st. thomas church of england primary school prospectus 2019-20 st thomas ce primary school astley...

St. ThomasChurch of EnglandPrimary School

Prospectus 2019-20

St Thomas CE Primary SchoolAstley Street • Leigh • WN7 2AS

� 01942 672730� [email protected]

www.leighsaintthomas.wigan.sch.uk

I am extremely proud to bethe Headteacher at StThomas CE PrimarySchool and stronglybelieve that this is awonderful place forchildren to growand flourish. Herewe strive toprovide the bestpossible education,giving childrenmany opportunitiesto succeed

academically and toleave with aspirations that

enable them to succeed inlife. As well as ensuring that we

provide children with an exciting curriculum that developsa life-long love of learning, we also provide children witha vast amount of school enrichment activities.

I am very well supported at St Thomas' by a dedicated,hardworking and caring team who have the highest ofexpectations for all pupils. Our most recent SIAMS(Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools)report states that 'outstanding pastoral care is generouslygiven by a dedicated team and all staff’. (November2018).

St Thomas CE Primary School is underpinned by deep-rooted Christian values and our school fellowship arealways learning through the love of Jesus. Ourschool has an excellent reputation withinthe local community and we are proudof our strong, positive partnership withparents.

Thank you for taking the time to view ourschool prospectus; it should give you aflavour of some of the magic thathappens here. You are always welcome toarrange a visit to our school; the pupilswould be delighted to show you whatmakes St Thomas' such an exceptional andenjoyable school experience.

Mr. J. MarshMr J Marsh, Headteacher

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Our School Aims • To foster an understanding of the Christian faith.

• To promote a love of learning so children can flourish and grow as independent learners.

• To provide an engaging, nurturing and challenging learning environment.

• To value, respect and develop each individual within our fellowship.

• To establish a partnership between school, parents, the church and the wider community.

• To enable children to develop a range of skills and knowledge they can apply independently in a broad, balanced, Christian based curriculum.

• To ensure a safe and secure environment where diversity is respected and tolerance is vital to prepare them for modern life in Britain.

• To develop and promote healthy bodies and healthy minds to prepare for the demands of modern life.

A warm welcome to St. Thom as Church of EnglandPrimary School

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‘Lo ve one another as I have loved you’ (John 13:34)

Our School’s Christian Values are: • Generosity • Compassion

• Courage • Forgiveness

• Friendship • Respect

• Thankfulness • Trust

• Perseverance • Justice

• Service • Truthfulness

We learn about and reflect on our school values each halfterm. Each person in school knows the importance ofresponding positively, ensuring our values are lived outeach and every day. Behaviour choices are made by askingthe question ‘What would Jesus do?’

Our School Mottoand Biblical RootSt Thomas: A family of Fellowship and Forgiveness. Westrongly believe in promoting family values and ensuringthat, for a large school, we retain a family feel. Everythingwe do is simply:‘Love one another as I have loved you’ (John 13:34)

What SIAMS said ontheir 2018 Inspection:

‘Outstanding pastoral care isgenerously given by a

dedicated team and all staff.This is highly valued by

families and theirchildren.

Vision Statement –

Our DreamWith God’s love, each member of our

fellowship will flourish and succeed, growing

into unique individuals well prepared for life’s

journey. Respect will be at the heart of our

school, allowing us to value the strengths, the

wisdom and the diversity of others.

Mission Statement –

Our RouteWe provide a nurturing and inclusive

environment, united through the love of Jesus

that enables all members of our school family

to make progress, thrive and reach their true

potential..

Please contact us on:T: 01942 672730 E: [email protected]

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Collective WorshipIt is a legal requirement that daily acts of worship areprovided. At St Thomas’ we ensure that collective worshipis engaging, rooted in scripture and has a positive andactive message for all members of our school family. Theaim is that through the teachings of the bible, byreflecting on the actions of Jesus and making links to lifewithin our community today, all will be able to make adifference and be our best selves. We firmly believe thatdaily worship promotes our Christian Values anddeveloping pupils’ spirituality but also ensures it developsan awareness of moral, social and cultural issues,providing a readiness to make a positive contribution tosociety.

