Welcome Welcome to Woodside Primary Academy, where our priority is the well-being and progress of every child. We have worked hard to develop an atmosphere of trust, happiness and achievement here at the school, to ensure that your child feels cared for and supported on their educational journey. Here at Woodside, we embrace a dynamic and refreshing approach to education – incorporating our seven life values, themed learning environments and two-teacher classes. We warmly invite you to visit us here at Woodside, where I’d be more than happy to show you around so you can see for yourself the great qualities that set our school apart. Yours truly,

Shane Tewes, Headteacher

Woodside’s Seven Life Values respon sibil ity

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• Confidence • Responsibility • Kindness • Respect • Determination • Independence • Honesty

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With this in mind, the school community has developed ‘Seven Life Values’ which we believe are essential for our children to succeed in the manner mentioned above. They are as follows:

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Developing young people who hold respect for the world and people around them is central to our vocation at Woodside. We want pupils to leave our school embracing the core values that are linked to a successful life, both in terms of developing and achieving personal goals as well as the ability to positively contribute to the world at large.

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The Woodside logo, which was designed by a year six student, also links to the life values. Seven shapes form a circle around the Woodside emblem; symbolising our seven life values which outline the Woodside ethos.

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Our Home School Agreement is created by parents, pupils, governors and staff, and reflects these seven values. It symbolises us all coming together as one, supporting our children on their journey towards becoming successful young adults. Pupils learn about the seven life values through the curriculum, as well as regular assemblies which focus on different values. They also underpin our ‘team points’ reward system which runs throughout every class in the school.

Learning Environments At Woodside we believe that every moment is an opportunity for children to learn. We further acknowledge that children spend around 50 per cent of their day at school; therefore we ensure that the school environment is as engaging and appealing as it possibly can be for them. Our imaginative ‘Themed Classrooms’ allow pupils to write, read and investigate in real context environments. Fostering creativity and independent learning, these engaging and fun environments help children to learn, and encourage them to become active participants in their own unique learning journeys. Within these settings, children can build a holistic understanding of the world around them while making their way through the curriculum. Within our classrooms we have moved away from the model of 30 desks and 30 chairs. Every class has bean bags, cushions and sofas where pupils can work using portable surfaces and iPads.

Our classrooms embrace curriculum themes by creating learning environments that reflect the various topics being taught. For example, when learning about World War one and two, the Year six classrooms become bomb shelters complete with structures to create airplane cockpits and trenches. Pupils can then write, read and investigate in real context environments.

Additional Teachers

Scholarships We believe that pupils who are gifted in any area of the curriculum should be supported to reach their full potential, however, we realise that this is not always possible due to the cost of music lessons, sports clubs etc. At Woodside, pupils who are entitled to the Pupil Premium (PP) are offered the opportunity to win scholarships that will fully fund their specialist tuition. This innovative idea ensures that our pupils are able to reach their full potential. And who knows, it may lead us to discover the next Mozart or Jennifer Ennis here at Woodside!

In year two I did athletics club “ and I came second in sprinting, now I’m in year three and I play guitar every Tuesday, it’s really fun!

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Pupil progress is paramount at Woodside. In order to achieve the best progress possible we ensure that there are more teachers available to teach classes and small groups. By having two full time teachers in many of our classes, we are able to enhance the teaching experience and empower pupils to achieve greater results.

Communication Strategy At Woodside we understand the importance of keeping the school community informed about upcoming events and breaking news. Our tools and strategies to help parents keep their fingers on the pulse include the following: Website: a directory of all Woodside related information, including a pupils’ area. App for smart phones and tablets: access to the school calendar and latest news is available in a range of languages; as well as push notifications which can be filtered to childrens’ classes and clubs. Newsletter: published weekly on our website and app, this contains all the information needed for the week in one place. Weekly blog: every week year group leaders publish a blog of the week’s activities so parents can easily stay on top of their child’s learning.

Redevelopment We spend a substantial amount of funding on our playgrounds to enhance the outdoor learning experience for all pupils. The academy has taken innovative steps to provide pupils with stimulating learning environments which deliver boundless opportunities for independent learning throughout the school day.

