Elson Infant School Prospectus

Prospectus Welcome letter

Section 1 Useful addresses

Section 2 School Governors

Section 3 School Staff

Section 4 The aims of the School

Section 5 Admission of Pupils

Section 6 Transfer to Junior School

Section 7 Liason with parents

Section 8 School Records

Section 9 Discipline

Prospectus Welcome letter

September 2005
Dear Parents,

I would like to welcome you and your child to Elson Infant School. We aim to make Elson a happy school and the staff work hard to create a secure and caring environment for all the children. We always encourage high standards of work and behaviour and a caring attitude towards others.

We value our links with parents and hope that you will accept out invitations to open evenings and school events. It is by teachers and parents working closely together that children make the best progress and I hope that we shall make your child?s time with us happy and rewarding. Should you have any concern about your child, please do not hesitate to talk it over with your child?s teacher, the Headteacher or myself, as even seemingly trivial problems can prevent a child making progress.

I hope you will find this booklet helpful. It is prepared for the parents of all those children due to come to our school. I trust you will find all the information you require, but if you cannot find the answer to any of your queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,



Mrs R Jakes
Chairman of Governors Back to top

Section 1 Useful addresses

Elson Community Infant School


The Education Department of Hampshire County Council maintains Elson Community Infant School.

Any information that is required from the Education Department should normally be obtained from the Area Schools Improvement Officer whose name, address and telephone number is: -

Mr R Mitchell,
Strategic School Improvement Manager,
Havant Local Office,
River Way,
Havant
PO9 2EL Telephone number - 023 92 498200


The Headquarters of the Education Department are in Winchester and enquiries should be directed to:-

Mr A. Seber,
Director of Education,
Education Department,
The Castle,
Winchester,
Hants
SO23 8UG

Telephone number - 01962 841841

The address for the school is:-

Elson Infant School
Elson Lane
Gosport
Hants
PO12 4EU

Telephone number - 023 92 581208 Back to top

Section 2 School Governors

School Governors

There is an active Governing Body supporting the school. There are 13 Governors in all representing various aspects of the local community.

Mrs R Jakes Chairman Parent Representative

Mrs E Bull Vice Chairman Local Education Authority

Miss N Elson Parent Representative

Mr R Gell Parent Representative

Mrs J Pryce-Jones Parent Representative

Mr M Bailey Community

Mr N Douglas Community

Father Rundell Community

Mr S Spicer Community

Miss A Bradshaw Teacher Representative

Mrs H Townsend Staff representative

Mrs L Borritt Local Education Authority

Mrs L Smees Local Education Authority


Work of the Governing Body

Governors have a general responsibility for the effective management of the school, including such matters as preparing and agreeing policies, overseeing curriculum and financial planning. Governors meet at least twice a term to discuss a wide variety of matters relating to the school, from the progress of children to re-carpeting the classrooms.

Each year Governors are required by law to make a report to parents on how they have carried out their responsibilities during the previous year and how the money was spent. The Annual Report is published in the Autumn term in the form of a newspaper. Following publication, parents are invited to attend the annual meeting where they can discuss the contents of the report and any other matter connected with the work of the Governors at the school. Back to top

Section 3 School Staff

School Staff



Head Teacher Mrs A J MacCallum

Deputy Head Teacher Miss K Barnes

Teachers
Miss A Bradshaw
Miss J Cruikshanks
Mrs R Gamblin
Mrs H Green (Part time)
Mrs S. Hobday
Mrs J McClintock (Part time)
Mrs S McLaren (Part time)
Mrs A Ridley
Mrs S Swateridge
Miss J Triggs

Learning Support and Early Years Assistants are employed to provide additional support in the classrooms: Mrs Barker, Mrs Denholm, Mrs Greenslade, Mrs Hardham, Mrs Mew, Mrs Parsons, Mrs Townsend,
Mrs Wassell, Mrs Wilkins.

Administrative Officer Mrs . Miller
Administrative Assistant Mrs C Edgeworth

Cooks Mrs H Willis & Mrs J Badcock
Caretaker Mrs K Pratt

School Hours

Morning Session 8.50 a.m. - 11.45 a.m.

Afternoon Session 12.55 p.m. - 3.15 p.m.

The office will normally be manned from 8.30 a.m. - 4.00 p.m.

Doors open at 8.40 a.m. and the children come in from the playground. Parents are reminded that children should not arrive in the playground before 8.35 a.m. and
12.30 p.m. - that is 15 minutes before school commences each session. Back to top

Section 4 The aims of the School

The Aims of the School

Elson Infant School is committed to securing the highest quality of learning for all.

We aim to:

* create a secure and happy school environment for children, parents, governors and staff.

* see learning as an enjoyable, purposeful activity, which continues throughout life.

* encourage children to become active, confident, independent learners who are self motivated to do their best.

* set high standards of achievement and value excellence in all things.

* offer all pupils equality of opportunity and access to a full, varied and challenging curriculum in line with statutory requirements.

* provide a flexible organisation and range of resources to allow for children?s individual needs.

* develop personal, moral and spiritual values including respect for others and their beliefs.

* develop respect for and an understanding of the environment.

* develop a wide range of physical skills and an understanding of the needs for a healthy life style.

Revised September 2003 Back to top

Section 5 Admission of Pupils

Admission of pupils

By law, parents do not have to send their child to school until the term following the child's fifth birthday.

However, children may start school at the beginning of the academic year (1st September - 31 August) in which they will attain their fifth birthday.

Subject to the Headteacher's professional judgement of when a child is ready to be admitted, if parents wish to take up this opportunity for early admission:-

* In general, children born between 1st September and 31st December can be admitted to school on a full-time basis by mid September.

