Introduction

This prospectus provides information concerning the school as required by the 1980 Education Act and other information, which we hope you will find useful.

This prospectus is written primarily for parents who are considering this school for their child from within the catchment area, but also for parents who wish to know about the opportunities available.

Information concerning the general arrangements in Northumberland is given separately in a County Education booklet.  Copies of this prospectus are available for parents of pupils who are starting or transferring schools next September.

This School primarily serves the area of Beaufront, Sandhoe, Anick and Oakwood.  Parents who wish their children to attend the school may submit an application by completing a School Preference Form, copies available from; County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF. 

 

NB.  These should be returned to county by 26th October 2009 for admissions for September 2010.

The Director of Education will inform parents about whether or not a place is available at this school for their child.

Details of the County admissions criteria and appeals against the authority’s decisions are given in the County booklet.

 

Facilities

   

School Aims 

 

At Beaufront, we aim to provide a welcoming secure and carefully structed environment in which every child is valued.

 

• ·        We aim to build on each child’s home experiences and to work in close partnership with parents.
• ·        We aim to provide pupils with meaningful practical experiences that promote quality learning opportunities.
• ·        We aim to deliver a relevant, broad and balanced curriculum that is matched to children’s needs and interests.
• ·        We aim to provide equal opportunities for all pupils.
• ·        We aim to encourage courteous and caring behaviour towards others.
• ·        We aim to build each child’s self-esteem and confidence by respecting and valuing all pupils as unique individuals within our school.

     What type of school is Beaufront?

 

Beaufront is a first school.  We cater for both boys and girls between the ages of 4 plus and 9 years.  A First School provides the first stage of a three-tier system of education.  At the age of 9 plus, our pupils transfer to Middle School.

At Beaufront, we have high expectations for all of our pupils to be nurtured to reach their full potential, but a child’s happiness will always take priority over academic achievement.

We want our pupils to thoroughly enjoy this first and very important stage of their education.

      
Beaufront Staff

 

Head Teacher: Mrs Sue Carpenter

Acting Head Teacher: Mrs Eileen Daniel

Reception Teacher: Mrs Victoria Binovec

Key Stage One Teachers: Mrs Eileen Daniel, Mrs Denise Condren and Mrs Gillian Linton

Key Stage Two Teacher: Ms Bernadene Adnett

 

School Clerical officer/Lunchtime supervisor: Mrs Fran Booth

Unit Manager (School Cook): Mrs June Blaylock

Classroom Assistant/Lunchtime Supervisor: Mrs Louise Atkinson & Mrs Angela Richardson

 

Caretaker: Mrs Jill Blaylock

 

Students from St. Martins College are offered placements in school from time to time.

   

 The School Day

 

 

Morning session:  8.55am – 12.30pm

Morning break: 10.15am – 10.30am

Lunchtime: 12.30pm – 1.30pm  (12 noon – 1pm Tuesday & Friday)

Afternoon session: 1.30pm – 3.15pm

A whole school assembly/Daily Act of worship takes place at 10.00am or 3.00pm

 

Reception and Key Stage One pupils may take a 10-minute break within the afternoon teaching session at the discretion of the teacher.

 

The actual teaching time for KS1 pupils is 22 hours and 55 minutes per week.  The actual teaching time for KS2 is 23 hours and 45 minutes per week.

 

N.B:

Children should not be left unattended in the school playground before 8.50am.  Children should arrive promptly for the start of the day and prompt collection of children at the end of the day is much appreciated as staffs often need to attend meetings with other agencies or twilight training sessions.

 

Please ensure your child’s safety, by always informing your child’s class teacher of any changes to collection arrangements.  Wherever possible, written notification should be given.

 

Late Arrival

 

If you arrive once children are in class, your child will be marked present but receive a late mark.  Children arriving after 9.15am receive a different attendance mark.  Please note Mrs Booth has to electronically transfer this information to County Hall before 9.30am each day.

 

Class Organisation

 

The organisation of pupils into classes for the academic year 2009/10 is as follows:

15 Reception Pupils                         Class R   Mrs Victoria Binovec

13 Year One/12 Year Two Pupils      Class 1    Mrs Eileen Daniel

19 Year Three/ 12 Year Four Pupils  Class 2    Miss Bernadene Adnett

 

 Starting School

 

Your child will have many opportunities to become familiar with our school.  He/She will be invited to school for a series of hourly taster sessions during the Summer Term.  An information evening for parents will be held in July.

All children have a staggered entrance to Reception Class. 

For the first week the children attend for mornings only (8.55am to 12 noon).

For the following week the children will stay for lunch too (8.55am to 1.30pm).

In the third week the children may begin full-time (8.55am – 3.15pm) if both parents and teacher feel that they are ready to do so.