Nursery

School timings

Nursery (Daycare) 08.00am – 18.00pm with full day or AM/PM spaces offered

Forest site – Reception 8.45am – 3.20pm

At ‘Woodside Primary Academy Nursery and Day care’ our dedicated team of qualified childcare professionals provide care, learning and development for all children. The setting comprises of three nurseries; Lilac, Magnolia and Acorn for children aged from six months to five years old. We provide breakfast, lunch, tea and snacks, freshly prepared each day and cooked on site by our in-house catering team. Our broad based curriculum also supports children’s learning and development through playing and exploring, active learning, and critical/ creative thinking.

Forest site – year one, two, three 8.45am – 3.30pm

Bridge site – year four, five, six 9.00am – 3.45pm

Early Years Our Early Years’ Philosophy is based on a deep understanding of the way children learn: through playing and exploring, doing and ‘reviewing’, and building on what they already know and can do. We strive to ensure that all pupils make outstanding progress.

Our Curriculum and teaching At Woodside we follow the Statutory Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework for children aged from birth to five years of age. To develop the children’s interests we plan from termly topics. It is important to get a balance between child initiated and adult led activities, providing both focused and independent learning experiences. Learning takes place both inside classrooms and in our newly developed outdoor learning environments, providing children with a varied and stimulating learning experience. Each week the children are given home tasks to complete, which extend and consolidate what they have been learning in school.

Parents in Partnership FAMILY THURSDAYS At Woodside we see learning as a partnership and as such, we aim to involve parents as much as possible. On ‘Family Thursdays’ parents are invited to spend time in the classroom so that children can learn alongside them.

LEARNING JOURNEY Parents are encouraged to contribute to their child’s learning. We encourage parents to bring in photos, work samples or other items of significance to add to their child’s learning journey. This is used alongside photos and observations to support planning and assessment. Parents also receive a questionnaire about their child’s interests, progress and their opinion to be taken into consideration when planning for the child’s needs/next steps/interests. We assess children every six – eight weeks against the Development Matters document for the Early Years. We use these assessments to plan relevant, exciting activities and resources to support the children’s learning and development.

Woodside Curriculum Woodside Primary Academy provides a secure, caring, challenging and stimulating environment. This offers every pupil the opportunity to progress with an informed and positive view of the contribution they can make towards their own education, the community in which they live and society in general. From Years one to six pupils follow a topic based curriculum which incorporates all statutory National Curriculum subjects. The school may deliver some aspects of the curriculum daily, weekly, termly or through specific intensive ‘themed’ weeks, for example during Science or Arts Week.

Within the school’s commitment to making the whole curriculum as relevant to the pupils as possible, links are made between subjects using a thematic approach. Parts of the Numeracy and Literacy requirements are taught as discreet subjects and link to the class topic where appropriate. Reading, Phonics and Spelling strategies are also taught as discreet subjects daily across the school.

The curriculum is further enhanced through school trips, workshops and special visiting guests. A wide range of teaching and learning methods are used to produce a creative and inspiring curriculum. We use the outdoor environment and local community as much as possible to make learning meaningful and fun.

We ensure that all pupils have access to the curriculum at an appropriate level regardless of gender, ability, special needs or ethnicity. This balanced and inclusive curriculum promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils and prepares them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of future life.

Sports We believe that physical education (PE) is a vital and unique part of the curriculum. PE promotes an understanding in children of their bodies in action, and develops coordination skills. It involves thinking, selecting and applying skills; by enabling children to make informed choices about physical activity, it promotes positive attitudes towards a healthy lifestyle.

Each class has a minimum of one hour of PE timetabled each week, which is delivered by our specialist PE teachers. We aim to provide experiences in a wide range of activities including Football, Tag Rugby, Netball, Basketball, Cricket, Rounders, Tennis and Badminton to develop skills both individually and through participation as part of a team. We offer pupils opportunities to take part in additional PE through our many sports clubs, which are run by either our specialist PE teachers or sports coaches from local clubs.

Through PE and sport our children learn to develop the important skills of discipline, resilience, communication, teamwork and ambition, which lead to improvement in concentration, attitude, and academic achievement.

