WIXLIB

School StructureQuadrants/SENDCo/Pastoral ManagerWhat to expectin Early YearsSt Thomas’ CE Primary School provides full time educationfor pupils between the ages of 4 and 11. As a two-formintake, we have 14 classes in school. Pupils move throughthe school according to their chronological age. At StThomas’ we have a quadrant system to support thedevelopment of pupils.Quadrant 1 – Early Years Foundation Stage (Receptionclass)Quadrant 2 – Key Stage One (Years 1 and 2)Quadrant 3 – Lower Key Stage Two (Years 3 and 4)Quadrant 4 – Upper Key Stage Two (Years 5 and 6)Each quadrant has a leader who supports the staffworking in the year groups as well as acting as a point ofcontact for dealing with any issues. Pupils have theopportunity to work collaboratively within theirquadrants during sports days, on church visits and duringour #10TeamTuesdays that run throughout the year.What Ofsted said ontheir 2019 Inspection:‘Pupils’ personaldevelopment is a strength ofthe school. leaders provide abreadth of experiences andopportunities forpupils.’.Each Key Stage (EYFS/KS1 and KS2) has amember of staff responsible for theprovision for SEND pupils or pupilswith additional needs. Thesemembers of staff work closely withpupils, their parents and otheragencies involved in providing forthe specific needs of theindividual.In addition to our highly skilledteaching staff, we are lucky tohave a pastoral team who supportpupils and their families both withaspects of school life and home life.Because they do not have teachingcommitments, they are on hand before,after and throughout the school day.They are able to put families in touchwith agencies who can support in manydifferent ways. Our parents are alwaysvery thankful for the involvement of thepastoral team and see it as another way ofbeing part of the St Thomas family.8For most children, Reception is theintroduction to school life and here atSt Thomas, we strive to make their firstexperience of school an exciting andinspiring time. Our days are filled withinvestigating, exploring and learningthrough play. We follow the EYFScurriculum and offer a stimulating andnurturing environment in which wehope to instil a strong desire to learnand high levels of independence.Children are challenged through avariety of topics including This is Me!Why does the Gingerbread Man alwaysrun away? and Are all mini beasts scary?The children very much lead their ownlearning and are encouraged to create theirown challenges based on their interest andfascination, combined with daily phonics,mathematics and literacy sessions. Learning takesplace in both our indoor and outdoor classroomand children have access to these areas throughoutthe day. We offer a safe yet challenging environment inwhich we encourage children to persevere, have theirown ideas, develop strategies, celebrate their uniquenessand form positive relationships. Most importantly – wehave fun!What to expect inKS1 and KS2Key Stage One sees a transition towards a more formalapproach to learning where children still have theopportunities to learn through play based or practicalsituations, that develop skills and knowledge acquired inKey Stage One. There is an increase in the focus onEnglish and maths but learning is topic based withcreativity at the heart.As children move from Year One to Year Two, theyprepare to take their end of KS1 assessments, or SATs, butthis is all done with the focus being on learning andenjoyment; nurturing young minds and providing supportand challenge.Key Stage Two comprises of four year groups wherethe National Curriculum develops and enhancesskills and knowledge from the previous keystage. Children learn in similar practical ways,developing skills and knowledge for life.Topics are designed in ways that supportthis. Nurturing pupils is still a key prioritybut independence plays an increasinglyimportant role and pupils’ resilience andperseverance skills are developed duringtheir time in KS2. From Year 3, pupilshave the opportunity to play differentmusical instruments. We are wellsupported by Wigan Music Service andtheir highly skilled music teachers whovisit and provide weekly lessons forsmall groups and individuals. BedfordHigh school offer support andopportunities to children in Upper KS2through specialist provision inperforming arts and science.Transition is important to us. We provideend of Key Stage transition from Year Two toYear Three, ensuring that pupils and theirparents feel comfortable and prepared for thenext phase of school life. We also provideopportunities for parents to meet the staff in thenext class as children move within key stages at thestart of each school year.9

