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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