ProspectusEach child is given every opportunity to

learn, develop and grow.

Bright Futures Educational Trust is dedicated to providing a world-class education for our students, opening up real choices for higher education and employment. We invest in our staff and our schools to boost attainment and aspirations, working together, cross phase, to help students and staff be the best they can be.

John Stephens CEO BFET Gary Handforth Executive Principal Stephen Zlodony Chair of Governors

Welcome Dear Parents/Carers

A very warm welcome to Rushbrook Primary Academy. We hope that this prospectus will provide a snapshot of life at our school.

At Rushbrook Primary Academy we develop a lifelong love of learning in all our children. We are an emotionally literate community where positive relationships provide the framework for all we do. The school community works for the success and happiness of everyone. Our commitment to and belief in emotional education is the foundation for our work in school. Children, parents and staff work together to ensure that all children achieve their full potential. Together we nurture hope, compassion, optimism and self-belief. Our school is a warm and welcoming learning environment – we care for each other. School is a safe, secure and happy place. Creativity, diversity, sensitivity and individual strengths are positively developed and celebrated. We encourage and expect the best from our children in all aspects of school life. We have high expectations of what everyone can achieve. We foster curiosity so that we can find out about the world in which we live. Learning is challenging and mistakes are celebrated as an opportunity to develop and improve our work. We build trust, independence and confidence in all. Our children believe that they can achieve anything they want.

Please get in touch if you would like to come and have a tour of our school. I look forward to welcoming you to Rushbrook Primary Academy.

Miss Hew Ting Yuen

Head of School

Teaching and LearningDeveloping a lifelong love of learning is at the heart of all we do at Rushbrook. We believe that all pupils are entitled to a curriculum which is exciting and engaging. Children are supported in developing their skills across a broad range of subjects. There are also many opportunities for enrichment of the curriculum, including after school clubs and educational visits.

Singapore MathsAs a school we understand the importance of children being able to apply maths skills in different contexts. Singapore Maths allows children to develop the language and reasoning skills required to solve mathematical problems independently. Initially, children use concrete resources to support their learning. They are then taught to represent their thinking pictorially. When ready, they will be able solve problems using abstract thinking alone.

EYFS and MontessoriOur vision at Rushbrook is to support every child in their quest to become the best they can be, through engaging them in our rich learning environment and caring for them with genuine affection. We foster a passion for learning and exploration that will last the children a lifetime, and instil in them moral values which respect the environment as well as people and their cultures. Our children leave us with excellent skills of independence, an ability to engage in meaningful play, and knowledge that they are capable and valuable members of the community.

In the Foundation Stage children have the freedom in a well disciplined environment to choose their own activities from open shelves and they have their own personal space allocated by mats. Children are also guided by our practitioners as we introduce the child to new experiences and materials. With freedom of choice, children become enthusiastic learners aiding them to develop self discipline and independence. Our Montessori environment is child centred. Children progress at their own pace, lessons are given on an individual basis or in small groups. This enables the teacher to discover more about each individual child and their inner development. Children develop best in a caring environment where they are allowed to express themselves and when learning experiences interest them and are part of their world.

“The essence of independence is to be able to do something for one’s self. A child works in order to grow, and is working to create the adult, the person that is to be.’ - Maria Montessori”

BehaviourSchool Rules:

Be Safe We come to school to be safe and to learn.

Be Respectful We respect ourselves and others.

Be Responsible We are responsible for our actions.

Our whole school approach to behaviour is based on School Wide Positive Behaviour Support. The behaviour matrix (see full Behaviour Policy on school website for more details) defines our school rules and makes explicit what this looks like around school. These behaviours are taught, reinforced and consistently applied by all staff. Affirmative language and optimistic messages are used consistently and continually to change negative behaviour. We use affirmative language to teach children what we want them to do, model positive interactions and help develop relationships with pupils.

Pupils who behave appropriately are rewarded while those whose behaviour is inappropriate face a series of clearly established consequences. Teachers recognise, reward and reinforce good behaviour. The ticks and crosses system in every classroom is a visible aid used to teach and reinforce appropriate behaviour. Great emphasis is placed on the element of choice open to all pupils. Pupils choose how they behave and are given clear boundaries and consequences for their actions by all staff. Our school will act promptly and firmly to combat bullying if it should occur.

UniformAt Rushbrook, we believe that our uniform gives all pupils a sense of pride and belonging. We expect all pupils to adhere to the uniform code at all times and to wear appropriate clothing for different activities. Our school uniform consists of:

· Navy school jumper with school logo (available from the school office at a subsided price of £5)

· Emerald or jade green polo shirt (available from the school office or at your local ASDA)

· Black school trousers or skirt (available at ANY local supermarket)

· Green or blue gingham school dress (available at ANY local supermarket)

· Black, grey, green or blue plain tights (available at ANY local supermarket)

· Suitable footwear – preferably black

No jewellery is allowed except pierced studs.

Wear your Rushbrook uniform with pride!

