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 About our School : Prospectus
BRAMHAM PRIMARY SCHOOL
CLIFFORD ROAD
BRAMHAM
WETHERBY
LS23 6JQ
TELEPHONE 01937 843682
FAX 01937 845975
Email: richarjc04@leedslearning.net
valentje01@leedslearning.net
Website: bramhamprimary.co.uk
Bramham Primary School is a village primary school for children aged between four and eleven years.
It is situated within a rural village and serves as a commuter community for the nearby city of Leeds. The school catchment area serves the parishes of Clifford and Bramham although the school does have children from adjacent areas such as Boston Spa and Toulston in North Yorkshire.
The school is set in very pleasant grounds and is surrounded by open fields. We have three permanent teaching classrooms; a purpose built state of the art ICT Suite with sixteen computers, a well stocked and resourced Key Stage 1 and 2 library and a multi-purpose hall. In addition there is a before and after school club room and a pre-five group facility.
The external teaching areas have been carefully planned to allow for environmental studies. Key Stage 1 have their own secure playground and there is a wildlife garden and secure pond area where children can work on specific projects. All classes have a qualified Nursery Nurse or Teaching Assistant to support all aspects of teaching and learning.
The school places important emphasis on strong community links with the Parish Councils of Bramham and Clifford, the Local Clergy, The Gala Committee, Junior Football teams, Bramham and Clifford Scout Movement, Bramham Park and local businesses.
Bramham Primary School places great value on and enjoys regular co-operation and liaison with other tiers of education; we welcome students to do research for projects and also pupils seeking work experience. The school has actively supported undergraduates and postgraduates seeking block teaching practice, providing an opportunity to enhance their career development.
Educational visits take place regularly for all pupils in support of the curriculum. All year six children take part in a week long residential in October.
Children from Bramham Primary School have traditionally been successful in attaining places at Tadcaster Grammar School, in North Yorkshire, as well as Boston Spa School, St. Aiden's and St. John Fisher, in Harrogate and also Wetherby High.
Peripatetic woodwind music tuition and concerts given by the Leeds Music Service provide additional expertise and enrichment to the curriculum for all pupils.
Parental involvement is actively encouraged and gives practical and invaluable support throughout the school. Whole school initiatives involving pupils, parents, governors and the wider community are a vital part of school life.
We believe that our school is a place where all children enjoy learning. It has always been extremely important to develop children's knowledge, but it is increasingly important that children are able to draw upon and apply this knowledge.
At Bramham Primary School we believe that teaching a variety of skills in an atmosphere which offers our pupils happiness and security and where they feel relaxed and confident with people and valued as individuals ensures that they attain their very best.
Working together as a team, staff at Bramham Primary School are totally committed and dedicated to the education of your child providing a stimulating environment where your child can develop socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually within a small cohort group. All staff will help your child progress academically in accordance with their ability and encourage their development through target setting and objectives that will encourage your child to realise his/her maximum potential.
Working with the community to give your child the very best education we can.
Sue Morgan
Chair of Governors
Staff and Governors
School Staff Governors
Headteacher LEA Representative.
Joanne Richardson Mrs. Sue Morgan (Chair)
susan.morgan@educationleeds.co.uk
Administration Parent Governor
Mrs. Jan Valentine Mr. Brian Lister (Vice Chair)
brianlister@dssp.com
Teaching Staff Parent Governor
Mrs. Lindsey Cannon
Miss. Anna Wilson lindsey.cannon@btinternet.com
Mrs. Christine Bruce (Senior Management)
Mrs. Liz Jones Parent Governor
Mr. Simon Edwards
Non Teaching Staff simon.edwards@hotmail.com
Mrs. Lisa Bairstow Community Governor
Vacant position
Higher Learning Teaching Assistant
Mrs. Lydia Janusz Staff Representative
Lunchtime Supervisor Vacant position
Mrs. Denise Easby
Cook in Charge Community Governor
Mr. Stuart Turnock
Mrs. L. Goddard stuart.turnock@leeds.gov.uk
Learning Mentor
LEA Representative
Miss. Rebecca Grice Mrs. Elaine Francis
Nursery Nurse (BTEC) elaine.francis346tinternet.com
Mrs. Ann Jones
Lunchtime Assistant
Mrs. Lydia Janusz
Cleaner Key Stage 1
Mrs. Denise Todd
Cleaner Key Stage 2
Mr. Kevin Wilson
School Superintendent
Mrs Sharon Wilson
Lunchtime Assistant
We aim to become a fully inclusive and vibrant school, with high standards of attainment for all our children, at the heart of an active community, working closely with other schools.
