Lapage Primary School & Nursery School Prospectus for the Academic Year 2009-2010
Lapage Primary School & Nursery School Barkerend Rd. Bradford West Yorkshire BD3 8QX Tel:01274 770170 Fax:01274 770171
[email protected] www.lapageprimaryschool.co.uk
Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Welcome To Our School We are all very proud of our pupils, their achievements and that you want to know more about us. We are a fast developing school determined to give children the very best start in their educational career. We believe in putting the children first and ensuring that they all have the opportunities to fulfil their aspirations, whatever they may be. We believe that to achieve this goal the school, the home and the child must work in partnership and that is why our logo is:-
“Working together we achieve”
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Your Child Formative years are so important and a sound grounding in educational basics will set a child up for life. Your child deserves the very best education on offer. Every pupil is different. They learn in different ways and at different levels. From the early years, most parents can already see many seeds of talent and potential within their child. A good school can help you nurture them – and uncover even more.
Your Choice Selecting the right school for your child can be daunting. There are many things to consider and you need to find the right mix of a wide range of elements. Is the school close to home? What is the atmosphere like? How about academic reputation? Then there is the pastoral care, facilities, class size, class structure and after-school opportunities. This is your choice and it needs to be the right one for your child. We want you to have the right information in order to make an informed selection and we will help you in every way we can. Make a list of questions that matter to you and then visit our school to find the answers. Talk to the teachers and to other parents. Feel the atmosphere in the playground. Ask the children what they feel about their school – you can be sure that they will be honest and enthusiastic.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Our Mission “Working
together we achieve”
Our aims to reach our goal To be a school which fosters a climate of mutual respect where all people are listened to and valued. To work as a team to create a positive environment in which all members of the school community are encouraged and supported to reach their full potential. To be a school where everyone takes responsibility for their own actions and is committed to the development of the school. To develop self esteem for all children and staff through celebrating our success and the achievement of personal goals. To develop a rich learning environment, creating and taking opportunities and learning with and from each other. To create a friendly, caring and safe environment which is stimulating and secure and caters for all people’s needs. To encourage partnership between the school, the home, the community and develop our school provision.
Strategies we will use to meet our Aims We will:• Develop our professionalism
• Develop common expectations
• Ensure that we all attend school
• Work with cohesion
• Continue to train and develop our own practice
• Support our environment
• Develop high standards
• Support learning for all
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• Develop our community spirit
Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Our History Lapage Primary School & Nursery was initially known as Moorfield Primary School and was situated on Lapage Street. Moorfield became Lapage Primary School & Nursery in 2000 when Middle Schools were closed as part of the Bradford Re-Organisation process. In September 2000 KS2 moved into premises formerly occupied by Lapage Middle School on Barkerend Road and in 2001 the whole school moved permanently to the new site. Refurbishment of the building finished in 2004 with the completion of an extension for 3 Year 6 classes. Lapage Primary School & Nursery is a 3 form entry (90) school and has a 104 place nursery. There are 21 classes and two nursery classes (a.m. and p.m). We also have 3 small units, Raize I and II and Reach where our children with complex needs are taught.
Our Environment The extensive grounds provide an attractive setting for this large spacious building. In addition to the classrooms, there is a well equipped I.C.T. suite and other rooms which are available for various activities. In the year 5 and 6 classrooms laptops are provided to enhance the teaching possibilities. All classrooms are well equipped and resourced and have interactive whiteboards. The staff run a variety of before and after school clubs to support children’s learning and recently the school has introduced structured and developmental play to all the key stage 1 and year 3 classes to enrich the curriculum the children are offered. The school has a designated music room and specialist teachers for music and PE.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Our Curriculum We teach the National Curriculum core subjects – English, Maths, Religious Education, Information Technology and Science – in addition to there are non-core subjects such Design & Technology, Geography, History, Music, Art, P.E. and Personal Social Health and Citizenship Education. Foundation Stage and Year 1 At Lapage Primary School and Nursery, we believe young children need specialist teaching. These children are learning how to learn and much of this teaching is happening through well planned and structured play. The planned play gradually changes to more formal teaching over these three years; this ensures children have the best foundation for learning through life. Our curriculum ensures all children are learning the basic skills of literacy, communication and mathematics by having fun, and lots of opportunity to practice these skills within rich and varied experiences. Our Foundation Stage and Year 1 staff are experienced professionals working in a cohesive team to ensure the best possible start for your child. Upper School The Upper School Team, which includes Years 5 and 6, work closely together providing the pupils with a wide range of experiences to enhance their learning in all areas of the curriculum. Our aim is to prepare the children in our care for Secondary Education and inspire them to reach their full potential within the community. The classrooms are well-resourced with pupil-laptops to enable our children to maximise their learning. Close attention is paid to pupil progress and individual learning programmes are available in consultation with parents or carers. We maintain close links with local secondary schools in order to support the pupils during transition from Lapage Primary School and Nursery into the next phase of education.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
