Prospectus
Dear Parent/Carer
I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the children, staff and governors to welcome you to Guiseley Infant School and Nursery. We are looking forward to welcoming you and your child. We believe that we are an open and friendly school where staff and parents work together to ensure every child is happy and reaches his/her maximum potential.
We hope this prospectus will be helpful and informative as it contains information about the staff and organisation in our school. If, however, it does not answer all your questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
You are most welcome to come and look round school at pre-arranged time
Yours sincerely,
Maxine Bell
Headteacher
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
At Guiseley Infant and Nursery we ensure a safe environment for everyone to achieve their best and be happy and fulfilled
Please click on this link to see a floor plan of school - Plan_of_Guiseley_Infant_and_Nursery_School.pdf
THE GOVERNING BODY
The Governing Body members are elected or chosen from a number of different groups to govern the school in conjunction with the Head Teacher and Senior Management Team.
Chair of Governors Mr Martin Knight - Maths / Health & Safety
Vice Chair Mrs Jen Read - Extended Services / Key Stage 1
Race Equality / Performance
Management
Headteacher Mrs Maxine Bell
Teaching Staff Representative
Miss Victoria Talbot Foundation Stage / English / Literacy
Staff Representative
Mrs Judith Rodley PE
Parent Representatives
Mr John Cooper Science
Mr Richard Turner PSHCE / DT / Governor Training
Mr Tim Richmond SEN
Co-opted Representatives
Rev Nick Baker RE / Chld Protection / Performance Management
Mrs Samantha Addie Creative Arts
LEA Representatives
Mrs Emma Marsden ICT
Cllr Pat Latty Outdoor Environment
All Governors can be contacted through the school office.
The Role of The Governing Body
Governors are like a Board of Directors and make decisions about how the school is run. The role of this voluntary group has grown in importance in recent years.
Governors are appointed to help:
Decide what is taught and raise standards.
Set standards of behaviour.
Interview and select staff.
Decide on how the school budget is spent.
Goverors have legal duties, powers and responsibilities. They can only act together and not individually. They receive training to help them carry out their role.
School Governors are:
Parents
Staff at the school.
Local council representatives.
Community representatives, business people.
Parent Governors:
Have a child in school.
Are elected by parents in the school.
Serve as do other Governors for four years.
The Governing Body is responsible for many aspects of school organisation. Governors have a duty to keep under review the way the school is developing.
School Organisation
Admission arrangements.
Nursery/Foundation Stage 1
Guiseley Infant & Nursery School has a 39 place Nursery/Foundation Stage 1 offering 15 hours nursery childcare on a flexible basis. Children are admitted to Nursery/Foundation Stage 1 after the age of 3 in September, and if places are available, in January. The Nursery/Foundation Stage 1 classroom is part of the main school building.
The Nursery/Foundation Stage 1 is staffed by a nursery teacher, 2 trained nursery nurses and plus teaching assistants to cover the lunchtime period.
School
Reception/Foundation 2
Parents will be required to follow the LEA policy and arrangements regarding admission to school. All children who will have their fifth birthday during the academic year will be admitted in the Autumn term of that year. All the children will come to school part time initially.
You will be invited to an initial meeting at school in the summer term prior to your children starting school, when you will have an opportunity to meet the staff and ask any questions you may have. We understand that some children find starting school hard and it’s our aim to make the settling in process as easy as possible for both you and your child.
Year 1 and 2
In the main school a maximum of 90 pupils per year group can be admitted. When a request is made for admission of a pupil to a class which has met the school’s maximum intake, the parent will be required to appeal to the LEA for admission to school.
Transfer to next school
At the end of the final year in our school the children make several visits with their teachers to the school to which they will transfer. This helps to dispel any anxieties about the future and allows both the children and new staff to get to know each other.
In addition the receiving teachers visit the children in our school and have the opportunity for discussions with their current teachers. All information about the children’s development, including teacher assessments and reports to parents, are forwarded to the next schools to help with progression and to retain continuity for the children.
At the end of the year all parents of children in school receive a written report on their child’s achievements and a comment on the next steps for learning.
All the children’s records of achievements during the years spent at Guiseley Infant & Nursery School are transferred to their next school when they leave us.
