WELCOME

                                                             Children & Families to

                                Oaklands Infant & Nursery School

Where …… “Everyone matters”

Your child is about to join others starting school life at Oaklands Infant & Nursery School.  It will, I hope, be a happy, stimulating and rewarding time.  I hope that the visits you make with your child will help to acquaint you both with the plan, organisation and people who are to become very much part of your child's school life.

This prospectus will give you some information which will help you understand and share in your child's life at school; please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any query or concern, or are particularly pleased!

Regular opportunities are given for you to visit school.  Teachers are willing to see parents if a problem arises, before and after school to discuss plans and progress, but if more than a few minutes are required, please make an appointment so that they can arrange to give you undivided attention.

Our school is set in extensive grounds which incorporate woods, meadow land and playing fields.  We use these grounds whenever possible to extend and enrich the childrens’ learning.

Our school has achieved the Basic Skills Quality Mark, which is awarded to schools that meet a high standard in basic skills such as reading, writing, spelling and numberwork.

We offer your child a warm welcome to Oaklands.  It is hoped we can work together to foster the health, education and welfare of all the children at Oaklands Infant & Nursery School.

OAKLANDS  INFANT & NURSERY SCHOOL

                                                                            OFFERS

Opportunities for all pupils to enjoy their time at school.

Activity based learning. 

Knowledge and understanding through a broad and balanced curriculum.

Learning based on sound educational principles.

Adaptability to cope with the needs of individual pupils.

National Curriculum  "An Education for Life".

Differentiation to enable all pupils to reach their potential.

Self-esteem for all our pupils and staff.

MEDWAY COUNCIL EDUCATION COMMITTEE

TERM DATES  2009/2010

There is one more staff development day to allocate – you will be advised of this as soon as possible.

Please keep these dates in a safe place for reference

Occasionally modifications are made to these dates

STAFFING

Each class has a Midday Supervisor who is responsible for the children at lunchtime who works closely with the Class Teacher.

Kitchen staff also have contact with your children.  They are employed by Scolarest, part of Compass U.K. Ltd., the Schools Meals Contract Company.

GOVERNORS

Mrs. D. Georgeson                           LEA Appointment               
Mr. R. Vine                                        “                       “
Mrs. T. Rei                                         Parent Governor
Ms. N. Speigh                                   “                       “
Mrs. S. Komorowski                         “                       “
Mrs. M. Wood                                    Community Governor
Mrs. S. Jeeves                                  “                       “
Mrs. R. Taylor                                    Staff Governor
Mrs. P. Chambers                            “                       “

A new Governing Body will be elected as from 1^st September 2009.

Details will be sent to parents when available.

All Governors perform their duties on a voluntary basis.  The Governing Body includes teacher and staff representatives and elected Parent Governors. 

If at any time you wish to contact a Governor, a letter handed in at school will be forwarded to the person concerned.

ETHOS & VALUES

Our Aim at Oaklands is to provide a happy caring community where each child’s needs are met with understanding and sensitivity.

We believe in working closely with parents in the education of our children.  We strongly believe that our partnership with parents is of tremendous importance.  Children learn best when school and home work together.  We have an ‘open door’ policy and welcome parents into school in any capacity.  We want the children to achieve their full potential in a supportive, stimulating and happy environment where learning is fun, and prepare them for life in the 21^st century.  We aim to create positive attitudes to learning, to foster growth and development and to provide a broad and balanced curriculum.

Our school motto is ‘Everyone Matters’.

 GENERAL INFORMATION

Admissions

The children are admitted annually in September.  They will be admitted on a part time basis for a short time initially. Their part time attendance will be mornings only until 11.30, then they will be invited to lunch, leaving school at 12.45 p.m.  This gradually extends their school day until they are full time, helping them to become familiar with new settings and boundaries.  Prior to admission opportunities are made available for parents to see the school in session if they choose to do so.  They will have the opportunity to spend some afternoons in their new classes prior to starting school.

Criteria for admission are set out by the Local Authority.

Times of School

Key Stage 1 Morning         8.55 a.m. - 12.05 p.m.          Foundation Stage: 8.55 – 11.30 a.m.

Afternoon      1.10 p.m. - 3.05 p.m.                                                12.45 – 3.05 p.m.