English All children are taught English each day which includes reading, word and sentence level work, and extended writing. We aim to teach our children to use language as effectively as they can in a wide variety of situations. They will be introduced to many types of literature including fiction, non-fiction and poetry. They will be encouraged to read widely. Guided reading takes place in small groups, when the teacher teaches specific reading skills. Children also take an individual reading book home to share with an adult. Writing is taught alongside reading and practised throughout the school. We aim to teach every child to write neatly and fluently and to take pride in the presentation of their work. The children will write for many different purposes e.g. letters, invitations, stories, comprehension etc. They will be taught the importance of grammar, spelling and punctuation. The school has a library which is constantly developing and offers books which cover a wide range of subjects. We also have a Reading Recovery Programme which is delivered by a specialist teacher who is able to support children in Key Stage 1 who need extra support.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Mathematics Numeracy across the school is well-resourced so that pupils can take an active part in their learning and are able to apply their knowledge to real-life situations. Children are encouraged to question and investigate during lessons and use their skills across the curriculum in other subjects. The progress made by pupils is monitored and intervention strategies are used to enable children to reach their potential if required. Adult classes in numeracy take place within school to facilitate parental involvement in their child’s learning.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Science Science education in the primary school has seen rapid changes in recent years. Lapage Primary School and Nursery is committed to empowering its pupils by giving them the best that modern educational practices and resources can offer. Our school learning environment includes up-to-date resources such as a well equipped ICT Suite, lap-top computers, inter-active whiteboards, digital cameras and microscopes. The children’s experience of science is enriched by these resources. We are able to give them opportunities to develop their natural curiosity and interest in the world around them. Pupils are encouraged to research, test hypotheses and carry out investigations. Practical science is given a strong emphasis so that children can predict results, develop fair tests and reach evidence based conclusions. Pupils’ experience of science at Lapage Primary School and Nursery provides them with a firm foundation for future learning in the Upper School.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
ICT (Information Technology)
We are proud of the ICT facilities we have at Lapage. All classes have access to a computer within their classrooms and use the interactive whiteboard as a key learning tool. Our ICT Suite has 30 computers, complemented by a wide range of software and hardware. Years 5 and 6 use classroom based laptops to support their curriculum. Our internet access is carefully monitored to ensure that children are protected from inappropriate material. We teach ICT as a discrete subject as well as encouraging our children to use and develop their ICT skills across all other subjects. We run a wide range of after-school clubs, from film-making to maths. Our aim is to embed ICT in the curriculum, so that we provide children with the skills to live and achieve in the 21st century
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Design & Technology Design and Technology draws from and contributes to all the other areas of the curriculum and is essentially practical. At Lapage Primary School and Nursery we encourage children to: •
Develop their designing and making skills;
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Develop knowledge and understanding;
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Develop their capability to create high quality products through combining their designing and making skills with knowledge and understanding;
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Explore values about and attitudes to the made world and how we live and work within it;
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Develop an understanding of technological processes, products, and their manufacture, and their contribution to our society;
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To exercise their initiative, proposing, planning and developing ideas;
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To enjoy exercising and developing the manipulative skills that realising these ideas entails;
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To develop a critical awareness of both their own and others’ responses to their designs as well as responding to designs around them in the man-made world.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Humanities Humanities consists of history, geography, religious education and PSHCE. Humanities are topic based and provide the theme usually for a term’s work. This provides wonderful and valuable opportunities for cross curricular studies. The geography aspect of the humanities curriculum encourages children to consider environmental and sustainability issues. The history side of the curriculum promotes, through the use of exciting resources and ICT, very hands on experience, providing a link between the past and the present. History enables the children to ask questions, developing their investigative skills. Religious education is based on the Bradford Agreed Syllabus and offers opportunities for the children to learn many features of the main world religions. PSHCE encourages the children to learn about themselves and their roles within the community and most importantly society as a whole. The school holds a faith determination and is able to offer our Muslim children an appropriate faith assembly.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Music
For music we have a specialised teacher who teaches across the whole school. Children participate in a range of musical activities, which include singing, composing and performing using tuned and percussion instruments. They listen to and discuss a variety of styles of music. There are opportunities for children to learn instruments and to join in the school samba band.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Art & Design Through Art our children are encouraged to develop their creativity and imagination. Children are encouraged to build on skills to develop their control of materials, tools and techniques. Our aim is for children to become more confident in using visual and tactile elements and materials and processes to communicate what they see, feel and think. We also think it is important for our children to work with professional artists and respond to different styles from different cultures.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