ReligiousEducationAs a Church of England PrimarySchool, we work hard to ensure thatpupils receive an inspiring, purposefuland real RE curriculum where they canlearn about and learn from many worldfaiths as well as having a deep andrewarding understanding of the Christian

faith and Christian theology. We aim for allpupils to use this knowledge to inform and

affirm their own beliefs, values and attitudes asthey live and grow into adults of the future.

Throughout the school year, festivals of Christmas, Lentand Easter and Pentecost are focused on across all yeargroups developing an understanding of the Christiancalendar, building on and deepening previous learning.Each class will also share a class led worship with parentsand carers throughout the year, offering an insight intotheir learning but more importantly, sharing a time toreflect and grow with our parent community.

Church InformationSt Thomas and All Saints Church works closely with thestaff and pupils of St Thomas’ ensuring that throughouttheir seven years in primary education they have theopportunity to understand and grow in faith, love andfellowship and contribute positively in the schoolcommunity and beyond.

Father Robert Dixon and his parishioners welcome pupilsand their families into church to join in with services andChristian festivals throughout the year, involving pupilsalong the way. In addition to church visits, Father Robertregularly visits school to lead worship, offer communionand support learning in the classroom.

Our aim is for pupils to engage well, in an enjoyable way,as they grow in their own understanding of the Christianfaith and have experiences that they will remember.

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What parents say:

‘n my opinion this year'sprogress has been madepossible by exceptional

teaching and mostimportantly getting toknow my child inside

and out’.

What Ofsted said ontheir 2015 Inspection:

'The school’s promotion of equalopportunities is good. Leaders at all

levels are fully committed to helping allpupils reach their potential by ensuring all

pupils have effective support and equalaccess to learning. The school’s recent

mental health award reflects thehighly effective commitment to

pupils’ well-being.

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Admission StatementOnce you have decided that St Thomas’ is the school youwould like your child to attend, you will need to apply fora place via the Wigan Council website.

We offer 60 places for children starting in Reception andWigan Local Authority controls the admissions followingthe criteria set by the Governing Body. You will find theschool’s admissions policy on the school website.

All applicants will be informed of the child’s given placein April. Please see Wigan Council website for dates.

Induction Programme Once a place has been given, we provide a robust andwell - structured induction programme for the childrenand their families. Our aim is for your child to feel verycomfortable in school before they start in September, andfor you to feel happy and well informed, having little orno worries. We also want you to feel part of our family inadvance.

Induction will happen in many ways:

• New Parents Meeting – June

• 1:1 school visits, meeting with a member of the Early Years teaching team - July

• INSPIRE sessions for children and parents focused on aspects of school life – July

• INSPIRE sessions for you to return and see how your child has settled well into school – September

• Curriculum workshops for parents to understand what happens in school and how you can support at home - October

• Parents’ Evening - November

By the end of the autumn term, we hope that you feelcompletely knowledgeable about school life, expectationsand the support you will receive and offer as your childcontinues their primary education with us.

Please ensure that all school uniform is clearly labelledwith your child’s name and class. Check this regularlyas laundry pens do fade and uniform is expensive toreplace. In school we do have a used uniform rail.This has either been donated to school or remainsunclaimed and without labels. You are able totake uniform from the rail for a small donation.This money will go into back to schoolproviding additional resources for pupils.

We prefer children not to wear earrings inschool. If parents do wish their child to wearthem, then the only earrings that are suitablefor wearing in school are the plain stud type(one pair only). Hoop or long earrings caneasily get caught up in another child's clothingduring P.E. lessons or in the playground and cancause serious accidents. Earrings must be removed,by the child, before P.E. and Swimming lessons andno responsibility can be accepted for their loss. We do

not allow children to wear any other form of jewellery,such as chains, bracelets, rings, brooches or pendants inschool. Children are allowed to wear watches but remainresponsible for them. Children should not wear anymake-up at all. Hair should not be of an extreme orunnatural colour, cut or style; including tramlines, streaks,patterns or Mohicans. We accept the minimum cut lengthas a No.2.

