School brochure may 15 by Andy Mellor

St. Nicholas C of E Primary School Headteacher: Mr A Mellor BCS, PGCE, NPQH

“The distinctiveness and effectiveness of Blackpool St Nicholas as a Church of England school are outstanding.” (Diocesan inspection report 2010)

School Road, Marton Moss, Blackpool, FY4 5DS Tel: 01253 608900 Fax: 01253 608901 Website: www.st-nicholas.blackpool.org.uk Email: admin@st-nicholas.blackpool.sch.uk

St. Nicholas C of E Primary School School Road, Marton Moss, Blackpool, FY4 5DS Tel: 01253 608900 Fax: 01253 608901 email: admin@st-nicholas.blackpool.sch.uk www.st-nicholas-blackpool.org.uk Headteacher: Mr A Mellor BCS, PGCE, NPQH

May 2015 Dear Parent / Guardian Welcome to St. Nicholas Church of England Primary School. I hope that you will find the information in this brochure useful both now and for future reference. If you decide that you would like to send your child to St. Nicholas, we can offer you a warm and child-centred provision in modern facilities, with staff who strive to meet the individual needs of all children. Inspections from the Diocese of Blackburn class us as an outstanding Church School and we are constantly looking at ways in which we can improve our offer, working in partnership with parents. Should you decide to send your child to St Nicholas, we look forward to working with you to develop the full potential of your child within our caring family community. The relationship between parents and school is vital to the success and well being of your child and we welcome the opportunity to discuss any concerns or questions that you may have. Yours sincerely Andrew Mellor Headteacher

Contents Vision Statement

Guiding Principles

The School and its Community

7 A Brief Descriptive History 7 Type of School 8 Pastoral Care and Discipline 8 Child Protection Policy 9 School Organisation 10 Special Educational Needs 10 Assessment, Recording and Reporting 11 Pupil Premium 11 Concerns & Complaints 12 Parental Engagement 12 Curriculum 13 Spiritual, Personal, Moral, Social and Cultural Education 14 Homework 14 Collective Worship 14 Health & Relationships Education 15 Library and Computing Resources 15 Swimming 15 Educational Visits 16 Charging & Remissions Policy 16 Extra-curricular Activities 17 Extended Care Club 17

School Routines and Information School Staff Governors Our Day Lunchtime Arrangements Free Breakfasts & Milk Snacks Water Home Time Parking Safety and Security Illness More Serious Medical Conditions

18 18 19 19 20 21 21 22 22 22 23 23 24

Admissions

Medicine Accidents Appointments Your Holidays Home-School Contact Parental Dispute and Custody School Uniform Jewellery Mobile Phones Dogs No Smoking Policy Bikes and Scooters

24 24 25 25 25 26 26 28 28 28 28 28

Starting School and Admission Arrangements Admission Policy Helping Your Child

29 29 30 35

Pupil Attendance

National Curriculum Assessments Results – Key Stage One

National Curriculum Assessments Results – Key Stage Two

Diocese of Blackburn Inspection

Ofsted – What the inspectors said about St. Nicholas

Home and School Agreement

School Term Dates

Formal Details

How to Contact School: St. Nicholas Church of England Primary School School Road, Marton Moss, Blackpool. FY4 5DS Telephone: 01253 608900 Fax: 01253 608901 Email: admin@st-nicholas.blackpool.sch.uk Website: www.st-nicholas-blackpool.org.uk

Twitter: stnicholas14

Our Vision Statement â&#x20AC;&#x153;St. Nicholas Church of England Primary School is committed to being a centre of excellence for lifelong learning and Christian understanding where all are able to learn, work hard and fulfil their full potential within the safe, secure, co-operative environment underpinned by the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.â&#x20AC;?

As a Christian school community, with a mission to educate our pupils and develop relationships within the teachings and mission of the greatest teacher Jesus Christ… We believe that…  Christ is central and pivotal to the life and success of our school.  All within our Christian family have God given gifts and that it is our Christian responsibility to find and use these gifts to their full potential.  All within our school family should be treated with honesty, dignity and respect.  Teamwork is crucial to the success of our school and improved outcomes for our pupils.  Our school should be an enjoyable and rewarding place to work and learn.  Risk taking is a vital component of learning and as such should be embraced without fear of failure or blame.

We value…  Our own culture and belief in the saving grace of Jesus Christ whilst respecting the beliefs of others.  The opinions and rights of others whilst accepting our responsibilities within our Christian community.  The role of parents as co-educators in supporting our children to achieve.  The roles played by all within our school family in helping to equip our pupils to become productive and responsible citizens of the future.  Every individual within our family and encourage them to contribute fully to the success of the school. We will use these principles to….  Treat everyone fairly and with equity. 

Evaluate the success of our school.



Help decide upon priorities for action.

The School and its Community A Brief Descriptive History There has been a long tradition of quality schooling on Marton Moss since the 1830s, with the original schoolhouse still just about in one piece on Division Lane (see black and white photo). The present building on School Road was established in 1873. For many years, the church and school used the same building for worship, social events and education. However in 1936 the church moved to a building on Common Edge Road. The building was semi-permanent and the church was replaced by another building in 1965. That building was demolished in 2007 and the site vacated. The school building continues to be used occasionally for social activities and worship but is now mainly the centre for schooling on the Moss. This schooling still involves the active development of small scale gardening skills to give the children an appreciation of the area in which they come to school and the historical significance of the Moss. An extension to the school, providing modern classrooms for the Infants, was completed in 1973. There then followed the building of two new classrooms and smaller scale building work. The photograph to the left shows the school pre-October 2007. More recently the school was given permission and funding for a major new re-development of the site, with 12 new classrooms in use from September 2008 and further facilities including a new hall and ICT suite. The work carried out gives the children a bespoke school created for learning for the 21 st century.

St. Nicholas School has a high reputation in the area, based on a history of quality educational provision and an intimate and welcoming ethos, and has proved a popular school with parents choosing a first school for their child. The most recent Diocesan report (October 2010) called St Nicholas C of E Primary School, “an outstanding Church School with a strong and distinctive Christian ethos.” Type of School St Nicholas is a Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School, provided by Church trustees, governed by its Governing Body (a majority of whose members are appointed by the Church and are Foundation Governors) and maintained by Blackpool Borough Council. At St Nicholas School, we work to promote a close relationship between school, church and home, to the benefit of all. Children from school regularly take part in services held in church; local clergy come into school to lead school worship. Daily Acts of Worship have a vital role in influencing a Christian ethos of caring throughout the school. We are proud that the school community as a whole contributes to the spiritual and moral growth of individuals, as well as to their intellectual and physical development. Pastoral Care and Discipline The Headteacher and staff in school are responsible for the wellbeing of the children. As part of the wider society, the school attempts to create a wellordered, self-disciplined environment where manners count and the development of personal life skills is valued. Our Governors, Teachers, Support Staff, Parents and Children all make valuable contributions to the community life of the school. During the most recent inspection, a member of the Pupil Council said “When you’re worried, there is always someone to talk to.” Positive behaviour and hard work is rewarded in lots of ways. You will hear of merit points being awarded for good and improving work, helpful and sensible attitudes, and other positive efforts. These points determine which team (Flintoff, Redgrave, Woods, Holmes) will win the Merit Shield at the end of the academic year. Each half-term, merit certificates are awarded in sharing assemblies held in recognition of the children’s achievements. Certificates are awarded for outstanding effort in school work and behaviour as well as recognition of citizenship.