It is important that the children are punctual.  The Head teacher/Senior Teacher is on the playground at 8.45 a.m.  Please do not bring your child to school before this time.  When you collect your child, would you please wait on the playground.  At the end of the day, the class teacher will walk the children along to meet you.  If your child is late arriving for school you will need to bring them to the front entrance to sign them in, giving a reason for lateness

Nursery

The nursery has its own admission arrangements.  See separate nursery information booklet.

Playtimes

Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) have one fifteen minute break during the morning, as well as the lunchtime break.

Foundation Stage (Year R) use their outside area for play.

The children may bring one small toy for playtime (named if possible) but not, please, anything of great value. 

The children are always supervised by two adults, a teacher and a teaching assistant.

Snack/Drinks

All children are given a piece of fruit daily as part of the Government School Fruit & Vegetable Scheme.  If you wish your child to have milk, it is free for under 5’s, after that it is subsidised.  Please obtain application form from the office.

PASTORAL CARE

The school is a caring community and care for each child is exercised by the child's class teacher and teaching assistant who will deal with all day to day school matters concerning your child's welfare.  The school follows the county and regional guidelines on child protection and any concerns in this area have to be reported to Social Services in accordance with the Children's Act.  We have achieved the Healthy Schools Award.  All children deserve the opportunity to achieve their full potential.  There are five outcomes that are key to children’s well bring:

·      Staying safe

·      Be healthy

·      Enjoy and achieve

·      Make a positive contribution

·      Achieve economic well being

In order to safeguard all children we will take all reasonable measures to ensure that the risks of harm to the children’s welfare are minimised.  If there are any concerns about children’s welfare, appropriate action to address the concerns will be taken.  School procedures for safeguarding children are in line with Medway Child Protection procedures.

Contact with You

It is sometimes necessary to contact parents during the day, usually if a child becomes unwell.  Would you please make sure you keep us up to date with any changes of address at work or home and/or telephone numbers and provide an emergency number so that we can contact you should the need arise.

Behaviour and Discipline

We want all children to enjoy school and have fun.  To do this we need rules to keep our school community happy and safe.  We aim to encourage all our children in school and in the playground to (a) take responsibility for their own behaviour and actions and to behave in a kind and considerate manner; (b) to respect their own and other people's property; and (c) for all children to be safe and feel safe in the school environment.

Children are regularly reminded of the rules for school behaviour and we ask parents to support the highest possible standards, and to ensure, as far as possible, that these rules are obeyed by their children.

The school’s behaviour policy is included in the Home/School Agreement which you will receive when your child starts school.

Parent Partnership

A very important part of the ethos of the school is our partnership with you.  We believe strongly in working closely with parents in the education of your children.  We run parent information sessions, workshops and welcome any parents who would like to help out in any way in the classroom.

Homework

We encourage you to read regularly and sympathetically with your child, making comments in the home/school contact book.  From time to time homework is given to reinforce work carried out in class. this gives you a chance to see the type of work your child is involved in.

Regular attendance is your responsibility.  Monitoring it is ours.

Please let us know as soon as possible, by telephone on the first day if your child is sick or otherwise unable to attend school.  This should be followed up with a written note on your child’s return.  Irregular attendance interrupts your child's learning.

If your child is sick for a long period please keep us informed so that we are able to maintain contact with your child and offer help if necessary.  Class teachers are willing to make hospital visits if appropriate.  Sometimes we can help with books and/or games. 

Should your child have regular absences you will be contacted by the Headteacher to discuss the matter, and the Educational Welfare Officer may be involved.  Only absences due to sickness are authorised absences and unauthorised absences can result in a fine.

End of year reports show figures for absence.  We are statutorily obliged to publicise unauthorised absence. The total number of registered pupils of compulsory school age on roll for at least one session during the reporting period to end May 2007 was 78 The percentage of half days missed through authorised absence was 4.5% and unauthorised – 1.08%.

Should it be necessary to leave school during the day for medical, dental or other reasons, an authorisation slip should be collected from the office.  Please come to the office so that we know who is on the premises, signing your child out stating the reason and again on return.  If the reason for a child's absence is to accompany you on your annual holiday, please complete a `holiday form', again available from the office.