CurriculumInformation includingRSEAt St Thomas’ we strive to provide the best broadand balanced curriculum, in line with theNational Curriculum that is enhanced andenriched by the skills and commitment of ourdedicated staff team. We use CornerstonesCurriculum as a vehicle for ‘ImaginativeLearning Projects’ that capture interests andignite sparks for lifelong learning. Through thiscurriculum, we are focused on providing thehighest quality teaching in reading, writing andmaths whilst learning about our world in apurposeful and meaningful way. Opportunitiesto learn collaboratively and through inquiry andinvestigation develops subject specific skills as wellas skills for life that will be of benefit as theycontinue through school and beyond. All learningopportunities are carefully planned, taking intoaccount the age and prior understanding of the pupilsin order to provide continuity and progression year onyear. Pupils are taught through whole class teaching,small group work and in 1:1 situations – whichever is bestfor your child at that time.Recently we have focused on ensuring that all ourpupils develop an understanding of themselvesand of others using our relevant andmindful PSHE curriculum. Respectingothers as well as ourselves is paramountto engaging positively in society andparticularly so when teaching ourRelationships and Sex Educationprogramme. Pupils at St Thomas’receive a factual, ageappropriate and well-devisedunit of work ensuring thatthey understand how theirbodies and minds change anddevelop over time and arewell prepared for this due toits timely approach.We pride ourselves on ourpersonalised approach. Ourcarefully selected anddesigned curriculum and ourrelentless drive that all pupilswill do well ensures, that StThomas pupils go on to do greatthings, be confident, besuccessful and contributepositively to society.What Ofsted said ontheir 2019 Inspection:'All pupils, including thosewho have special educationalneeds and/or disabilities(SEND) anddisadvantaged pupils,achieve well'.10Extra-CurricularProvisionProviding pupils with as manyexperiences in their younger yearsis an important mission of ours.We hope to provide a springboardthat will develop interests andenjoyment, where the pupils canfeel success beyond the classroomand develop skills that go beyondNational Curriculum requirements. Wealso feel a sense of duty to provide thosechildhood experiences that should be anentitlement for every child. Because of this,we offer a wide range of lunchtime andafter school clubs. These are lead by schoolstaff as well as external providers, and weensure that all age groups in school haveclubs available to them.A sample of clubs currently on offer are: Jigsaw club Gardening Bootcamp Sewing Book club Choir Sporting multiskillsStaff will provide a club for a half term throughout theyear, so these are constantly changing and in line withpupil requests, staff expertise and what we feel ourchildren need.Trips and ResidentialsEnhancing the curriculum that we provide is crucial tocreating memorable and engaging experiences andensuring lifelong learning. With each new topic, staff lookfor opportunities to bring visitors or resources to theclassroom, use expertise or knowledge from the widercommunity or plan an offsite educational visit thatprovides a real-life context to the learning in theclassroom. At St Thomas’ we strive to use our localenvironment to do this, allowing the pupils theopportunities to positively engage in their hometown.Lilford Park and Woods has supported learning in DesignTechnology and Geography and Local Mills are a sourcefor fantastic historical inquiry. Visits further afield seepupils visiting castles, farms and museums.When pupils are in Year 6, they are able to take part in atwo-night residential to Robinwood Activity Centre inWrexham. Here pupils test out skills they have developedduring their time in school. They show real determinationand courage when completing outdoor and adventurouspursuits such as canoeing, rock climbing and archery. Thisis a fantastic way to end their time at primary school,having secured that self-belief before moving onto thenext stage of their education.11

HomeworkSafeguardingWe view homework as a partnership between your child,school and home and we aim for homework to be: Engaging, exciting and something pupils want todo Promote self-discipline in preparation fortheir time at high school A way of extending skills learned inthe classroom Informative for you – you knowwhat and how well your childis doingWhat Ofsted said ontheir 2019 Inspection:'The curriculum sparkspupils’ interest about theworld around them fromReception through to Year6. Pupils are eager tolearn'. Consistent across schoolSafeguarding is the most important job we do inschool. Ensuring we have happy, healthy childrenwho feel safe and secure is our main aim and webelieve that children are entitled to dignity, respectand a life free from any type of abuse. Childrenshould have their childhood and innocence. Wemake the decisions when it is the right time toinform and educate them about the world in whichthey live and prepare them well for