We also have a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Full Marks Clubâ&#x20AC;? with certificates being awarded halftermly. To remain in the club, children must ensure full attendance in each half-term. At the end of the academic year, certificates and prizes are presented for full attendance. Communication and consultation between staff and parents is an essential part of our discipline procedures, and it cannot be stressed too highly that this is a two-way system. Our school behaviour policy contains rights and responsibilities of school, parents and the children. The policy is built upon the quality of relationships between adults and adults, pupils and adults and pupils and pupils, within our school community. The policy outlines how you can expect the school to deal with issues as they arise. We expect children to exercise restraint with each other when relationships do break down, and staff are on hand to help the children re-build broken relationships. It is important that we distinguish between children falling out with each other and then making up, which is part and parcel of growing up, and bullying which, due to the ethos of the school and the quality of the childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s values, is thankfully exceptionally rare. Rules in the school are the normal rules of society plus some special ones which relate to our specific situation. They reflect the necessity for safety, consideration for others, and practicability, and are brought to the attention of the children either at collective school gatherings or in class. On admission to St Nicholas, we ask all parents to sign a home-school agreement, which sets out our expectations of the pupil, the parent and the school. This is an important document and underpins the above relationships. We are most fortunate at St. Nicholas School that anti-social behaviour (including bullying) is very rare and procedures for dealing with such behaviour, should it occur, are outlined in our Behaviour and School Discipline and Anti-Bullying Policies. Child Protection Policy Because of day-to-day contact with children, school staff are particularly well placed to observe outward signs of abuse. Parents should be aware therefore, that where it appears to a member of school staff that a child may have been abused, or may be at risk of abuse, staff are legally required, as part of the child protection procedures, to report their concern to the Social Services Department immediately (schools have no choice in this matter and this is common practice in all maintained settings). All our newly appointed staff undergo a full Disclosure & Barring Service check before they are allowed to start work in school. 9

The school Child Protection Officer is the Headteacher, Mr Mellor. The Governor with responsibility for Child Protection is Mr Martin.

School Organisation The school is a popular and frequently over-subscribed 2 form entry primary school and is organised into 7 year groups according to the chronological age of the children. Generally, the work of the school is undertaken in these class units with a mixture of class, group and individual teaching. Occasionally, small groups may be withdrawn to receive specialist teaching and support. At the time of going to print, our average classroom adult to pupil ratio is a very healthy 1:14. Special Educational Needs At St. Nicholas School, we have regard for the National Special Educational Needs Code of Practice, and pupils will be assessed and their progress monitored in line with this Code. Whilst the Governing Body and Headteacher have ultimate responsibility for the day-to-day management and co-ordination of the school, Miss Taylor, who is our schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inclusion manager, will oversee the special educational needs arrangements; with Mr Robinson, our SENCo, working alongside her. The Headteacher reports on the arrangements for special educational needs to the Governing Body each term. At present the named Governor for special educational needs is Mr Worden. The schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s full Special Educational Needs Policy is available to all parents on request or available for download from the school website. At St. Nicholas School, we recognise the full spectrum of special educational needs, which includes catering for both more able and less able pupils. We meet the needs of special educational needs pupils through curriculum strategies, targeted intervention by teaching assistants and intervention strategies such as additional literacy support and Springboard, and differentiating work in class, through close liaison with outside agencies, including Shine speech and language agency and Blackpool Local Authority services. The Governors ensure accessibility for disabled pupils within and around the building by carefully thought through plans and accessibility arrangements. 10

Assessment, Recording and Reporting The childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s progress is continually assessed through formal testing, informal teacher observations and day-to-day assessment. These assessments help the teachers to plan more effectively for the next stage of learning. For the purposes of ensuring that all children make good progress, childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s progress is assessed on a half termly basis (roughly every 6 weeks) and teachers plan for the needs of the children based on what the children need to do next to make progress and to give feedback to parents. Children in Reception and Year 1 are tested throughout the school year and in Year 1 children undertake a statutory national phonics screening check. Years 2, 3, 4 and 5 are formally assessed through statutory and nonstatutory tests in June, whilst Year 6 take the statutory end of Key Stage SATs in May. Results of end of Key Stage assessments are reported to Year 6 parents with the annual written report. All pupils have their individual progress monitored, which helps us to ensure that each child makes appropriate progress. Should your child not be making the progress that we expect, we will meet with you to plan a way forward so that progress can be maintained. Parents are encouraged to take an active role in the education of their children by making an appointment with individual class teachers when they have concerns and also at Parent Consultation Evenings, Open Days and Review Meetings. A written report is sent home at the end of the academic year. We also hold two parents evenings during the year where we will be letting you know how you can support your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s learning. An open door policy exists, whereby staff are available at the end of the day to discuss any concerns, which means that we can deal with any concerns that you or your child may have quickly and without increasing this concern. Meeting with the class teacher after 8:45am compromises the ability of the class teacher to care for the children and therefore we avoid meetings at this time. Pupil Premium Parents may have heard of pupil premium funding which schools receive. This funding is designed to allow schools to create programmes of support for 11

specifically targeted groups of children to achieve their full potential. This funding is specifically for children who: a) Have a parent or parents who have been in the armed forces at any point in the last four years, b) Have been eligible for free school meals at any point in the last six years, c) Are looked after by the Local Authority, d) Have been adopted from care or are under a special guardianship order after being in care. This funding is designed to help and support these children, and whilst each child has their needs met, and their progress is carefully monitored, the funding is not sufficient or intended to provide a separate one to one education. If you think your child is eligible for this funding and wish to discuss it then please see Miss Younger, our school business manager. Concerns and Complaints Should parents have concerns regarding aspects of their child’s school life or education, they should in the first instance discuss them with their child’s class teacher. However if concerns are not resolved, parents are welcome to make an appointment to discuss matters further with the Headteacher. If this fails to resolve the situation then parents can make representation in writing according to the school’s Complaints Policy (available on the school website). Parental Engagement