Please be aware there is no entitlement to holidays in term time.  Governors will only grant permission in exceptional circumstances.  Fines of £100 can be imposed for taking your child out of school for holidays if they are unauthorised.

Meals

The School Meals Service is run by Scolarest.  A full school meal is available cooked on the premises with an element of choice for the children.  A sample menu can be seen on request.  A cold drink is also provided. Alternatively a cold snack, including a sandwich or roll with a variety of fillings, cake and fruit can be purchased.  The cost for both hot and cold meals is £1.75 per day  (£8.75 per week).    Dinner money should be paid in full on the first morning of the week.  Please send the money in a sealed envelope, purse or tin clearly marked with the child's name and class.  Cheques should be made payable to Scolarest with child’s name and card number on the reverse. Arrangements can be made to pay in advance.

Alternatively, packed lunches may be brought from home in a small sized named plastic container.  Do not include sweets.  Drinks may be brought to school, preferably in individual cartons.  This contains spillage and leakage which can and does occur, damaging the owner's clothing or possessions as well as that of others.  The hall is used for P.E.  The children have bare feet for P.E. in the hall soon after lunchtime.  It is obviously imperative that we keep the hall floor free from potential stickiness.  Please do not send hot drinks in children's lunchboxes.  Drinking water can be provided for those children having packed lunches on request.

Some families may be eligible for free school meals.  Please ask at the office for the appropriate information.

Breakfast Club

We run a breakfast club from 7.45 – 8.45 a.m.  This is run by qualified staff and provides a light meal and a variety of activities.  Children are then escorted to their classes at the start of the school day.  The cost is £1 per child per day.

Visits/Charging

From time to time we arrange visits to school by theatre companies, etc.  Sometimes visits are arranged so that experiences outside school can be related to the curriculum.  The cost of these cannot be covered by the school.  We ask parents to make voluntary contributions towards the cost of such occasions.  We cannot arrange extra-curriculum visits without such parental contributions.  If individual circumstances make it difficult for you to contribute, please see the Head Teacher and some arrangement can be made.  (No child is ever excluded from an activity because he/she cannot pay.)  Changes in the law means that we must use seats belts for each child on a coach hire.  This has meant an increase in the charges we have to make unfortunately.

Water in School

Although water is available for children to drink from the water fountains in school, we find they do not always drink as much as they should.  We therefore supply each child with a named water bottle which is filled up each day and kept in the class for children to drink from whenever they wish.

School Uniform

The children are encouraged to wear school uniform based on the school colours, scarlet, grey and white.

School sweatshirts and tee shirts printed with the `Oaklands' logo are available from the office and so are red and silver ties.  A new addition to our uniform is a fleece with the school logo embroidered on it.

A white polo shirt or blouse under a sweatshirt worn with grey skirt/pinafore dress or grey/black trousers make comfortable practical school clothing, with white/grey/red socks or tights.  In summer, red checked or striped dresses for the girls are suitable.

School clothes should be as easy as possible to take on and off, as P.E. forms a daily part of their lives.  So does painting and gluing!  Sleeves that are easily pushed up help in the classroom.  We keep a supply of "outgrown but not outworn school clothing" for sale at a cost of 50p per item.

Footwear - Shoes should be low heeled, preferably with fastenings the children can manage helping them to become independent.  High fashion shoes or trainers are not suitable for school.  Please avoid boots with lots of lace holes.  These cause real problems when changing for P.E. etc.  Shoes with “heels” for girls are not suitable, especially on the adventure trail.

P.E. -  Normally children  in Year R do P.E. in vest and pants with bare feet.  Again fashion underwear, e.g. crop tops, are not suitable.  In Years One and Two we suggest the children wear shorts and tee shirts for P.E. (named) to be kept in their shoe bags.  Plimsolls, clearly named, are necessary for outside P.E. and games.

All P.E. items should be kept in a bag which may be purchased from school.  A spare pair of knickers/pants is useful in case of "accidents".

REMEMBER school is children's work and they should be dressed appropriately.  School uniform provides practical comfortable clothing at reasonable cost.

Please MARK ALL CLOTHING CLEARLY.  Any lost items are put in a lost property bin in the cloakrooms.  Children should search there for any lost items.  You may order name labels from school which should be sewn into new garments.  (Pen marking washes out!)  