UniformIt is expected that every child who attends St Thomas’wears their school uniform with pride. The uniformconsists of:

• Blue sweatshirt or cardigan

• Grey school trousers, skirt or pinafore

• Pale blue polo shirt

• Dark socks or tights

• Black school shoes – no trainers

During the summer, pupils may wish to wear:

• Grey shorts

• Blue gingham summer dresses

School PE kit – in an appropriately sized PEbag:

• Black or blue shorts

• White t-shirt OR House T-shirt (these can be ordered at the school office)

• Pumps

KS2 Outdoor Games:

• T - shirt

• Tracksuit trousers

• Jumper/fleece

• Trainers

School uniform is available from myclothing.com, BangBang on Bradshawgate, and Jaymax on Gas Street, Leigh.

The School Day Morning Session Key Stage One 8.45am to 12.10pm

Key Stage Two 8.40am to 12.10pm

Staff will be outside and available for briefmessages just before the start of the school day

Afternoon SessionKey Stage One 1.20pm to 3.30pm

Key Stage Two 1.10pm to 3.25pm

Staff handing over will be available for brief messages. Ifyou wish to speak to your child’s teacher, please arrange amutually convenient time via the school office.

We will not release pupils to older siblings who are underthe age of 13. You may be asked to prove the age of anolder child. This is part of our safeguarding procedures.


‘The deeply held values havea transformational impact onrelationships, behaviour and

the daily life of everyonein the school’.

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School StructureQuadrants/SENDCo/Pastoral ManagerSt Thomas’ CE Primary School provides full time educationfor pupils between the ages of 4 and 11. As a two-formintake, we have 14 classes in school. Pupils move throughthe school according to their chronological age. At StThomas’ we have a quadrant system to support thedevelopment of pupils.

Quadrant 1 – Early Years Foundation Stage (Receptionclass)

Quadrant 2 – Key Stage One (Years 1 and 2)

Quadrant 3 – Lower Key Stage Two (Years 3 and 4)

Quadrant 4 – Upper Key Stage Two (Years 5 and 6)

Each quadrant has a leader who supports the staffworking in the year groups as well as acting as a point ofcontact for dealing with any issues. Pupils have theopportunity to work collaboratively within theirquadrants during sports days, on church visits and duringour #10TeamTuesdays that run throughout the year.

Each Key Stage (EYFS/KS1 and KS2) has amember of staff responsible for theprovision for SEND pupils or pupils withadditional needs. These members ofstaff work closely with pupils, theirparents and other agencies involvedin providing for the specific needsof the individual.

In addition to our highly skilledteaching staff, we are lucky tohave a pastoral team who supportpupils and their families both withaspects of school life and home life.Because they do not have teachingcommitments, they are on handbefore, after and throughout theschool day. They are able to put familiesin touch with agencies who can supportin many different ways. Our parents arealways very thankful for the involvementof the pastoral team and see it as anotherway of being part of the St Thomas family.

What to expectin Early YearsFor most children, Reception is theintroduction to school life and here atSt Thomas, we strive to make their firstexperience of school an exciting andinspiring time. Our days are filled withinvestigating, exploring and learningthrough play. We follow the EYFScurriculum and offer a stimulating andnurturing environment in which wehope to instil a strong desire to learnand high levels of independence.Children are challenged through avariety of topics including This is Me!Why does the Gingerbread Man alwaysrun away? and Are all mini beasts scary?The children very much lead their ownlearning and are encouraged to create theirown challenges based on their interest andfascination, combined with daily phonics,

mathematics and literacy sessions. Learning takesplace in both our indoor and outdoor classroom

and children have access to these areas throughoutthe day. We offer a safe yet challenging environment in

which we encourage children to persevere, have theirown ideas, develop strategies, celebrate their uniquenessand form positive relationships. Most importantly – wehave fun!

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‘Pupils’ highly positive andtrusting relationships with staff

boost their self-esteem andconfidence in learning as well

as their willingness to trytheir best’.

What to expect in KS1 and KS2Key Stage One sees a transition towards a more formalapproach to learning where children still have theopportunities to learn through play based or practicalsituations, that develop skills and knowledge acquired inKey Stage One. There is an increase in the focus onEnglish and maths but learning is topic based withcreativity at the heart.

