Willowdown prospectus

Willowdown Primary Academy and Nursery

Prospectus

Happy Children, Successful Learners, Confident Individuals

Success 2

Welcome from the Principal Welcome and thank you for your interest in Willowdown Primary Academy and Nursery, located in the Kings Down area of Bridgwater. Our Academy is sponsored by The Collaborative Academies Trust (CAT) and is part of a growing family of schools in Somerset who work with, and learn from, each other. At Willowdown we work with our pupils’ families to ensure we develop happy children, successful learners and confident individuals who are prepared and motivated to learn as they move through their lives.

Enjoyment

We will ensure our pupils leave the Academy with competence in basic skills, embedded values and an understanding of the wider world. They will also leave us with a set of personal skills and capacities as well as developing interest, knowledge and understanding across all curriculum subjects. Learning at Willowdown is exciting, interesting and enjoyable for our children. Pupils are fully involved in their learning and we want them to share in the high expectations we have of them.

English and mathematical skills will have a high profile across the curriculum and will be supported by the most up-to-date ICT equipment.

We know that choosing a school for your child is a big decision. If you would like to discuss the opportunities at Willowdown for your child please do not hesitate to get in touch. I look forward to welcoming you to Willowdown Primary Academy and working with you as we move towards an outstanding future for your child.

Nick Riddiough Principal Designate

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Welcome from the Academy Sponsor Welcome to Willowdown Primary Academy and Nursery. We are The Collaborative Academies Trust (CAT), a growing multiacademy trust for primary, secondary and special schools.

We believe that every young person deserves the best possible start in life through a world class education. From our experience, we know that all schools can be outstanding and we expect to deliver a great all round education for those children that attend Willowdown Primary Academy and Nursery.

We have a strong local track record and are already sponsoring four existing Academies in the South West – Taunton, Chard, Woolavington and Wellington. If you would like to find out more about us please visit www.collaborativeacademiestrust.org.

We look forward to welcoming you to Willowdown Primary Academy.

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Collaboration Kevin Crossley Chief Education and Operations Officer The Collaborative Academies Trust

About Willowdown ursery Willowdown Nursery offers a variety of sessional and full day care options to suit most parental childcare needs (with a maximum of 10 hours per day). Opening hours are between 7am and 6pm and cater for children from two years of age until school age.

To find out more or to talk to the team about our Nursery please email info@willowdownprimary.co.uk.

Details about how to apply for a place are on page 11.

Our children are encouraged to learn to share, work and play with others to become independent by encouraging them to think for themselves. They will learn to express their feelings and feel good about themselves to boost self-esteem, confidence and well-being. We will assign one staff member to have specific responsibility for your child’s progress and well-being.

We want the children to have the opportunity to develop a love of learning, so that when they move on to Primary school, they are able to achieve their full potential. We will work together with you to support your children and your family as a whole to ensure a smooth transition into Willowdown Nursery.

Inquisitiveness 5

Hope 6

ursery learning Children at Willowdown Nursery will gain competence in basic skills. They will understand the wider world and they will be helped to develop their own set of personal skills.

Our children are encouraged to learn to share, work and play with others to become independent by encouraging them to think for themselves. They will learn to express their feelings and feel good about themselves to boost self-esteem, confidence and well-being.

In the Early Years Foundation Stage there are seven areas that will be developed: • communication and language • physical development • personal, social and emotional development The specific areas of learning are: • literacy • mathematics • understanding the world • expressive arts and design

Achievement 7

About Willowdown Primary Academy Housed in a fantastic new building, Willowdown Primary Academy is open to pupils from Reception to Year 4. In future years we will expand to include Year 5 and Year 6. Our Academy will play an active role in the Bridgwater community, by supporting families and working with other local organisations to provide a truly outstanding learning experience.

The Academy’s aim is to develop happy children and successful learners so that they can move along their learning pathway as happy and confident individuals.