We also offer opportunities for pupils to compete in both intra- (within school) and inter- (between schools) competitions in a range of sports. We feel competition is an element of life which should be experienced within school. Emotional competencies surrounding competition, which are learned in sport, can then be carried into the context of a learning environment and beyond.

Arts There are a number of external artists working with the school, in order to provide more opportunities for pupils to experience various forms of the arts. These include an artist in residence; whole class professional music teaching; piano and a range of woodwind, string, and brass instrument lessons; dance lessons; and African drumming and song writing.

While the entire process of being involved in the arts is important, we enjoy being able to create outcomes for the whole school community to celebrate. Shows and performances further aid the development of pupils’ creative thinking, confidence and public speaking as well as the arts themselves. Visitors to Woodside will notice our participation in the arts through the many visual displays around the school. We take pride in our art and display work, which was praised by Ofsted in our May 2014 inspection – ‘Exceptional artwork enriches pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development’.

Woodside boasts a broad arts curriculum, as well as full-time art, drama and dance teachers. Extra-curricular clubs provide a wide range of opportunities for Woodside pupils to experience the arts outside of scheduled learning time.

Autistic Spectrum Provision

The aim of our ASP is to create an inclusive, happy and structured environment in which children feel secure and can develop their skills within a mainstream learning environment. Every pupil within the ASP is on roll in a mainstream class and spends time there according to their abilities and needs. Wherever possible, the pupils will join their class for lessons and activities and are included in class trips and other projects. Peers have a very important role in modelling appropriate interaction and behaviour. Individual programmes are planned based on up-to-date and ongoing assessment. In addition to developing pupils’ academic skills, key areas of focus for us also include teaching communication and social skills in context, developing children’s emotional understanding, helping them to deal with stressful situations, and enabling them to understand and function in the world we live in to the best of their abilities, and as independently as possible. We recognise the importance of working in partnership with parents. We liaise closely with families via phone, meetings, email and communication books.

At Woodside we are proud of our Autistic Spectrum Provision (ASP) for children with a diagnosis of autism, which enables our pupils to be part of a thriving school community while receiving additional support.

School meals Woodside’s school meals provide a range of healthy options that can be enjoyed by children with all dietary requirements. A nutritious diet will support your child’s learning, aiding concentration and energy levels which will help them to develop and achieve. All meat is halal and we also offer vegetarian options daily. With a large salad bar and a range of exotic fruits available every day, we endeavour to offer options which will enable all children to enjoy a nourishing meal. The meal plan rotates monthly which allows us to provide a varied selection of foods from around the world.

Out of Hours Care We appreciate that some of our parents work hours that are not always suited to the traditional school day. Because we know how hard it is to juggle childcare around work commitments, we offer high quality, comprehensive wrap-around care that spans from 7.45am right up until 6pm. Breakfast Club starts at 7.45am and we ensure that your child is in the right place at the right time for the start of their school day so that you don’t have to worry. A balanced breakfast complements activities such as story telling activities, reading and games, that help prepare your child for the day ahead.

All children in reception, and Years one and two are now offered free school meals, thanks to a government initiative introduced in September 2014.

After School Club runs until 6pm. We offer a variety of engaging physical and social activities during this session. We also offer support with your child’s homework, so that when you get home with your child you can focus on spending quality time together. The club offers a balanced food menu that compliments both breakfast and lunch menus.

Extra-curricular Clubs and Activities • Music lessons: piano, violin, cello, guitar, flute, oboe, trumpet, trombone and more • A range of PE and sports clubs including cricket, tag rugby, basketball and tennis • Drama • Dance • Debating • Art • Choir

At Woodside we believe there is more to a child’s education than just core subjects and curriculum lessons. Extra-curricular clubs are a fantastic opportunity for children to learn new skills while making friends with children from different classes and year groups. Some of the clubs we run include:

Learning Behaviour Council

Pupil voice and School Council

Our Learning Behaviour Council provides the leadership team with insight on the barriers that our pupils face in terms of preventing good learning behaviour. The council is formed from a group of Woodside pupils who focus on how pupils are learning in lessons. They assess lessons with the leadership team, talk with pupils during lessons, review pupil books, and meet with teachers.