life’s journey. Allstaff in school have a responsibility to be vigilant andrecognise any kind of abuse and have a legal duty toreport this to the school’s designated safeguardingteam. This may result in Social Services or other agencyinvolvement. Proportionate, ensuringpupils have time for otheractivities outside of schoolHomework will begin as yourchild brings a reading book homefor you to share. This helps tofoster a love of reading. This isthe cornerstone of all learningand a rewarding skill that you areable to support your child with.The School RulesEveryone at school understands and are expected tofollow our school rules:What SIAMS said ontheir 2018 Inspection: We listen when someone is speaking We follow instructions sensibly and quickly‘The nurture of all pupilsthroughout the school is exceptional.This, along with the strong Christianethos encourages good mental healthand enables all to thrive and to liveout the schools inspiration to 'loveone another as I have lovedyou’. We are always kind and polite to everyone We make the right behaviour choices We always try our best We look after each other and everything in schoolAnti-BullyingStrategiesWe are very proud that an overwhelming majority ofpupils feel safe and secure when in school. Behaviour isexcellent with children demonstrating our ChristianValues in all they do. We feel very much a family. Attimes, there can be friendship issues that need addressing.This is not bullying. We feel it very important that weeducate our pupils how to spot the signs of bullying inorder to stop this immediately. Our Anti-Bullying policy isdesign to:As children move through school, they will getpasswords for online tools that help them torehearse skills such as spelling and times tables. Webelieve that fun, engaging homework, that can becompleted in short bursts, is much more beneficial.Through our creative curriculum, children may be setproject style tasks where they can respond individuallyand in a variety of ways. Home learning projects willalways be shared and celebrated in school.As pupils reach Years 5 and 6, more formal homeworkrelating to specific subjects will be given. This provides astructure for high school and time to become familiar andorganised.If there is ever a time your child becomes worried abouttheir homework, please reassure them and arrange tospeak to the class teacher who will endeavour to resolveany issues you are having. Your support andencouragement in homework completion is muchappreciated.12 Keep our school environment safe and secure forallBehaviour in School Support victims and perpetrators of bullyingincidentsWe have high expectations and promote positivebehaviour in all we do. Our policy focuses on usingpositive strategies for dealing with behaviour from day today and use Class Dojo across school to reward behaviourand following our school rules. Our children feel happythat they are treated fairly and with due care andattention to resolve any issues. Our full behaviour policycan be found on our school website. Be an integral part of our curriculum. ThroughPSHE, religious education,collective worship we aim to ensure allunderstand that bullying is unacceptable Provide a clear procedure that is rigorous andtimely for dealing with any concerns of abullying nature Involve pupils, parents and relevant staff members13

Parents are regularly informed of theirchildren’s targets and also have theopportunity to view and discuss theirchildren’s work with teachers during ourautumn and spring Parents’ Evenings.Parents are welcome to meet with theclass teacher at any time throughout theyear if they have any worries or concerns.School reports are sent home in July everyyear. Our school reports highlight many ofthe achievements made throughout the year,academically and personally, and outline nextsteps or targets for the following year.First Aid andMedicines inSchoolA large proportion of school staff are first aid trainedand are on hand to deal with any injuries or illnessesthat happen during the school day. There are first aidboxes situated in all classrooms and in other communalareas of school. Our procedure is to inform you of anyinjuries your child may have had either by a medical formthat comes home or a telephone call if it is necessary to doso, if your child needs to be seen by someone. In seriouscases we would, as a matter of course, involve theemergency services.AttendanceGood attendance is vital for pupils to make progressand to be happy at school. Attendance is rigorouslymonitored and we actively promote good attendance,e.g. cinema afternoons, own clothes days, certificates, giftvouchers etc. If attendance falls below 92% then schoolmay involve other external agencies to support families. Ifpupils are persistently absent, persistently late for schoolor take unauthorised holidays in term time, then they maybe issued with a fixed penalty notice. If your