Transcript of School Information Booklet 2014 Headteacher Mrs Lisa Clark Hamstel Road Southend-on-Sea Essex SS2...
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- School Information Booklet 2014 Headteacher Mrs Lisa Clark
Hamstel Road Southend-on-Sea Essex SS2 4PQ Tel: 01702 468461 Email:
office@hamstel-inf.southend.sch.uk
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- Welcome to Hamstel Infant School and Nursery Dear Parents and
Carers Thank you for taking an interest in Hamstel Infant School
and Nursery. I have great pleasure in welcoming you and your child
to Hamstel. At Hamstel there is always a warm welcome awaiting you
in an environment that is both happy and safe. Our special motto is
We Care this precedes everything that we do and is fundamental to
everyone and everything we do. We encourage all our children to
achieve their best and grow into thoughtful, kind and considerate
members of the school community and society as a whole. We take
great pride in our many achievements and special awards that as a
school we are recognised for.. Our committed and enthusiastic team
of Staff and Governors are supported by the excellent resources we
have in a spacious site, with well-resourced facilities and the
expertise to provide your child with unique opportunities for
learning. We seek your co-operation in supporting your child
through school and look forward to working with you as a team to
meet your child's needs. We know your child will be happy here with
us and will achieve their full potential and ultimate success. Lisa
Clark Headteacher
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- We have received numerous awards including two Achievement
Awards from the Department for Education, the Basic Skills Quality
Mark (for Literacy and Numeracy), the Healthy Schools Award (for
Personal, Social, Health and Emotional Education and Well-being),
the Arts Mark (for providing excellent opportunities across all art
forms and creativity), Active Mark and the NACE Challenge Award. We
have received recognition of Commitment from UNICEF towards our
Respecting Rights School Award. All About Us Hamstel Infant School
and Nursery is an inclusive, caring and vibrant educational
learning space which is growing to five forms of entry and with a
104 place Nursery. It serves east central Southend and is sited in
the Southchurch ward. We share a site with our partner Junior
School and Children and Family Centre; collectively we provide
excellent education from birth to 11 years. We currently have
fourteen bright, attractive teaching spaces, rising to 15 in 2015,
plus a new hall, library, ICT suite, Nurture base, an ASD
Assessment Unit, three summer houses, fantastic wildlife / Forest
School area and swimming pool. In the centre of the school there is
an outdoor learning area covered with artificial grass which offers
an excellent teaching area for our Reception classes. We also have
a very attractive adventure trail, playground and large playing
field which are used throughout the year. We have a large team of
highly dedicated professionals who are committed to guiding the
childrens learning to enable them to reach their full potential.
Our team uses a whole school nurture approach to guide children
with their personal and social skills to prepare them for learning.
We are a very inclusive school and pride ourselves in treating each
child and family as individuals. The staff and governors are
committed to achieving the highest possible standards of social,
personal, academic and moral education for all the pupils.
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- Our Staff Classroom Organisation We have a truly dedicated team
of professionals leading each class. There are Teaching Assistants
allocated to each class as well as others who are specialists,
including Higher Level Teaching Assistants, supporting individuals
and groups. In total we have approximately 100 staff employed to
support the children and their learning. We have specialist staff
leading our Inclusion Team Mrs Esp (Manager for Pupil Emotional
Well-Being, Mrs Hera (SENCo), Mrs Soane (Learning Mentor), Mrs
Shand (Nurture Manager) and Mrs Clements (ASD Assessment Unit
Manager). We also have a fantastic Midday Team, led by Mrs Phillips
and Mr Darke (a full time Forest Ranger ). Headteacher Mrs Clark
Deputy Headteacher Mrs Dillnutt Assistant Headteacher Mrs Tracy
Year 2 Leader Mrs Tracy Hedgehog Class Otter Class Fox Class Badger
Class Mrs Tracy Miss Stockley Miss Simmonds Mr Sayer Year 1 Leader
Mrs Tracy Deputy Mrs Ford Heron Class Dragonfly Class Newt Class
Duck Class Frog Class Mrs Ford Mrs Holohan Mrs Verrinder Mrs Smith
Mrs Malkin-Jones Reception Leader Mrs Byast Swan Class Woodpecker
Class Owl Class Kingfisher Class Peacock Class Mrs Byast Miss
Traveller Miss Tanton Mrs Thomas Miss Howley Nursery Manager Mrs
Dodman Ladybird Group Butterfly Group Caterpillar Group Bumblebee
Group Miss Brooks Mrs Joscelyne Mrs Riley Mrs Gill
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- Getting To School To get to and from school, walking is
definitely the best option! Not only is it healthier than
travelling by car but it also improves the safety of pedestrians
and stops surrounding roads from becoming congested. To enter the
school grounds please use the gates in Hamstel Road or Poynings
Avenue. We do have limited bike rack spaces near the Infant main
entrance which you can use. Please do not walk through the vehicle
entrance for your own and your child's safety. If you do need to
