Shears Green Infant School - Prospectus 2024

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Welcome to Shears Green Infant School

A very warm welcome to our school. On behalf of all staff we look forward to getting to know you and hope that your child’s journey at Shears Green Infant School is a happy and successful one.

We are a 3-form entry infant school:

• 3 Reception classes

• 3 Year 1 classes

• 3 Year 2 classes

Each class is led by a teacher with the support of Teaching Assistants across each year group. Our Teaching Assistants are trained in Speech and Language, Therapy, Social Skills, Sensory Circuits, Phonics, Reading and Nurture – all of which support our inclusive practice for all children.

In July 2022, we became part of the Hornchurch Academy Trust. This is currently made up of 6 schools:

• Scargill Infants, Scargill Juniors, Upminster Infants, Upminster Juniors, Whybridge Juniors and Shears Green Infants.

We are really pleased to be a part of a nurturing and supportive network, putting children at the centre of all that we do.

We are nestled in Northfleet just 10 minutes away from both Bluewater and Ebbsfleet International. Our site is shared alongside Shears Green Junior School with whom we have a very strong relationship enabling a secure and positive transition to our Year 2s, entering Year 3.

We pride ourselves on our outdoor learning opportunities provided through our amazing forest school where children explore den building, investigate mini beast homes, learn to work collaboratively to create bridges and wicker hideouts and bring their imagination to life.

Our Values Kindness Respect Honesty Curiosity

Vision Statement

At Shears Green Infant School our vision is to create a nurturing, inclusive environment where young minds can flourish and grow.

• We believe that by fostering a love of learning and collaboration, we can empower our pupils to reach their full potential.

• Together, as a community, we will support and guide each child on their educational journey, celebrating their individual growth and achievements.

• Our commitment to growing and learning together ensures that every child receives the care, encouragement, and opportunities they need to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.

EYFS & Starting School

To support you and your child having a successful transition into our school we carry out the following:

• Nursery visits

• School play dates

• School story sessions

• New parents meeting

• Home visits

• A phased transition

Starting a new school is very exciting but can cause some to feel a little nervous. Please support your child in the following ways to help them get ready for their next educational adventure!

• Start talking about school

• Practice important skills;

– saying please and thank you

– sitting at a table to eat

– using cutlery

– getting dressed

– zipping up a coat

• Establish good routines

School Uniform

Uniform allows all pupils, regardless of background, to feel equal to their peers and confident about their appearance. Pupils not only look smart but gain a sense of identity, belonging and pride in their school. This all contributes to a positive learning culture. Uniform items with our logo are not compulsory.

At Shears Green Infant School, we have a clear uniform policy that all children are expected to adhere to. This includes:

• Royal blue jumper/cardigan.

• White polo shirt.

• Grey skirt or grey pinafore dress.

• Black jogging bottoms (reception only).

• Grey or black long trousers –regulation school style.

• Blue and white summer dress.

• Grey or black short trousers –regulation school style.

• Black, white or grey socks/tights.

• Black shoes or black trainer type shoes – no logos.

• PE kits – black plimsolls, black shorts, white t-shirt.

PE Lessons

PE lessons are twice weekly. On PE days, children come to school wearing their PE kit.

Our Curriculum & Learning

Year 1 Phonics:

The phonics screening check is a quick and easy check of your child’s phonics knowledge. It helps your school confirm whether your child has made the expected progress. Year 1 will take the Phonics Screening check during the summer term, usually in June. This includes real and pseudo (nonsense) words. How to support your child:

• You will receive a phonics reading book weekly which will compliment the sounds your child is focusing on.

• Encourage your children to use their sounding out and blending skills when reading phonics focused books as well as reading for pleasure books.

• Read with your child everyday and role model the pleasure that reading brings.

• Discuss words which may be unfamiliar to enhance your child’s vocabulary.

Year 2 Non-Statutory Tests:

At the end of year 2, teachers will use non-statutory tests to help them make accurate judgements of your child’s ability in Reading, Writing and Maths. This is to decide if they are meeting the expected standard for their age group.

Our Curriculum & Learning

Reading

Teachers will guide children in school through using the following:

• Decoding – using phonics to sound out words they haven’t seen written.

• Fluency – this covers being able to read with speed, accuracy and proper expression as well as word recognition and being able to recognise words which cannot be sounded out. These are called high frequency words.

• Vocabulary – exposure to any different words enriches every child’s vocabulary and this is achieved through conversations about books as well as reading a variety of different books.

• Reasoning and background knowledge – helping children make connections between new knowledge and existing knowledge, through open ended questions, encourages children to use their thinking and explaining skills.

Homework

• Working memory and attention – using reading material which is interesting and relevant to children allows them to take in information and hold on to it to make later connections with other experiences.

Children will enjoy developing their reading skills through interaction with big books, bringing characters and scenes to life. They will explore different genres such as poetry, fiction and non-fiction too.

In year 2 the children will be introduced to ‘Accelerated Reader’ where they will be challenged through comprehension questions to explore how much they have understood what they have read.

Our aim is to promote a love of reading with our children.

Children are encouraged to read everyday at home both independently and with an adult.

Children in Year R and Year 1 will have weekly homework challenges to complete.

Year 2 children have basic skills books which revise and embed areas covered in class.

Home-School Agreement

The School will:

• Provide a learning environment where all children feel safe and happy.

• Provide a broad and balanced curriculum which meets the needs of all children.

• Encourage and support good behaviour amongst the children and an awareness of the need to take care of themselves, their friends and their surroundings.

• Inform parents of the planned work to be taught to their children each term.

• Inform parents of their child’s progress at regular meetings and provide an end of year report.

Parents will:

• Make sure their children attend school regularly, arrive on time, are collected on time and make contact with school for reasons of absence.

• Make sure their children wear the correct uniform.

• Encourage good behaviour and support the school behaviour policy.

• Adhere to all Shears Green Infant School and Hornchurch Academy Trust policies as agreed by the Board of Trustees, including zero tolerance on holidays in term time.

• Attend parent evenings and meetings about their children’s progress in school.

• Inform parents of any barriers that are affecting their child’s progress and behaviour and the next steps to be taken.

• Offer support for parents to help their children with learning at home.

• Sustain an open door policy, forming a positive working relationship between home and school.

• Engage with school events and communication.

• Support their children with homework.

• Park sensibly outside of the school and be considerate of the local residents and parking restrictions.

Children will:

• Be ready.

• Be respectful.

• Be safe.

Together we will:

• Ensure the school environment is a safe and healthy one for everyone.

• Help children to remove barriers to learning.

• Support children to develop socially and emotionally as independent learners.