* Children born between 1st January and 31st March can be admitted to the school by the end of September and should be attending full-time after the October half term. Their pattern of part time attendance will be morning sessions, 8.50 a.m. - 12.00 a.m.

* Children born between the 1st April and 31st August can be admitted to the school by the end of September and should be attending full-time from December. Their pattern of part time attendance will be afternoons 1.00 p.m. - 3.15 p.m. until the October half term and then mornings (as above) until the end of the Autumn term.

It is expected that before being admitted children will :-

* Be independently toilet trained and usually dry during the day.
* Have some independence in dressing and feeding themselves.
* Be able to communicate their needs.
* Be able to cope with the demands of a school setting.

Before a child is admitted to school, it is necessary to see his/her Birth Certificate. We also require confirmation of parents' home address, e.g. as written on the Child Benefit Book.

The school's admission limit is 90, this gives three classes of 30 pupils as the limit for each year group.

A copy of the full Admissions Policy is contained at the end of the prospectus. Back to top

Section 6 Transfer to Junior School

Transfer to Junior School

Children must be seven years of age on, or before, 31st August to be admitted to the Junior School in September. Junior Schools have only one intake of children per year.

It must be drawn to your attention that children who attend Elson Infant School, but live outside the "catchment area", will not have an automatic right of entry into Elson Community Junior School. Parents of these children should apply for admission to the Junior School, details and closing dates are circulated towards the end of the Autumn term. The Governors of Elson Junior School will make a decision and inform you by the given date.
















Liaison

Playgroups are regularly visited by members of staff as part of our community link. A member of staff will make a ?home visit? to discuss your child and their needs with you before the preliminary visits to school. Children and parents will be invited to take part in an induction programme before commencing Infant School..

New entrants attend part-time at first. A programme, giving details, will be given to new parents when the ?home visit? is made. The programme is designed to allow the children to become familiar with school and the staff . We also give short presentations to parents about the activities and curriculum development covered during first terms at school.

In the Summer Term, prior to transfer to Elson Junior School, children visit their new school and meet their new teachers. Parents are invited to a meeting with the Headteacher and staff.

Close links are maintained with all the Playgroups 'feeding' our school, Elson Junior School, Brune Park Community School and all other primary schools in the area. Back to top

Section 7 Liason with parents

Liaison with Parents

Private interviews, between parents and class teachers, are arranged termly. These interviews enable you to discuss your child's progress and any other problems which may arise. Appointments are arranged between 3.15 and 7.30 p.m. so that working parents may attend and this time also ensures that children are not "listening in". If more convenient, appointments can be arranged at 8.30 a.m. In the week prior to interviews, appointment lists are placed by your child?s room to enable you to sign up at the most convenient time for you.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you feel that I can help you in any way during the term, it is not necessary to wait for an interview evening.

Communication

Parents are invited to attend the various functions organised throughout the year.

Details of these functions and all other items of interest concerning the school are given to parents by way of newsletters. This is our way of communicating with all parents, so please check reading book bags/pockets to ensure letters are not overlooked! Copies of all letters home are displayed in a folder in the entrance hall.

Off site activities

From time to time children may be involved in visits away from the school site. The arrangements for these visits will be in line with Hampshire Education Authority regulations and full details of such visits will be sent to parents in advance.

No charge can be made for such visits but parents will be invited to make a voluntary contribution towards the cost. No child will be excluded from a visit if parents are unable to afford a donation. Visits may have to be cancelled if insufficient donations are made. Back to top

Section 8 School Records

School Records

Hampshire schools keep careful records on the development and progress of each of their pupils. They are "confidential" to the school and to the child's parents or guardians. They will contain factual information about the child e.g. name, date of birth, name of doctor. Teachers will also keep a record of what a child has learned and how they are progressing. These are passed on to the next teacher or school and form an aid to continuity.

Parents may, within the arrangements made by a school, ask to read their child's School Records, but it will probably be most helpful if progress is discussed in a general way with the child's teacher(s), when fuller explanations can be given than it is possible to record on official records.

We also build up a picture of individual achievements by making a "Record of Achievement"
File for each pupil. Entries in these special purple files are seen and discussed with the children and their parents, on a regular basis.

Data Protection Act Basic information about pupils is held on computer to assist with the efficient organisation of the school. Security measures are taken to ensure that the information is kept confidential and is only available to authorised staff. Back to top

Section 9 Discipline

Discipline

We promote a positive attitude towards behaviour in school and reward effort and caring attitudes.

As you will see throughout the booklet, certain rules have been established to ensure the safety of everyone using the school and site and to help the pupils learn consideration and respect for other people and their belongings.

We believe that all children, whatever their age, respond to guidelines and feel more secure when they know the boundaries. All staff, therefore, explain why we behave in certain ways and we use a firm but fair approach with all children. Our aim is to provide a happy school in which children learn through encouragement and praise, they are encouraged to enjoy their work as well as their play and to have a pride in doing their best in all things. We have a ?Special Mentions? reward system designed to emphasise positive attitudes and behaviour. The children receive certificates and have their name printed in the ?Golden Book?

Some children do, at times, lack self-control and are disruptive and aggressive. When these children do not respond to our form of discipline, such as verbal reproof or withdrawal from the playground etc., they are then dealt with by the teacher and if necessary, the Headteacher. Parents will be kept informed of any actions taken. A copy of the full Behaviour Policy is available in school.

Exclusion

While this seldom applies to Infant age children, should it be deemed necessary, the school would work within the guidelines provided by the Local Education Authority. Copies of these may be obtained from the Office.


Complaints Procedure

Details of the complaints procedure relating to the curriculum or any other matter is available from the school office or the Local Education Office Back to top