P.E. (Physical Education)
In P.E. we have a specialised teacher who teaches across the school and runs a variety of after school clubs. Children are expected to participate in all P.E. activities. Throughout their time at Lapage Primary School and Nursery children will have experience of dance, gymnastics, athletics and outdoor games. Together, these promote the children’s physical development, an awareness and understanding of the body, the development of skills and imagination and an appreciation of creative performances. Most importantly, it is hoped that the children will gain enjoyment from physical education and pursue sporting activities in their private lives, thus promoting a healthy lifestyle. There are also opportunities for children to join a variety of sports clubs run after school by our staff and professional sports coaches.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Home/School Partnership We are keen to work in partnership with parents to ensure that all children have the opportunity of reaching their full potential. The school has a home school agreement which sets out what the school will do to support the children and what is expected by the parents. The most important of these is that children come to school every day on time. The school regularly informs parents about events that are happening in school through the school newsletters and each year band sends information to parents on a half-termly basis to explain the work which is going on in school so that parents can support their children. Parents are informed of the homework which the children are expected to undertake and in years 5 and 6 the children have homework planners. The school holds a “Meet the Teachers Evening” early in September followed by parents evenings in November and June. Parents are welcome to come and work alongside teachers in the classroom. For the children’s safety their background will be checked.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Extra curricular activities Extra curricular activities play an important part in the life of our school. Each year the staff run a variety of clubs to enhance the opportunities for our children. The wide range of clubs are offered, Art, ICT, Urdu, Football, Cricket, Gymnastics, Athletics, Music Making, Singing, Creative, Drama, Rugby, Gardening are the sorts of activities which were offered to the children last year. The school has its own Samba band. The school is part of the BD34All consortium of schools and this offers activities for all the family in the school holidays.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Special educational needs Please see additional booklet on this area.
Personalised Learning Lapage Primary School and Nursery address ‘Personalising Learning’ by using the five nationally recognised components. This ensures teachers have high expectations. They use data collected by the school to provide every child with a curriculum that best fits his/her needs. Teaching staff are well trained and use a wide range of methods in their teaching. Our children learn in a safe and secure school and have a real say about how they are taught.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Progress and Attainment All staff are involved in the monitoring and checking of children’s progress throughout their school life. Teacher assessment and tests are used to monitor progress and if there are concerns parents are informed. There are 2 opportunities for parents to discuss their child’s progress through parents evenings, however if parents are concerned, they do not have to wait until parents evening, they can contact the school and make an appointment with the teacher to discuss their child. Children who need extra help are supported within groups in the classroom or are given extra support on a one-to-one basis. The school’s Assistant Headteacher for Inclusion deals with any children who may have more complex problems and she liaises with external agencies such as the Speech and Language Service. At the end of key stage 1 and key stage 2 the children are given assessments and a graded level for English Maths and Science. These are then detailed in the pupil’s annual report. At the end of each key stage Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) are taken, which at Key Stage 2 are externally marked and at Key Stage 1 are moderated by the LEA. It is expected that a child at 7 working at the expected level of achievement will obtain a level 2 and at 11 a level 4. The school holds parents’ meetings to further discuss SAT's each year.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Promoting Positive Behaviour At Lapage Primary school and Nursery, we believe that every child has the right to learn and every teacher the right to teach. To this end our Behaviour Management policy positively supports teaching and learning. Children at Lapage are taught the school’s expectations of behaviour and learning. These are expressed in a positive way concentrating more on the correct behaviour in school through rewards and celebrations than the negative behaviours. Inappropriate behaviour in school is dealt with quickly with little fuss, fairly and consistently. All the pupils know the rules and what will happen when they keep them or they choose not to. Parents are involved at all stages of the policy, they will know when their child is succeeding through stickers, star letters and teacher comment. If their child is having difficulty keeping the rules, they will be informed as their support will be required. In the recent OFSTED inspection behaviour was said to be good at Lapage. We know we can rely on the support of our parents to help their children to do the right thing and make the best choices to enable them to learn effectively.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
School Dress The school has a uniform which we encourage children to wear. Girls: black skirt or trousers, white polo shirt with school motif, red sweatshirt with school motif, black shoes. Shalwar Kameese can also be worn. Red Kameese and black Shalwar with red jumper or cardigan with the school motif. Please note hijabs may be worn only if they are black and fastened securely. Boys: black trousers, white polo shirt with school motif, red sweatshirt with school motif, black shoes. P.E.: black shorts, white .shirt. School uniform can be purchased from the school office.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Illness or Accident If a child suffers an accident they will be assessed by a First Aider and if necessary a decision will be made to contact the parents. In cases of an emergency an ambulance will be called. If a child is complaining of feeling unwell parents will be informed and asked to collect their child, but only if it is deemed necessary by a First Aider. The decision to take their child home is ultimately with the parent.