child isabsent from school because of illness, then you are askedto telephone school (672730 – extension 1) on the first dayof absence and then send a note to the teacher, upontheir return, explaining the reason for the absence.From time to time children may need to receivemedication during the school day. Medication that hasbeen prescribed to the child and is clearly labelled can beadministered at the correct times by school staff. Pleaseensure an adult brings this to the school office. Herenecessary details can be taken and you can sign togive permission for the administration. Please do notgive medication to your child to hand in. This canbe a danger to themselves and other children.When a child is absent for one of the following reasons, itwill be recorded as an AUTHORISED ABSENCE providingyou have notified school as to the reason for the absence: The child is having medical or dental treatment(providing an appointment card is shown in school). The child is ill (see the note above).We do ask that routine appointments are made out ofschool time where this is possible.When no satisfactory reason is provided as to why a childhas been absent, it must, by law, be recordedas an UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE. Weare extremely concerned if suchunexplained absences occurfor any of our pupils.GeneralData ProtectionRegulations (GDPR)As part of our work to comply with the GDPR, we seekconsent for using photographs or videos of your child onour website, social media pages, internal displays, schoolmarketing materials and the local newspapers. Please beaware that from time to time, we are required to shareyour data or your child’s data with other organisations,mainly the local authority, other schools and educationalbodies and potentially children’s services.What parentssay:‘Staff have reallyencouraged my son tofulfil his potential’.Assessment &ReportingAll of the work carried out by the pupils at StThomas’ is carefully planned, monitored andassessed by the staff daily. Pupils are verymuch involved in this process and work withtheir teachers to identify strengths and nextsteps in their learning. Formal tests take placein school on a termly basis, and pupils in Years 2& 6 undertake national SATs tests in May. Year 1pupils complete a national phonics screening testwhich takes place in June. It is essential thatparents avoid taking holidays during term time butmost importantly during test periods.1415

Special EducationalNeeds and Disabilities(SEND)St Thomas’ is an inclusive school and we seek to meet theneeds of every pupil. We operate within the SEND Codeof Practice when carrying out our duties to support allpupils with special educational needs and disabilities.When a pupil has been identified as needing additionalsupport, parent will be asked to talk to our SENDCO(Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator),prior to inclusion on the SEND register. Pupils areidentified at the earliest possible stage and benefit fromtermly reviews of their progress and updated IndividualProvision Plans (IPP). These plans set out specific,achievable targets within a set timescale. Some pupilsmay receive additional support in class from teachingassistants and other may be withdrawn for specific 1:1group sessions for short periods of time.School MealsWhat SIAMS said ontheir 2018 Inspection:Healthy school lunches are cooked on site and areavailable for all pupils. Special dietary requirements andallergies are catered for. School dinners ( 2.25* per day)can be ordered and paid for online at the Lunchshop site.All pupils in Reception, Year One and Year Two areentitled to free school meals as part of governmentfunding. Pupils also have the opportunity to bring in ahealthy packed lunch from home. Lunch boxes must beclearly labelled with your child’s name and class.‘The vision, being stronglyrooted in Christian teaching, has aprofound impact on the wholeschool community. This enablesall members of the school toflourish personally andacademically’.Sample Menu:Advice may be sought from outside specialists whosupport the school and pupils. These include ourEducational Psychologist, Targeted EducationSupport Services (TESS), Speech and LanguageTherapists, School Nursing Team, Childhood andAdolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) etc.Choice 1Margherita Pizza served with Sweetcorn andPeasChoice 2Meatballs in Gravy served with CreamedPotatoes or Pasta and Garden PeasChoice 3Oven Baked Jacket Potato filled with Cheese,Beans or Tuna served with Mixed SaladDessertShortbread or Fresh Fr

Thomas' we have a quadrant system to support the development of pupils. Quadrant 1 - Early Years Foundation Stage (Reception class) Quadrant 2 - Key Stage One (Years 1 and 2) Quadrant 3 - Lower Key Stage Two (Years 3 and 4) Quadrant 4 - Upper Key Stage Two (Years 5 and 6) Each quadrant has a leader who supports the staff