“Parents are a child’s first and most enduring educators.” Research has shown that the more support a child gets at home, the more they are likely to make progress, do well at school and have the very best start in life. As a school we do all that we can to try to equip parents with the knowledge, skills and confidence to help their child to learn outside school. We often run workshops for parents to help with some of the Mathematics and English work that we carry out at school, but the very best support for your children is purely hearing them read, praising their efforts and making sure that learning is fun. If your child feels that their mum or dad feel that learning is important, they are more likely to make the extra effort which leads to greater progress. Each year group creates an online classroom on their blog and Twitter feed which parents can view to help them and their children understand the 12

curriculum. Parents are also encouraged to send their email addresses to school so that we can consult you on various matters. We also have a school blog and Twitter account so that parents can follow our activities in school and contribute to their childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s learning. We also ask parents to become actively involved in the school. Offers of help with craft groups, reading and other activities are always welcome and it also gives parents a useful insight as to how schools run on a day-to-day basis. Offers of help with these activities, as well as on occasions such as educational visits, are always welcome. As mentioned previously, we know that those parents that spend time at home working with their children, are the parents whose children make most progress in school. Please come in and ask your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s class teacher how you can help your child at home. The school has a P.T.F.A. (Parents, Teachers and Friends Association) and we need parents to join with us in social and fundraising events. All parents of children in school are automatically members and we usually have a fun, and busy time raising additional funds and providing extra activities for the children. For further details please contact and leave your details with the school office. Without the support of parents and friends of the school the P.T.F.A. cannot survive, therefore, we would ask you to join with us in helping to provide your children with extra resources and treats whilst joining in with our school community. Our AGM takes place on the same night as our annual quiz and you are invited to bring a team to take on the currently unbeaten staff team! Curriculum The School Curriculum encompasses the National Curriculum and Religious Education, together with a range of wider learning opportunities for the pupils in lessons and extra-curricular activities. The Core subjects are English, Mathematics and Science, and Religious Education. The Foundation Subjects are History, Geography, Art and Design, Design and Technology, Music, Computing and Physical Education which are taught in accordance with the new National Curriculum requirements. The children in Key Stage 2 are also taught Spanish as part of our Foreign Languages curriculum. We teach units of work each half term which are planned to develop discrete skills and knowledge. Religious Education is, for us as a Church School, a core subject and is taught in accordance with the Lancashire Agreed Syllabus and the Blackburn 13

Diocesan Syllabus and is a foundation for the whole Christian ethos of the school. The school complies with the statutory right of parents to withdraw pupils from R.E. teaching and Collective Worship, but reminds parents of the ethos of our Church of England school. Any requests concerning withdrawal from Religious Education and Collective Worship should be passed to the Headteacher in writing. A rich, varied and stimulating curriculum covers, and often integrates, many subject areas. Additionally, our wider curriculum encompasses crosscurricular elements including personal, social, health education, environmental studies and industrial awareness. All children learn in different ways, therefore every effort is made by the teachers to personalise the curriculum to meet the learning needs of the children. We now have contacts with European and Australian schools as well as other Blackpool schools and share our work and experiences with them through Skype, email and our blogs. A big part of the success of the blogs is parental comment and the children really value your thoughts on their work. Any queries regarding curriculum provision can be made to the Headteacher. Spiritual, Personal, Moral, Social and Cultural Education Spiritual, personal, moral, social and cultural guidance are integrated into the curriculum as part of our broader curricular programmes, and are designed to give the children information which will help them develop a healthy attitude toward themselves and others. Homework Homework is set by the class teacher at the level appropriate to your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s age and ability and is designed to reinforce learning carried out at school. Within the first few weeks of a new school year, a letter will be sent home which outlines when you can expect your child to bring homework home. If your child does not bring homework home on the pre-arranged evening, feel free to come back into school and collect it if you are able. Clearly homework is an important part of your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s school work and will be only truly successful if time is spent doing homework with your child. Some homework activities are online so that they are available without the need for hard copies and allow for creative methods for more interesting and wide ranging homework. Collective Worship 14

A collective Act of Worship is held each day and is a very important feature of our school life. They take the form of whole school, key stage, or in class assemblies. In line with our school ethos and vision statement, on one day per week visiting clergy lead our collective worship. Individual parents may withdraw their children from acts of worship following discussion with the Headteacher. Parents are reminded that we are a Church of England Primary School, and the school’s Vision Statement and ethos should be taken into account when applying for a place at our school. The Diocesan inspection of 2010 described the impact of worship in school as being “outstanding” with parents commenting positively about the fact that prayers are said at lunchtime and again at the end of the day as well as during timetabled worship sessions. Health and Relationships Education This area of work used to be known as “Sex Education.” It falls within the general framework of a dedicated Health Education programme which aims to help the children to develop the ability to respect themselves and their bodies and provide a basis for making informed choices in later life. The curriculum content for Year 6 pupils includes a specific teaching programme from the school nurse. Parents will be given prior notice about any specific sex and relationships education topic and, although the school supports the teaching of this important area, parents have the right to withdraw their child after discussion with the Headteacher. Library and Computing Resources The school has a library and, as part of the English curriculum, children are taught library skills which enable them to use a simplified Dewey system. Children are encouraged to take “Home Loan” reading and library books, and it is anticipated that parents will encourage their children to take a full part in the activity. Loans and returns are managed by a computerised loans system. The school has a dedicated computer suite in addition to classroom computers; all have multimedia facilities. They are used to support the children’s learning across the curriculum. All classrooms are fitted with the latest digital projectors and whiteboards. Our school also embraces technology which children are very comfortable with including iPads, iPod Touches, Apple TV and Nintendo DS’s. 15

Swimming As part of the P.E. curriculum, children in Year 5 attend swimming lessons at Palatine pool. All staff accompanying the children are required to undertake poolside safety training and fully qualified swimming instructors teach the lessons. Educational Visits Visits and visitors to school are planned within the school programme, to enrich and broaden our very distinctive curriculum. Younger children embark on day visits to places such as Blackpool Zoo, Brockholes and Farmer Parrâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, whilst we offer a residential visit for Year 5 to PGLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boreatton Park for outdoor adventure activities such as kayaking and abseiling. We have also run visits to France or London for Year 6 after their SATs tests. More recently the school has bought a minibus which allows us to take advantage of the local environment beyond the school more easily. Charging & Remissions Policy No compulsory charges are made for activities which are part of the whole school curriculum however there are opportunities for tuition in other areas which we charge parents for if they choose to take up extra tuition for example guitars. In terms of visits out of school we do ask parents to pay an amount towards the full cost as a voluntary contribution as school has no funding for these type of enrichment visits. The arrangements for any proposed activities therefore depend entirely on the co-operation of our parents in providing voluntary contributions. Extra-Curricular Activities There are a number of before school / lunchtime / after school activities in which all children are encouraged to participate at the appropriate age level,

and which give children with abilities outside the formal curriculum a chance to shine or just experience something different. These include for Juniors: Netball, Football, Tag Rugby, Choir, Chess, Drama, Tae Kwondo, Athletics, Cricket, Enterprise Club, Gardening Club and leadership training. The Infant children benefit from a games club, Mini Choir, Wake and Shake, Coding Club, Drama and Tae Kwondo. Increasingly the older children are also running supervised clubs for the younger children to enjoy which develops leadership skills in the older children. The school takes part in a number of inter-primary school competitions such as Football, Netball, Athletics, Swimming and other events. This year we came third in the Blackpool Primary Schools Swimming Gala, and in 2014 we were winners of the trophy. We are often very successful in these events, playing to win but always enjoying the opportunity to participate.

Extended Care Club We understand that getting your child to school at 8.45am or picking them up at 3.30pm isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always convenient with every parentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work commitments. We therefore run a breakfast club from 7.30 each morning and an after school care club from 3.30 until 5.30pm. The breakfast club allows you to leave your child with us and means that we will give them breakfast and make sure they arrive in class for the start of the school day. The after school care club collects registered children from their classes and takes them over into Rainbow Lodge where they are given a snack and there are staff on hand to carry out after school activities and help with homework if necessary. 17

Payment is required in advance and places are in short supply. If you require a place at either facility please contact Mrs Potts in the school office.