Health Appointments We understand that occasionally hospital, clinic or dental appointments need to take place in school hours, but we ask that we are given advance notice of this and that the child is picked up from school. Appointment cards will be required by the school office before the child is allowed to leave school. We will never allow children to leave school early and on their own.
Medication It is the parents responsibility to administer medicines to their child. If this is not possible parents must take the medicine to the main office and fill in a form giving permission for the medicine to be administered by the First Aider. Children who suffer from asthma must always bring their inhaler to school and it is advisable to keep a spare one in the school office.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Linked Organisations Parents and teachers work together on a variety of fundraising and informative events. Each class has a school representative on the School Council, which is run by our Community Development Worker Miss Samera Hussain. There is also a noticboard in the Main Pupil Entrance displaying information. The school is also a member of the BD34ALL Cluster, getting extra resources and the opportunity to work in collaboration and share best practice with other local schools. We have links with local charities, as well as services such as the Police and the Fire Service. We work closely with the Road Safety Team and the School Nursing Service. Parent Involvement Parents and parent involvement within our school is very important to us, it is only through working together both parents and the school can support our children in being the best students they can be. Our Community Development Worker, Miss Samera Hussain has undertaken many initiatives to increase parental involvement within our school, from ESOL classes to weekly sessions for parents on how they can help their children regarding homework. Other more social activities include aerobic and swimming. We are also proud to have a Parent Teacher Association (PTA), known as the Friends of Lapage, who get together on a fortnightly basis to organise fun events to raise money for the benefit of the children and the school. The money that is raised goes towards providing extra curricular activities for our children.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
School Meals Children have a choice of a school meal or bringing a packed lunch from home. Dinner money for the week is collected in advance on a Monday morning, which must be brought to school in a sealed envelope with the child’s name and class on. The price of a school meal is currently £1.45 per day, £7.25 for a full week.
Please note if no money comes to school we are unable to provide the child with a school dinner. Any child who has not brought their dinner money to school will be sent home for lunch. Food is prepared offsite and brought in daily. Vegetarian or special diets can be catered for and there is a good choice of nutritious dishes. There is always a choice of halal or non halal food available each day. Weekly menus are available to view weekly in advance. A further option of a Grab-a-Bag is also offered each day, which includes a sandwich, a yoghurt, a piece of fruit and a desert. Children who receive a free meal are not identified in any way. To check entitlement please contact the B Direct, Foster Square, Bradford, Tel: 01274 432772 Children who bring a packed lunch eat their food in the Dining Room or Classroom. We are part of the Healthy Schools Programme and monitor the food consumed in school hours, helping children make healthy choices. This policy also extends to snacks. We recommend that children purchase a water bottle from the school offices at a cost of 50p. These are refilled by the Lunchtime Supervision staff during the lunch hour. The school also has situated around school 3 water fountains for the children’s use. As part of the Government School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme we also provide a free piece of fruit or vegetable each day for all Foundation Stage and KS1 pupils to encourage good and healthy eating habits. 23
Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Charging & Remissions Policy All visits in our school are seen as an integral part of our work in the national curriculum. We organise visits to local places of interest and further a field. We always try to make the visits as inexpensive as possible but never at the expense of providing high standards of health and safety and with reference to current legislation. Accordingly under the terms of the Education Reform Act the governors have issued the following policy: •We do not expect parents to donate the full amount required to take children on educational visits during school time. It is seen as part of the curriculum of the school and therefore some of the cost can be met by the school or from other sources. However, the parents will be asked to make a voluntary donation towards the cost of the visit, but their child cannot be refused inclusion on the visit if a donation is not sent. •All children should be involved in the appropriate school year to meet the National Curriculum requirements for all subjects including outdoor and adventurous activity. It is important to set these activities in the requirements of the National Curriculum to ensure that all children have full access to the appropriate curriculum. •In the case of all visits, parents should be notified in writing of dates, cost and destination at least two weeks before departure. The school has a format for this and personal notes should not be sent out. As contributions are made on a voluntary basis some visits may have to be cancelled unless adequate contributions have been received.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Complaints Procedure We are keen to resolve any problems that parents or pupils may encounter in school and pride ourselves on the fact that there tend to be very few. If you are concerned about any aspect of school life, and want to resolve any differences, we invite you to log them under the School’s General Complaints Procedure. This is confidential and non adversarial, as well as being simple to use and understand. We feel that it is important to be open and honest and address all the points at issue, addressing any problems by informal meetings and discussing future practice so that they do not re-occur. Full details of the General Complaints Procedure is available from the school office.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Attendance
RED AMBER GREEN
EVERY SCHOOL DAY COUNTS
RED AMBER GREEN
Lapage expects good attendance from its pupils in order for them to make the most of the opportunities the school has to offer. We rely on our partnership with parents to ensure that this is achieved. GOOD ATTENDANCE MEANS THAT CHILDREN USUALLY MAKE GOOD, CONSISTENT PROGRESS IN THEIR SCHOOL WORK. • Our target for every child’s attendance is 100%. • Attendance is monitored daily. • Please ring school on 01274 770170 if your child is absent. • If there are health concerns that are affecting your child’s attendance we can help with referral to the relevant health services. •
A member of the Senior Management Team will contact any parent if there are concerns in relation to their child’s attendance.