Curriculum Enrichment

The outdoor classroom can be used to bring learning alive for many children and we aim, where possible, to use our grounds and local community resources to inspire and stimulate our children. We have strong links with Manchester

Museum and work closely with them to enrich the learning of pupils at our school. We also visit other places of interest and regularly invite in visitors who deliver workshops that support our children’s learning across the curriculum. You will always be fully informed about any visits planned. Volunteer parents are sometimes invited to accompany their child’s class on a school visit. We hope you’ll be able to join us! All visits are planned with care, taking full account of the LA and government safety recommendations. We also believe strongly in the value of residential experiences as a way of developing children socially and educationally. Year 6 pupils are offered the opportunity to take part in an outdoor education residential. This takes place at Ghyll Head, Windermere, usually in the Spring Term.

Music ProvisionAt Rushbrook Primary Academy pupils in all year groups study music on a weekly basis. Children have the opportunity to extend their skills by learning to play an instrument. We offer lessons in a range of instruments including: brass, keyboards, guitar, ukulele and samba drumming. Children also have the opportunity to join the school choir and enjoy learning a range of songs.

SMSCAt Rushbrook we understand the importance of teaching the whole child. This means that as well as providing a robust academic curriculum, we also support children in developing social and emotional skills which will help them now and in later life. We teach these skills explicitly in a number of ways. Teachers spend at least thirty minutes per week teaching Emotional Literacy and at least 30 minutes per week teaching Religious Education (Y1-6). We also teach Philosophy for Children (P4C), which provides children with an opportunity to raise their own questions about social and moral scenarios. It is now a statutory requirement to promote the fundamental British

Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. This is taught in a weekly assembly and incorporated throughout the curriculum.

School CouncilPupil voice is important to us at Rushbrook Primary Academy. We believe it is important to listen to our pupils and value the contribution they offer towards making decisions about our school. Every year, each class (Y2 to Y6) elects two representatives to the school council who meet fortnightly with a member of staff.

Children discuss and vote on issues important to them and these are then taken to the Leadership Team and decisions are shared back with their classes. School Council have already influenced many elements of school life. Most recently they have helped to promote and improve our Healthy Schools agenda at lunchtimes and they have helped interview prospective staff.

SafeguardingRushbrook Primary Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. We endeavour to provide a safe and nurturing environment where children are respected and valued, free from discrimination or bullying and where children can develop and learn happily. The curriculum is designed to ensure opportunities for children to develop the skills they need to recognise and stay safe from abuse including whilst accessing the internet.

At Rushbrook we recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard all children. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow robust procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice. As a school we identify that safeguarding against radicalisation is no different from safeguarding against any other vulnerability. We insist upon safe provision and effective care to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

Friends of RushbrookThe Friends of Rushbrook, school’s parent and community group, exists to support the life and work of school and is open to all members of the school community. The Friends of Rushbrook provides invaluable support to school, organising many social and fundraising events involving parents/carers and the wider local community. Money raised provides extra resources for our children. The Friends of Rushbrook identifies long and short-term projects for its fundraising. As a new member of our school community we hope you will be able to offer your support to the work of this group.

SENDRushbrook Primary Academy works in partnership with the Local Authority and Bright Futures Educational Trust to meet the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). In accordance with the ‘SEND Code of

Practice 0-25’ we operate an early identification of needs and integrated early help approach. As our SEND Policy and information report states, we aim to identify pupils with SEND at the earliest opportunity, to support both the individual and their parents/carers, and to provide appropriate teaching and learning experiences. We believe in a highly collaborative approach and work with parents/carers, pupils and outside agencies to ensure positive outcomes for all. We have high aspirations for what pupils and their parents/carers can achieve. A graduated approach is at the heart of our whole school practice, as we are continually assessing, planning, implementing and reviewing our approach to teach and support all children, developing resilience, independence and a love of learning.

At Rushbrook we pride ourselves on being able to establish a clear analysis of a child’s needs through teacher assessment and establishing strong relationships with pupils, developing an understanding of the ‘whole child’. Staff are highly trained in managing a wide range of pupil needs, we work closely with a wide range of professionals to ensure that provision builds on pupils’ successes and targets areas where needed. Within school, pupils can access support from Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, our Behaviour Team and SEN learning mentors as well as a comprehensive menu of therapeutic interventions, such Counselling, Art Therapy and Mindfulness, supporting all areas of need. We tailor provision to the individual’s needs and are creative in utilising pupil strengths to achieve outcomes.

School MealsOur school meals provider is Taylor Shaw, a UK based leader in service provision for the education sector.

We provide a wide variety of freshly cooked meals each day which include European dishes as well as Halal and vegetarian. Special diets are also catered for and all meals are cooked in our own school kitchen in line with our Healthy School Policy

Our menus are changed seasonally and theme days are occasionally held throughout the school year when a special menu is created.

The price of our school meals is £2.20 per day,

£11 per week, payable in advance on a Monday morning. For children on packed lunches it is possible to have a school meal on a Friday only if they would like.

Copies of our menus are available at Reception and our School Meals Manager is always willing to speak to parents about school meals. Please look out for her healthy recipes in our weekly newsletters that go home on a Friday!

101 Shillingford Road

Gorton, Manchester,

M18 7TN

Tel: 0161 223 5955 Email: admin@rpa.bfet.uk