School Routines and Information School Staff (for the academic year 2014-15) Headteacher: Mr A Mellor Deputy Headteacher: Miss C Taylor Assistant Headteacher: Mrs D Twist Class Teachers: Miss G Ramsden Miss G Stubbs Miss S Jordin Mrs C Groome Miss R Gildert Mrs K Slater Mr J Guillot Mrs D Twist Mr I Hutchins Ms A Donnelly Mrs D Edmonds Miss L Dootson Miss S Darkins Miss J Harper Support Teachers: Mrs S Chamley Mrs K Jones SENCo: Mr J Robinson Business Manager: Administrator: Admin Assistants:

Miss R Younger Mrs K Ridge Mrs T Potts

Teaching Assistants: Mrs J Barnes Mrs H Bartlett Mrs K Buck Mrs L Derome Miss S Jackson Mrs E Knowles Mrs J Mitchell Mrs S Penswick Mrs S Williams

Reception Reception Class 1SJ Class 1CG Class 2RG Class 2KS Class 3JG Class 3DT Class 4MC Class 4AD Class 5DE Class 5LD Class 6SD Class 6JH Mrs N DuQuesnay Mrs L Roffey

Mrs V Harling Miss A Bartlett Mrs J Beardsworth Mrs S Crozier Ms L Gardner Mrs S Knight Miss R Kyle Mrs P Marquis-Smith Mrs K Williams Mrs W Young

Family Support Worker: Mrs J Parker Site Supervisor: Cleaners:

Mr C Pinington Mrs S Hull

Midday Supervisor:

Mrs E Knowles

Welfare Assistants:

Mrs L Harris

Mrs T Hughes

Play Workers:

Mrs N Alladice

Miss A Hall

Miss L Stoyles

Miss K Taylor

Mrs E Spadaccini

Governors Chair – Mr DH Martin Vice Chair - Mr G Bromley Mr D Barnes Mr A Legdani Fr Graham Piper Mrs C Sargeant Mrs J Connor Vacancy Mr A Mellor Mrs K Ridge Mr P Worden Mrs C Van Deurs Goss Miss C Taylor Miss R Younger

Foundation Governor Foundation Governor Foundation Governor Foundation Governor Ex-officio (Foundation Governor) Foundation Governor Foundation Governor Local Authority Headteacher Staff Governor Parent Governor Parent Governor Observer Governor Observer Governor

Head Girl: Head Boy: Deputy Head Girls: Deputy Head Boy:

Alice Irving George Robertson Heather Lewis & Eleanor Lewis Adam Birkett

Our Day School Hours Doors open at Morning School Morning Break Afternoon School Afternoon Break

8.45am KS1 9.00am – 12.15pm 10.30am – 10.45am 1.15pm – 3.30pm 2.15pm – 2.30pm

KS2 9.00am – 12.30pm 10.45am – 11.00am 1.30pm – 3.30pm

Children arrive between 8.45am and 9.00am for the morning session. All children should be in class by 9.00am ready for registration. We find that the children settle much better at school if you can bring them to mix with their peers in the playground prior to the start of the school day. We cannot accept responsibility for your child before 8.45am, so please do not send him/her too early, especially if they are not accompanied by an adult. For reasons of security and congestion, parents are asked not to enter school with their children in a morning or to escort their child to the classroom door.

Those children who stay at school for the lunch break are supervised at all times, and are not allowed to leave the premises without the express permission of their parent / guardian. Except when the weather is very bad, the children are expected to play outside during playtimes so adequate outdoor clothing and a warm waterproof coat are essential. If you are concerned about your child becoming sunburnt, we would strongly recommend that you send your child to school with a broad brimmed hat, long sleeves and sunscreen which they are able to apply themselves. We do have shaded areas and would ask you to encourage your child to use these areas. Children may bring pens, pencils, crayons and other educational equipment for use in school but they must be in a suitable container such as a pencil case. The owner is responsible for any loss or damage. New entrants may like to bring a familiar toy to bridge the gap between home and school. Please only send a SMALL school bag if one is required. Lunchtime Arrangements School meals, which are balanced, varied and nutritious, and are cooked on the premises, must be booked and paid for in advance. The cost of a school meal is currently £2.00 per day. Dinner money is paid via ParentPay, our online payment system, and must be paid in advance, at least weekly. ParentPay is accessed via the internet, the website address is www.parentpay.com There is also a link on our school website. You can also find out what is being served on each day as the menu is published on the school website. Parents who believe that they may be eligible for free meals should contact Blackpool Council Benefits Department, tel. 477477, and inform them that their child is attending this school. The Benefits Department will then inform the school when a new child has been added the free meals list. From September 2014, we have been implementing the new governmentfunded ‘Universal Infant Free School Meals’ scheme, which entitles every child in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 to free lunches. This offer does not depend on your household income or whether you receive any benefits – every child in these classes is eligible to take up the offer. However, PLEASE NOTE – if you are eligible, or become eligible in the future, for free school meals under the existing income-based scheme, we still need you to apply for this through the Local Authority. This is because 21

some of the school’s funding is based on the number of children who are entitled to free school meals, and the school may lose money if parents don’t register their entitlement. One week’s notice must be given if you would like your child to change to or from school dinners. For those parents who prefer their child to bring a packed lunch, these should be brought by the child to school in the morning in a suitable container, clearly marked with their name, and your child should be familiar with its contents. Sweets and fizzy drinks are not allowed. At lunchtime, the children are supervised by our Midday Supervisor, Welfare Assistants and Teaching Assistants, and no child is allowed to leave the premises without permission from the Headteacher who needs to know, from the parent, the reason for the request to leave. We also have Play Workers who play games with the children at lunchtime. Children who go home for lunch should not return until 5 minutes before afternoon registration, unless there is a pre-arranged specific reason and must report to the school office on their return. Free Breakfasts & Milk Under a recent Blackpool Council initiative, all primary school pupils in Blackpool are entitled to a free breakfast and carton of milk each day. At St. Nicholas, the breakfast is available in each classroom from 8.459.00am, as the children are arriving. It consists of a ‘bread’ type item such as scotch pancakes, brioche, bagel, etc. and on some days a yogurt drink. Free milk is ordered for each child in the school, unless parents tell us otherwise – this is given to the children later in the day. Snacks Children may bring a healthy snack, e.g. fresh fruit, cheese or a fruit drink for morning break. Any other health snacks contain sugar which eats away at your child’s teeth. If your child brings grapes, please ensure that they are cut in half before bringing them into school, as these can be a choking hazard. Pupils in Reception and KS1 receive free fruit at morning break under a national government health initiative. 22

Water Research indicates that our brains function more effectively when properly hydrated, therefore water is provided for all pupils. We ask that children bring a suitable bottle to fill from one of the water coolers in school. Home Time At the end of the day, it is our policy in the Infants to ensure that the children are passed directly to waiting parents. Please stand well clear from the exit doors to allow our teachers to carry out this important task. Parents are welcome to come into school to see the teacher after the children have been dismissed. Brothers and sisters of children taking part in extra-curricular activities should not wait for these activities to finish, as there is no supervision available beyond that which is necessary for the activity only. We remind children to return to their teacher if parents usually collect them but no-one arrives to take them home. Parking We are very fortunate in having a 56 space car park to the west of school and a turning circle to the east. These facilities work well when used properly but if they are not used well they become a real danger to the safety of pedestrians. Please only park in designated parking spaces and not on the pavement. Please do not park or stop on the zigzag areas at the school drive entrance or along the public footpath that runs down the side of the school. We would also ask that you respect the driveways of local residents, who are our neighbours and need access to and from their properties at all times. The turning circle is closed from 3.15pm until 3.45pm to allow children and families to leave the premises without vehicular movement and potential accidents. If you need to leave immediately at 3.30pm then the car park to the west of school outside Squires Gate FC should be used. The turning circle is also closed in the mornings from 8.30am to 9.00am.