The overall aim at Bramham Primary School is to provide a secure, thoughtful and stimulating environment, in which the children can learn and experience a broad and balanced curriculum. It is our intention that all our pupils will acquire the skills and knowledge which will enable them to grow and develop as a whole person, confident and willing, caring and concerned, committed to their own development yet aware of their responsibilities to others. We hope our children will gain independence of thought and action for their own well-being and happiness and that of others.
The following principles support all we do in school:
- We will have an expectation that each pupil has skills and talents, which we need to develop;
- We will challenge children's abilities and strengths and support their weaknesses and difficulties;
- We will treat all children equally, and get to know them well;
- We will provide an education for the whole child ectually, socially, spiritually, morally, physically and emotionally;
- We will encourage a curiosity and an enthusiasm for learning in all our children, which we hope will last throughout their lives;
- We will encourage and instil a purpose, a discipline (especially self discipline) in all our pupils, to develop a sense of responsibility in school and in their outside activities;
- We will emphasise the positive achievements of all pupils, both in school and in their outside activities;
- We encourage our pupils to accept that we are all different and we celebrate the diversity of skills, talents and abilities in our pupils;
- We are committed to promoting good relationships with parents and carers and encourage them to take an active role in their child's education;
- We wish to maintain the long established links with the local clergy, the community and everyone connected with the school.
ALL members of our School Community work together towards the school aims by:
- Regarding all children as individuals and respecting their rights, values, beliefs and opinions;
- Promoting good relationships and sense of belonging to the school community;
- Providing a well ordered environment in which all are fully aware of our behaviour policy and expectations;
- Offering equal opportunities in all aspects of school life and recognising the importance of different cultures;
- Encouraging, praising and positively reinforcing good relationships, behaviour and work;
- Working as a team supporting and encouraging one another.
PUPILS work towards the school aims by:
- Attending school in good health, maintained by adequate diet, exercise and sleep;
- Attending school regularly;
- Being punctual and ready to begin lessons on time;
- Being organised “ bringing necessary kit, taking letters home to parent/carers promptly, returning reading books regularly;
- Conducting themselves in an orderly manner in line with the expected code of discipline;
- Taking growing responsibility for their own learning and belongings.
Parents work towards the school aims by:
Ensuring that children attend school in good health, regularly and punctually;
- Providing support for the discipline within the school and for the teacher role;
- Being realistic about their children's abilities and offering encouragement and praise;
- Participating in discussions concerning their child progress and attainments;
- Ensuring early contact with the school to discuss matters which affect a child's happiness, progress and behaviour;
- Giving due importance to homework, hearing reading and assisting in learning of tables and spellings;
- Allowing their children to take increasing responsibility as they progress through the school;
- Supporting the schools extra curricular activities.
The need for parents to be involved in the education of their children is well established. We have a friendly and welcoming atmosphere and undertake a variety of initiatives to make parent partners, including open days and invitations to special assemblies etc., We look forward to establishing relationships of trust and mutual respect in order to enhance your child's education.
Our Parent Support Group and Parents Working Party meet regularly to discuss school life but also to help with social events.
We operate a “Parents as Partners Policy. When children start at school we ask their parent/carers and the pupil themselves to sign up to our Home/School Agreement (See Appendix 1), which sets out responsibilities and expectations of the school, parents/carers and themselves.
We have a committed group of staff with shared aims and philosophies designed to offer a wide range of opportunities to the children including high standards of achievement and a high quality of learning experiences.
If you have any concerns about your child his/her teacher will be happy to discuss them with you if you make an appointment. The Headteacher is always available to discuss parental concerns.
Daily Acts of Worship and the caring ethos of the school make a valuable contribution to the personal, social and moral development of our children. Children are actively involved in Acts of Worship.