The Authority is not responsible for loss or theft of clothing, but of course we will endeavour to establish safe secure storage and foster responsible attitudes towards care of the children's own and others' belongings.

Jewellery - The County Adviser for P.E. and the British Guidelines for Safe Practise in P.E. state that no jewellery should be worn by children participating in P.E. and swimming activities.  There have been instances where injuries have been caused.  Would you please ensure that earrings are not worn on P.E. days and only studs on other days.

Arrangements for disabled pupils

Parents of disabled children are asked to give the Head Teacher details of the disability as soon as they are offered a place at the school.  The Head Teacher will arrange a meeting to discuss the ways in which the child's disability might hinder her/him from taking a full part in the life of the school and the ways in which such difficulties will be overcome.  The Head Teacher will then make any practical arrangements necessary to enable the child to participate fully in all lessons and activities.  These may take time to put into place and may require advice and assistance from the Area Office or specialist agencies, so parents are urged to see the Head Teacher as soon as possible.  The school has an accessibility plan which identifies priorities for making adaptations to the school building for disabled access.  There is a ramp to the front entrance and one side entrance allows wheelchair access.  Most of the classroom doors to the outside area will allow wheelchair access and we have a children’s disabled toilet.

Medicines

As a general rule we do not administer medicines in school.  However there are a few occasions when prescribed medication is necessary due to a long standing ailment which does not, in itself, keep the child away from school.  Please, if you are able, come into school to administer these medicines yourself. If this is impossible medicine may be brought into school provided that:

(a)       It is clearly labelled and is a measured dose which your child can take him/herself.

(b)       It is delivered personally by an adult to the school office who will be asked to fill in a form with relevant details.

Inhalers may be kept in school, again provided that they are clearly labelled.  Free access is available for the owner's use.     We have qualified First Aiders in school.

School Nurse

The School Nurse is a familiar and friendly figure at the school.  She carries out regular checks on the childrens' sight, hearing, weight, etc.   She is happy to talk to you about any health concerns you have about your child. 

Buildings and Grounds

Our school was built in 1954 with 6 classrooms and was quickly extended by another 3 classrooms.  The rooms are quite spacious with large window areas overlooking our lovely grounds.    Many classrooms have covered outside play areas and all windows in classrooms are double glazed.  Blinds are in place to keep our too much sun.

Our playground has been developed with additional funding from fund raising events to provide extended play activities for the children to enjoy.  Various planting programmes have been put in place to enhance our environment.  There is also seating in shady areas for the children when it is hot, provided through a project a group of parents were involved in.  The children have the use of extra equipment for the lunchtime playtime including stilts, hoppers, footballs, soft balls and skipping ropes.   There is a sand pit and an adventure trail.

WHEN THEY LEAVE US  -  Just a small step to Oaklands Junior School

The children transfer to the Junior School in September if they are seven years old by 31st August of that year.  We work closely with the Junior School staff and, in the Summer Term particularly, plan to ensure a smooth transition.  The children regularly visit the Junior School for swimming in Year 2 and also have visits to concerts and special occasions.  Visits are arranged for the children so that they become accustomed to the building and to get to know the teachers and children.  Arrangements are made for parents to meet the Head Teacher and staff and to see the Junior School in action so that they can share this next small step in their child's school life.

PREPARING YOUR CHILD FOR SCHOOL

We all react best when well prepared for new experiences.  You can help your child to prepare for school by making him/her as independent as possible.  Please try to help your child in these ways:

1)         Be able to dress and undress and have a good try at fastenings on clothes and shoes.

2)         Be able to manage in the toilet by themselves and say clearly "May I go to the toilet?"

3)         Encourage them to play happily with other children.

4)         Talk to and about things receiving encouragement with `Why?  Where?  When?' questions.

5)         Understand and follow instructions.

6)         Share people and things with others.

7)         Stay with a task for a reasonable amount of time.

8)        Show an interest in books.  Talk to and with them.  DO read to them and tell lots of stories.  Share nursery rhymes and encourage them to learn by heart. 

9)         Enjoy, encourage and praise your child for every success.

Documentation Relating to Policy & National Curriculum

There are an increasing number of documents issued by the Government which have an impact on education.  We are compiling a copy of these which are available in Reception.