travel by car, please be considerate to our neighbours when
parking. Please do not drive up the school drive as the car park is
for staff only. The school day starts at 8.50am and finishes at
3.10pm. The classroom doors are open from 8.40am and all children
must be in school for registration by 8.50am. Any children arriving
after this time are required to enter school through the main
reception so that the registers can be marked correctly. If you are
late in collecting your child you will need to pick them up from
the main school reception. At the beginning and end of the school
day, we ask that parents come into the playground to drop off and
collect their child. We pride ourselves on being an open and
friendly school but in order to ensure the children's safety we ask
that you say goodbye to your child outside the classroom door and
allow them to come into the classrooms by themselves. If you have
any concerns you are welcome to call at the school office to let us
know. The teacher can always ring you later or arrange to meet you
at a mutually convenient time. If normal collection arrangements
have to be altered please let us know as this will avoid any
confusion or upset. The School Day We ask that parents come into
the playground to drop off and collect their child. We pride
ourselves on being an open and friendly school but in order to
ensure the children's safety we ask that you say goodbye to your
child outside the classroom door and allow them to come into the
classrooms by themselves. If you have any concerns you are welcome
to call at the school office to let us know.
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- Attendance We hold weekly assemblies to celebrate the winning
Class of the Week for attendance. Regular school attendance and
punctuality is vital if a child is to take full advantage of the
educational opportunities available in school. Each week classes
are encouraged to win the Attendance class award which is awarded
in our Celebration Assembly (always to cheers from the recipients!)
A telephone call should be made to the school on the first day of
absence, and a letter sent to the class teacher when the child
returns to school, outlining the reason for absence. Holidays are
not to be taken during term time and parents wishing to remove
their children during term need to complete a form requesting leave
of absence. Absences for which a reason has not been given,
unauthorised absences or patterns of absence are recorded and
notified to the LA Attendance Officer who is part of the Child and
Family Intervention Team. For further information please see our
Attendance Policy.
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- Prevention of Bullying At Hamstel Infant School and Nursery we
work towards a school community free from bullying by creating a
caring, friendly and happy school environment, respect for others
is fostered and children are encouraged to behave responsibly. Any
report of bullying is taken extremely seriously and is thoroughly
investigated according to school policy. It is important to us that
our pupils are safe and healthy at school. We take all reasonable
measures to protect our pupils and provide a high level of
supervision at all times. We know that healthy children are better
learners, so we want children to come to school fit, well and
rested. We provide First Aid training for all appropriate staff in
order to ensure children are cared for in school. Information is
regularly made available to parents, carers and pupils about a
range of health and welfare issues such as diet and head lice.
Children are encouraged to walk to school a healthier and safer
alternative to the car journey. Pupil Welfare
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- If a child is to fulfil their potential in school they need to
be attentive and apply themselves to learning. At Hamstel Infant
School and Nursery we expect a high standard of self-discipline and
a good standard of pupil conduct at all times during the school day
including times when pupils are off-site on visits. Our
expectations are set out in our Teaching and Learning and Behaviour
Policies as well as in our values and expectations displayed in
classrooms and around the school. We set an example by being
caring, considerate and co- operative with everyone in school.
Although we use sanctions when necessary our ethos is built on a
culture of positive reinforcement based on Nurture Principles. Good
behaviour is always praised and a child may be rewarded with a KITE
badge, a smart mark, a class token or at our KITE celebration
assembly on a Friday. Pupil Conduct Safeguarding Children Statement
At Hamstel Infant School and Nursery the health, safety and
well-being of all children is of paramount importance. Parents send
their children to school each day with the expectation that school
provides a safe and secure environment in which their children can
flourish. Hamstel Infant School and Nursery therefore works hard to
ensure appropriate policies, procedures and monitoring are in place
to assure that this expectation is fully met.
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- We ask all our pupils to wear our school uniform of burgundy,
white and grey/black for the Infants, gold, burgundy and grey/black
for the Nursery, both in school and when representing the school at
off- site venues and events. Wearing school uniform helps develop
pride in the school and gives the children a feeling of belonging.