As children move from Year One to Year Two, theyprepare to take their end of KS1 assessments, or SATs, butthis is all done with the focus being on learning andenjoyment; nurturing young minds and providing supportand challenge.

Key Stage Two comprises of four year groups wherethe National Curriculum develops and enhancesskills and knowledge from the previous keystage. Children learn in similar practical ways,developing skills and knowledge for life.Topics are designed in ways that supportthis. Nurturing pupils is still a key prioritybut independence plays an increasinglyimportant role and pupils’ resilience andperseverance skills are developed duringtheir time in KS2. From Year 3, pupilshave the opportunity to play differentmusical instruments. We are wellsupported by Wigan Music Service andtheir highly skilled music teachers whovisit and provide weekly lessons forsmall groups and individuals. BedfordHigh school offer support andopportunities to children in Upper KS2through specialist provision inperforming arts and science.

Transition is important to us. We provideend of Key Stage transition from Year Two toYear Three, ensuring that pupils and their

parents feel comfortable and prepared for thenext phase of school life. We also provide

opportunities for parents to meet the staff in thenext class as children move within key stages at the

start of each school year.

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Trips and ResidentialsEnhancing the curriculum that we provide is crucial tocreating memorable and engaging experiences andensuring lifelong learning. With each new topic, staff lookfor opportunities to bring visitors or resources to theclassroom, use expertise or knowledge from the widercommunity or plan an offsite educational visit thatprovides a real-life context to the learning in theclassroom. At St Thomas’ we strive to use our localenvironment to do this, allowing the pupils theopportunities to positively engage in their hometown.Lilford Park and Woods has supported learning in DesignTechnology and Geography and Local Mills are a sourcefor fantastic historical inquiry. Visits further afield seepupils visiting castles, farms and museums.

When pupils are in Year 6, they are able to take part in atwo-night residential to Robinwood Activity Centre inWrexham. Here pupils test out skills they have developedduring their time in school. They show real determinationand courage when completing outdoor and adventurouspursuits such as canoeing, rock climbing and archery. Thisis a fantastic way to end their time at primary school,having secured that self-belief before moving onto thenext stage of their education.

Extra-CurricularProvisionProviding pupils with as manyexperiences in their younger yearsis an important mission of ours.We hope to provide a springboardthat will develop interests andenjoyment, where the pupils canfeel success beyond the classroomand develop skills that go beyondNational Curriculum requirements. Wealso feel a sense of duty to provide thosechildhood experiences that should be anentitlement for every child. Because of this,we offer a wide range of lunchtime andafter school clubs. These are lead by schoolstaff as well as external providers, and weensure that all age groups in school haveclubs available to them.

A sample of clubs currently on offer are:

• Jigsaw club • Sewing

• Gardening • Book club

• Bootcamp • Choir

• Sporting multiskills

Staff will provide a club for a half term throughout theyear, so these are constantly changing and in line withpupil requests, staff expertise and what we feel ourchildren need.

CurriculumInformation includingRSEAt St Thomas’ we strive to provide the best broadand balanced curriculum, in line with theNational Curriculum that is enhanced andenriched by the skills and commitment of ourdedicated staff team. We use CornerstonesCurriculum as a vehicle for ‘ImaginativeLearning Projects’ that capture interests andignite sparks for lifelong learning. Through thiscurriculum, we are focused on providing thehighest quality teaching in reading, writing andmaths whilst learning about our world in apurposeful and meaningful way. Opportunitiesto learn collaboratively and through inquiry andinvestigation develops subject specific skills as wellas skills for life that will be of benefit as theycontinue through school and beyond. All learningopportunities are carefully planned, taking intoaccount the age and prior understanding of the pupilsin order to provide continuity and progression year onyear. Pupils are taught through whole class teaching,small group work and in 1:1 situations – whichever is bestfor your child at that time.

Recently we have focused on ensuring that all ourpupils develop an understanding of themselvesand of others using our relevant andmindful PSHE curriculum. Respectingothers as well as ourselves is paramountto engaging positively in society andparticularly so when teaching ourRelationships and Sex Educationprogramme. Pupils at St Thomas’receive a factual, ageappropriate and well-devisedunit of work ensuring thatthey understand how theirbodies and minds change anddevelop over time and arewell prepared for this due toits timely approach.