School Times
Morning Session 9.00am - 12.00 noon
Nursery / F1 9.00am - 12.00 noon
Playtime 10.30am - 10.45am
Afternoon Session 1.15pm - 3.15pm
Nursery / F1 12.15pm - 3:15pm
Playtime 2.30pm - 2.45pm (Mon, Wed, Fri)
2.20pm - 2.35pm (Tues, Thurs)
Supervision before school
School does not begin until 9.00am and parents are responsible for their children until that time. For reasons of safety and security please do not leave a child/children unattended in the playground at any time.
Collection of Children
Please ensure that your child is collected on time at the end of each session. If you find that you may be late in collecting your child, please notify the School Office as early as possible. Provision will be made to keep your child in school until you are able to collect him/her. If she/he is to be collected by anyone other than the usual person, please inform the class teacher.
Please take care when collecting your child by car. Both West Villa Road and Ashtofts Mount become very congested at these times. Parking is available, at present, on the hard core area at the rear of the school. Please do not use the staff / disabled car park to drop off or park.
Playtime
Children are supervised during playtimes by three members of staff. We try to encourage healthy eating, so every child is provided with a piece of fruit every day to eat during playtime, through the government free fruit initiative.
Termly Organisation and Holidays
During the year there will be an additional five days holiday when the school will be closed for Staff Training.
We always make every effort to arrange these days in conjunction with St Oswald’s Church of England Junior School, our feeder Junior School. Parents are informed of all these dates at the beginning of the school year.
Our Nursery/Foundation Stage 1 building is often used as a Polling Station for Local, General and European elections and is closed to the children on these dates.
Illness and Accidents If your child is taken seriously ill or has an accident we need to inform you as soon as possible as it can be distressing for children if we cannot make contact with a parent or other responsible adult quickly. To help us with this we require your home, work and alternative contact telephone numbers in school. Non-serious injuries are usually treated by the member of staff who is in charge of your child at the time. A child with a bumped head will bring a letter home, with an explanation of how the accident occured. If the injury appears to be of a more serious nature requiring hospital treatment, we will try to get in touch with you. If you cannot be contacted directly, we will act on your behalf and take your child to the A & E Dept. in Otley / Leeds / Bradford. There are First Aid facilities in each room in school and all staff are fully aware of simple first aid procedures. The school doctor, dentist and nurse will make regular visits to school to see children and notification of planned visits will be given to you. School nurses no longer visit school sto make regular inspections for head lice. Please contact us should your child contract head lice so we can quickly control any possible outbreak. It is important that the whole family is treated, combs are available from the school office and lotions are available from your chemist. Medicines in School If your child suffers from a medical condition requiring specialist help, please inform the Headteacher so that appropriate support can be arranged. In school we do not administer medication except for chronic illnesses e.g. diabetes, cystic fibrosis, asthma. If your child needs to complete a course of antibiotics during school hours, for medication that is required three times a day, we ask that this is given before school, after school and again at bedtime. For medication that is required four times a day, the parents/guardians must discuss administration arrangements with the Head. The School has a duty of care to take reasonable action to ensure the safety and welfare of its pupils. If a member of staff has cause to be concerned that a pupil may be subject to ill treatment, neglect or any other form of abuse the school will follow the LEA guidelines on Child Protection. These guidelines instruct the school to liase with other agencies including social services. All Staff are made fully aware of fire procedures and fire practices are held each half-term at different times of the school day. The fire equipment is tested annually. CCTV is active in school 24 hours. Each exit door is security locked and the main entrance has an intercom. All visitors are requested to sign the Visitors Book at the school office and wear an identity badge. For our Security Procedures Policy please contact the school office. It is the policy of the Governing Body that the school adopt a simple school uniform. The uniform consist of grey trousers, skirt or pinafore, a polo t-shirt and sweatshirt or cardigan. Polo t-shirts, sweatshirts and cardigans embroidered with the school logo are available to order through school. We also sell book bags and kit bags with the school logo. Orders can be placed with the school office or at school events. Please ensure that your child is dressed suitably, according to the season and the weather. All clothing should be marked with the child’s name. This should include hats, gloves, boots etc. For Physical Education lessons all children are expected to wear navy or blue shorts and a plain white t-shirt. They will need to bring pumps to school or indoor trainers (not trainers that they wear in the playground). The PE kit and footwear should be named and be kept in a suitable bag that can be kept on their pegs. Please ensure that none of the above items are too loose or baggy for safety reasons and that all items are clearly named. PE kits will only be taken home every half term to be washed so that the children can have access to their kits at anytime of the week. For safety reasons the children are not allowed to wear jewellery in school, including pierced hooped/dangling earrings. Also, we ask that long hair is tied up.
