Welcome to Forest Academy “We aim to ensure your child thrives...”
VISION Forest Academy is a special place with staff dedicated to providing a stimulating, exciting environment where every child feels safe and valued. It is a three form entry mixed primary school with a nursery, taking children from the age of 2½, situated in a residential area in Shirley. We focus on instilling pupils with an attitude of inspiration, ambition and academic success in an environment that encourages pupils to be passionate about their learning. Forest Academy is a place where:
all staff, pupils, parents, carers and the wider community work together
pupils are polite, well-rounded, inquisitive and respectful of others
pupils develop skills enabling future success both in and outside of school, which benefit them for years to come
the best is expected from every pupil in all that they do
grounds are extensive, incorporating a woodland area, numerous outdoor play spaces and a running stream
cutting-edge technology is an integrated part of the learning day
With parents as our partners in the education of their children, we value their contribution to school life, knowing that they are an integral part in a child’s success. Together we can create a happy, safe and respectful environment.
“Forest Academy is a GOOD school with OUTSTANDING leadership and management.” - Ofsted
Parent, Years 1 and 2
“I love the school. It has a really nice feeling, my kids love it and I wouldn’t change now.” Parent, Year 3
CURRICULUM We set high expectations for all our pupils by providing an interesting and challenging curriculum that engages them. By promoting excellent behaviour, children at the Forest Academy are keen to learn. All children are unique and we celebrate this diversity with individual learning targets to encourage independence and autonomy. At Forest Academy, we foster a lifelong love of learning, through practical and crosscurricular learning. Our Creative Curriculum aims to deliver a twenty-first century education that will equip our children with the skills required to be
THE OUTDOORS independent and responsible citizens by: ÒÒ making learning more meaningful and in context ÒÒ equipping them with skills for life, through practical work ÒÒ ensuring technology is part of everyday learning and teaching ÒÒ creating a flexible timetable so there is time for a true depth of study ÒÒ providing opportunities for children to broaden their outlook on life ÒÒ developing a sense of community and belonging, contributing to our community through direct interaction Set in extensive grounds, we offer a newly designed ‘outdoor’
woodland classroom and look to improve the effectiveness of lessons by taking them outside. Each year group studies at least one topic within the curriculum which specifically incorporates positive outdoor experiences and visits. By teaching the curriculum in this way, we strive to devise experiences which nurture creative skills where experimentation is encouraged and mistakes are positive experiences to be learnt from.
FACILITIES Situated in Shirley and surrounded by extensive woodlands, Forest Academy offers a combination of indoor and outdoor facilities designed to stretch skills and maximise potential. Large playgrounds, an abundance of trees, swings and a forest assault course are all on hand to enhance our pupils’ learning experience. Bright and spacious buildings provide a comforting and serene learning environment with a fabulously equipped nursery and reception area, complete with running stream.
TECHNOLOGY Set at ground floor level only, all classrooms are easily accessible where you will find fantastic technology provisions to educate children in the context of the world we live in today. iPads and laptops are part and parcel of our teaching strategy accompanied by a strict e-safety policy to guide our pupils as they increase their technological proficiency. All this enables us to offer the Forest School Programme at the centre of our teaching so that our pupils leave our care confident, socially capable, motivated and knowledgeable.
“The activities, both indoors and in the attractive outdoor spaces, are inviting and appeal strongly to the children’s imaginations.” - Ofsted Parent, Years 1 and 2
“The consistently good quality of teaching secures good achievement from the pupils.� - Ofsted
TEACHING At Forest Academy, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and supportive atmosphere in which children are inspired to achieve their full potential. By putting children at the centre of their own learning and with an emphasis on nurturing key skills and attitudes such as resourcefulness, resilience and co-operation, we make learning meaningful and memorable. Our Teaching and Learning policy is pivotal to all we do, setting out clear expectations and a uniform approach that can be easily monitored ensuring equal opportunity for all our pupils.
LEARNING Believing and acknowledging that all children learn in different ways, our teachers provide a rich and varied learning environment which takes into account different forms of learning capabilities incorporating a visual, auditory and kinaesthetic element to each lesson. In order to provide this rich and varied curriculum, we take staff development very seriously keeping up-to-date with training and continual professional development of all members of staff and instilling our knowledge into trainee teachers as a teaching school.
“I like the teachers and the learning is very, very good.�
Parent, Year 2
With highly trained staff linked to Ofsted, and an established and committed leadership team, the staffing structure of the academy is designed to ensure consistent and effective leadership with the highest quality of management and teaching.
Our Partnerships Strengthen Us Forest Academy is part of a learning community committed to pooling resources so that we empower children to connect, thrive and out-perform, carving their own futures and becoming extraordinary citizens. All schools in the family follow their own paths guided by the needs and aspirations of stakeholders. By supporting and learning from each other, we fulfil our mission to create futures for all. We are part of The Synaptic Trust a publicly funded Multi Academy Trust striving to provide a first class education. Working in partnership with West Thornton Primary school – categorised as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted – we are continuing to re-invent ourselves; dynamically moving forward whilst sticking to our traditional values. Our close relationship with Shirley Children’s Centre enables us to offer support to a family as a whole. A one-stop shop for all families in the area, Shirley Children’s Centre works with agencies to offer help and advice on services that may be of benefit to them. With a core purpose to reduce inequalities for those families in greatest need, the Centre’s motto reflects one of our own missions, “Helping families to fulfil their potential.”
“I’m very impressed with the calmness of the classroom and the fact that the children are so engaged in what they’re doing.”
Parent, Year 4
PASSIONATE ABOUT CHILDREN & THEIR FAMILIES Shirley Children’s Centre has undergone exciting changes in the last year. Now managed by Forest Academy (which replaced the predecessor school on the Spring Park Primary site in 2013), it offers a range of activities and courses to suit the needs and wishes of local families. Why not come along and see for yourself what’s on offer? Our staff are passionate about children and their families and are confident that they can offer you a valuable experience, of learning, friendship and advice.
So what do we do? Shirley Children’s Centre runs a varied programme of activities for families in the local area. All activities are free and available for anyone with a child under the age of 5.
For For more more information information about about what what we we do, do, or or to to sign-up sign-up for for our our courses courses or or activities, activities, feel feel free free to to pop pop in in to to see see us. us.
www.shirleychildrenscentre.org.uk
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Shirley Children’s Centre, 34 Lilac Gardens, Croydon, CR0 8NR
Head of School: Lucy Campbell Bridle Road, Croydon, Surrey CR0 8HQ Tel: 020 8777 2808 Fax: 020 8777 4880 info@forestacademy.org.uk www.forestacademy.org.uk
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