 

 Pupil Attendance

 

We have an excellent record of no unauthorised attendance.  Good attendance enables our pupils to obtain maximum benefit from the opportunities offered at Beaufront.  There is a DFEE requirement for schools to authorise absences following set criteria.  Obviously, frequent absences may well be detrimental to your child's performance.  Parents are asked to inform the school promptly (by 9.15am) of their child’s absence (by telephone in the first instance).  As pupils return to school following absence, parents are required to explain the reason for their child’s absence in writing.  Letters should be addressed to the class teacher of the pupil concerned.  Parents will be contacted if pupils are absent without explanation and any unexplained, prolonged or frequent absence from school may be followed up by a home visit from an Education Welfare Officer.

 

Holiday Leave of absence

 

If parents have to take leave for holidays outside the school holiday periods, children are allowed 10 days leave of absence in any school year for this purpose.  A leave of absence form must be obtained from the school office and the form completed and returned two weeks before the absence is due to begin.  Any holiday leave of absence in excess of 10 school days must be recorded as unauthorised absence.  We cannot authorise leave of absence in May for children in Year 2 as this is when teacher assessment for SATs (nationally recorded data are required)

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NB :DfES leaflet “School Attendance Information for Parents”.

 

School Uniform

 

Our school uniform consists of:

·        Yellow sweatshirt bearing our school logo (available from PTA),

·        Grey trousers; grey skirt or pinafore

·        Yellow gingham dresses can be worn in summer if you so wish

·        White polo shirt or white polo neck. 

Ideally we would like children to wear black flat school type shoes; sling backs, mules, heeled shoes and trainers are not appropriate.

 

For PE:

·        Yellow T-shirt

·        Black shorts

·        Black jogging pants

·        Sweatshirt or fleece

·        Trainers  

·        Spare pair of socks and underwear

 

For swimming children require:

·        A towel

·        Girls should have a one piece costume

·        Boys should wear trunks, not long shorts

·        Goggles if your child requires them.

 

We also have a small wooded area at school for the children to play in, but we ask that they have a pair of wellington boots to leave in school, as it gets quite muddy.

 

For safety reasons, no jewellery should be worn at school.

 

Parent Consultations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parents are invited to individual consultations with their child’s class teacher in the second half of the Autumn Term and the second half of the Summer Term.  In addition, a written report on pupil progress is sent to parents at the end of the Summer Term and a parent’s evening is scheduled for all parents of Year 2 pupils to discuss preparations for SATs.

N.B.  Parents are encouraged to share any concerns that they may have about their child with their child’s class teacher or Head Teacher at any point within the year.  Please do not hesitate to ring school to arrange a mutually convenient appointment if you need to speak privately with any member of staff.  Our secretary Mrs Booth is available in the school office every day between 8.55am and 3.15pm.  When the school office is unattended, the answering machine will be in operation.

  

 

Pupil Records

 

Pupil records relating to educational attainment are available for inspection by parents on request.  On transfer to another school, pupil records are transferred to their new school. 

 

Access to Documents

 

Any Statutory Instruments or Orders, Circulars or Administrative Memoranda relating to powers and duties under Chapter One of the Education Reform Act are available for inspection at the school.

Free publications may be obtained from the Department of Education and Science.

Priced publications are available from Her Majesty’s Stationary Office.

Any reports on the school by Her Majesty’s Inspectors may be viewed at the school.

Please contact the Head Teacher if you require access to any of these documents.

 

Science

 

In Science, children are guided through a range of appropriate and stimulating topics.  They learn essential scientific sills, such as how to observe, measure, question, classify, predict and evaluate.  We want our pupils to be excited by science and to develop a thirst for knowledge in all aspects of the subject.  In addition to regular weekly science lessons we hold a special whole school annual science day.  This may take place in school or a visit, for example to the Centre of life.

  

English

 

At Beaufront, we aim to help children to learn to read with fluency and understanding.  We hope to foster a genuine, long lasting love of books and reading.  To be successful in this, we need to work in close partnership with parents.  Pupils take books home to read as soon as they start school.  They are expected to read at home for a short while everyday, as part of their programme of homework.  We use a range of reading scheme materials to extend and enrich your child’s experience.  Fluent readers select from an extensive range of fiction and non-fiction texts.

 

All staff follow the Government’s National Literacy Strategy guidelines when planning learning opportunities for pupils.  This ensures continuity and progression throughout the school as the children acquire a wide range of literacy skills.  All pupils are encouraged to speak with confidence, fluency and clarity and to express their thoughts, feelings and ideas coherently.

   

French

 

All pupils have a weekly French lesson. Mrs Condren is responsible for teaching this subject throughout the school.

 

Mathematics

 

All pupils follow the guidelines set in the Government’s National Numeracy Strategy, covering the following areas of learning:

·        Using and applying mathematics.

