available from the Main Office.

There are times when teachers are absent from School on courses or through sickness. Where possible at these times classes are covered by regular supply teachers or our team of Co-Educators. When a teacher is absent for an extended period of time, parent/carers are regularly informed of the on-going arrangements.

Since September 2005 all teachers are entitled to 10% of their timetabled week as Planning, Preparation and Assessment time (PPA). Local Advisory Board currently employ teachers or suitably experienced Co - Educators to cover this so that there is continuity for the pupils. We aim for this PPA time to be at a regular time each week.

Swimming is compulsory for all KS2 children and lessons are taken at Burnt Mill Academy swimming pool. All children should be able to swim 25m on their front or back by the time they leave Primary School.

Our telephone system provides callers with a variety of options that either go directly to individuals or to an answer machine. The answer machines are checked regularly and messages given to the appropriate Members of Staff. The extension numbers are:

• Option 1 = Queries about School dinners and attendance
• Option 2 = Queries about clubs and trips
• Option 3 = Headteacher PA
• Option 4 = Kitchen
• Option 5 = Site Manager

To enhance our curriculum, we offer a wide and varied range of trips, including trips abroad. Each class goes on a trip linked to different topics being taught within the classroom and our aim is for each year group to go on at least one trip a term.
At the end of Key Stage One we offer a One Night Residential Trip where children stay in an exclusive youth hostel and take part in various activities around the local town of Cheshunt. In Year 5 and 6 we offer the opportunity for children to experience another Residential Trip. The trips are planned in a way to enable children to have a range of different experiences.

Plain uniform items can be purchased from any shop. Items with the Academy motif can be purchased from: www.top-form.co.uk

School Uniform (Now available with the new Academy logo, from Top Form in the Stow)

• Trousers/shorts/skirts (knee length) should be black only (no greys)

• Summer dress red and white checked

• Tights red or black, (no grey or other colours/patterns)

• Socks black or white only (no greys or other colours)

• Shoes black only – no trainers unless you have a medical note from the doctors

• Polo shirts red/white for Reception 1,2,3 and 4 (logo optional)

• Cardigans/jumpers red only (logo optional)

• White shirts for Years 5 and 6 - shirts need to be able to take a tie

• Ties available from Top Form

In colder weather it is acceptable to wear boots, as long as they are plain, with-out trim or fleece like material.

The Staff and Local Advisory Board are not responsible for any items brought into School. If you do so it is at your own risk.

Here are some useful telephone numbers of agencies from whom you might need information, help or support: