Barcombe Church of England Primary School 2011 2012

Head Teacher Ms Caitlin Yapp Deputy Head Teacher Mr Stewart James Chair of Governors Mr Carwyn Hughes Clerk to the Governors Mrs Heather Shepheard Barcombe Church of England School School Path, Barcombe Cross East Sussex, BN8 5DN Email office@barcombe.e-sussex.sch.uk Web www. barcombe.e-sussex.sch.uk Telephone 01273 400287 Fax 01273 401187

Teachers explain things well and try to keep work simple, but with a challenge.
Childrens School Council

Head Teachers Introduction

I am incredibly proud of the children and the staff at Barcombe CE School. Ours is a school that is happy and cares for all who work in it, adults and pupils alike, typified by mutual trust and respect in our dealings with one another. It is a place where pupils and teachers share in a positive learning process that is rewarding, challenging and memorable. Barcombe is a school where childrens work is valued and their knowledge, experience, creativity, self expression, imagination and spiritual understanding can ourish. It provides a learning environment that is conducive to high standards of work and behaviour and where children can learn to be independent. We have a very supportive school community; relationships between teachers, pupils, parents and governors are effective and purposeful. I feel privileged to lead Barcombe CE School and look forward to working with you and sharing these important years with your children. I am confident that your child will settle very quickly with us, secure in our friendly and stimulating learning environment. Ms Caitlin Yapp, Head Teacher

Learning together, believing together

Barcombe and the Community

Barcombe is a thriving village and the school is very much at the heart of the community. Many of the parents and adults in the village have a connection to the school, whether they once attended themselves or are on the board of governors or members of the PTA. There is a strong bond between the school and the community and pupils both know and are wellknown to adults, resulting in a caring environment. An important part of the schools ethos is that we consider and care for others, at school and in the wider community. At the start of term, each class votes for and elects a charity for which it will raise funds throughout the school year. Last year, the children raised over 700 for their chosen charities.

The school has a friendly atmosphere encouraging good social relationships

Parent

Towards the end of the summer term, Year 6 pupils from primary schools in and around Lewes come together for the annual Lewes Patina, a celebratory parade through town to mark the end of their primary years and their transition to secondary education. Barcombe is proud to be part of this community festival.

Having parents involved in the school is great as they get to understand their childrens points of view better
Childrens School Council

A school for the Future

At Barcombe, we embrace the challenges of preparing our school, teaching staff and pupils for the future. An extensive redesign and rebuild of the school buildings was completed in March 2010, providing much improved facilities that are enjoyed by the school and local community. Part of this project was the installation of 54 solar panels that cut the schools carbon footprint and reduce its energy bills. The schools Eco Club monitors the amount of electricity generated whilst learning about renewable energy and the vital role it plays for the future. Plans to develop the schools outside area, including the creation of a school garden, are underway. The children have been involved in the design and will play an active role in the maintenance and cultivation of this area. In the classroom, the school takes a leading role in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to aid learning. Our teaching staff includes an AST (Advanced Skills Teacher) in ICT whose knowledge and expertise are ensuring our pupils learn to use the latest technology in a safe and effective way.

Information and communication technology is used especially well to encourage curiosity and independence, with the schools website enabling older pupils to access their work in school from home
Ofsted Inspection Report

We have lights that turn on and off when you walk around and loads of natural light
Childrens School Council

In the classroom
We place enormous importance on personalising learning for our pupils. Classes of mixed agegroups are typical at Barcombe and coherent and exciting teaching is provided through learning journeys. These are a particularly effective way of linking subjects across all disciplines as well as providing good subject coverage and a range of interesting topics to meet the needs of pupils of different ages and abilities. In addition to the core subjects, we are also very strong in the provision of ICT (Information and Communication Technology), and French is taught at all levels.

We have Learning Mentors who we can approach about any problems we have anywhere
Childrens School Council

Pupils enjoy learning because teachers effectively plan work which is relevant for them and fosters their interest and curiosity beyond what they already know
Ofsted Inspection Report

Weve been to Herstmonceux Science Observatory, the British Museum, Knowlands Woods and Hindleap Warren. We learn so many different things and have great fun.
Childrens School Council

Learning outside the classroom

One of Barcombe CE Schools greatest assets is its location. We sit alongside fields, close to beautiful woodland and beside the village recreation ground and recently opened Wild About Barcombe community area. With facilities like these on our doorstep, we take learning outside the classroom literally and seek to teach pupils as much and as often as possible about their immediate surrounding environment. We aim to enrich our pupils learning experiences through organising day trips and, for the older children, residential visits, as well as bringing interesting visitors into the school. Sport is an integral part of the curriculum and school life and we have an underlying principle that sport is for all. This year, as London prepares to host the 2012 Olympics, we are part of the Get Set network of schools, a national initiative to promote sport and the Olympic values in schools. We offer a wide variety of after-school clubs football, netball, gymnastics, karate, art, craft, music, drama, ICT, Eco Club and sewing. Our annual Sports Day and our KS2 end of year production are popular with pupils and parents alike.

Sports day is great fun. The parents seem to get as excited as the kids about it !
Parent

Every Child Matters The good systems for tracking pupils achievements mean that pupils who may need additional help are picked up quickly
Ofsted Inspection Report At Barcombe, every child matters and we seek to maximise the potential of all our pupils. Class Teachers and the Senior Management Team monitor the progress of individual children carefully. Children are challenged and supported at all levels, and in every area of the curriculum. Pupils are involved in setting personal targets and reviewing their performance, which helps them to understand their own learning and take pride in the progress they make. We follow the SEN Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs, ensuring that additional, tailored support is provided where necessary. We are also a Dyslexia Friendly school.

The teachers at Barcombe invest so much time and energy making our children into good citizens who will create a better society in the future
Parent

Path to independence
As pupils progress through the school, we help them to develop life skills that will be useful as they move to the next stage of their education and through life. PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Emotional) education - the purpose of which is to equip pupils with the knowledge and skills to live healthy, safe and responsible lives - is an important part of Barcombes overall teaching provision. We have Healthy School status and the Activemark award in recognition of our commitment to promote the benefits of physical activity. Our School Council of pupils from each year group democratically elected by their classmates meets regularly with staff to discuss issues put forward by the pupils themselves. Day and residential trips to outdoor centres provide an opportunity to try new activities. Swimming classes and preparation for the Cycling Proficiency Test are offered, and Year 6 children get a taste of the work place when they spend a morning with various local businesses. Our 2009 Ofsted report commented that pupils spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding

Pupils also have well developed ICT skills

Ofsted Inspection Report

Your childs rst year in Reception

We want your childs first year at school to be a fun, positive and exciting experience. Through play in the classroom and adjoining outdoor learning area, we encourage young children who cannot yet read or write to express their feelings, develop new skills and build up relationships with their peers. Play is also used to introduce children to mathematical concepts such as sorting, counting, adding and subtracting. We know how much children benefit from having stories read to them. They increase a childs spoken and written vocabulary and stimulate the imagination. At Barcombe, we read lots of stories. We encourage your child to be curious, to find out how things work and to talk about their findings. Barcombe prides itself on its caring environment and the close interaction between pupils of different year groups. We operate a very popular and successful buddy system, pairing up each Reception child with a Year 6 buddy who helps them settle in and make friends, ensuring that your child quickly feels welcome and part of the school community. Children are of compulsory school age from the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday. However, children born between 1 September 2007 to 31 August 2008 will be eligible to start school in September 2012 and on a full time basis. It is acceptable for children to attend on a part time basis until they reach compulsory school age. We will be happy to discuss arrangements with you.

There are really good links between the school and home. My childs start at school has been a fantastic experience for the family
Parent.

Barcombe Church of England Primary School The facts at your ngertips

THE SCHOOL DAY

The school day begins at 8.45 a.m and ends at 3.15pm. The children line up in their classes in the playground, but if there is inclement weather the children will be able to come into school from 8.35 a.m. Latecomers must sign in at the school office and their late arrival is noted in the register. No children should arrive at school earlier than 8.35 a.m. as the school cannot be responsible for them before this time. The day begins with registration for both attendance and school dinners. At the end of the day children are escorted to the playground by their teacher to be collected by their parents or carers.

From year to year, however, the size of age groups varies, as do the needs of individual children. Within each class, children will be taught as a whole class, in groups both of mixed and similar ability and individually where necessary. All class teachers welcome contact with parents and carers at mutually convenient times to discuss matters relating to the academic, social and personal welfare of children in their care. Please do not hesitate to contact staff when you have a need to.

Attendance
The school is proud of its high level of attendance. We do not advocate children being taken out of school in term time. The Government and the Local Authority have procedures in place regarding absence during term time. A request for leave of absence must be applied for on a form available from the School Office. There are, in addition to fixed holidays, other closures known as Inset Days when teachers are on courses in order to familiarise themselves with new curriculum demands. Parents are informed of these additional days in ample time. They are usually added on to existing holidays where possible to ease child-minding arrangements.

School Meals and Packed Lunches

Nutritious school meals are cooked on the premises. A till system operates in the canteen and each child is provided with a canister to bring their money into school. These are collected in the classroom as soon as children arrive and are handed out just before lunch. Some children prefer to eat a packed lunch brought from home. Children leave their lunch boxes at the canteen in the morning, collecting the empty boxes again at the end of the day. Drinks are best brought in a plastic ask, bottle or in cartons. We do ask that the children take their rubbish home with them for recycling. As healthy eating is a part of the childrens education, fizzy drinks and sweets are not allowed. Please ensure that your child has the necessary tools to eat their packed lunches e.g. if they bring a yoghurt, they have a spoon to eat it with. Midday Supervisors ensure that good manners are adhered to, and that the children eat their lunch in a quiet and civilised manner. Any extra training the children get from home helps to support this. If you are concerned about how much lunch your child is actually eating, the Midday Supervisors are always happy to have a chat with you.

Class Organisation and Teaching Staff

Every effort is made to organise classes so that there are no more than 30 children to a class. Morning 8.45am 8.50am 10.30am 10.45am Afternoon 12.00pm 1.00pm 2.30pm 2.40pm 3.10pm 3.15pm Activity Registration Class Time and Assembly Time Playtime Class Time Activity Lunchtime Class Time KS1 Playtime Class Time KS1 Home KS2 Home

Communication with Parents and Carers

Communication and partnership between school and parents are extremely important to us. Parents and carers are welcome to visit the school by appointment to discuss their childs progress. The school will also contact parents on similar matters. Consultation Evenings also provide opportunities to discuss childrens work with the class teacher. An Annual Report for each child is provided for parents. News, events, holiday dates, appeals for help and all other information are circulated through school newsletters, playground whiteboards and on the school website. Letters are sent home via the childrens book bags or, preferably, via email. We encourage the use of the school website: www.barcombe.e-sussex.sch.uk

HEALTH AND SAFETY Parking and Transport

If you live near enough to the school to walk each day then please do. If you have to drive, we ask that you park your car in the village, or one of the other safe places to park, and walk down School Path or, preferably, down Grange Road and across the Recreation Ground into school - this route has been especially designed for the childrens use. Parking in the Recreation Ground car park is not available to parents who are not using the facilities there. School Path can be a dangerous road and we would ask you to take care, whether as a pedestrian or motorist. Please note that all dogs must be kept outside the school premises.

Medical Services
The School Nurse visits regularly and may be contacted via the school or directly through the School Medical Team at Orchard House, Victoria Hospital, in Lewes. The School Nurse makes regular medical examinations and children are usually examined in the Reception Year. Parents are welcome to be present at these examinations. Sight and hearing are re-tested at the age of nine years. If your child is ill a telephone call to the school on the first day of absence and subsequent days plus a letter confirming the reason for absence on the day the child returns to school is sufficient for our records. If a child needs medicine at school, you are welcome to bring it in to the School Office where relevant procedures will be followed. Inhalers may be left in the School Office, but teachers are not permitted to take responsibility for medicines. Please ensure we have up to date emergency contact details. Most parents try to make dental or doctors appointments during school holidays or after school. In the event that it is imperative that your child attends an appointment (for example to see a specialist) during school time, we would hope that they would be well enough to return to school after treatment, rather than miss a whole day. Again, a note or telephone call is necessary. When collecting a child early for an appointment or bringing a child in late after an appointment, please make sure that he/she is signed in or out at the School Office.

Complaints Procedure
If you are concerned about your childs educational progress, health or happiness please come into school straight away to see your childs class teacher. If possible, come at the end of school when we have more time to give to you. Most problems can be sorted out quite easily if there is close co-operation between home and school. Any matter for complaint, which a parent may have, should be discussed in the first instance with the Head Teacher. If the problem cannot be satisfactorily resolved by the Head Teacher, parents may contact the Governors via their Clerk. Failing this, the school has a formal complaints procedure. The document setting out these arrangements can be seen at the school.

School Discipline
We are proud of the excellent behaviour of our pupils. We discuss issues concerning behaviour during Assembly time and the staff have high expectations of the children. We also teach how to negotiate, and resolve conict as part of the Personal and Social Education curriculum. These lessons take place regularly in every class and often involve role-play and drama. The older children are expected to set a good example to the younger ones as part of their additional responsibilities. Every encouragement is given to children to behave courteously and with consideration towards each other and towards adults. The school has a clearly formulated Behaviour Policy that sets out principles and procedures in this area. Parental contact is made should a childs behaviour become a serious cause for concern. The school has an Anti-Bullying Policy and all staff are committed to zero tolerance on this important issue.

School Uniform
Children at Barcombe CE School wear our school uniform. We believe that a simple, smart uniform has much to commend it. It ensures that the children are wearing practical, appropriate clothes that promote a sense of belonging. Long hair should be tied up and conventional hairstyles are required.

Girls

Grey skirt/pinafore dress/trousers. Green and white checked striped dress. White blouse, or polo neck shirt. School sweatshirt or green cardigan. Sensible, dark coloured shoes. Art: Painting overall/shirt. PE Kit (kept in a drawstring bag): Black shorts. White T-shirt. Slip-on plimsolls or white soled trainers. Grey trousers or shorts. White shirt, or polo neck shirt. School sweatshirt or green jumper.

Home Learning
Barcombe CE School has a policy of providing home learning opportunities that are enjoyable, manageable and interesting. We want to encourage children to become independent learners and have fun learning with the family and by themselves.

Boys Art: Painting overall/shirt. PE Kit (kept in a drawstring bag): Black shorts. White T-shirt. Slip-on plimsolls or white soled trainers.

THE SCHOOL AND THE COMMUNITY Parent Teacher Association

There is an active Parent Teacher Association and all parents and carers automatically become members when their children start school. The PTA seeks to involve families in educational and social events. Its fund raising activities help to provide the school with extra resources, which are put to very good use. They also hold sales of second hand items of school uniform. The Chairperson can be contacted most days at the beginning or end of the school day in the playground.

Children with Special Educational Needs

We are an inclusive school that seeks to enable every child to develop to their full potential. When a child is identified as having Special Educational Needs, help is readily available. The school has an Inclusion Manager and a team of Teaching Assistants. We are able to support children within the classroom, on a one-to-one basis or in a small group. Some children need additional help and, with parental consent, they may be referred to outside agencies and professionals such as Speech and Language Therapists or Educational Psychologists. The school works closely with these agencies, and the childs parents, in assessing, monitoring and addressing the childs needs. Our Inclusion Policy outlines the procedures for early identification, continual assessment, appropriate provision, record keeping and the involvement of outside agencies. Our more able pupils are also identified and given work appropriate to their needs.

Religious Education
The school has a Church of England foundation and has strong links with its local churches. Religious Education is taught throughout the school in line with the Education Authoritys Agreed Syllabus. This syllabus reects the fact that the religious traditions of the UK are, in the main, Christian, whilst taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in the country. Assemblies are held daily, usually led by one of the staff, and are broadly Christian. We attend St Marys Church for our Easter and Harvest Festival services, and our Key Stage 2 childrens Christmas performance is also held there. Any parents who would prefer that their child does not participate in Religious Education or worship are requested to discuss the matter with the Head Teacher.

School Governors
The Governors of the school meet formally at least once a term. They are accountable for overseeing the provision, conduct and curriculum of the school. Their mutual concern is for the best interests of the children in the school and they are happy to talk with you about their role and responsibilities. Contact details for the Chair and Clerk of the Governors can be found at the front of this prospectus.

Sex Education
Sex Education is part of the curriculum and is taught as an integral part of the schools Health Education policy. It is dealt with in the context of caring, of respect for others and for oneself, and of increasing responsibility. Specific biological facts are taught to pupils in Years 5 and 6. Parents are given advance notice and have the right to withdraw children from these sessions if they so wish.

Admission of Pupils with Disabilities

Barcombe CE School is an inclusive school. Reasonable adjustments will be made to enable the admission of pupils who meet the criteria of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005. If your child is disabled or has a medical condition, you should discuss the matter with the Head Teacher. Please note, we like as much information as possible about your or your childs disabilities. This helps us to make access to learning, for pupils and parents, as good as possible.

Links with Secondary Education

There are close links with Chailey School and Ringmer Community College, secondary schools to which our pupils normally transfer. Regular discussions on particular aspects of the curriculum are held and induction visits to the school by the children take place in the term before transfer.

Barcombe CE School School Path, Barcombe Cross, East Sussex, BN8 5DN Email office@barcombe.e-sussex.sch.uk Telephone 01273 400287 Fax 01273 401187 Web www.barcombe.e-sussex.sch.uk With thanks to the Barcombe School Council

Design: Suzie Johanson 01273 527424 Editorial: Nigel Greenwood @ sosussex.co.uk