Safety and Security The children are regularly spoken to by teachers and visiting experts about safety. Children are reminded to cross the main road at school times using the school crossing patrol and the zebra crossing in front of school. We have very good security around school to ensure the safety of your children. We have a modern CCTV system with cameras all around the school. There are locks on all rear external doors, which means that access to school via this route is not possible after 9.00am. All children, parents and visitors who wish to enter during the school day must do so via the front door and report to the school office. Although it may be tempting to try to see your child to class, especially if they are late, I would ask you to report to the school office as we need to know who is in the building for security and health and safety reasons. We recognise that some children come to school on bicycles. If your child does travel to school this way we ask that you ensure that they have a strong lock to chain their bicycles to the bike shelter. The school cannot in any way be responsible for the safety of your child or their bicycle if this method of travel to school is chosen by you and your child. Illness Please telephone the school as soon as possible to tell us that your child is not well. As a matter of child protection policy, the school will chase up any unexplained â&#x20AC;&#x153;no showsâ&#x20AC;? and if we cannot make contact, we have a duty to contact the Pupil Welfare Officer in order to fulfil our child protection obligations. If we are not informed about the absence we must mark the absence as unauthorised and will have to chase up any reasons that have not been given. This is a statutory duty for the school under safeguarding regulations. All non-medical absences are recorded as unauthorised as the school cannot now authorise absence during term-time. We have access to help and advice from a wide range of medical and social workers. Hygiene inspection takes place at regular intervals, sight and hearing may also be tested and special cases brought to the attention of the school doctor/nurse after discussion with parents. Help is available for children whose behaviour, educational progress or physical development gives cause for concern. If you have concerns about 24

your child and his/her development, please see your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s class teacher in the first instance. Our Inclusion Manager is Miss Taylor. Our Pupil Welfare Officer is available for concerns about attendance or general welfare. See notices for dates/times or contact Miss Taylor. It is important that the school is able to contact at least one parent at any time of the school day should a child become ill while he/she is at school. Therefore, any changes to emergency contact details, especially telephone numbers, should be notified immediately. The importance of this cannot be underestimated. More Serious Medical Conditions Please advise us of any potentially serious medical conditions or allergies that your child may have e.g. epilepsy, diabetes. It may be that we need to produce a health care plan so that we can inform all of our staff of what to do in the unlikely event of an emergency. Medicine Wherever practical, medicines, tablets, etc. should not be sent to school. Only in exceptional circumstances should medical administration take place in school; the school will only administer medicines that have been prescribed by a medical practitioner. In every case the parent must inform the school office, complete the necessary form and provide medication clearly labelled with the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name and dosage, in accordance with our Management of Medicines Policy (available on the school website). The school should be notified immediately of any specific medical problems. Arrangements for dealing with conditions such as asthma can be implemented easily. Inhalers are kept in an easily accessible location in each class and children are expected to know how to take their own inhalers. Accidents Bumps and grazes go hand-in-hand with children at play. We deal with them just as you would at home and many of our staff have a basic first aid qualification. We also have five more qualified first aiders in school to whom we refer any injury which we feel needs a more detailed analysis. Injuries of a more serious nature are thankfully rare occurrences. If your child did suffer a serious injury at school, we would make every effort to get 25

in touch with you. If the injury required emergency treatment, then we would take appropriate action to contact you immediately. We think it is better to be safe and contact you with our concern so that you are in a position to make a parental decision whether or not to seek further medical advice. If your child bangs his or her head at school, we will send you a bump note, which advises you of the circumstances and the need to keep an eye on him/her to check for dizziness, etc. If your child bangs his/her head and reports feeling unwell, we will contact you immediately. Children in school with head lice: this is not only uncomfortable for the child with head lice but also presents a risk to other children of becoming infested. We surveyed parents about sending children with head lice home to be treated as soon as possible and 134 parents agreed with 9 against. We therefore now send children home to be treated and, once treated, they are free to return to school, preferably on the same day. Appointments When possible, we ask that parents book appointments, such as ones to the dentist or doctor, at times that do not disrupt the school day. If this is not possible, parents should inform us of any appointments which will take children out of school during the day. It is important that you give us notice of these occasions so that we can prepare your child to leave. We expect all children to be collected by parents on these occasions. Parents should report to the school office when collecting and returning children. School holidays during term-time are actively discouraged and it is hoped that parents will not disrupt their childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s education. The Headteacher will not authorise holidays in term-time. This means that if a holiday is taken which, when added to other absences, causes concern, the school will have no alternative but to report this to the local authority. There is no automatic right to 10 days holiday in term-time each year. Home â&#x20AC;&#x201C; School Contact We find greatest pupil success and achievement is attained when the school has full parental support and co-operation. This is backed up by extensive research.

Parents who have any queries about school life are asked to contact the class teacher, Headteacher or Deputy Headteacher, at the beginning or end of the school day. In addition, each Tuesday morning the Headteacher and/or Deputy Headteacher will be available for parents to call in and speak to regarding any queries or concerns that they may have. This is on a drop-in basis; appointments do not need to be made. Frequent newsletters keep you up-to-date and well informed, and school events foster communication and assist the family life of the school. We would also encourage you to let us have your email address as increasingly we are keeping parents informed by email as an alternative to the conventional paper newsletter and it is useful to be able to canvass the opinions of parents quickly and efficiently. Our website is updated on a weekly basis at least and contains a host of resources for parents to help them in continuing the education of their child at home, as well as up-to-date news and calendar dates. We also have a text messaging service to provide another channel of communication. Each message will be preceded by the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;Groupcall.â&#x20AC;? If the message is not preceded by this word then the message has not come from school. Parental Dispute and Custody In situations such as parental relationship breakdown, we ask for clear guidance from parents so that school is not inadvertently contravening the decisions of the courts. It also enables us to care for your children with patience and understanding as parental relationship breakdowns can affect a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health, wellbeing and attainment. We therefore ask you to supply the Headteacher with any court order which affects access or parental rights. Obviously these are confidential documents which will be kept as such. School Uniform We believe that boys and girls should develop a pride in their appearance and identification with their school. School uniform is therefore encouraged, and all pupils are requested to wear the same, as set out below, not only during the school day but also for school events such as educational visits and church services. As in all our aims, we expect our pupils to set themselves high standards. Long hair should be tied back whether the child is male or female. Parents should ensure that all uniform items are clearly 27

marked with their child’s name. School colours are royal blue and gold. Be aware that some unauthorised suppliers have copied our school uniform as blue and yellow. We sell our official school uniform in school. Please contact the school office. School uniform is as follows: Boys School V-neck sweatshirt Blue shirt Blue & gold striped tie Grey smart school trousers