Documents relating to the school pattern of work and curriculum policies may also be viewed.

Raising Concerns and Resolving Complaints

From time to time parents, and others connected with the school, will become aware of matters which cause them concern.  To encourage resolution of such situations the Governing Body has adopted a “General Complaints Procedure”.  The procedure is devised with the intention that it will:

·      Usually be possible to resolve problems by informal means

·      Be simple to use and understand

·      Be non-adversarial

·      Provide confidentiality

·      Allow problems to be handled swiftly

·      Address all the points at issue

·      Inform future practice so that the problem is unlikely to recur.

Full details of the procedure may be obtained from the School Office or from the Clerk to the Governing Body.

Safety

The children are instructed in basic road safety and continually reminded.  Water safety guidance is also given.  The children are taught safety rules in school, such as not running, to carry equipment such as scissors safely, etc.  It is the responsibility of parents to maintain safety on site by:-

a)         Entering and leaving school by the pedestrian gateway.

b)         Not driving on site.

c)         Ensuring children in their care do not climb trees, equipment, etc.

d)         Parking safely outside school.

We operate a NO SMOKING zone in and around the school.     No dogs are allowed on site.

Parents of prospective pupils are able to see the school "in action" by appointment.  An open day is also held each year in February for prospective parents.

When children enter school they attend part time, mornings only at first, then staying to lunch, gradually extending their day.  This is to help them become secure and happy in their class and school environment.  In the year they come into school they are known as Reception Year, or Year R, which is called the Foundation Stage, moving then to National Curriculum Year 1 (Y1) then Year 2 (Y2).  All children transfer to the Junior School in the September following their seventh birthday.

Within the classes the main work of the day takes place as a whole class, individually and in small groups (decided in a number of different ways) sometimes ability groups, sometimes interest groups, sometimes friendship groups, according to the needs of the children concerned.

The children's time in the classroom is divided between periods for learning and practising individual skills, periods when there is a range of various educational activities and periods when the class works as a whole group under the instructions of the teacher.  We aim for a carefully planned mixture of formal and informal methods so that we provide an ordered pattern of work which takes into account individual differences.

During a normal week 21 hours are spent teaching.  The rest of the time is allocated to registration, playtime, lunch break and collective worship.

Sex Education

The children are taught that animals and humans move, feed, grow, use their senses and reproduce.  They learn the name of the main external body parts and differences between themselves and other people.

Special Needs

As a whole school we work hard towards developing an ethos that is warm, welcoming and inclusive.  It follows therefore that we are all committed to involving our children who have special needs totally and fairly into the life of our school.  We aim for consistency and rigorous efficiency in identifying, assessing, planning, recording, reviewing and evaluating for the overall support of children who present with challenges in learning, emotional or behavioural areas.  Their needs are regularly reviewed and advice is sought from outside agencies where necessary.

The Special Needs Code of Practice identifies the stages of need.  Parents are kept informed of the practice and procedures employed.  A copy of the School's Special Needs Policy is available on request at the school office.

Equal Opportunities

The school is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without discrimination on the basis of ability, gender, ethnic origins or socio-economic background.

Behaviour

We aim to promote those values, social, moral, spiritual and cultural which will begin our children on the path to becoming caring, thoughtful members of society.

We encourage co-operation in work and play and praise good behaviour when appropriate.  We encourage the children to show concern for others as they move about the school and respect for property.

We expect our children to respect each others rights and adhere to corporately agreed rules, being part of the school community. 

We encourage our children to take responsibility for their own behaviour.  We do not tolerate bullying and act immediately if we are aware of this occurrence.  Our policy on “Bullying” is available on request from the school office.

THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM

The school curriculum comprises all learning and other experiences that we plan for the pupils and must ensure a balance of learning over the time which the children spend in school.  The National Curriculum, which applies to all pupils of compulsory school age, is an important elements of the school curriculum. 

Maths, Science, English and I.C.T. are core subjects of the National Curriculum with Design Technology, I.C.T., History, Geography, Art and Design, Music and P.E. forming the foundation subjects.  Religious Education is not part of the National Curriculum, but is a statutory subject, and schemes of work provide a skeleton around which the curriculum is developed.  They in turn are designed around practical and concrete situations in which the child is involved. 