·        Number

·        Algebra

·        Shape and Space

·        Data Handling

·        Mental arithmetic and tables.

A wide range of supporting materials and varying teaching techniques are used to stimulate and extend each child’s understanding.  We seek to maximise enjoyment and self-confidence as we challenge pupils to reach their full potential.

 

History

 

We have adopted the DFEE/QCA scheme of work for History.  We value the part played by our local, national and international heritage and all pupils are taught to appreciate the past and to understand important historical events in context.  Stories of famous people and events are told and children are gradually encouraged to see themselves as discerning historians who can play a part in gathering and presenting information through research. 

 

Geography

 

We have adopted and follow the DFEE/QCA scheme of work for Geography.  Our pupils generally learn through first hand experiences in the area close to the locality of our school, but if appropriate, may sometimes have opportunities to go further afield to facilitate learning.  We aim to develop an understanding of the immediate environment and the world beyond by comparing different cultures, peoples and places.

 

 

Design Technology

 

We use the DFEE/QCA scheme of work for Design Technology.  Opportunities are provided for children to enjoy designing and making things through focused practical tasks.  They enjoy experimenting with a variety of materials, tools and techniques and are encouraged to express their own interests and to be creative.

 

ICT

(Information Communication Technology)

 

We use DFEE/QCA scheme of work for ICT.  Opportunities are provided for pupils to use computers within each classroom.  I.C.T. is an integrated subject that is taught and used to enhance all areas of the curriculum.  Our aim is for all children to develop word processing skills and to become increasingly confident in using a range of appropriate software and the Internet to enhance their learning.

 

Music

 

Our aim is to foster a love of music and music making.  Children are encouraged to listen to and appreciate a variety of types of music and to compose their own music.  Children enjoy performing music-related activities in assemblies, at the Tynedale Music Festival, for Harvest and Christmas productions and other special events and festivals. Specialist teachers are employed to give weekly classes in violin and guitar to children in Year 1 and above at the express wish of the parent. All children in Years 3 and 4 benefit from a weekly recorder and ukelele lesson, likewise taught by specialist staff.

 

Physical Education

  

FOOTBALL

 

 

 

 

 

Football training and matches are arranged with local first schools. Any child in year 2, 3 or 4 may participate. In addition to this, the children are coached for six weekly sessions each year through the Newcastle United Football Coaching Scheme.

 

SWIMMING

 

All pupils from reception to Year 4 visit Hexham Swimming Pool once a week throughout the school year. The swimming instruction is undertaken by the pool’s qualified staff with our teaching staff offering assistance too.

A number of pupils are asked to take part in the annual inter-school swimming gala towards the end of the summer term.

  

CRICKET

 

All pupils receive training in cricket throughout the Summer Term from a qualified coach.

  

FACILITIES

 

We use the field in front of the school during the summer months.  We make good use of the school playground, which is marked out to encourage a variety of types of activity. We also use the hall (large central classroom) for indoor activities such as gymnastics, music and movement and large apparatus lessons.

We follow a scheme of work which promotes physical activity, healthy lifestyles and positive attitudes through dance, gymnastics, games skills, outdoor and adventurous activities and swimming.

  

Religious Education

 

Through Religious Education, we aim to help children to gain an understanding of spiritual values.  We study Christianity predominately, but also help our pupils to develop awareness of other religions.  All pupils are helped to grow in their appreciation of how to conduct themselves in ways that are both socially and morally acceptable.  We follow Northumberland County Council’s Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.

We enjoy close links with local churches within our community and welcome their contributions to our celebrations of festivals and special assemblies.

  

Collective Worship

 

Beaufront is a non-denominational school. Parents who wish to withdraw their child from our daily acts of collective worship or from religious education lessons (under Section 25 of the 1944 Education Act) are asked to inform the Head Teacher.

Art and Design

  

Our pupils are given many opportunities to participate in a wide range of activities intended to stimulate their imagination and creativity.  They are encouraged to develop proficiency with a range of tools and materials in both two and three dimensions and to develop aesthetic awareness and appreciation of works of art.

Sex Education

  

Formal sex education is not taught in school, but questions that the children may ask are answered in an honest, open and tactful way, appropriate to the child’s age and understanding.

   

Child Protection

  

Teaching staff have a legal obligation under the Children Act 1989, to record any suspicions of neglect, physical injury, sexual or emotional abuse.  This sort of information may need to be passed on to the appropriate authority.

   

Special Educational Needs

  

At Beaufront, we aim to meet the particular needs of all pupils.  If a child needs special provision, we will endeavour to provide it and if necessary, will seek extra advice, support and provision from the Local Education Authority.

   

Extra Curricular Provision

  

A variety of after school activities may be made available to pupils throughout the year. They last for the duration of an hour and vary in content according to particular school projects, children’s interests and staff expertise.