Girls School V-neck sweatshirt or school cardigan Blue shirt or blouse Blue & gold striped tie Grey skirt / pinafore / smart school trousers Blue and white checked dress (summer)

Boys and Girls - Sensible flat shoes, black, navy or brown (not fashion wear) P.E. Navy blue shorts Slip-on plimsolls (Infants)

White T-shirt Slip-on or lace-up trainers / plimsolls (Juniors)

All children must have a change of clothing to take part in P.E. lessons. This kit should be kept in a named tie-string P.E. bag and all items of clothing should be clearly labelled. Kit should remain in school during term-time and be taken home to be washed at the end of each half-term. Trainers for “all day” use are discouraged on health grounds, as they can lead to conditions such as Athlete’s foot, as well as not being part of our school uniform. Please be aware that not having kit will potentially lead to your child not receiving their full legal entitlement under the National Curriculum. If this situation persists it will be referred to Pupil Welfare who may take action with parents. Emphasis is placed on being smart, clean and tidy. Please bear in mind that, during the course of the week, your child may come into contact with paint, glue and a number of other messy materials. A painting apron is therefore recommended, or an old shirt which make excellent overalls. School sweatshirts, cardigans and ties are available from school, as well as P.E. kit; they are hardwearing and very reasonably priced. These items are purchased via the school’s online shop, which is accessed through the school website. Parents are asked to ensure that haircuts are smart and tidy. If a child arrives at school with a haircut which attracts attention and marks them out as different, they can be more prone to teasing. 28

Jewellery The school has a ‘No Jewellery’ policy. Earrings are a particular health and safety hazard, and we strongly discourage even the use of studs. It is Local Authority guidance that no jewellery is to be worn during PE or swimming lessons, and St. Nicholas follows this guidance. School staff are not permitted to remove children’s jewellery, so they should not wear it at all. IT IS ADVISABLE TO LEAVE EXPENSIVE JEWELLERY / WATCHES AT HOME. THE SCHOOL CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ACCIDENT OR INJURY CAUSED BY THE WEARING OF JEWELLERY OR THE LOSS / DAMAGE TO THESE ITEMS. Mobile Phones There is no need for children to bring mobile phones to school. If you decide that you do want your child to bring a mobile phone with them, this is at your own risk. The phone should be given to the class teacher at the beginning of the day, to try to minimise the risk of loss or damage, and to stop unauthorised use during the day. It will be returned to your child at home time. Dogs Parents are reminded that, for reasons of health and safety, dogs should not be brought onto the premises, whether walking or carried, however cute! No Smoking In line with national legislation, the school is a no smoking area. This includes all areas within the school perimeter. Bikes and Scooters Whilst we encourage children to cycle to school, for safety reasons we ask that bikes and scooters are dismounted at the school gate and walked onto the premises.

Admissions Starting School and Admission Arrangements Children are normally admitted to our school at the beginning of the academic year (September) in which they are five years old. This is their Reception year and is part of the Early Years Foundation Stage of learning. The school keeps admission registers and confidential information relating to individual children. Admission forms are available from the school office. A comprehensive Pre-School Development Programme has been established at St. Nicholas School. It is designed to guide parents in understanding and developing the Early Learning Skills that their child will need when starting school. Pre-School Activity Packs have been compiled for parents and children to use together, in an enjoyable, informative and educationally progressive way. Each pack has been carefully planned for the graded development of essential skills and is available during the induction period. This Pre-School Induction programme to develop awareness of school life, confidence and knowledge and exchange of information is ongoing throughout the Summer Term. The Pre-School contacts have proved invaluable in establishing a happy, confident and informed start for both parents and children. Parents considering admission are welcome to view the school by appointment with the Headteacher. We look forward to welcoming you to St. Nicholas C of E Primary School.

St. Nicholas C of E Primary School School Road, Marton Moss, Blackpool. FY4 5DS Tel: (01253) 608900

Fax: (01253) 608901

ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS September 2016 Making an application Applications for admission to the school for September 2016 should be made on the common application form enclosed with the Local Authority’s brochure, or on the Local Authority’s website, between 1 st September 2015 and 15th January 2016. It is not normally possible to change the order of your preferences for schools after the closing date. Parents must complete the Local Authority application form for the Local Authority in which they live (normally Blackpool or Lancashire), stating three preferences. Parents who wish their application to this Church school to be considered against the faith criteria should also complete the appropriate questions on the common application form. If the school is oversubscribed, a failure to answer these questions may result in your application for a place in this school being considered against lower priority criteria as the Governing Body will have no information upon which to assess the worship attendance. Applications may also be made on-line by using the common application form. Letters informing parents of whether or not their child has been allocated a place will be sent out by the Local Authority on 16 th April 2016. Parents of children not admitted will be informed of the reason and offered an alternative place by the Authority. Admission procedures Arrangements for admission have been agreed following consultation between the governing body, the Diocesan Board of Education, Local Authorities and other admissions authorities in the area. The number of places available for admission to the Reception class in the year 2016/17 will be a maximum of 60. The governing body will not place any restrictions on admissions to the reception class unless the number of children for whom admission is sought exceeds their admission number. By law, no infant class may contain more than thirty children. The Governing Body operates a system of equal preferences under which they consider all preferences equally and the Local Authority notifies parents of the result. In the event that there are more applicants than places, after admitting all children with a statement of educational need naming the school, the governing 31

body will allocate places using the criteria below, which are listed in order of priority. 1.

(a) Children in public care and previously looked after children. This includes any "looked after child" and any child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, a residence order / child arrangement order or special guardianship order. (b) Children with special medical or social circumstances affecting the child where these needs can only be met at this school. Professional supporting evidence from a professional, e.g. a doctor, psychologist, social worker, is essential if admission is to be made under the criterion for special medical or social circumstances, and such evidence must set out the particular reasons why the school is question is the most suitable school and the difficulties which would be caused if the child had to attend another school.

Children who have a sibling attending the school on the date of application and on the date of admission. (Siblings include step, half, foster, adopted brothers and sisters living at the same address.)

Children with a parent/guardian worshipping in a church in full membership of Churches Together in England. "Parental worshipping" is normally taken to mean a minimum of 12 attendances at church at public worship for over 12 months in the period leading up to the 1st September 2015. The governors will request confirmation of this from the relevant member of the clergy or church officer. The lists of Churches can be found on the Churches Together in England website at cte.org.uk; lists are taken as on 1 st September 2015. Churches in membership of the equivalent bodies to CTE in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are equally accepted.

