School
I
know, I do, I care
STATEMENT OF SCHOOL AIMS
Charlton
Horethorne Church of England School's mission is to enable
everyone to acquire the knowledge, learn the skills and develop
the attitudes necessary to become positive members of society.
The aims are:
- To
enable children to develop their potential by providing
a broad and balanced curriculum
- To
develop in children a life long love of learning
- To
help children develop a positive attitude towards themselves,
others and the world in which they live
- To
encourage in children spiritual awareness and an awe of
the universe
ADMISSION
OF PUPILS POLICY
Please click here for the School Admission Policy for 2012
CLASSROOM
ORGANISATION
We
currently have three classes:
Class 1: Reception and Year 1 & 2
Class 2: Years 3 and 4
Class 3: Years 5 and 6
The
school times are:
Morning Session
Class 1: 9.00 am to 12.10 pm
Class 2: 9.00 am to 12.30 pm
Class 3: 9.00 am to 12.30 pm
Afternoon Session
All pupils: 1.15 pm to 3.15 pm
All
children have a morning break.
HOMEWORK
Homework
is set regularly for children in Years 3 - 6. We recognise
that parents have a vital role to play in their children's
education and would ask for your support when any work is
sent home. Children in Years 1 and 2 have reading books and
are given tasks related to their class work from time to time.
Children in Reception are encouraged to take books and games
home to read and share.
Homework
can take a range of forms: in the Key Stage 1 class it begins
as book sharing and reading, simple follow-up maths work,
spellings and topic related activities. Homework is increased
as children progress into Key Stage 2 and children in Years
5 & 6 are prepared for the greater demands of Secondary
School homework.
DISCIPLINE
We are a family school and as such observe and encourage good
and courteous conduct. A copy of the Behaviour Policy is available
in the office and all staff adhere to the same principles
of acceptable behaviour. We would expect to keep parents informed
of any behavioural problems as part of our close relationship
between home and school. Should these problems be serious
enough to impede the education of other children or endanger
the ethos of the school, parents will be consulted and a joint
strategy planned. In extreme cases the County Guidelines for
Discipline and Exclusion of Pupils will be followed.
ABSENCE
FROM SCHOOL
It is extremely important that the school is notified of any
absence. We request that you telephone the school on the first
day your child is absent due to illness, when your child returns
they will be given a form for you to complete and return to
school for our records. Schools are required to publish attendance
figures and it is vital that we know why a child was absent.
Requests for term time holidays will be considered on an individual
basis.
UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE
This has been calculated in accordance with definitions within
DCSF guidelines.
September 10 – May 2011
Authorised absence = 4.15%
Unauthorised absence = 0.02%
COLLABORATION
WITH OTHER SCHOOLS
We
follow a policy of encouraging communication between local
schools to actively collaborate with each other, sharing expertise,
experiences and resources.
Our
school belongs to the Wincanton Federation, through which
various sporting fixtures with other schools are organised
throughout the year. Schools in the Wincanton Federation are
feeders to King Arthur's Community School, Wincanton, with
whom we enjoy an excellent relationship, liaising on pupil
transfer, National Curriculum provision, Assessment issues
and, where appropriate, In-service training.
YOUR CHILD'S NEXT SCHOOL
Normally
the children transfer to King Arthur's Community School, Wincanton
at the age of eleven but in the Autumn prior to transfer the
LEA will send parents particulars of all schools available.
We are proud of our relationship and co-operation with secondary
education and invite all parents to become actively involved
at the time. Children also transfer to other local secondary
schools such as The Gryphon School in Sherborne and Sexeys
School in Bruton.
CHARGING POLICY
Under
the 1988 Act Schools are unable to charge for the following:
Education
wholly or mainly during school hours
Materials and ingredients for things made in school which
pupils or parents do not want to keep
Visits in or outside school hours which are necessary for
an examination
Charges
MAY be made for the following:
Individual music tuition which is not part of the syllabus
for an examination
School visits
Board and lodging where a school activity involves a residential
element
The exact cost of "optional extras" eg cookery
ingredients and needlework items, although the costs involved
with these activities are currently funded by the 100 Club
MEDICAL PROCEDURES
In
the event of your child being involved in an accident every
effort will be made to contact you and medical attention sought.
