Colmore Junior School

School Prospectus

2015/16

Contents

Page number Section

1 Staff for 2015-2016

2 Ethos & Values

3 4

The Site The Junior School

5 The Curriculum 2015-16

6 7 8

SEND & Equal Opportunities Homework (& the Home School Agreement)

Assessment (& recording & reporting)

9 9 9

School Improvement Plan Extra-Curricular Activities

The Library

10 11

Pastoral Care & Discipline Pupil Voice Group

12 Term Dates 2015-2016

13

14

The School Day

Safety of Children

15 16

Communication Colmore PTA

16 Complaints Procedure

17 Illness, Medicines and Absence

18 18

Child Protection and Safeguarding Pupil Premium (Disadvantaged) Children

19 19 19

School Meals School Uniform Clothing for PE

20 Governing Body

21 Residential Visits 22 Other Documents

23 Appendix i - Use of the Internet Policy

24 Appendix ii - Home School Agreement

26

27

Appendix iii - Charging & Remissions Policy

Appendix iv- Parent and Visitors Code of Conduct

29 Pupil Comments Page

STAFF- 2015-16

Executive Head Teacher: Mr J. Gale

Head of School: Mr A. Bradshaw

Deputy Head: Mr G. Hughes

Assistant Head: Mrs S. Harvey

Lead Teachers: Mrs E. Marshall, Mrs S. Hopwood, Miss R. Bond

Year 3

3CR Mrs Carlton-Gray/ Ms Rucastle (Team Leaders)

3HA Mrs Harvey/ Mrs Ayub

3L Miss Landsborough

3C Mr Cotteril

Year 4

4RM Mrs Roobottom (Team Leader) Mrs McCabe

4H Miss Haddon

4C Miss Chana

4F Mrs Firth

Year 5

5MS Mrs Mallard (Team Leader) Ms Shuker

5D Mr Davies

5T Mr Tipper

5B Miss Bond

Year 6

6H Mrs Hopwood (Team Leader)

6T Miss Towers

6G Miss Grafton

Mrs. Marshall, and Miss Bond will support Year 6 English. Mrs E. Marshall and Mr A. Raine will support Mathematics in Year 6.

Mr A Raine will support Year 3 Maths leading targeted Maths interventions. There will be four members of our creative arts team teaching art, music and dance; Mr G. Hughes, Mrs Baker, Mrs S Sanderson and Mrs E. Marshall. Mrs A. Etheridge (Assistant Head at Colmore Infants- seconded for 0.5 per week) will act as an Inclusion Manager across both schools and Mrs C. Mountford will become our SENCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator)

Office Manger Clerical Assistants HR Manger Bursar Site Manger Learning Mentors Assistant Learning Mentor

Mrs. K. Yates Mrs. O. Sasan Mrs. S. Smith Miss J. Dogaru Mrs. A. Fisher Mr. S. Smith Mrs. L. Knight

Mr A Hughes

Mr C. Thompson

Teaching Assistants Mrs. J. Brown Mrs. W. Butler Mrs. G. Edgington Mrs. J. Hall Ms. L. Thomas Mrs. C. Richardson

Mrs. L. Elsey Mrs. R. Jones

Mrs. J. Kooner

Mrs. A. Hutt

Miss Cottril and Mrs K Khan

Ethos and Values

At Colmore Junior School we aim:

- to provide a safe and stimulating environment where children feel secure and happy in the knowledge that they are supported by a caring partnership between parents, teachers and Governors.

- to encourage the children and adults to take a personal pride in themselves, their behaviour, their

achievements and their school.

- to encourage everyone to value and respect their own and other cultures.

- to promote fairness and high standards of behaviour and discipline, encouraging responsibility, care and respect for others.

Curriculum

- to provide a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum embracing the knowledge and skills laid down

in the National Curriculum.

- to acknowledge and promote the importance of the Arts and Sport in education.

- to establish high standards and continuing progress through schemes of work, team planning, careful researching, systematic recording and assessment of individual progress.

Personal Development

- to enable children to gain the skills to live as independent, self-motivated adults.

- to provide the opportunity for all staff to develop and apply their personal expertise and professional skills.

Environment

- to make effective and appropriate use of the internal and external environment of the school.

We acknowledge the wealth of experience and culture each child brings to the school and aim to ensure equal opportunities by catering for the academic, religious, linguistic, emotional, physical and psychological needs of all the children so that they can realise their full potential.

The Site

The school was built in 1909 and has a rich history. In its time it has been a boy’s school, a mixed junior school with a senior girls department and it has even been a military hospital in the First World War.

The buildings on the site now house the Junior school, the Infant school and the Nursery. In 2012 we celebrated the opening of Jubilee Court, a new addition to the site comprising of a super new hall and four classrooms.

The Colmore schools now have one Executive Head Teacher, but have separate Heads of School and Staff. We work very closely together to provide Colmore children with continuity and progression in their educational experience across Key Stages 1 and 2. In January 2013 the Governing Bodies of the

two schools formally federated. There is now one Governing Body that oversees the work of both Colmore Schools.