Child Protection and Pupil Welfare
Fire Procedures
School Security
School Uniform
Lost Property
Whilst we encourage children to take care of their belongings it is inevitable that some items will get misplaced.
If we cannot return them directly to their owner they will be placed in the lost property box which is situated by the school office. Items unclaimed at the end of the half term will be disposed of.
School Meals
The school meals service maintains a healthy eating policy. Lunches are cooked on the premises and themeals are served in a Family Service style in the School Hall. Children are provided with a main course, dessert, fruit juice or water to drink plus bread is always available. A menu is available at the School Office.
The cost of school meals per week for the current year is contained in the additional information supplied with this booklet. Please send the total amount for a week on a Monday morning, in a sealed envelope marked with your child’s name and class. Cheques should be made payable to Leeds City Council. If you think you may be eligible for free school meals please contact the school office for further information.
If your child requires a special diet, then please inform the Headteacher so that arrangements can be made.
Packed lunches may be eaten as an alternative to cooked dinners. Please ensure that your child’s lunch box is clearly marked with his/her name. Water is provided for the children to drink. Cold drinks can be brought in a suitable container. For reasons of safety please do not send glass bottles or cans. We encourage healthy eating – so please try not to send fizzy drinks, crisps or sweets. Chocolate biscuits or cake are allowed on a Friday but please do not send chocolate sweets or bars.
Two week’s notice is required to change from packed lunches to school dinners or vice versa. Please inform the school office if you wish a change to take place.
School Milk
Milk is provided for all children during the morning. Government legislation directs Local Authorities to make a small charge per term to pay for milk drunk in school.
Please inform the office if your child will not require milk for medical reasons.
There is no charge for milk if your child is entitled to free school meals or in Nursery/Foundation 1.
Charging Policy
Government legislation states that schools cannot make a charge for school visits and performances held in school, although we can ask for voluntary contributions - this is a one-off payment during Autumn Term. No pupil will be excluded from such an activity because a contribution has not been made. However, if sufficient money is not raised the trip may not be able to go ahead.
Parents and the School
We feel it is vitally important for home and school to work together. At Guiseley Infant & Nursery School we hope to keep you informed about educational and organisational matters at all times and we welcome your views on all aspects of school life. If there are any issues relating to school in general, or to the development of your child in particular, which you wish to discuss further with the Head or class teacher, please come in and see us.
Parent Interviews take place twice a year, in the Autumn and Spring Term. These times give the opportunity for teachers and parents/guardians to meet and discuss children’s progress and development and are very helpful for everyone.
Parents are also encouraged to come into school and work alongside children and teachers in a variety of ways. Helping in school gives parents an opportunity to learn about our school and class communities and is an enormous support for teachers. In the past parents have helped with:
- Baking
- Telling Stories
- Art and Craft Activities
- Helping with the Library
- Sewing
- Computer work
- Gardening
- Reading games and hearing children read
- Mounting and displaying work
- Maths games
- Science apparatus/games
- Making maths and reading apparatus/games
- Playing the piano (or any instrument)
- Accompanying classes on walks or trips
If you are interested in helping in any of these areas, or have other ways in which you want to help, then please contact the Headteacher, or your child’s Class Teacher, you will be welcomed with open arms!
Parents Group
At Guiseley Infant & Nursery School we have always had a successful and well-run Parents Group. The Group plans several activities a year for all the family to take part in and enjoy and it also plays an important part in fund raising for the school. If parents would like to come along and get involved, or simply want to meet other parents for a chat and a cup of coffee, then they are more than welcome to join the group. Please contact the school office for more information.
Access to Information
The following documents are available to parents at any time. If you wish to read these or require any other information, please contact the School Office.
a) The Authority’s Statement of Curriculum Policy
b) The Governing Body’s Statement of Curriculum Policy and Aims
c) All Statutory Instruments, Circulars and Administrative Memoranda
Relating to the Curriculum, issued by the Department for Education.
d) All syllabuses followed by pupils
e) The Authority’s Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.
f) The Formal Complaints Procedure.
g) Published Ofsted report on the school.
