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CharthamPrimary School

Thank you for showing an interest in Chartham Primary School. I have great pleasure in enclosing our school brochure, which I hope you will find informative and useful in answering any questions you may have about our school.

Chartham Primary School is a community school with one and a half classes in each year group. We are on an exciting journey, and are preparing to accommodate two classes in each year group from September 2016, with wonderful enhancements planned to our facilities. Our school provides education for children aged 4-11 years. We recognise all children as having their own individual needs and we try to support these needs through an emphasis on the partnership between home and school.

Chartham Primary is a happy school with a very strong, caring ethos. We encourage and expect children to work hard, and try their best, developing into independent, confident learners with, above all, a love of learning.

We have high expectations of behaviour from all members of the school community, showing respect for each other.

We offer a rich curriculum where creativity and academic excellence is encouraged. Participation in sporting and outdoor activities is a strength of the school.

We have a committed ‘Friends of Chartham School’ association which provides welcome fundraising support

for the school, as well as a variety of fundraising events. We hope you will become part of it.

We look forward to welcoming you and your child to our learning community. If you would like to visit, please contact the school office for an appointment where we would be more than happy to provide a guided tour.

Further information can be found on the school’s website www.charthamprimary.org.uk

Dean JonesHeadteacher

Welcome

At our school we believe that a varied curriculum encourages emotional as well as academic growth, and so we endeavour to make learning innovative and exciting for all our children. In order to promote personal development amongst our pupils, we work hard to foster an inclusive, caring and effective learning environment that helps children feel secure, valued and nurtured.

We pride ourselves on our ability to instil a series of key values in our pupils, by creating an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect.

Our key values are:• RESPECT we listen to others• FAIRNESS we treat others fairly• HONESTY we never hide the truth• PERSEVERANCE we always work hard and try our

best• KINDNESS we always help others and value their

feelings

By combining our key values with a varied and challenging curriculum, we aim to:

• Provide a safe, secure and stimulating environment for all pupils, staff, parents and visitors

• Enable pupils to develop their potential in all aspects of the curriculum

• Offer pupils an education appropriate to the world beyond the classroom

• Work in partnership with parents to help our pupils to grow and develop

• Encourage in our pupils an enjoyment of learning, as well as a desire to expand their knowledge and skills throughout their lives.

Our Key Values

Admissions

Chartham Primary School is a community school in Kent and caters for children aged between 4 and 11.

Reception class admissions: The school admits 60 children to the Early Years classes. Arrangements for admission can be found on Kent County Council’s website or the school website.

Casual admissions to the remainder of the school are managed by the school, in consultation with the local authority. Information about these procedures can be found on their website www.kent.gov.uk

School Organisation

Our school is organised into three Key Stages:

Early Years Foundation Stage - the youngest pupils in the reception classesKey Stage 1 (KS1) - refers to pupils in the infant phase, Years 1 and 2Key Stage 2 (KS2) - refers to pupils in the junior phase, Years 3, 4, 5 and 6

Times of school sessionsMorningReception/KS1 9:00am-12:00pmKS2 9:00am-12:15pmAfternoonReception/KS1 1:00pm-3:15pmKS2 1:15pm-3:15pm

There is a morning and lunch break for all children, and an afternoon break for KS1 children.

The Curriculum

All children are taught from the National Curriculum. Some of this is covered through topics and themes but other work is delivered as discrete subjects. Children work in a variety of ways, as a class, group, pair or individually. The emphasis is always on the active and meaningful involvement of children in their own learning.

All classrooms have interactive whiteboards, and the school has a dedicated computing suite. In addition, there are laptops and iPads that are used to enhance pupils’ learning.

Physical Education is an important part of the curriculum. All classes take part in physical exercise, and all children in KS2 have a programme of swimming lessons as part of their curriculum entitlement. There is also a range of after school sports clubs, where children have opportunities to take part in both competitive and non-competitive sports.

We keep parents informed about what their children are doing via newsletters and the school website.

Assessment

Assessment is an integral part of teaching and learning. Children’s work and progress is continually monitored by their teachers, and children are given feedback and set targets for improvement. This is discussed with parents through termly learning conferences, which take place each seasonal term.

Inclusion

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive school. We are committed to ensuring that every child fulfils their potential and makes good progress, both academically and socially.

Homework

Homework enables children to practise aspects of their learning, to extend and share their learning with their families, and to become independent learners. It is vitally important that parents provide opportunities for children to read regularly at home and learn their times tables.

Educational Visits

We often enrich the curriculum by organising trips or visits. Outdoor learning is an important part of the curriculum. The school’s environment and the local environment are used as a learning resource.

Breakfast and After School Child Care

To support working parents, we offer all round child care for a number of children through our breakfast and after school clubs. Please contact the school office for further details.

School Meals

School meals are cooked on the premises. The school use GS Plus to provide tasty and well-balanced meals. Children can choose from a cooked meal selection. Salad and fruit are available daily. Menus and payment details are available on request.

Children are also able to bring a packed lunch, and should bring in a healthy meal. Children should not bring in any food containing nuts or nut additives.

Attendance

Regular attendance and punctuality are vitally important in order for your child to gain maximum benefit from the range of learning experiences provided by the school. We ask parents to telephone the school as soon as possible on the first day of any absence so that we know the reason.

Behaviour

We expect children to uphold the key values of our school, and they are praised and rewarded when doing so. All children are expected to behave in a reasonable manner, and parents are expected to support the school’s behaviour for learning policy. There is a balance of rewards and consequences that are consistent throughout the school and appropriate to the age of the child.

Collective Worship & Religious Education

Assemblies are arranged into whole school or Key Stages/Classes. All children in KS1/KS2 attend assembly each day. Through Religious Education, our pupils acquire and develop a knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other faiths to equip them for life in a multi-faith society. Parents are asked to contact the school if they wish for their child to be withdrawn from any of these activities.

This is incorporated in PSHE. Every effort is made to match the teaching and knowledge to the maturity of the children.

Partnership with Parents

Chartham Primary School passionately believes in a strong and positive partnership between pupil, parent and school.

We have an ‘open door’ policy, and believe that good communication between parents and school is vital for our children to succeed. Each term we hold termly learning conferences where parents can find out about their child’s progress, and how they can support them in their education. Parents and their child meet with the teacher so that all are involved in setting next steps for learning. We also hold fortnightly ‘News Day Tuesday’ where parents are invited into their child’s classroom to look at the work. Each class hosts an assembly for parents throughout the year so that parents are well informed about their child’s learning and progress.

Class teachers are available for parents at the end of each working day, and members of the school Senior Leadership Team and Family Liaison Officer are always available at the start of the day, and can often be found on the playground if parents have any queries or concerns.

Chartham Primary School Council

Pupils are involved in the decision making process of the school through the school council. The children elect representatives to form a committee and they are supported by school staff and the Senior Leadership Team. They meet regularly to discuss a range of issues.

CharthamPrimary School

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Shalmsford Street, Chartham, Kent, CT4 7QNTelephone: 01227 738225

Fax: 01227 732175Email: secretary@chartham.kent.sch.uk

Web: www.charthamprimary.org.uk