The Junior School

Colmore Junior School is a Local Authority Community school. It is situated between Colmore Road, Howard Road and Grove Road and is adjacent to Colmore Infant School.

We are a three/four form entry school with thirteen classes housed in three buildings. We have approximately 450 children on roll between the ages of seven and eleven. Classes are arranged in year groups which correspond to Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6.

The school has been expanded to accommodate a fourth class in Years 3, 4 and 5 from this September 2015.

The admission numbers are set at 90 children in 6 and 120 children in years 3, 4 and 5, although occasionally this number rises due to successful appeals. Most of our children transfer directly to us

from the Infant School. Places are allocated to other families who apply to the school according to the following criteria:

Priority 1: “Looked After” children or “Children in Care”.

Priority 2: Children with a statement of Special Educational Needs and Disability.

Priority 3: If there is already a brother or sister who will be in the Junior or Infant School.

Priority 4: The distance the family lives from the school.

Once the year group is full, applicants are placed in order on a waiting list according to the above

criteria.

Other Facilities

Before and after school care is provided for up to 75 children.

Access to Learning Mentors Leslie Knight, Adam Hughes and Colin Thompson for all kinds of family support.

Weekly “drop-in” session with the school nurse is available on request.

The Curriculum 2015-16 In order to achieve our aims, we feel it is essential to have a well-planned and structured curriculum based on

the programmes of study of the National Curriculum. A revised National Curriculum for Primary Schools has been developed and will be implemented this year. Our School website: www.colmorej.co.uk has a section dedicated to advertising the content of our new curriculum and if you want to get a head start on learning about topics

then this is an ideal place to look. The subjects we teach are:

Core Subjects English Mathematics Science Religious Education

Foundation subjects History Geography Computing

Design Technology Music Art French

Physical Education

We also teach Personal, Social & Health Education (PSHE) and Citizenship. A variety of cross-curricular issues are addressed which include Growth and Relationship Education, Equal Opportunities and Cultural Issues. From

September 2015 we will launch Welfare, Well-being and Enterprise sessions to tackle issues facing our young people today.

What’s New?

English

Stronger emphasis on vocabulary development, grammar, punctuation and spelling (for example, the use of commas and

apostrophes will be taught in KS1)

Handwriting – not currently assessed under the national curriculum – is expected to be fluent, legible and speedy

Spoken English has a greater emphasis, with children to be taught debating and presenting skills

Maths

Five-year-olds will be expected to learn to count up to 100 (compared to 20 under the current curriculum) and learn number

bonds to 20 (currently up to 10)

Simple fractions (1/4 and 1/2) will be taught from KS1, and by the end of primary school, children should be able to convert

decimal fractions to simple fractions (e.g. 0.375 = 3/8)

By the age of nine, children will be expected to know times tables up to 12x12 (currently 10x10 by the end of primary school)

Calculators will not be introduced until near the end of KS2, to encourage mental arithmetic

Science

Strong focus on scientific knowledge and language, rather than understanding the nature and methods of science in abstract

terms

Evolution will be taught in primary schools for the first time

Non-core subjects like caring for animals will be replaced by topics like the human circulatory system

D.T

Afforded greater importance under the new curriculum, setting children on the path to becoming the designers and engineers of

the future. More sophisticated use of design equipment such as electronics and robotics

In KS2, children will learn about how key events and individuals in design and technology have shaped the world

ICT

Computing replaces Information and Communication Technology (ICT), with a greater focus on programming rather than on

operating programs

From age five, children will learn to write and test simple programs, and to organise, store and retrieve data

From seven, they will be taught to understand computer networks, including the internet

Internet safety – currently only taught from 11-16 – will be taught in primary schools

Languages

Currently not statutory, a modern foreign language or ancient language (Latin or Greek) will be mandatory in KS2

Children will be expected to master basic grammar and accurate pronunciation and to converse, present, read and write in the

language

SEND Equal Opportunities

Provision for Special Education and Disability is made through a whole school approach. We have a designated teacher who is responsible for all aspects of inclusion. As the Special Educational Needs Co-

ordinator (SENCO) she works closely with learning support assistants, class teachers, children and parents. There are ten teaching assistants who support staff in literacy and in the lower maths set in each year group and work with children individually or in small groups on their Individual Education Plan (IEP). We use the staged process in line with the Code of Practice which follow the guidelines set out in the Local Education Authority’s Special Educational Needs Handbook. This Year there is a new code of practice and the Colmore Provision is advertised on the school website: www.colmorej.co.uk

This contains all essential information and links to the Birmingham Local Offer that has also been

launched in 2014-15.

If a child is experiencing consistent learning or behavioural difficulties and it has been decided to place

them on the Code of Practice, an Individual or Group Educational Plan will be written for them and parents will be informed by letter. Parents will also be invited to attend reviews. Parental support will always be sought if it is felt necessary for a child to receive support from one of the teams under Access to Education. This is likely to involve a specialist teacher from one of the Support Services assessing a child and providing the school with strategies to improve progress. The final stage of the code is when a child has been given a Statement of Special Educational Needs provision. Parental consent and opinions is sought before this takes place.