Creativity 8

Our great leadership team and teaching staff will make sure pupils are equipped for their future beyond Willowdown Primary Academy. Our pupils will gain competence in basic skills and understand the wider world. They will be supported to develop interest, knowledge and understanding across all curriculum subjects. We will put a great emphasis on English, mathematics and ICT. We believe schools should play an important part in their community. Willowdown Primary Academy will work in partnership with parents and carers to provide the best education for our pupils. Each family will be provided with a named member of staff who will be their Pupil and Family Liaison.

We will offer adult learning sessions ranging from ICT to parenting and exercise classes, depending on demand. If you would like to get involved, whether that is running an adult class, taking part in one or suggesting a community activity for Willowdown Primary Academy to take part in, please register your interest by emailing us.

What our pupils will be learning Willowdown pupils gain competence in basic skills and learn to understand the wider world. They are helped to develop their own set of personal skills. In Reception our children will continue to be encouraged to learn to share, work and play with others to become more confident and independent by encouraging them to think for themselves and solve their own problems.

In the Primary Academy, pupils will be supported to develop interests, knowledge and understanding across all curriculum subjects. We put a great emphasis on English, mathematics and ICT. As well as reading, writing, ICT and mathematics, subjects include history, R.E, geography, design and technology, art, P.E, music and science.

Reception In Reception we encourage our children to master basic personal and learning skills that will set them up for their education at Willowdown Primary Academy as well as their own futures. Pupils learn letter formation and master basic reading skills such as phonics (letters and the sounds

Positivity they make). They also learn digit formation and learn early counting skills. They will be given opportunities to learn the skills that enable them to work independently as well as in small groups and teams.

There are also opportunities to take part in a range of creative activities, from art to music, dance to drama.

The majority of learning will take place through play and child-initiated activities. Our staff will use their observational skills to identify children’s interests and build new learning experiences based on these.

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Key Stage 1 and 2 In Key Stage One and Key Stage Two our pupils will explore a full range of subjects: English ICT and Computing Mathematics History Geography Design and Technology Art Music Science P.E. R.E.

Kindness 10

Our Connected Curriculum is specifically designed to promote enquiry and creativity; it provides an exciting range of themed learning experiences. It is fully flexible and ensures robust subject teaching. Teachers find it supportive and engaging and it enables pupils to have fun as they make great progress.

Our Connected Curriculum is a structured framework of Learning Units. Foundation subjects (such as History and Geography) and Science are connected by theme and mapped to cover National Curriculum requirements at KS1 and KS2.

There are relevant links to English and mathematics. Children receive two hours of P.E. teaching per week in addition to active play times and a range of after-school clubs.

Significant focus will be placed on ensuring a smooth transition between primary and secondary education, regardless of which provider you choose. Whilst there will be no transition until September 2016, work will begin immediately to forge relationships with the secondary providers in the area.

Entry procedure Apply now We are working in collaboration with Somerset County Council and we will be following the same admissions and over-subscription criteria as the rest of the County.

If your child is already in a Primary School but you would like to transfer to our Academy please apply by visiting www. somerset.gov.uk/education-learning-and-schools/choosinga-school/apply-to-start-school/ and completing the form.

Alternatively call the Somerset Direct team on 0845 345 9166. Â If your child will be beginning their Primary education in September 2014 please apply by visiting www.somerset.gov. uk/education-learning-and-schools/choosing-a-school/applyto-start-school/ and completing the form. Alternatively call the Somerset Direct team on 0845 345 9166.

This map illustrates the catchment area for the proposed new Academy.

To apply for a place at the Nursery please visit www.willowdownprimary.co.uk/apply and fill in the form on the page.

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Contact details Willowdown Primary Academy Kings Drive, Bridgwater, TA6 4FU Email: info@willowdownprimary.co.uk www.willowdownprimary.co.uk Facebook /willowdownprimary Twitter @willowdownpa