During their last year in the Infants School, the children are assessed to ascertain the Level they have reached in the National Curriculum.  The teachers assessments are supported by nationally produced assessment tasks and tests (SATs).  You will receive the results of these with your child’s report at the end of Year 2. 

In the Reception classes, the 4-5 year olds follow a curriculum based on the Foundation Stage which was devised to enable children to reach the Government’s Early Learning Goals by the end of the Reception Year and provide the firm blocks on which to build on in Years 1 and 2.  They are assessed through Foundation Stage Profiles, and parents are informed of their child’s progress at the end of Reception Year

ENGLISH

Being able to listen carefully, speak well, read and write competently are the foundation stones of most learning.  Almost all children come into school with a base of language, thanks to you their parents.  We, the teachers, aim to build on this groundwork.

Teaching children to develop their skills in reading and writing is crucial, therefore daily opportunities are planned to help children reach their potential.  These activities will involve your child/children working as a whole class, guided group or individually with an adult.

You will be expecting your child to learn to read.  So will we, we want the children to learn to love books – books that inform, entertain, give pleasure, inspiration and delight.  At school all children have access to books, which can be chosen to bring home to share with you.  They will probably also bring home a book they will read to you, with your support.  This will have been chosen because it is deemed to match your child’s stage of reading development.  Please encourage and praise your child as you share with him/her.  Reading is a partnership.  Through a contact book we hope you will comment on and share your child’s reading.  The children will be having daily shared reading experiences with their teacher, as well as weekly opportunities to read in a group and individually with an adult.

As talking goes hand in hand with listening, so does writing with reading.  We aim to teach the children sound handwriting skills, basic spelling patterns and punctuation.  We plan that they shall begin to write stories, accounts of personal experiences, instructions; giving them the opportunities and tools to make writing a valid and valued means of communication.

MATHEMATICS

Mathematics equips children with a powerful set of tools to understand and change the world, such as logical reasoning, problem solving and abstract thinking.  It is important in everyday life.  The children develop their knowledge and understanding of mathematics through practical and enjoyable activities.  Each child will have experience of number facts and helped to develop their mental skills, through a daily Mathematics lesson.  The Primary Strategy provides the basis for delivering the mathematics programmes in Years 1 and 2.

SCIENCE

Science stimulates children’s curiosity to find out the way the universe works.  By providing opportunities to investigate and observe, we aim to develop a searching and enquiring mind.  In studying a topic the children are encouraged to question, experiment, predict and record aspects of their world.  A carefully planned variety of topics is arranged so that each child has a broad experience of scientific opportunities.

I.C.T.

Information and Communication Technology prepares children to take part in a rapidly changing world.  Children use I.C.T. tools to find, explore, analyse, exchange and present information.  They start to use I.C.T. to develop their ideas and record their creative work.  Each classroom has a computer which can be used as a tool across the different areas of the curriculum and we also have a suite of computers where children have specific skills training.

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

Design and technology prepares children to take part in tomorrow’s rapidly changing technologies.  The children explore how familiar things work and talk about, draw and model their ideas.  They learn how to design and make items safely.  “How things work” and “making things” are important to every child.  We give them the opportunity to do so with commercial and “junk” materials.

HISTORY

This subject fires pupils’ curiosity about the past and how it influences the present.  We aim to deliver this subject in mini-topics in an active way and in blocked periods of time.  Young children have a natural curiosity and enthusiasm which we want to nurture so that they will begin to ask questions about their past and present.

GEOGRAPHY

Geography is another subject that we deliver in blocked units of time in the form of mini-topics.  We aim to help children discover their environment and their place in the world.  We have a school teddy, “Oak Jones”, who travels the world with children and friends on holiday.  Photos are taken of him in these places and postcards sent.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION/SPORT

Physical Education is an important and fundamental aspect of a  child's development.  It develops their physical competence and confidence.  All children take part in P.E. lessons unless there is a medical reason.  We have an excellent hall with agility apparatus, a large playground and also a wonderful field area providing opportunities for P.E. and the study of many aspects of the environment.