It also saves time in the morning! Jewellery should not be worn to
school as it may cause injury, be broken or lost. Watches may be
worn but will need to be removed for PE. We ask that children do
not bring toys or other personal items larger than pocket size into
school unless asked to do so by their class teacher, as such items
may be mislaid or broken. Boys uniformGirls uniform P.E kit boys
and girls School Uniform
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- At Hamstel Infant School and Nursery we seek to foster a strong
work ethic and motivate our children through praise for effort and
genuine achievement. We take account of the latest research into
how children learn, for example different learning styles and the
use of thinking skills and meta cognitive strategies to stimulate
the brain. The importance of first hand experiences, learning
through play and the development of independent learners are
paramount to our success. We know that children are better able to
fulfil their potential when their emotional health and well-being
are promoted and we consider these aspects as very important. We
use a whole school nurture approach and view all behaviour as
communication. We use a peer massage programme to develop
relationships and self-esteem. We teach rights and responsibilities
according to the United Nations Convention on Childrens Rights and
are a recognised Respecting Rights School. Teaching and
Learning
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- Our Curriculum
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- Sunshine Room Nurture Base Our Nurture Principles Childrens
learning is understood developmentally. It is understood that all
behaviour is communication. The classroom offers a safe space.
Nurture is important for the development of self- esteem. Language
is a vital means of communication. The importance of transitions in
childrens lives is understood. We pride ourselves on being a fully
inclusive school. Many children may need special help at some point
in their schooling. This may be because of physical, learning or
behavioural issues and may be long or short term. Needs are
identified in several ways: information is gathered from parents
and carers, pre-school groups, outside agencies, teacher
observations, previous schools and diagnostic assessment. From
September 2014 we will be adopting the new SEN Code of Practice.
Children with identified needs will be given support within the
classroom, in addition small groups and individuals may be
identified for focussed support when it is deemed appropriate to do
so. To provide an outstanding level of support, the school employs
a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo), a Manager of
Pupil Emotional Well Being, a Learning Mentor, a Nurture Manager,
an ASD Manager and an Early Years Special Educational Needs
Assistant. The value of parental support and its effect on the
learning and development of children is recognised and we promote
the involvement of parents and carers at all stages. Special
Educational Needs and Disability
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- Most Able Children Early identification is the key to
supporting all children including our gifted and talented children
so appropriate challenge may be planned for them to achieve their
full potential. Parents and carers of children identified as highly
able are invited to discuss their child's education and provision
the school can put in place via a Personalised Challenge Plan
(PCP). Assessment The school is required to undertake statutory
assessment in all seven areas of learning at the end of the
Foundation Stage (Reception), in Phonics at the end of Year 1 and
in English, Mathematics and Science at the end of Key Stage One
(Year 2). However, teachers continually assess childrens progress
on a daily basis and the results are used to inform planning and
for future learning activities. Other Provision We offer clubs
which might include gardening, dance, Computing, art, cookery,
recorders, singing, tag rugby, glockenspiels, gym, athletics and
reading to name but a few. We run a daily Breakfast Club which
proves very popular. We also provide all foodstuffs to children
including school lunches for all, based on the Schools Nutritional
Standards.
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- School Council The school has for many years had a School
Council to encourage responsibility, democracy and ownership. Each
term classes select representatives to sit on the council which
meets with the Learning Mentor each fortnight to discuss issues and
initiatives. Playground helpers Each day children in Year 2 are
chosen to be our playground helpers. These children are easily
identified at lunchtimes and are responsible for helping children
to have a happy playtime.
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- At Hamtsel Infant School and Nursery we are proud of our
commitment to working with parents in order to maximise the
opportunities we offer the children. Our Home-School Agreement
outlines the part played by the school, the child and the parent in
effective learning. We know that children are not always
forthcoming about school so we provide other opportunities for
parents to learn about the work their child is doing. There is an
annual class assembly to which parents are invited in order to see
some of the work done in class. We send home a written summary
outlining the work the children will cover each term and we offer
the opportunity to attend Curriculum Subject Meetings and other
focused meetings. It is our hope that parents and carers will
support us in our work, it is our aim to support parents and carers
as fully as possible in the best interests of their child. We
encourage all parents and carers to approach the school if they
have any enquiries/ comments about the education or care of their
child or about any school policies or procedures. We ask all
parents and carers to discuss any concerns they may have with
either the class teacher, Year Group Leader, Assistant Head, Deputy
Head or Headteacher. A copy of our Complaints Procedure can be
obtained from the School Office or from our website. A selection of
resources, links to learning support and copies of all statutory
school policies are available for viewing on our website
www.hamstelinfants.co.uk Home-School Partnership Parental
Concerns
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- Nursery outdoor area Library Wildlife Area and Hobbit Hut
Swimming Pool