At Woodside we intrinsically value the voice of our pupils. We believe that for the academy to make excellent choices about what, how and when we teach our curriculum we must first discuss this with our pupils.

This evidence supports the leadership team in developing good strategies to ensure pupils learn throughout the whole school. The council give a robust monthly update on how pupils’ behaviour is impacting on progress and the steps the academy is taking to improve this.

We also believe that an engaging playtime which presents opportunities for learning, is crucial to the development of a well-rounded child. The school council was involved in the planning process of our £180,000 school playground development. It was instrumental in the first phase of development of our Bridge site, which amounted to £30,000. The school council also forms part of the team that reviews and develops our extended school offer, which includes a variety of clubs and after school activities.

Parental Engagement We also hold half termly parent council meetings which provide invaluable communication with, and feedback from, parents and carers. All parents are invited to stand as and then elect parent governors within our governing body. These parents help to monitor the running of the school and hold it accountable for its actions. We are also proud to host a series of workshops for parents of all year groups. These initially focus on maths and English skills – what children learn at school, and how parents can help them at home; as well as exploring the wider curriculum and specific matters such as SATs. At Woodside we invite parents and carers to approach us with any queries, comments or concerns they may have; we take parents’ views very seriously. We ensure that parents or carers will be able to find our leadership team in the playground on both sites, before and after school every day, so that parents can feel free to approach us to discuss anything they would like.

Governance

Local governance

REAch2

Woodside is proud to be able to maintain a very committed Local Governing Body (LGB). Its primary responsibility is holding the school and its leaders accountable for the outcomes of all pupils. In addition to the LGB meeting there are four committee meetings per half term: Leadership and Management Committee, Behaviour and Safety Committee, Achievement and Quality of Teaching Committee, Environment Committee. These committees strive to ensure that the school continues to move rapidly in its continued improvement. The LGB understands the need for a robust strategy in order to ensure the best support for pupils, while also preparing them for their next stage of education.

Woodside Primary Academy is sponsored by the REAch2 Academy Trust. Founded in 2012, REAch2 is the largest primary-only academy trust in the country, and currently supports 30 primary academies across England. In these challenging times, REAch2 believes that the first school experience is the start of a very important journey for our children. REAch2 aims to enable them to broaden their horizons, be confident in their abilities and help shape their future lives. The key focus is to ensure that all its pupils are provided with the right educational environment, which not only inspires them to embrace learning and develop creativity, but also to have fun, make friends, respect individuality and ultimately to reach their full potential.

Admissions We are happy to discuss any queries or provide further information about the school with parents and carers. We are able to offer tours of the school for prospective families, as well as provide any help with filling out admissions forms in our parent rooms on both sites.

Parent room

All primary school places must be applied for via the Waltham Forest Admissions Service.

Further information can be found here: https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/pages/services/schools-places-primary.aspx To discuss a place at Woodside Primary Academy Nursery (Daycare), please contact the school directly.

What parents have said

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We have two teachers so we are lucky. Two teachers means you can have two lessons happening at the same time and that is great for learning

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The classrooms and activities “are really engaging ”

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My children have shown eagerness to learn and are being encouraged and supported during the school day

values help you respect “Life your teacher and behave well ”

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As I finish my work, I independently go to a classroom zone and do comprehensions on a white board, or pretend to write a letter home from Antarctica at the post office area

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My son has just started in reception and is extremely happy. He comes home every day talking about games he plays; we’re only two weeks in and he is already singing phonics songs

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Extra-curricular activities “ such as athletics have boosted my son’s confidence ”

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l love that my new classroom challenges me in different ways

” My favourite part of the class “ is the huge book corner because there are millions of books there and I love reading

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My daughter changed “schools this year but feels

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comfortable and safe at Woodside

What our pupils have said

Contact details Forest Site (Nursery (Daycare); Reception; Years One, Two and Three) Wood Street, Walthamstow, London, E17 3JX Bridge Site (Years Four, Five and Six) Barrett Road, Walthamstow, London, E17 3ND Telephone Number 020 8520 5168 Press option one for Forest site, option two for Bridge site, option three for Nursery (Daycare) Email [email protected] Website www.woodsideprimaryacademy.com