In accordance with government recommendations the organisation and provision for Special Educational Needs and Disability is currently under review.

Equal Opportunities

The school endorses an equal opportunities policy that encourages children to develop an awareness

of their responsibilities towards not only themselves and their families and friends, but also towards their peers, the community and society in general. It seeks to create a climate within school that denies

racism or sexism and also attempts, as much as possible, to diminish the possibility of such prejudices touching upon children’s out-of-school attitudes.

Homework

Our homework policy aims to provide children with homework opportunities that are relevant, creative, fun, interesting, realistic and appropriate. In line with government guidelines our recommended homework allocation is:-

Years 3 and 4 1.5 hours per week

Years 5 and 6 2.5 hours per week

Children are encouraged to complete homework tasks and the school provides a range of prizes and

rewards for doing so.

An information leaflet outlining our homework philosophy and guidelines is given to all Year 3 children on entering the juniors and is available from the School Office on request.

Homework is available from the school website: www.colmorej.co.uk and will be posted weekly

Assessment and Reporting

Since 2014-15, school have been asked to implement their own assessment and reporting systems that no longer report on levels or sub-levels but focus upon achievement measured again Year group specific content and skills. The system will measure whether the children have grasped concepts at an Emerging, Expected or Exceeding level. There will be a requirement for 85% of the children to be at an Expected level by the end of the year and End of Key Stage tests from 2015-16 will measure pupils against the new set of Year 6 content and skills.

We intend to run a parallel system to our existing one for the Autumn term to provide teachers with a starting point for all children. During this term we will be trialling a new system that we have supported Access for Education Service in designing which compliments the governments’ expectations of how assessment and reporting systems should operate.

What we have always done… (2014-15 Prospectus)

“When the children join us in year 3 we receive the results of the End of Key Stage 1 Tests in English and Maths and any teacher assessments that have been carried out in the Infant School. Additionally, our own baseline assessments are carried out for phonics (reading and spelling), writing and reading ages.

The school has a rigorous and comprehensive assessment system where progress and achievement is

monitored and evaluated on a regular basis. All children have half-termly assessment tasks for science, numeracy and English.

During the Summer term test week, all children sit standardised tests set by QCA. In the summer term parents receive an annual report providing information regarding their children's progress in relation to national standards. In year 6 children sit the formal Key Stage 2 SAT's tests in English and maths. These results, along with teacher assessment levels, are reported to parents and passed onto secondary schools.”

This year, 2015-16, there will be a new format to the End of Key Stage Tests (Year 6) that will measure whether the children are leaving Colmore “Secondary Ready”. There will be three parent consultation sessions for you to attend and we encourage you to speak to us at any stage during the year should problems occur.

School Improvement Plan

Each year every school is asked to produce a School Improvement Plan. This is an important document that covers aspects of teaching and learning and improvement in all areas of school life. If you have any suggestions please feel welcome to share your ideas with us. The school has a policy for most aspects of school life including every curriculum area and for Special Educational Needs, Equal Opportunities, Homework, Assessment, Recording and Reporting.

Extra-curricular Activities

There is a strong tradition of successful extra-curricular activities at Colmore Junior School particularly in the sports and arts:

Sports Activities include football, cross country, netball and short tennis. Our school teams in football, cricket and cross country running enjoy competing against children from other local schools in league games and competitions and also have the opportunity to take part in local festivals. We are fortunate to have

professional support with coaching activities including staff from Aston Villa.

Dance Dance is also now delivered by a trained dance specialist on our staff. Classes are available to all pupils across the school and dance performances take place on a regular basis.

Music Colmore offers a variety of extra-curricular activities, including the choir and the school orchestra, which run at lunch times and after school. Many of our musicians become members of local city orchestras and ensembles.

Friendship Clubs Our Learning Mentor leads three after school clubs with a focus on developing social skills where children learn to garden, sew, cook and have fun.

Gardening Club Through the Health for Life programme we obtained a grant to develop our school allotment. This is

tended by children in the gardening club who grow a wide variety of delicious vegetables.

Code Club Led by one of our parents, older children are able to learn how to write their own computer programmes.

Library

We have a super new library in our new flexible learning space which is in the old hall in the main Junior building. All children are automatically members of Colmore Junior School library on joining the school. We have a range of fiction and non-fiction books which are available for loan, as well as some reference materials.

Librarians are chosen from each class ensuring that there should always be a friendly face to meet them in the library.

Pastoral Care and Discipline

We believe that children learn best when they feel safe, secure and cared for. At Colmore we have a behaviour policy, which encourages and rewards positive behaviour.

All the staff, teaching and non-teaching, are responsible for pastoral care. The school seeks to create a positive caring atmosphere where moral and spiritual values are developed. Children are taught the value of good manners and respect and are made especially aware of the needs of others. To encourage

these values and attitudes a “House System” has been adopted which aims to direct the children’s energies into meaningful challenges. Achievements of all kinds are recognised and celebrated in our whole school assembly once a week.