We pride ourselves on ourpersonalised approach. Ourcarefully selected anddesigned curriculum and ourrelentless drive that all pupilswill do well ensures, that StThomas pupils go on to do greatthings, be confident, besuccessful and contributepositively to society.

What Ofsted saidon their 2015 Inspection:

'This is an extremely caringand nurturing school, where

the needs of pupils are atthe heart of all the

school does'.

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The School RulesEveryone at school understands and are expected tofollow our school rules:

• We listen when someone is speaking

• We follow instructions sensibly and quickly

• We are always kind and polite to everyone

• We make the right behaviour choices

• We always try our best

• We look after each other and everything in school

Anti-BullyingStrategiesWe are very proud that an overwhelming majority ofpupils feel safe and secure when in school. Behaviour isexcellent with children demonstrating our ChristianValues in all they do. We feel very much a family. Attimes, there can be friendship issues that need addressing.This is not bullying. We feel it very important that weeducate our pupils how to spot the signs of bullying inorder to stop this immediately. Our Anti-Bullying policy isdesign to:

• Keep our school environment safe and secure for all

• Support victims and perpetrators of bullying incidents

• Be an integral part of our curriculum. Through PSHE, religious education, collective worship we aim to ensure all understand that bullying is unacceptable

• Provide a clear procedure that is rigorous and timely for dealing with any concerns of a bullying nature

• Involve pupils, parents and relevant staff members

HomeworkWe view homework as a partnership between your child,school and home and we aim for homework to be:

• Engaging, exciting and something pupils want to do

• Promote self-discipline in preparation for their time at high school

• A way of extending skills learned in the classroom

• Informative for you – you know what and how well your child is doing

• Consistent across school

• Proportionate, ensuring pupils have time for other activities outside of school

Homework will begin as yourchild brings a reading book homefor you to share. This helps tofoster a love of reading. This is thecornerstone of all learning and arewarding skill that you are ableto support your child with.

As children move through school, they will getpasswords for online tools that help them torehearse skills such as spelling and times tables. Webelieve that fun, engaging homework, that can becompleted in short bursts, is much more beneficial.

Through our creative curriculum, children may be setproject style tasks where they can respond individuallyand in a variety of ways. Home learning projects willalways be shared and celebrated in school.

As pupils reach Years 5 and 6, more formal homeworkrelating to specific subjects will be given. This provides astructure for high school and time to become familiar andorganised.

If there is ever a time your child becomes worried abouttheir homework, please reassure them and arrange tospeak to the class teacher who will endeavour to resolveany issues you are having. Your support andencouragement in homework completion is muchappreciated.

SafeguardingSafeguarding is the most important job we do in school.Ensuring we have happy, healthy children who feel safeand secure is our main aim and we believe that childrenare entitled to dignity, respect and a life free from anytype of abuse. Children should have their childhood andinnocence. We make the decisions when it is the righttime to inform and educate them about the world inwhich they live and prepare them well for life’s journey.All staff in school have a responsibility to be vigilant andrecognise any kind of abuse and have a legal duty toreport this to the school’s designated safeguarding team.This may result in Social Services or other agencyinvolvement.

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‘The nurture of all pupilsthroughout the school is exceptional.This, along with the strong Christian

ethos encourages good mental healthand enables all to thrive and to liveout the schools inspiration to 'love

one another as I have lovedyou’.

What Ofsted saidon their 2015 Inspection:

'Pupils’ highly positiverelationships with staff helpto boost pupils’ confidence,self-esteem and ‘have-a-

go’ attitude'.

Behaviour in SchoolWe have high expectations and promote positivebehaviour in all we do. Our policy focuses on usingpositive strategies for dealing with behaviour from day today and use Class Dojo across school to reward behaviourand following our school rules. Our children feel happythat they are treated fairly and with due care andattention to resolve any issues. Our full behaviour policycan be found on our school website.

Assessment &ReportingAll of the work carried out by the pupils at StThomas’ is carefully planned, monitored andassessed by the staff daily. Pupils are verymuch involved in this process and work withtheir teachers to identify strengths and nextsteps in their learning. Formal tests take placein school on a termly basis, and pupils in Years 2& 6 undertake national SATs tests in May. Year 1pupils complete a national phonics screening testwhich takes place in June. It is essential thatparents avoid taking holidays during term time butmost importantly during test periods.