Other children

Tie break Where there are more applicants for the available places within a category, then the distance between the Ordnance Survey address points for the school and the home measured in a straight line will be used as the final determining factor, nearer addresses having priority over more distant ones. This address point is within the body of the property and usually located at its centre. Where the cut off point is for addresses within the same building, then the single measure between address points will apply and the Local Authority's system of a random draw will determine which address(es) receive the offer(s). Admissions information In 2014, there were 130 applications for 60 places. Information regarding applications for places in 2015 will be available in May 2015. 32

Late applications for admission Where there are extenuating circumstances for an application being received after the last date for applications, and it is before the governors have established their list of pupils to be admitted, then it will be considered alongside all the others. Otherwise, applications which are received after the last date will be considered after all the others, and placed on the waiting list in order according to the criteria. Waiting list Where we have more applications than places, the admissions criteria will be used. Children who are not admitted will have their name placed on a waiting list. The names on this waiting list will be in the order resulting from the application of the admissions criteria. Since the date of application cannot be a criterion for the order of names on the waiting list, late applicants for the school will be slotted into the order according to the extent to which they meet the criteria. Thus it is possible that a child who moves into the area later to have a higher priority than one who has been on the waiting list for some time. If a place becomes available within the admission number, the child whose name is at the top of the list will be offered a place. This is not dependent on whether an appeal has been submitted. This waiting list will operate for the full autumn term. Address of pupil The address used on the school’s admission form must be the current one at the time of application, i.e. the family’s main residence. If the address changes subsequently, the parents should notify the school. Where the parents live at different addresses, and there is shared parenting, the address used will normally be the one where the child wakes up for the majority of Monday to Friday mornings. If there is any doubt about this, then the address of the Child Benefit recipient will be used. Parents may be asked to show evidence of the claim that is being made for the address, e.g. identity cards of various sorts showing the child’s address as the one claimed. Where there is dispute about the correct address to use, the governors reserve the right to make enquiries of any relevant third parties, e.g. the child’s GP, Council Tax Office, Electoral Registration Officer, utilities provider. For children of UK Service personnel and other Crown Servants returning to the area proof of the posting is all that is required. Non-routine admissions It sometimes happens that a child needs to change school other than at the “normal” time; such admissions are known as non-routine or in-year admissions. Parents wishing their child to attend this school should arrange to visit the school to discuss this and then submit an “In Year Application Form” to the Admissions Team. If there is a place in the appropriate class, then your child will be admitted. If there is no place, then the governing body will have to refuse the application but information will be provided about how to appeal against this refusal. 33

If your family is moving house, your application and appeal will be considered as being made from your old address until you provide suitable evidence of a permanent change of address, e.g. exchange of contracts on your house purchase or the signed tenancy agreement and rent book for your new address. Please note that you cannot re-appeal for a place at a school within the same school year unless there has been relevant, significant and material change in the family circumstances. Appeals Where the governors are unable to offer a place because the school is oversubscribed, parents have the right to appeal to an independent admission appeal panel, set up under the School Standards and Framework Act, 1998, as amended by the Education Act, 2002. Parents will have the opportunity to submit their case to the panel in writing and also to attend in order to present their case. You will normally receive 14 days’ notice of the place and time of the hearing. Fraudulent applications Where the governing body discovers that a child has been awarded a place as the result of an intentionally misleading application from a parent (for example a false claim to residence in the catchment area or of involvement in a place of worship) which effectively denies a place to a child with a stronger claim, then the governing body is required to withdraw the offer of the place. The application will be considered afresh and a right of appeal offered if a place is refused. Deferred admission If your child is due to start school during the next academic year, it is important that you apply for a place for September. If your child’s fifth birthday is between the months of September and December, then, if you wish it, admission may be deferred until January; if it is between January and April, then admission may be deferred until the start of the summer term though it is likely to be in your child’s interest to start no later than January. Twins, etc. Where there are twins, etc. wanting admission and there is only a single place left within the admission number, then the governing body will exercise as much flexibility as possible within the requirements of infant class sizes. In exceptional circumstances cases we are now able to offer places for both twins and all triplets, even when this means breaching infant class size limits.

Clergy Reference Form Admission to primary school, 2016 St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Blackpool. Name of child: Surname . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christian names . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Date of birth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Boy

Girl

Name of parent/guardian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . Address . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Post code . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Telephone . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mobile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . This parent has given your name as a reference for his/her commitment to the church. According to our admissions policy, "Parental worshipping" is normally taken to mean a minimum of 12 attendances at church at public worship for over 12 months in the period leading up to the 1 st September 2015. How often does he/she attend public worship in your church? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ……………………………………………………………………………………………… For how long has this been his/her pattern prior to 1st September 2015? . . . . . . . . ……………………………………………………………………………………………… Signed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Date: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Position . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Please return this form to . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

The Most Valuable Thing You Can Give Your Child Is Your Time Try to spend some time every day with your child doing each of the following things: Talking to him / her Listening to him / her Reading to him / her Singing to him / her Playing with him / her Showing him / her things of interest Letting him / her show YOU things of interest Do all these things with: Patience

•

Tolerance

•

Praise

•

Approval

•

Encouragement

How to Help your Child Contact school with any worries you have concerning your child

Keep school informed of change of address

Get to know the class teacher

Support school by discussing acceptable and non-acceptable behaviour

Show an interest in books, let your child read to you and share stories together

Let your child attend educational trips and visits – they are part of school life

Encourage independence in getting dressed

Encourage your child to complete their homework

Come to Parents Evenings

Support your child by attending class assemblies

Contact school when your child is absent

Play games involving numbers

Let the school know of any medical conditions

Get your child to school on time

Make sure your child gets plenty of sleep

Come to special events & occasions whenever able

Play games with your child

Take an interest in the school day

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development If a child lives with criticism he learns to condemn. If a child lives with hostility he learns to fight. If a child lives with ridicule he learns to be shy. If a child lives with shame he learns to feel guilty. BUT If a child lives with tolerance he learns to be patient. If a child lives with encouragement he learns to be confident. If a child lives with praise he learns to appreciate. If a child lives with fairness he learns to be just. If a child lives with security he learns to have faith. If a child lives with approval he learns to like himself. If a child lives with acceptance he learns to find love and friendship in the world.

Pupil Attendance Below are the attendance figures for 2012-13. Figures may not total 100 per cent because of rounding.

% actual attendance

% authorised absence

% unauthorised absence

St Nicholas C E Primary

95.0

2.9

2.1

Blackpool LA

95.8

2.7

1.4

England

96.2

3.1

0.7

KS1 COMPARATIVE REPORT This table shows a summary of the National Curriculum assessment results of pupils in the school (2014) and nationally (2013) at the end of Key Stage 1, as a percentage of those eligible for assessment. The number of eligible children is: 60 Figures may not total 100 per cent because of rounding.

RESULTS OF TEACHER ASSESSMENT Percentage at each level

Boys

Speaking & Listening

Girls

All

Boys

Reading

Girls

All

Boys

Girls

Writing

All

Boys

Mathematics

Girls

All

Boys

Science

Girls

All

1. 2. 4. 5. 6.