The school seeks to maintain a quiet, firm and fair approach to discipline encouraging children towards the acquisition of self-discipline, personal responsibility, independence and respect for others. We adopt the disciplinary policy of the Birmingham Local Authority and the use of corporal punishment is not permitted. Where children display anti-social or uncooperative behaviour, strategies involving “loss of privilege” or “taking time out” are adopted. There are no after- school detentions.

Bullying, either physical or verbal, and in particular, “name calling” is not tolerated. Incidents of bullying should be reported to either the year co-ordinator, Deputy Head teacher, Assistant Head teacher or the

Head of School so that they may be dealt with immediately.

Parents will be informed if there is concern about their child’s behaviour so that we may work together to effect an improvement. This is in line with the School’s Behaviour Management Policy.

Pupil Voice Group

At Colmore Junior School we have successfully established a school council. Every class elects a representative to attend scheduled meetings with the link tutor Miss Grafton, thereby giving the children a voice in school matters.

The school council elect their own chair and secretary and all class representatives have genuine input into decisions and can raise issues that concern them or their fellow pupils. They play an active role in suggesting and organising charity events, lead assemblies and run a Pupil Voice Blog on the school website. A photo wall is positioned outside of the Head of School’s Office so the children know who to go to

should they wish to voice an opinion. They also wear badges to reflect their positions.

Term Dates 2015-16 (Training Days)

School Year 2015 - 2016

Autumn Term 2015

Training Days: 3 and 4 September 2015 (1 &2) Term Starts: Monday 7 Sept 2015

Training Day: 12 October (3) Half Term: Monday 26 October 2015 – Friday 30 October 2015

Term Ends: Friday 18 December 2015

Spring Term 2016

Training Day: 4 January 2016 (4) Term Starts: Tuesday 5 January 2016

Training Day 12 February 2016 (5) Half Term: Monday 15 February 2016 – Friday 19 February 2016

Term Ends: Thursday 24 March 2016

Summer Term 2016

Term Starts: Monday 11 April 2016 Half Term: Monday 30 May 2016 – Friday 3 June 2016

Term Ends: Friday 22 July 2016

School will also be closed to pupils on May Bank Holiday and a forced closure will be in place if the school is used for the Local Election 2016 (proposed as 5th May 2015 STC)

The School Day

Morning 9.00 am - 12.30pm

Afternoon 1.30 pm - 3.15pm

The bell is rung at two minutes to 9.00am to ensure a prompt start to the day.

There is a 15 minute playtime break in the morning between 10.30am and 10.45am but no break in the afternoon. An average of 4 hours 45 minutes will be spent each day on lessons.

We break for dinner at 12.30pm and resume school for the afternoon at 1.30pm.

We expect all children to be brought or sent to school on time. Punctuality is valued as a good habit. Arriving late is unsettling for your child and disruptive for their class. We also urge parents who are collecting their child to be on time. Although there is not a teacher on duty in the playground before the bell is rung in the morning, members of staff are always available to respond to a situation and Teaching Assistants are timetabled to be on hand. Parents should be aware there is no official supervision for play in the playground or football area before school begins and after school ends.

Safety of the Children

In the interest of safety, all our children are encouraged to make their way home with the aid of the crossing wardens at Colmore/Howard Road and Tenbury/Grove Road - even when accompanied by parents.

The school is responsible for children during school hours. Therefore no child will be sent home unescorted during school hours unless specific arrangements have been made with one of the parents.

Parents are requested not to park their cars on the zigzag lines outside the school gates. To do so may endanger the life of a child.

Parents are also asked not to use the school car park when picking up or dropping off children as it is dangerous for pedestrians on the school site. Please note the car park of the Red Lion pub is available for use before and after school.

Parents or responsible adults may collect children from school in an emergency - but must sign the “Signing Out” book in the school office.

Parents will be notified in writing of any foreseeable variation in the school hours. Verbal messages will not be sent via children.

Should a sudden emergency arise such as a breakdown in the heating system, every effort will be made to contact parents so that arrangements can be made for the children to go home. On such occasions any help which parents can give in passing on messages is very much appreciated. Any children for

whom arrangements cannot be made will be looked after at school until the end of the session.

The school gates in Colmore Road will be locked during the school day and now operate on an electronically operated system. CCTV cameras are in operation covering the other two main entrances to the site and other vulnerable areas of the school. This is monitored throughout the day.

Communication

Colmore Junior School is an open school and you are welcome to ask about and discuss your child’s progress. It is in everyone’s interest- especially the children’s- that school and home work in

partnership together. Parents should therefore feel free to contact the school whenever any concerns arise. The Head of School is available to speak to parents at any time, providing he is free and you may always telephone for an appointment.

With the exception of brief messages or requests, class teachers should, if possible, be seen by appointment. It is particularly requested that parents try not to visit teachers in the classroom during actual school hours, including in the morning when the bell has gone and the teacher is trying to make a prompt start to the lesson. At these times enquires or concerns should be made via the school office

staff, who will ensure that matters are dealt with promptly. Parents will be contacted by the school should there be cause for concern about any aspect of a child’s education.