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Parents are regularly informed of theirchildren’s targets and also have theopportunity to view and discuss theirchildren’s work with teachers during ourautumn and spring Parents’ Evenings.Parents are welcome to meet with theclass teacher at any time throughout theyear if they have any worries or concerns.School reports are sent home in July everyyear. Our school reports highlight many ofthe achievements made throughout the year,academically and personally, and outline nextsteps or targets for the following year.

AttendanceGood attendance is vital for pupils to make progressand to be happy at school. Attendance is rigorouslymonitored and we actively promote good attendance,e.g. cinema afternoons, own clothes days, certificates, giftvouchers etc. If attendance falls below 92% then schoolmay involve other external agencies to support families. Ifpupils are persistently absent, persistently late for schoolor take unauthorised holidays in term time, then they maybe issued with a fixed penalty notice. If your child isabsent from school because of illness, then you are askedto telephone school (672730 – extension 1) on the first dayof absence and then send a note to the teacher, upontheir return, explaining the reason for the absence.

When a child is absent for one of the following reasons, itwill be recorded as an AUTHORISED ABSENCE providingyou have notified school as to the reason for the absence:

• The child is having medical or dental treatment (providing an appointment card is shown in school).

• The child is ill (see the note above).

We do ask that routine appointments are made out ofschool time where this is possible.

When no satisfactory reason is provided as to why a childhas been absent, it must, by law, be recordedas an UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE. Weare extremely concerned if suchunexplained absences occurfor any of our pupils.

First Aid andMedicines inSchoolA large proportion of school staff are first aid trainedand are on hand to deal with any injuries or illnessesthat happen during the school day. There are first aidboxes situated in all classrooms and in other communalareas of school. Our procedure is to inform you of anyinjuries your child may have had either by a medical formthat comes home or a telephone call if it is necessary to doso, if your child needs to be seen by someone. In seriouscases we would, as a matter of course, involve theemergency services.

From time to time children may need to receivemedication during the school day. Medication that hasbeen prescribed to the child and is clearly labelled can beadministered at the correct times by school staff. Pleaseensure an adult brings this to the school office. Herenecessary details can be taken and you can sign togive permission for the administration. Please do notgive medication to your child to hand in. This canbe a danger to themselves and other children.

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GeneralData ProtectionRegulations (GDPR)As part of our work to comply with the GDPR, we seekconsent for using photographs or videos of your child onour website, social media pages, internal displays, schoolmarketing materials and the local newspapers. Please beaware that from time to time, we are required to shareyour data or your child’s data with other organisations,mainly the local authority, other schools and educationalbodies and potentially children’s services.

What parentssay:

‘Staff have reallyencouraged my son to

fulfil his potential’.

Equal OpportunitiesWe are sensitive and appreciative of the needs of all ofour pupils and we aim to provide each pupil with aneducation that increases their awareness andunderstanding of a diverse society. We promote positiveimages of all groups of society regardless of age,disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sex or sexualorientation and we encourage mutual respect foreveryone. Our teaching includes looking at the multi-cultural society in which we live and recognising the rightsand needs of people. The governing body are firmlycommitted to promoting equal opportunities withinschool at all levels. A copy of our Equality Statement canbe found on the school website.

Wraparound CareWe have a breakfast club from 8:00am - 8:45am each day.Pupils can enjoy a choice of cereals and toast each dayand can take part in a variety of planned activities.

We have regular after school activities running from3.25pm - 4.30pm which incorporate a range of activitiesfor pupils in Infants and Juniors, e.g. sporting, gardeningetc.

Please note - we are currently in consultation regardingour wraparound provision and are aiming to extend thehours of both breakfast club and our after school clubsfrom September 2019.

School MealsHealthy school lunches are cooked on site and areavailable for all pupils. Special dietary requirements andallergies are catered for. School dinners (£2.25* per day)can be ordered and paid for online at the Lunchshop site.All pupils in Reception, Year One and Year Two areentitled to free school meals as part of governmentfunding. Pupils also have the opportunity to bring in ahealthy packed lunch from home. Lunch boxes must beclearly labelled with your child’s name and class.