The local clergy from St. Mary's Cluster of Parishes visit school fortnightly to take whole school Acts of Worship. Reverend Menzies celebrates with us at our Harvest Assembly and the children visit All Saint's Bramham for our annual Christmas service.
By law the school needs to provide daily Acts of Worship. Children participate either as a whole school or in smaller groups. Collective Worship is of a broadly Christian nature but also develops the values that most religions would want to foster. After consultation with the Headteacher parents may request that their child does not take part in worship. In the event of a child withdrawing from Acts of Worship alternative provision will be made after consultation with the parents.
The Curriculum Explained
The Governing Body adopts the LEA statement of Curriculum Policy, a copy of which is available in school.
Careful planning ensures the curriculum incorporates the necessary skills, processes and knowledge required in the Core subjects of english, mathematics, science and information technology together with those in the Foundation Subjects of art, geography, history, design technology, music and physical education. Staff are fully aware of the experiences and levels of understanding expected of children at the end of each Key Stage and plan accordingly.
The sum total of all those experiences, planned and unplanned in school which help your child to learn and develop can be called the curriculum. The most obvious of these experiences is the time spent in timetabled lessons. These will encompass, in a variety of forms, all the areas required under the National Curriculum core and foundation subjects and religious education.
The way we live, play, work and interact with each other has a profound effect on your child. Through all the components of the curriculum we will endeavour to extend and challenge the individual so that he/she develops as fully as possible intellectually, emotionally, physically, socially and spiritually.
Early Years
The Early Years Curriculum of the school is determined by the Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage. This sets the following six areas of learning:
- Personal, Social and Emotional development
- Communication, Language and Literacy
- Mathematical Development
- Knowledge and Understanding of the World
- Physical Development
- Creative Development
How children learn through the Early Years
Much of the learning experiences of young children is based on:
- Interactive Play
- Talk – with peers and adults
- Stimulating experiences and environments
Children entering school in their first year do so with a wide range of abilities, interests and stages of development, and usually with a thirst for action, as well as a sense of inquisitiveness and wonder.
In our ‘Early Years’ programme we aim to fit the curriculum to the children and not the reverse. By taking account of these differing needs and each child’s past experience, we find the starting point from which to create an appropriate environment, enabling individual progress.
Many opportunities are given for speaking, listening and questioning, sorting and counting, observing and investigating materials first hand, drawing and writing, for becoming familiar with books and print, stories and rhymes, music, singing, PE and dance, as well as a full range of creative work, including modelling and construction, role play, sewing, painting, printing, baking, collage, sand and water play.
Consequently during this phase of schooling children will often be engaged in ‘play’ activities, but nevertheless these will have been carefully planned to achieve specific learning outcomes.
English
Of all subjects, English is the one that can best find expression and can be taught by using opportunities that arise across the curriculum. Many of the activities in which the children are involved are appropriate across the age range, varying only in complexity and degrees of difficulty.
At Bramham Primary School teachers plan for and deliver a daily one hour literacy lesson. The children are introduced to a wide range of texts including fiction, non- fiction and poetry. In addition extra time is given to extended writing. However, their Literacy skills continue to be developed in all areas of the curriculum.
Reading
Under the Literacy Framework children spend more time reading text in a group or as a whole class. They spend less time than in the past reading individually. However, reading is still considered to be highly important and the school strives to maintain a sensible balance between group and individual reading. The children have a wide range of books in their classrooms. In addition all children have access to the school library containing fiction, non-fiction and poetry books. Parents run library sessions for all children which enable them to take fiction and non fiction books home to read.
Speaking and Listening
We aim to develop children’s ability to listen with attention and understanding.
To achieve this, children will gain experience as speakers and listeners across a whole range of activities, which will include imaginative play, asking questions, giving and receiving explanations, using a tape recorder, listening to music etc.,
Writing
We aim to enable children to develop the ability to write for a wide range of purposes and a variety of audiences in an independent manner, such as stories, describing, instructing, letter writing, persuading and explaining. Pupils will be given opportunities to draft, revise and edit their writing, and to regard this as a normal part of writing process.
Spelling
The teaching of spelling is based on giving regular individual spelling assignments appropriate to each child’s level of development. Children are taught to use the ‘Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check’ method as a strategy they can develop themselves and are encouraged to learn how to spell new words.
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