Additionally, the current school profile can be found on-line at:
http://schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk/3832270/overview
CURRICULUM
The overall aim of the curriculum at Guiseley Infant & Nursery School is to provide children with their National Curriculum entitlement through a broad based challenging curriculum. The National Curriculum consists of 5 core subjects (English, Maths, Science, ICT and RE) and foundation subjects (History, Geography, Art, Music, Technology, PE,) at Key Stage 1.
Teaching Methods
Our children are organised into single aged year groups where possible and will be given 21 hours teaching time each week. This excludes the daily act of collective worship, registration, lunchtime and play times. Children are taught as a whole class, in small groups and individually.
FS1/FS2 – follows the Foundation Stage curriculum which covers birth to 5 years old.
CURRICULUM AREAS
English
- We aim to produce fluent, expressive readers, who enjoy reading and who are able to gain knowledge and understanding through its use.
- We aim to produce writers, who can express themselves appropriately on paper, in a clear, legible hand, to be able to write for different purposes and to be competent in the use of standard English, punctuation and spelling.
- We aim to enable our pupils to express themselves orally to a range of audiences and to be able to listen and respond to the views of others.
- We aim to enable our pupils to appreciate literature and to introduce them to a variety of authors and reading material.
The school follows a carefully prepared scheme designed to meet the needs of the children as individuals and the requirements of the National Literacy Strategy. Full use is made of broadly resourced reading schemes. Positive provision is made for the able reader in the well stocked Key Stage 1 Library and individual classroom book collections.
At Guiseley Infant & Nursery School we believe reading to be one of the most important things your child will learn. Our aim is for every child, on leaving, to be able to read both for enjoyment and educational value. This is best achieved when parents plan an active part in helping their child learn to read. This can be done by hearing them read frequently and also reading stories to them, whatever their age. In school teachers have guided reading sessions. Children will be taught to read through this session, rather than individual ‘hearing children read’, although adults will still hear children read individually.
Please encourage your child to take their book home, hear them read and return it to school as directed by the teacher.
Book bags are for sale at the school office.
What can you do to help your child?
Sharing a book with your child should be an enjoyable experience so make sure that you:
- are both comfortable
- are sitting so that you can both see the pages of the book
- are undisturbed
- choose a book with good clear print and attractive pictures
- give permission for your child to join our school library lending service for non-fiction books.
- make use of the school and public library.
When children are sharing a book with parents they are picking up the process of reading, learning, and understanding. Paired reading – that is both of you reading a familiar story – will encourage your child to join in with the story. Let your child tell the story from the pictures. Always discuss the pictures in the book, ask your child to tell you about the pictures. If you show how much enjoyment can be gained from reading, it will be good training for your child. Parents are welcome to come into the school to help with reading. Please ask your child’s teacher.
All children are encouraged to bring books home from the individual classroom library.
Mathematics
- We aim to equip the children with a range of mathematical skills and a body of appropriate knowledge, with particular regard to the four rules of numeracy – number, shape and space, measures and data handling.
- We aim to provide a challenging environment in which children are encouraged to apply the mathematical knowledge and skills they have acquired.
We aim to give your child the opportunity to:-
- Use mathematical vocabulary
- See mathematics as relevant and important part in everyday life.
Science
Science is delivered across the school through a well-planned progressive programme, which introduces and develops children’s knowledge, skills and understanding of:-
Experimentation and Investigation of scientific concepts:-
- Physical Processes
- Life Processes and Living things
- Materials and their Properties
These are taught through the study of topics such as electricity, light, forces and energy, sound, materials, plants and animals, changes, ourselves, moving.
Children are helped to develop their scientific understanding through practical experience, which encourages the development of investigation, experimentation skills and interpretation of results. Science is often linked with other curriculum areas such as design technology.
Information and Communication Technology
ICT is developed through the use of a range of technology including computers. Each classroom is equipped with at least one computer and the children use these to develop skills in word processing, information retrieval, data base work, control technology and cross-curricular learning through a variety of software. The school is linked to the
Religious Education and Collective Worship
Religious traditions in
Foundation Subjects
Including History, Geography, Art, Music, PE, Design and Technology and PSHCE. These subjects enrich the education of all children. Music and PE are included in the weekly timetable for all classes, and the remaining foundation subjects are taught largely through broad topics and specific units of work across the Key Stage. Schemes of work are available or being developed for all foundation subjects.
Sporting aims and provision for sport.