Disapplied Children

Absent Children

School

National

School

National

School

National

School

National

School

National

School

National

School

National

School

National

School

National

School

National

School

National

School

National

School

National

School

National

School

National

Includes all schools with pupils eligible for assessment at Key Stage 1. Participation by independent schools is voluntary, therefore only includes results from those independent schools which chose to make a return and which met the statutory standards for assessment and moderation. Speaking and Listening and Science subjects do not report level 2A, 2B and 2C, only level 2. These are shown in the 2B column for the purposes of this table. Absent and Disapplied are not reported in science main level but are reported as U (unable). These are shown in the disapplied column for the purposes of this table. ‘-‘ represents ‘Not Applicable’. ‘x’ indicates a figure not shown in order to protect confidentiality.

KS2 COMPARATIVE REPORT These tables show the percentage of Year 6 pupils achieving each level in 2014, compared to national end of Key Stage 2 Teacher Assessment Levels and Test Results for 2013. The number of eligible children is: 48 Figures may not total 100 per cent because of rounding.

TEACHER ASSESSMENTS Percentage at each level

English

Mathematics

Science

School

National

School

National

School

National

TEST RESULTS Percentage at each level Grammar Punctuation & Spelling* Reading

Mathematics

A B D N T W

School

National

School

National

School

National

represents pupils who were absent. represents pupils who were working below the level of the test. represents pupils who have been disapplied from the national curriculum. represents pupils who took the tests but failed to register a level. represents pupils working at the level of the assessment but unable to access the test. represents pupils who were working towards but have not yet achieved the standards needed for level 1.

Diocese of Blackburn Inspection October 2010 “The distinctiveness and effectiveness of Blackpool St Nicholas as a Church of England school are outstanding.” “St Nicholas is an outstanding Church of England School with a very distinctive Christian ethos. There is a recently established and inspiring leadership team, enjoying excellent support from the Governing Body and all members of staff. The vicar and Parochial Church Council members of St Christopher’s church (the joint benefice of St Christopher and St Nicholas) are closely involved in the realisation of the school’s Christian witness, which is very effective.”

“St Nicholas is an outstanding Church school with a strong and distinctive Christian ethos.” “Collective Worship is of the highest quality and reflects the school’s distinctive Christian character. It is outstanding.” “The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the school as a church school is outstanding.” Quote from the parent survey: “This school is everything to my children”.

“The school lives its mission statement. It is a God centred environment where every individual is respected.” (SIAS report October 2010 Blackpool St Nicholas CE Primary School)

OFSTED INSPECTION – December 2013 What the inspectors said about St. Nicholas Church of England Primary School………………….

“The quality of teaching is improving and there are examples of good and outstanding teaching across the school.”

“Pupils are polite and considerate. They show respect for one another and the adults around them.”

“The curriculum provides a range of exciting enrichment activities and spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness

is well developed.”

“Behaviour is good and pupils feel safe because they know they are well cared for.”

St. Nicholas C of E Primary School HOME AND SCHOOL AGREEMENT St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, working closely with parents, aims to provide all children with a complete and comprehensive education, maximising potential to ensure that all children make outstanding progress in academic, social and emotional areas of learning, in order to be the best that we can be! The school will: ♦ Encourage learning by providing a welcoming, friendly and purposeful environment in which Christian values are central to the ethos of the school. ♦ Provide a broad and balanced curriculum to meet the needs of each child. ♦ Inform parents of their children's progress at regular parents' evenings and send a written report at the end of each school year. ♦ Provide homework for all children as outlined in our school Homework Policy (copies available from school). ♦ Use our financial resources wisely and well for the benefit of all the children in school. ♦ School will endeavour to create safe environment where children feel happy and secure. Parents / Guardians will: ♦ Make sure the child is punctual, attends school regularly and will notify the school as early as possible on the first day of a child's absence. ♦ Support and respect the school staff and policies on discipline, homework, uniform, jewellery and medicines and advise the school of any health or relevant family problems ♦ Attend Parents' Evenings to discuss their child's progress. ♦ Encourage their child(ren) to read a wide range of reading materials regularly, share stories and listen to the child read aloud as requested by the class teacher. ♦ Ensure that their child does not have access to inappropriate online or digital games and content including social networking. The child will: 43

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Respect people and property. Complete given tasks in class and homework carefully and on time. Wear school uniform with pride. Be friendly and polite.

Together we will: ♦ Nurture links between home, school and the local community to cultivate the foundations of mutual respect and responsibility. ♦ Support each child and help him / her to develop his / her full potential. Name of Pupil ……………………………………………….

Signed …………………………………………..……………… (Pupil)

Signed…………………………………………………….…...… (Parent) Signed …………………………………………..……………... (Headteacher)

SCHOOL TERM DATES STANDARD SCHOOL YEAR: SCHOOL TERMS AND HOLIDAYS FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2014/2015 Schools to identify 5 INSET dates from within those days marked as WORKING DAYS

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

SEPTEMBER 1 8 15 22 29 2 9 16 23 30 3 10 17 24 4 11 18 25 5 12 19 26 6 13 20 27 7 14 21 28

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

MARCH 9 16 23 30 10 17 24 31 11 18 25 12 19 26 13 20 27 14 21 28 15 22 29

OCTOBER 6 13 20 7 14 21 1 8 15 22 2 9 16 23 3 10 17 24 4 11 18 25 5 12 19 26

APRIL 6 13 7 14 1 8 15 2 9 16 3 10 17 4 11 18 5 12 19

NOVEMBER 3 10 17 24 4 11 18 25 5 12 19 26 6 13 20 27 7 14 21 28 1 8 15 22 29 2 9 16 23 30

27 28 29 30 31

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30

MAY 4 11 18 5 12 19 6 13 20 7 14 21 1 8 15 22 2 9 16 23 3 10 17 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Bank Holidays Other Holidays Working Days Weekends

DECEMBER 1 8 15 22 29 2 9 16 23 30 3 10 17 24 31 4 11 18 25 5 12 19 26 6 13 20 27 7 14 21 28

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

JUNE 8 15 9 16 10 17 11 18 12 19 13 20 14 21

Term Four Term Five Term Six Total

JULY 6 13 7 14 1 8 15 2 9 16 3 10 17 4 11 18 5 12 19

22 29 23 30 24 25 26 27 28

Term One Term Two Term Three

INSET

JANUARY 5 12 19 6 13 20 7 14 21 1 8 15 22 2 9 16 23 3 10 17 24 4 11 18 25

40 35 30 25 29 36 195

FEBRUARY 2 9 16 23 3 10 17 24 4 11 18 25 5 12 19 26 6 13 20 27 7 14 21 28 1 8 15 22

26 27 28 29 30 31

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

AUGUST 3 10 17 4 11 18 5 12 19 6 13 20 7 14 21 1 8 15 22 2 9 16 23

24 31 25 26 27 28 29 30

Blackpool Education Committee â&#x20AC;&#x201C; School ED24 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; DfE Number 890 3620

The Diocesan Board of Education Church House Cathedral Close Blackburn BB1 5AA 01254 503070 Blackpool Council PO Box 4 Blackpool FY1 1NA 01253 477477

Note All the information in this booklet relates to the school year 2014-15 unless otherwise specifically stated. However, situations may change, either before or during this academic year, and it is subject to modification without notice.