Our P.E. curriculum includes the teaching of skills with and without apparatus, dance and activities in preparation for individual and group games.  We are fortunate to be able to use the Junior School swimming pool to develop water confidence and early swimming skills in Year 2.  Our aim is for all children to enjoy the physical activity at every level and to be motivated to participate fully.

CREATIVE & AESTHETIC ACTIVITIES

We place great importance on this area of the curriculum, as it stimulates creativity and imagination.  It provides a unique way of understanding and communicating with the world.  Art and Design comes into much of the Infant curriculum.  Although sometimes treated as a separate subject, it is more often found as part and parcel of everyday school life.  We do teach the children the necessary skills required for modelling, painting, collage, etc.  We also try to introduce them to as many techniques as possible.  Sometimes children use art as a method of recording or sometimes it is an expression of the child's imagination.  We hope to encourage and develop both.   Children can share their ideas with others through art, working on their own or in groups.  Many ideas will come from the children, always with their teacher at hand to stimulate and make further suggestions.  Hopefully, your child will enjoy his/her artistic experiences at school.

MUSIC

The teaching of Music develops pupils’ ability to listen and promotes emotional development.  We provide a wide variety of musical activities throughout the school, ranging from participation in singing, music making, improvisation, use of instruments, dance and drama, to listening to music and watching visiting performers.  Our aim is to make music an enjoyable experience whilst allowing children to develop as composers, performers and listeners.  The children have the opportunity to join a Choir in Year 2 and perform within school and at a local old peoples’ home.

RELIGIOUS, MORAL AND SOCIAL EDUCATION

We aim to help each child to be aware of himself, to build warm relationships with adults and children in school.  We hope to foster a respect for other people and their ideas, and to help children behave in a kind, courteous and considerate manner, and to acquire positive attitudes towards "moral" issues.  We follow Medway’s R.E. Syllabus. 

The school holds short assemblies, collective worship,  which are un-denominational and are required by law to be broadly Christian in content.  These are led sometimes by children, sometimes by teacher, sometimes by visitors.  There is no doctrinal content, but please inform the school if you sincerely wish your child to be excluded from collective worship or Religious Education.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARENTS      

We aim to build friendly and co-operative relationships between all our school staff and parents so that we can work together to meet the needs and interests of the children.  We do make arrangements for parents to learn of plans for their children's education, to see the class teacher to discuss the children's progress, to take part in events and to be an audience.  All children have a home/school book which provides regular contact about reading and other relevant information.  Regular consultation times are arranged, but confidential interviews can be held any time during the school year.

We value any help that you can give the school, for however short a time, with activities such as reading, cooking, swimming, gardening, etc.

We appreciate your support in any fund raising activities.

CHILDREN’S CENTRE

Oaklands is a designated Sure Start Children’s Centre and, as part of that, has a Family Room in which a variety of activities take place.  These are organised by our Community Liaison Officer (CLO) who will contact you about these activities.

I hope this information will be helpful to you that we can work together to foster the health, education and welfare of all our children. 

                                                         The National Curriculum

The National Curriculum is a statutory document, which outlines what must be taught to children of compulsory school age.  It is organised into four key stages.

Subjects

The subjects taught in all Key Stages are:-

Core Subjects:                    English,  Maths,  Science, I.C.T. and R.E.

Foundation Subjects:       History,  Geography,  Technology,  Music,  Art and P.E.

Some subjects are further broken down into different Attainment Targets (AT's), e.g.

English          AT1     Speaking and Listening

AT2     Reading

AT3     Writing

Maths             AT1     Using and Applying

AT2     Number

AT3     Space, Shape and Measure

                        Science         AT1     Scientific Enquiry

                                                AT2     Life processes and living things

                                                AT3     Materials and their properties

                                                AT4     Physical processes

Levels

All the subjects in the National Curriculum are broken down into levels.  These describe the stage in each subject the child is at.  Levels start at 1 and continue to 7 in Key Stage 3.

Key Stage 1

During Infant School the children work on Key Stage 1, starting in Year 1.  The Reception classes have their own curriculum based on the Government's Early Learning Goals for 5 year olds.  This forms a good basis for the National Curriculum.

At the end of Key Stage 1 (the end of Year 2) the children are given a level based on the teacher's assessment of their work supported by their task and test result (for Maths and English).  By the end of Year 2 the average child is expected to achieve Level 2 in each subject.