• Good attendance is rewarded; your child’s class may win the good attendance trophy and individual certificates and photographs are given for good attendance.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Pupil Holiday List 2009/2010 2009 Thursday 3 September -
School opens for children
Monday 21 September -
School closed for Eid Ul Fitr
Tuesday 22 September -
School closed for Eid Ul Fitr
Friday 23 October
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School closes for half-term
Monday 2 November
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School opens for children
Friday 27 November
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School closed for Eid Ul Adha
Friday 18 December
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School closes for Christmas
Tuesday 5 January
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School opens for children
Friday 12 February
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School closes for half-term
Monday 22 February
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School opens for children
Thursday 1 April
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School closes for Easter
Monday 19 April
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School opens for children
Monday 3 May
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School closed for May Day
Friday 28 May
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School closes for half-term
Tuesday 8 June
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School opens for children
Friday 23 July
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School closes for Summer
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Access to Documentation All formal documents are available for inspection in school. We regret that the documents cannot be taken off the school premises, although we can arrange copies for a small charge. Please see the school’s Freedom of Information Act Procedure, which can be obtained from the School Office. Formal School Documents •
Statutory Instruments
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School Prospectus
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Agendas and Minutes of Governors’ Meetings
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Times of the School day
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Charging & Remissions Policy
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School Curriculum Policies
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Schemes of work currently in use
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General Complaints Procedure
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Agreed syllabus for Religious Education
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Published OFSTED Report
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Behaviour Policy, including strategies for dealing with racial harassment, bullying and unacceptable behaviour
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School Improvement Plan for the year
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Homework Policy
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Child Protection Policy
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
End of Key Stage Assessment At the end of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 the children are given assessments and a graded level for English, Maths and Science. These are detailed in the pupil’s annual report. At the end of each Key Stage Standard Assessment Tests (SATS) are taken, which at Key Stage 2 are marked externally and at Key Stage 1 are moderated by the LEA. The levels are: Key Stage 1: W
Means working towards level 1
Level 1
Means the child is working at a level just below that of the average 7 year old
Level 2
Means the child is working at a level expected of an average 7 year old
Level 3
Means the child is working at a level above that of an average 7 year old
Each level is sub-divided into A, B and C, with A being higher than C Key Stage 2: Level 3
Means the child is working at a level just below that of the average 11 year old
Level 4
Means the child is working at a level expected of an average 11 year old
Level 5
Means the child is working at a level above that of an average 11 year old
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
Admissions Criteria Entitlement All three and four year olds are entitled to a free early education place before they reach statutory school age (the beginning of the school term immediately following the child’s fifth birthday). Children who have a full-time nursery education place, or whose parents wish to delay entry to school, may be admitted at the start of any term up to and including the term after their fifth birthday i.e. the statutory date for starting school. The admission criteria will apply to all children seeking a school place, whatever their term of entry. The place offered will be held on condition that it is taken up within the same school year. The school follows the Admissions Policy as laid down by the LEA. Please contact the school office for full details.
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Lapage Primary School & Nursery
And finally…. We hope this has given you an insight and understanding about what Lapage Primary School and Nursery is all about. We believe we have a warm, friendly and successful school, offering all children the chance to fulfil their potential. But don’t just take our word for it, come and see for yourself.
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