There are three formal parental consultation sessions during the year. In the Autumn and Spring Terms

the focus is on discussing your child’s progress and achievement. In the Summer term you have the opportunity to discuss your child’s report and celebrate the work they have achieved during the course of the year.

A school newsletter is sent home every week; to keep you informed of school matters and will include a list of diary dates detailing forthcoming activities and events. The newsletter is also available via the school website: www.colmorej.co.uk

On the website there is a comprehensive guide to our school and class blogs, providing parents with an up-to-date insight in to what is happening in the classroom!

Families who are choosing a new school for their child may make an appointment to look round during the course of a normal school day.

We want you all to feel welcome when you come into school. It is so important that we work in partnership together in the interest of the children. Please feel free to contact us whenever concerns arise. But, if you have a complaint, the next page tells you what to do.

Colmore’s PTA

The school shares a very active parent’s association with the Infant School.

There are regular social functions for adults, as well as fund raising events such as the Summer and

Christmas Fair. Donations are regularly made to both schools to help with the resourcing of curricular areas.

If you are interested in supporting Colmore PTA in their ventures, please contact the school office or you can email: colmorepta@gmail.com or look on the website: www.colmorepta.org.uk

Complaints Procedure

Illness Medicines and Absence

Children who are unwell should not be sent to school. The school cannot automatically undertake the administering of medicines to children. In line with Birmingham LA guidance we would like to remind

you that it should be the exception rather than the rule for medicines to be brought to school at all. Parents are advised to request that GP’s be asked to prescribe in a way that avoids the need for medicines to be taken onto school premises - this is often possible. In exceptional circumstances a request to the Head of School for the administration of medicines will be considered on an individual basis. In such an event the following procedure should be followed:

Medicines should be brought into school by a parent/guardian, not the child, in the original container from the pharmacy and clearly labelled with:

Child’s name of medicine, How much to

give (i.e. dose)

When to be given measuring utensil any other instructions, e.g. whether

refrigeration is required

Whenever possible, please ensure a minimum dosage is all that comes to school and any changes in medicines are given in writing. Where children are asthmatic, the inhalers must be the responsibility of the child and kept with them at all times, on and off site. Parents who send a child to school with medicines without the agreement of the Head of School should be aware that the school cannot take responsibility for that medication or its administration. The Management of Oral or Inhaled Medicine Policy is available from the Office.

Parents will be informed whenever possible should a child become unwell at school. It is the duty of

parents to make arrangements for collecting children and to take them home or to the doctor or

hospital. To this end it is vital to have not only the pupil’s home telephone numbers, but parents work numbers and other emergency numbers such as a close relative. This will be provided by completing a contact form for your child. Please make sure that the contact form for your child is kept up to date. We feel that everyone with a child here would wish to know that a concern for the welfare of all our

children will always be our first priority.

Following recent legislation, schools are now required to publish figures for unauthorised absences. An unauthorised absence is one for which no explanation from the parent or guardian has been provided. If your child is absent please: - telephone the school on the first day of absence - send a note in with your child on their return detailing the reason for absence

In line with Government Legislation, published below is information relating to pupil attendance for the previous academic year 2014-15:

Number of days pupils on roll for at least one session - 365

Overall percentage - 97.17%

% half days missed (authorised absence) - 2.56%

% half days missed (unauthorised absence) - 0.27%

Over the past several years we have worked hard to improve our attendance rate. We have developed a variety of strategies to support this including attendance certificates and contacting parents on the first day of absence if a child is absent. In 2013-14 we achieved a total attendance percentage in excess of 97.37%.

Child Protection and Safeguarding

All schools and parents have a role to play in ensuring that children are properly protected. If we have any concerns about a child’s safety or welfare, arising from observations, unexplained or unusual behaviour or disclosures we are legally obliged to pass our concerns, in absolute confidence, to one of the statutory agencies such as Social Care.

This could lead to a more formal investigation of these concerns, but at all stages it would be conducted with confidentiality and parents would be notified and involved directly by the statutory agency.

From April 2014 Schools have been working to work together with other agencies to safeguard all

children. There is a comprehensive document available at www.gov.uk entitled Working Together to Keep Children Safe (updated in 2015) which all schools now adhere to. This is available at School should

you wish to read it. All professional are required to be familiar with section one of the DFES document “Keeping Children Safe in Education” March 2015.

Schools are required to consider the wider implications of safeguarding their pupils. Preventing

radicalisation and extremism, domestic violence, female genital mutilation, poor attendance etc are now but a few areas that schools are now expected to monitor and report upon. At Colmore we are committed to doing as much as we can to ensure that members of our community can live free from harm and our curriculum now actively tackles (in a sensitive and age appropriate way) such issues, seeking to empower our children with the skills to keep themselves safe and report abuse.