Sample Menu:Choice 1 - Margherita Pizza served with Sweetcorn andPeas

Choice 2 - Meatballs in Gravy served with CreamedPotatoes or Pasta and Garden Peas

Choice 3 - Oven Baked Jacket Potato filled with Cheese,Beans or Tuna served with Mixed Salad

Dessert - Shortbread or Fresh Fruit or Frozen Yoghurt

Snacks/WaterWe encourage pupils to eat healthy snacks at break timewhich they can bring in from home. We also offerbreakfast bagels (currently free of charge) to all pupils,which are handed out by monitors at the start of eachday.

Pupils may also bring a bottle of water (no fizzy drinks orjuice) to school which they have access to throughout theday.

*prices correct at time of publication

Pupils may be referred to the local authority for anassessment, which may result in an EHCP (Education andHealth Care Plan) with appropriate provision put in place.Parents are fully informed and involved in discussions ateach stage following the identification of a specialeducational need or disability.

We also recognise that gifted and talented pupils canhave special needs in that they may require work which issignificantly more advanced than that required by otherpupils in their age group. We aim to provide access to thefull curriculum and everyday activities for all pupils.

We have wheelchair access throughout school anddisabled toilets to ensure a fully inclusive learningenvironment for pupils and adults with disabilities.

Special EducationalNeeds and Disabilities(SEND)St Thomas’ is an inclusive school and we seek to meet theneeds of every pupil. We operate within the SEND Codeof Practice when carrying out our duties to support allpupils with special educational needs and disabilities.When a pupil has been identified as needing additionalsupport, parent will be asked to talk to our SENDCO(Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator),prior to inclusion on the SEND register. Pupils areidentified at the earliest possible stage and benefit fromtermly reviews of their progress and updated IndividualProvision Plans (IPP). These plans set out specific,achievable targets within a set timescale. Some pupilsmay receive additional support in class from teachingassistants and other may be withdrawn for specific 1:1group sessions for short periods of time.

Advice may be sought from outside specialists whosupport the school and pupils. These include ourEducational Psychologist, Targeted EducationSupport Services (TESS), Speech and LanguageTherapists, School Nursing Team, Childhood andAdolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) etc.

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‘The vision, being stronglyrooted in Christian teaching, has a

profound impact on the wholeschool community. This enables

all members of the school toflourish personally and

academically’.

What parentssay:

‘Thank you formaking school

fun!’.

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Charity WorkThroughout the year we support local and nationalcharities that may be particularly close to the hearts ofour children and their families and our staff. We have abox located at the school office where suggestions can bemade for future charity support.

PupilInvolvementin School LifeAt St Thomas’ we strongly believethat pupils have very valid andstrong feelings about school lifeand we actively encourage pupilsto have a voice, developing skillsfor life as they do this. We arevery proud of our active SchoolCouncil and their efforts to ensureSt Thomas’ is the best school inLeigh! They devise, plan for andhold fundraising events throughoutthe year and take pupil suggestions onwhat the money raised will purchase.We have strong links with our local carehomes and pupils in school council will jointhem annually for the Remembrance servicesheld there.

We have a newly formed Worship Group, where pupilstake an active part in planning for and leading oncollective worship. This is an important role across schoolas pupils demonstrate our Christian values and act aswonderful role models for everyone in school.

As pupils reach Year 5 and 6, they can apply for rolessupporting the wider school. We have sports leaders,reading monitors and taskforces who help others invarious ways across school on a daily basis. Thisresponsibility is highly sought after and equip our pupilswill skills for the future.

Celebrations and EventsAt St Thomas’ we plan and prepare for school events andcelebrations of the fabulous work that goes on in ourhere. We aim to share as much as this with our families aswe can. Annually we invite parents in to watchassemblies or worship and share with you theachievements of all our pupils. There are Christmascelebrations for all and at the end of the school year, ourolder pupils will showcase their talents in the performingarts. Your involvement is crucial and attending theseevents is what motivates and inspires the pupils. Duringthe year, we hold parent workshops, which you areinvited to attend. These events will be linked to thecurriculum and enable you to experience elements of atypical school day. They will help you to learn how best tosupport your child at home. Please keep an eye on themonthly newsletters for upcoming dates.