It is vital that you provide a telephone number where you
can be reached during the day. Please let us know if this
number changes. If we feel the injury warrants further investigation
we will contact parents and ask them if they can take the
child to hospital. If treatment is urgently needed the child
will be taken to hospital and the parents asked to meet us
there. In the absence of any parent being contacted the Head
Teacher will make the necessary decisions regarding medical
treatment in "loco parentis".
EMERGENCY PROCEDURE
In
the event of extreme weather conditions eg snow, it may not
be possible for the school to open. If you are in any doubt
please do not send your child to school unless you know there
are teachers there to look after them. If there is a deterioration
in the weather during the school day and you are concerned
about collecting your child please feel free to come and collect
at any time during the day. Hopefully these occasions will
be very rare but it is important for everyone to know the
agreed procedure.
Information
may also be obtained from Somerset Sound, Radio Bristol and
Orchard FM.
SEX EDUCATION POLICY
The
Governors of the School have agreed on the school programme
of Sex Education. In their implementation of this policy staff
will share a common philosophy. They will promote a positive
self image among children about their own feelings and physical
development. Children will be encouraged to have self respect,
tolerance and respect for others.
The
programme will be gradually progressive, reinforcing earlier
learning. A common and correct vocabulary will be used to
deliver factually accurate information to avoid misunderstandings.
The children will need to know about the changes in their
bodies as they grow and recognise that the nature of relationships
may also change as they become older. An important element
in this programme will be discussion, where children will
be encouraged to contribute and to listen carefully to the
views of others.
The
importance of loving, caring relationships will be emphasised.
The children will be made aware that throughout their lives
they will have choices and that every decision has consequences.
We feel it is part of our responsibility to enable our children
to make informed decisions.
This
Policy Statement is the result of a working partnership between
Parents, Teachers and Governors.
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
It
is hoped that any complaint can be settled locally and informally
by making the staff or Head Teacher aware of the problem.
If this does not provide satisfaction then the Clerk to the
Governors may be notified in writing, who will forward it
to the Chair of Governors, at which point the complaint becomes
formal. If the matter is not resolved satisfactorily the DCSF
may be approached direct. A detailed document of the Complaints
Procedure is available on request from the school.
FRIENDS
OF THE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
The school has a flourishing Friends of the School Association.
All parents are members. A committee of parents (elected annually
in the Autumn term) are responsible for organising various
activities such as fund-raising, social, educational and self-help
activities throughout the year. We hope that all new parents
will actively support the FSA.
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
All parents are encouraged to become involved in school life.
There are many opportunities to contribute in areas such as
cooking, gardening, art and craft, school outings and classroom
activities. All volunteer helpers are CRB cleared before helping
in school, as are all staff working at the school.
In
September we hold an Open Parent/Teacher Meeting, an informal
evening for you to meet & talk with teachers and visit
the classrooms. In February we hold a Parent/Teacher Evening
when there is an opportunity to have a confidential talk with
the Class teacher about your child's work and general progress.
In
the Summer term all parents receive a written report on their
child's progress throughout the year.
The
staff are always willing to meet parents informally at any
reasonable time. We look upon education as a co-operative
venture between home and school and look forward to working
with you.
We also hold several open class sessions during the year to
allow parents to look at some of their child’s work. We also
hold 2 family assemblies per term.
UNIFORM
There
is a uniform at the school, as this will help pupils' sense
of identity within the school:
White blouse/shirt
Grey pinafore dress/skirt
Summer dress (red/white check)
Dark grey trousers
Red
sweat shirts and t-shirts with the school logo can be purchased
by completing an order form. Please contact a member of
the FSA
PE Kit Gym Shoes
White or red t-shirt or vest
White or black shorts
All
items of clothing should be clearly named.
Children
may not wear jewellery. If children have pierced ears we would
ask that they only wear studs. Watches may be worn.
SCHOOL FACILITIES
The
school is very fortunate to have a large playing field on
site which is used regularly throughout the year for various
sporting activities. There are also two playground areas,
one of which is marked out for netball and there is also an
adventure play area for the children.
Our
school hall ensures that a full Physical Education & Movement
curriculum is provided for all pupils.
All
pupils swim once a fortnight at Wincanton Leisure Centre.
We also have an outdoor classroom for the early years and
foundation stage.