Pupil Premium (Disadvantaged Children)

The school receives an amount of money called the Pupil Premium for children who:

- are entitled to free school meals (FSM) or have been in the last 6 year or are a Looked After Child (LAC) or have a parent who

is a member of the Armed Forces.

It is really important that you let us know if your child falls into any of these categories. Please note they don’t actually need to be taking advantage of having/eating free school meals to qualify! At Colmore we spend our Pupil Premium on:

- extra teaching staff extra support staff

- 1:1 tuition resources for Friendship Clubs extra-curricular activities.

Again, there is a comprehensive expenditure plan and impact statement available on the school website.

School Meals

Dinner money should be brought into school on the first day of the school week. It should be brought in an envelope with the child’s name, class number and class letter clearly marked on it. Parents wishing

to pay by cheque should make it payable to ‘Colmore Junior School’ and write their child’s name, class and their bank card number on the reverse of the cheque. Parents may pay monthly or termly in advance, if they so wish. Application forms for free meals may be obtained from the School Secretary. Do make sure you claim for free school meals if you are entitled. Please enquire if you are unsure. Unless specific requests are received from parents, it will be assumed that children who have been having a school meal or packed lunch in the Infant School, will continue in the same way

when they transfer to the Junior School.

If parents wish their children to change to or from a packed lunch during the school year, we request that you give half a term’s notice.

School Uniform

In consultation with the Governing Body, we aim to encourage all children to wear school uniform of a

royal blue top (sweatshirts, jumpers or cardigans) with grey or black bottoms. During hot weather children may wear shorts, t-shirts, summer dresses, skirts or trousers in blue/ white/black. Sweatshirts and t-shirts with the school badge and matching jogging bottoms are available from local suppliers and through mail order, at

a reasonable price. Please ask at the School Office for details. For safety reasons, children should wear flat sensible footwear. If trainers are worn they must be laced up and tied in the correct

manner. It is of course most important that children’s clothing, which may be taken off during the day, is clearly marked. This particularly applies to outdoor clothes and PE kit which are often mislaid by children. Watches should also have a name or initials marked on them for identification.

For safety reasons children are not allowed to wear jewellery at school except stud earrings in ear lobes. Other body piercings are not allowed. The children should have shorts, t-shirt or leotard and pumps for Physical Education and a pump bag to keep them in. We are encouraging the use of yellow t-shirts and navy shorts if possible for team games. Trainers are not considered safe for apparatus work, but may be worn for outside games.

.

Clothing for PE

The children should have shorts, t-shirt or leotard and pumps for Physical Education and a pump bag to keep them in. We are encouraging the use of yellow t-shirts and navy shorts if possible for team games. Trainers are not considered safe for apparatus work, but may be worn for outside games.

Governing Body

The new federated Governing Body of the Colmore Schools is made up of parent governors, Local Authority representatives, staff representatives, and co-opted governors.

The Governors

Lorne Pearcey: Chair (co-opted governor & parent)

Siobhan Jones: Vice Chair, Safeguarding Governor (co-opted governor & parent)

Gareth Iley: Vice Chair (elected parent governor)

Gill Hughes: (elected parent governor)

James Marsh: (co-opted governor & parent)

Paul Mason: (co-opted governor & parent)

Hamayoon Sultan: (co-opted governor)

Fiona Collard: (Local Authority governor)

Viv Randall: Executive Headteacher

Cheryl Millard: Executive Headteacher

Giles Hughes: (staff governor)

Carol Fox : (staff governor)

Simon Smith: (non-teaching staff governor)

Ruth Whiston: (non-teaching staff governor)

What does the Governing Body do?

The Governing Body works in partnership with the school. It oversees and approves such policies as special needs, charging for school trips, sex education and Home School Agreements. It is responsible

for ensuring the National Curriculum is taught and monitored.

The Governing Body works with the executive head teachers to determine how the school budget should be spent. This is linked to the School Improvement Plan. Under Local Management of Schools, schools have control of their own budget.

The Governing Body is responsible for running the school within that budget which includes spending on salaries, educational resources, services and building maintenance.

If you are interested in becoming a governor now, or at any time in the future please contact the executive head teachers or Chair of Governors for further details.

Partnership

The Governing Body provides a voice for the school to support its aims and to educate our children to their full potential. We need parental support to do this effectively. Parents, governors and the school working together present a formidable force to protect and improve the educational standards our children deserve.

Residential Visits

Every year we hope to provide the opportunity for the children to go on a residential visit to a PGL

activity centre. They are able to engage in a wide variety of activities including archery, orienteering, abseiling, canoeing and sailing.

The venue for PGL activities in recent years has been at different centres in this country.

We are required to remind parents that the school is insured to meet any claims should it be held responsible for causing any injury to your child whilst in our care.

However, we have no additional insurance in respect of loss or damage to property or to cover personal accident either within the school boundaries or outside e.g. educational visits or sporting activities, and should you be concerned about this area of risk you are advised to make your own personal

arrangements.

All PGL activities are fully insured.

Please note, mobile phones are not allowed in school. Children may use the office telephone for emergency calls and parents can if absolutely necessary, ask to leave a mobile phone in the school office for safe keeping during the day.