Communicating withParentsEnsuring our families know what is happening in schoolis important to us as your support helps us to achievegreat things. We use a range of different methods ofcommunication to provide information as you needit. Across school, we use Class Dojo or 2Simplesoftware as a way to communicate your child’sachievements and to also send you quick classmessages and to remind you of upcoming classor school events. Parentmail is a way ofsending whole school messages and lettersmore efficiently and we use traditionalmethods with our monthly newsletters. If youare concerned that you are not receivinginformation in these ways, please let theoffice know and we will check we have themost up-to-date contact details for you.

PTFA We have a wonderful PTFA who work tirelesslyto provide additional resources for all our pupils.School discos are held each half term and aremuch loved by the children. Our annual Christmasand summer fairs are equally as popular. New

members and fundraising ideas are warmly welcomed.Recently PTFA funds have purchased IPads and madeimprovements to playgrounds around school. Please askat the office for more details if you are interested injoining.

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'Disabled pupils and those whohave special educational needs are

identified quickly and given thesupport they need. This support meetseffectively their individual needs and

ensures these pupils make goodand, sometimes, outstanding

progress.'.


‘The dedicated pastoral team,along with the staff, generously

invest time and energy intoensuring any barriers tolearning are effectively

addressed’.

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Governing BodyOur governing body supports and challengesthe work of the school and is accountable forits performance to the school community andlocal authority. The Chair of Governors can becontacted via the school office and a numberof our governing body members are parentswho are happy to be approached in theplayground and around school. A list of upto date governors will always be available onour website.

ComplaintsWe hope that all matters that worry or concernparents can be resolved quickly and amicably. Ifyou do have a concern then please follow thesteps below:

• Speak to your child’s class teacher

• Discuss the matter with our school Learning Mentor or the relevant Head of Department

• Arrange an appointment with Deputy Headteacher or Headteacher

• Complaint to be put in writing and addressed to the Headteacher or Chair of Governors.

A full copy of our complaints procedure is available onthe school’s website.

Admission andTransition to HighSchoolDuring the autumn term, Year 6 pupils and theirfamilies will be invited to visit high schools tobegin the transition to secondary education.Families will be contacted by the Local Authorityto complete the necessary forms. By springterm, the LA will have offered places to allpupils due to start high school in theSeptember after the child’s 11th birthday. Inschool we ensure the transition is as smoothand well planned as when children start withus at the age of 4. Liaison between St Thomas’and the chosen high school will be ongoingduring the summer term and taster days willbe organised. We pass on detailed informationto the high school so that the children, theirfamilies and the school are well prepared forthe next stage of learning.

In school, we aim for the children leaving us tohave many memorable experiences in their finalterm, with learning that focuses on those skillsnecessary for their time at high school, ensuring thatchildren have the opportunities to flourish, succeed andprepare for their secondary education.

Charging PolicyThe restrictions, which are placed upon charging forschool activities, do not prevent the school from askingfor voluntary contributions for the benefit of schooleither inside or outside of school hours. It is apparentto governors that without sufficient voluntarycontributions, certain activities/visits would not bepossible. If insufficient voluntary contributions arereceived, the event may have to be cancelled.

Leave ofAbsenceFollowing the amendment to theEducation (Pupil Registration) (England)Regulations 2006, schools cannot authoriseany leave other than in exceptionalcircumstances. Holidays in term time arestrongly discouraged and in accordancewith school policy, penalty notices areissued when necessary.

Parent MailSt Thomas’ uses Parent Mail online systemfor the majority of payment items such asschool trips. Using a secure website youwill be able to pay online with a credit ordebit card. Benefits of this system include:

• greater efficiency and convenience for parents regarding school payments

• less worry about your children losing money at school

• full payment statements/history is available for you to keep track of payments

What parentssay:

‘We are so proud ofwhat our daughter has

achieved at StThomas’.

st. thomas church of england primary school prospectus 2019-20 st thomas ce primary school astley...

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