Emphasis on sport in the Nursery/Foundation 1 and School is placed on the development of physical skills. All teaching staff are trained to teach P.E.
All children have P.E. lessons during the week and all children are expected to wear navy or blue shorts and a plain white t-shirt. They will need to bring pumps to school or indoor trainers (not trainers that they wear in the playground). For safety reasons we would ask that children do not wear jewellery in school, including pierced, hooped/dangling earrings and long hair is fastened back.
Special Needs
The class teacher has responsibility for all children within her/his class, including those who may have special educational needs. This may include children with either physical or learning difficulties. If the class teacher or parents have any concerns re-learning or physical difficulties a child may be having, these will be discussed with parents, teachers and the SEN Co-ordinator, and further action taken if required. The school has access to many external support services and Mrs Jeffrey is responsible for co-ordinating these. If additional support is required for a child, an assessment for a statement will be sought. We will make every attempt where possible to support any child not statemented but in need of additional help.
Pupils with Disabilities
No discrimination is made against any child being admitted to school with a disability. Parents are requested to inform school of any disability known to them, which their child may experience, so appropriate facilities can be provided to assist access to the school and the curriculum.
Children with disabilities will participate in all everyday activities of which they are capable, and will not be treated less favourably than other pupils.
If you feel that your child may have a problem, please contact school where it can be discussed confidentially with an appropriate member of staff.
Equal Opportunities
The school is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all regardless of gender, race or disability. We promote self-respect and an understanding of others in our multi-cultural society.
Sex Education
The school policy is that formal sex education will not be treated as a separate subject. Staff will endeavour to answer questions concerning sexual matters honestly and clearly in a way that is appropriate to the age of the children and their ability to understand the information. Should parents have any queries regarding the sex education policy, they are requested to discuss these with the Headteacher. Parents may withdraw their child from all or part of the sex education provided except that which is required as part of National Curriculum (Science).
Behaviour in School
The school shows itself to be a stable, positive and caring community where children are encouraged to be self-reliant, to make sensible choices and to exercise self control.
Throughout the school there is an insistence on acceptable standards of personal behaviour. We aim to reinforce good behaviour and emphasis is placed on praising good manners, kindness and consideration towards others.
The rules by which the school operates are designed to ensure the health and safety of everyone and the efficient and smooth running of the school where respect for people and property are of paramount importance.
If children behave in this manner there should be no need for disciplinary measures. It is expected that parents will support this approach and by sending their child to our school they are agreeing to encourage such behaviour.
The following anti-social behaviour is considered to be particularly serious and appropriate action will be taken to address such behaviours.
- Bullying - verbal or physical
- Deliberate damage to property or belongings
- Racist abuse
- Behaviour that is likely to cause injury to self or others
- Abuse of adults - verbal or physical
- Bad language
If a serious or persistent problem occurs, parental involvement will be initiated immediately in order that there is a speedy resolution. If parents have concerns regarding children’s relationships they should report these to the class teacher. If the problem cannot be resolved at this level please call in to see the Headteacher.
If a problem is considered so serious as to warrant exclusion from school then the procedures laid down by the city council under section 22 – 27 of the Education Act will be followed.
Homework
We encourage children to share all their learning with their parents and we welcome your help, encouragement and co-operation with this. In view of the age of the children we feel that a maximum of 20 minutes homework daily is sufficient. This will cover a variety of aspects of work including taking a reading book home and maths activities. Parents are informed of what the teacher wishes the child to learn and the ways in which they can help, and are encouraged to ask the teacher if there is anything they are unclear about.
Provision for the Arts
At Guiseley Infant & Nursery School we aim to provide cultural experiences and opportunities to extend our children’s full development and learning. These will include visits from musicians, poets, actors, and artists in school.
Complaints Procedure
Should parents have any general complaints regarding the curriculum, pupils, staffing or any other issues, they are requested to raise these with the Headteacher or the Chair of Governors at the earliest opportunity. Should parents wish to make a general complaint to the Governing Body or LEA about the curriculum, a copy of the LEA document regarding procedures can be found in school.
Disclaimer
Information in this booklet was prepared in September 2010. It was correct at the time of publication.
Changes may occur to this information as circumstances alter in the future.
No Smoking Policy
We have a no-smoking policy in school which applies to buildings, grounds and within sight of the building. Parents are asked to adhere to this policy as it supports the non-smoking message we hope to instil in our pupils.