Children are strongly discouraged from bringing expensive toys to school as unfortunately we cannot

accept responsibility for their safety.

Other Documentation

The following documents are posted on the school website and are available in school for parents to see at all reasonable times:

1. School Policies

For a complete list please contact the school office for a copy of the Publications Scheme

2. Current Curriculum Booklets and statements of intent (all published on the Website)

3. The OFSTED Report

4. The RAISE-online Report

(A report comparing our End of Key stage test results with National results and other similar schools)

5. Statutory Orders, circulars and administrative memorandum relating to the curriculum which have been sent to school by the Department of Education and Science

6. A copy of the Arrangements for the Consideration of Complaints about the School

Curriculum

A wealth of information can be found on the school website: www.colmorej.co.uk

Colmore Junior School Use of the Internet Policy

The school has installed computers with Internet access to help our learning. These rules will help keep us safe and help us to be fair to others.

Using the computers :

• I will only access the computer system with the login and password I have been given;

• I will not access other people’s files;

• I will not bring in floppy disks or CD’s from outside school and try to use them on the school computers.

Using the Internet :

• I will ask permission from a teacher before using the Internet;

• I will report any unpleasant material to my teacher immediately because this will help protect other pupils and myself;

• I understand that the school may check my computer files and may monitor the Internet sites I visit;

• I will not complete and send forms without permission from my teacher;

• I will not give my full name, my home address, home e-mail address or telephone number when completing forms.

Using e-mail :

• I will ask permission from a teacher before checking the e-mail;

• I will immediately report any unpleasant messages sent to me because this would help protect other pupils and myself;

• I understand that e-mail messages I receive or send may be read by others;

• The messages I sent will be polite and responsible;

• I will only e-mail people I know , or my teacher has approved;

• I will only send an e-mail when it has been checked by a teacher;

• I will not give my full name, my home address or telephone number .

Signed ............................................... Parent ................................................ Pupil

Dated ................................................

Colmore Junior School Home School Agreement

As a School we shall :

• Encourage your child to do their best at all times;

• Encourage your child to take care of their surroundings and respect others feelings and property;

• Let parents know about any concerns or problems that affect their child’s work or behaviour;

• Set homework tasks in line with the Homework Policy which will be marked and monitored;

• Set clear targets for improvement;

• Arrange a parents evening each term, during which progress will be discussed;

• Keep parents informed about school activities and dates through regular newsletters;

• Review safety policies on a regular basis;

• Provide a broad balanced curriculum, with opportunities to take part in trips, arts, musical events and extra-curricular activities.

• Address issues of concern with regard to equal opportunities, bullying, racism and other forms of anti-social behaviour.

As Parents/Carers, we shall :

• Ensure that our child goes to school regularly, and is properly equipped;

• Contact the school office on the first day of any absence and follow up with a written note explaining the reason for non-attendance on the child’s return to school;

• Encourage punctual attendance for the morning bell at 8.55 a.m. and the start of lessons at 9.00 a.m.

• Let the school know about any concerns or problems that might affect our child’s work or behaviour;

• Support the school’s policies and guidelines for behaviour and equal opportunities;

• Support our child in homework and other opportunities for home learning;

• Try to attend parents evenings, information meetings and discussions about our child’s progress;

• Encourage our child to respect other people’s views, cultures and racial identity;

• Inform the school of any change of address, contact numbers or other relevant details;

• Support the schools uniform policy;

• Comply with safety initiatives introduced by the school.

T ogether we shall :

• Support any special need your child may have;

• Encourage your child to respect and keep the school rules, be helpful, polite, honest and caring;

• Support each child’s learning to help them achieve their best.

As a pupil I shall:

• Tr y to always be helpful, polite, honest and caring;

• T ake good care of the equipment and building;

• Know the school rules and playground rules;

• Always tr y to complete any homework;

• Agree to wear school uniform ever y school day;

• Help my parents to keep to the agreement.

Signed ................................................................................... Parent

Signed ................................................................................... Parent

Signed ................................................................................... T eacher

Signed ................................................................................... Pupil

Child’s name ...................................................................... Class ..........................

Date ..................................................................................

Colmore Junior School Charging & Remissions Policy

A. Educational V isits

1. This statement of policy has been drawn up in the light of the Education Reform Act 1988, together with DES circular number 2/89 and LEA circular dated 27th February

2. The Governors rule that ALL activities and visits promoted by the schools that require funding can only take place if parents are willing to support the activity or visit by voluntary which cover the cost.

3. If suf ficient support is shown, the Governors permit the Head teachers to proceed, provided NO child is precluded from taking part because of financial inability to pay . The Governors advise the Head teachers, however , that the costs of all visits and activities should be met by the voluntar y contributions, or other means at the disposal of the school.

4. It is the Governors’ policy that where any school visit or other school activity is arranged out of school hours a charge may be made to meet the forecast expenses involved, shared proportionately between the parents of the children taking part.

In appropriate cases, at the discretion of the Headteacher , the charge may be remitted in whole or in part, from school or other funds.

B. Damage to School Property

Governors will require parents to reimburse the schools for any damage or loss of school property resulting from pupil’s behaviour .

The operation of this Policy will be kept under review by the Head teachers who are asked to report to the Governors from time to time as appropriate.

Colmore Infant & Nursery School

and

Colmore Junior School

Parent/Carer and Visitor Code of Conduct

At the Colmore schools we are fortunate to have a very supportive, caring and engaged parent body. We

recognise that educating children is a process that flourishes when it involves a committed partnership

between parents, class teachers, support staff, the leadership team and all of the wider school community.

We understand the importance of these good working relationships to equip children with the necessary

skills for adulthood. For these reasons we welcome and encourage parents/carers to participate fully in the

life of our school. The purpose of this policy is to provide a reminder to all parents, carers and visitors to

our school about expected conduct. This is so we can work together to ensure our children flourish,

progress and achieve in an atmosphere of mutual understanding within a safe and positive school

environment.

RESPECT AND CONCERN FOR OTHERS

As well as following the guidance set out in our Home-School Agreement, we expect parents, carers and

visitors to show respect and concern for others and in particular :

- Value and respect the caring ethos of our school.

-Understand that staff and parents need to work together for the benefit of their children.

- Demonstrate that all members of the school community should be treated with respect by setting a good

example in their own speech and behaviour particularly, but not only, when on school premises.

- Seek to clarify and balance a child’s version of events with that of the school in order to bring about a fair

solution and resolve to any issue.

- Be pro-active in correcting their child’s behaviour especially in public where it could lead to conflict,

aggressive or unsafe behaviour.

- Approach the school to help resolve any issues of concern in order to bring about a positive solution.

- Any concerns you may have about school should be made by speaking or writing to the appropriate

person. This is the class teacher in the first instance, followed by a member of the senior leadership team.

If not satisfied, a formal letter of complaint should be sent to the Chair of Governors. This will ensure that

issues can be dealt with fairly, safely and effectively for all concerned.

In order to support a peaceful and safe school environment the school cannot tolerate parents, carers

and visitors exhibiting the following:

- Disruptive behaviour that interferes with the operation of a classroom, the office or any other area of

the school.

- Using a raised voice, offensive language or displaying temper.

- Verbally threatening a member of school staff, governor, visitor, parent/carer or pupil under any

circumstances.

- The use or threat of physical aggression towards another adult or child.

- Abusive, threatening, malicious or inflammatory e-mails, text/voicemail/phone messages or other

written communication.

- Using any form of social media to post offensive or derogatory comments regarding the school or any

of the pupils, parents or staff. Any attempt to publicly humiliate another through an inappropriate social

network entry is unacceptable and clearly not in the best interests of the children or the whole school

community.

- Approaching someone else’s child in order to discuss or chastise them as a result of an issue with their

own child. Such an approach may be seen as an assault and may have legal consequences.

- Damaging school property.

- Smoking and/or the consumption of alcohol or other drugs, or being under the influence of drink or

drugs whilst on school property.

- Bringing dogs (other than guide/assistance dogs) on to school premises.

Should any of the above behaviour occur the school may contact the appropriate authorities and if

necessary, ban the offending adult from entering the school grounds. Legal action may be taken. In the

event of any pupil, parent, carer or member of staff from the Colmore schools found to be posting

libellous or defamatory comments on social network sites, they will be reported to the appropriate

'report abuse' section of the network site.

Agreed by Full Governing Body April 2014 and reviewed April 2015

Pupil Comments

“I think it’s good that we have water bottles in the classrooms and water fountains in the playground.”

“I think we are lucky in this school because we have a fantastic computing suite and the pupils in this

school are superb.”

“I also think the staff at Colmore are very nice but also very professional.”

“All the school dinners are home made.”

“We get to go on lots of school trips.”

“We get to do lots of sports and activities such as hockey, football, cricket and tennis.”

“There are so many wonderful displays outside and inside the classrooms!”

“There are really friendly teachers, dinner ladies, head teacher, deputy head teachers and children at

Colmore Junior.”

“Colmore has many different varieties of books suitable for all different levels for children to read.”

“Colmore has a positive environment for learning.”

“A good thing about Colmore is that the people around you are friendly and kind to you.”

“Some schools make lessons boring but in this school they make them really fun.”

“All the teachers are really kind and nice to you.”

“All the classes have interactive white boards which add to the easy ways of learning.”

“Colmore has a wide range of computers.”

“Because the teachers are very good, Colmore’s staff lets the pupils go on trips.”

“The classrooms are bright and colourful.”

“Nobody is lonely in this school.”

“Jubilee Court is the name of our new building which is very modern and has a big hall.”

“We also have a fabulous new astro-turf pitch we can play football and games on in PE lessons, at dinner

times and clubs before and after school.”

“I think at Colmore the pupils and staff get along with each other and are kind and friendly.”

“We also have access to a large playing field that is great for PE and sports day.”

“There is nobody without a friend in our school.”