Prospectus
Read about our School
INTRODUCTION
The children, staff and Governors of Brookside Primary School would like to welcome you and your family to our school. We hope that your child/children will be happy with us and enjoy their time as members of our school community.
This brochure has been prepared to provide you with information about our school. If after reading it you have any queries or wish for further information concerning aspects of school life, please contact the school. We welcome visitors in school to see us at work.
We aim to provide a happy learning environment where we encourage our pupils to aim for their highest possible standards in all they do.
To provide the best possible education for your child we seek your support. Working together in partnership school and home provide a sound base for learning. There will be many opportunities in the future for you to visit the school and we hope, share in our activities. We look forward to seeing you.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SCHOOL
Brookside is a community primary co-educational day school for children from the ages of four to eleven years old and is part of Stockport Children and Young People’s Directorate. It is a happy, friendly school and you are welcome to visit at any time. The school is situated in its own grounds on the outskirts of High Lane. There are two large playgrounds, excellent playing fields and gardens surrounding the school. We are extremely proud of our links with the local community and the after school activities that take place here. Our Choir and two Brass bands perform regularly at school and in the local community.
The school dates from1967 and is a modern comfortable building, consisting of seven classrooms, a staff room, a resource base classroom, an ICT suite and a large hall which is used for assembly meetings, physical education lessons, a dining room and for concerts. Good quality meals are prepared on-site in the kitchen. Administrative rooms are situated on the right of the main entrance and include the offices of the School Business Manager and Headteacher. The school has well-stocked fiction and non-fiction libraries. Interactive Whiteboard technology is used by all children and is a fantastic learning resource. There is an Interactive Whiteboard in every classroom and also in our ICT suite.
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· There were 157 children on roll in March 2011. · A pre-school group is run at school each day (Nursery classes) · A before and after school care club runs daily (Playworx) · Both groups are housed in a dedicated building in the school grounds. · There is a thriving, weekly stay-and-play session for babies and toddlers. · There are several lunchtime and after school clubs, children are encouraged to attend. · We issue a weekly newsletter to parents (Brookside Bugle) to keep everyone informed about our curriculum and school events. |
(Photo C&YPD Extended Schools Newsletter Spring Term) “Enjoying the parent & toddler group at Brookside Primary”
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OFSTED INSPECTION REPORT OCTOBER 2009
“Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the school”
EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE
“Due to strong leadership, children achieve well during their time in the Early Years Foundation Stage”
OFSTED IDENTIFIED BROOKSIDE AS OUTSTANDING IN
Outcomes for individuals and groups of pupils.
The quality of learning for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and their progress.
Pupils' behaviour.
The extent to which pupils adopt healthy lifestyles.
The extent to which pupils contribute to the school and wider community.
The extent to which pupils develop workplace and other skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being.
The effectiveness of care, guidance and support.
The effectiveness of the school's engagement with parents and carers.
The effectiveness of partnerships in promoting learning and well-being.
The effectiveness with which the school promotes equality of opportunity and tackles discrimination.
The full OFSTED report is available to read on our School Website
OUR SCHOOL ETHOS, VISION and MISSION
“Every Child can succeed”
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OUR ETHOS Quality Respect Support Improvement Challenge
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OUR VISION Successful learners Confident individuals Effective contributors Responsible citizens We aspire for every member of the
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OUR Everyone at Provide a warm, stimulating and secure environment for our children Encourage, value and extend every child’s contribution to school Recognise and celebrate success in everyone Provide a broad, balanced, enriched, creative, challenging curriculum Build strong collaborative partnerships with families and the local community Encourage and enable the continuous professional development of all the staff
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OUR CORE VALUES Kindness, good manners, fairness, respect, patience, loyalty, sharing, responsibility, listening, inclusion. Agree with and always remember our ‘Golden Rules’
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STAFF
Mrs Maxine Holmes
Headteacher
Teaching Staff
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Mr Richard Tavernor |
Deputy Head (KS2) |
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Mrs Lindsay Warner |
Resource Inclusion Manager |
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Mr Mark Aherne |
KS2 |
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Mrs Sarah Williamson |
KS2 |
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Mrs Sarah Dale |
KS1 |
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Miss Fiona Ramsbottom |
KS1 |
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Mrs Anita Cullen |
Reception |
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Mrs Beth Bollington |
PPA cover |
Support Staff
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Mrs Gillian Officer |
School Business Manager |
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Mrs Kathy Davies |
Secretary / Midday Supervisor |
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Mrs Petra Pearce |
Teaching Assistant |
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Mrs Alison Gadd |
Teaching Assistant |
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Mr Barry Campbell |
Site Manager |
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Mrs Nicholla Southward |
School Cook |
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Mrs Rita Campbell |
Kitchen Staff |
Resource School Integration Assistants
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Mrs Kathy Birchenough |
Mrs Andrea Berndt |
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Ms Rachel Bowling |
Mrs Stephanie Wright |
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Mrs Lois Wych |
Mrs Sue Pogson |
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Mrs Loret Clarke |
Mrs Karen Astbury |
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Mrs Alison Phillips |
Mrs Sara Shiels |
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Mrs Sylvia Shore |
Mrs Suzanne Lord |
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Mrs Maria Shaw |
Mrs Elaine Pilkington |
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OUR GOVERNING BODY
The Governing Body at Brookside is made up of representatives of the Staff, Parents and the Community as well as having some members appointed by the Local Authority (L.A.)
They are all volunteers who give up their free time to ensure that the school is managed effectively and to the benefit of all of the children.
The Governors have various legal responsibilities and duties. They are responsible for the effective management of the school, for the school budget and for Health and Safety. They help to set- and to monitor – the school philosophy and policies.
Governors do not make detailed day-to-day decisions about the running of the school: this is the role of the Headteacher, supported by the Staff.
The Chair of governors can be contacted here
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Headteacher Governor Non-teaching Staff Governor |
Community Governors |
Parent Governors |
OUR CHILDREN
As a school, we will be aiming to provide for the development of the whole child.
We encourage children to be actively involved in their learning. Quality teaching and learning opportunities will support individual needs and encourage children to identify future learning targets. We are proud to offer a broad and balanced curriculum to all children.
We provide a caring, stimulating environment, where children feel valued as individuals and where everyone has a role to play in the life of the school. We hope that it is a place where adults and children alike can reach their full potential. Equal opportunities are provided for all children, regardless of gender, race, religion or special needs.
In our school, children are encouraged to fulfil their potential intellectually, physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually. We aim to produce well-rounded individuals who have the skills and positive attitude to maximize all opportunities presented to them, so they can enjoy life to the full.
HOME SCHOOL ASSOSIATION, BROOKSIDE PTA
The Brookside PTA is the Parent / Teacher Association for Brookside Primary School, and is involved not only in raising funds for the benefit of all of the children who attend the school, but also actively seeks to develop links between everyone involved with the life of the school.
Fund raising has taken on many forms over the past few years including: Christmas Fair (with its famous Santa’s Grotto!), Summer Fair, Children’s Discos, Fashion Show, Race Night, and a Promise Auction
All parents of children attending the school and all people employed at the school are automatically members of the PTA. Parents are invited to come along to find out more about how it is organized at the Annual General Meeting which is held in October. Many parents, who are not able to commit themselves regularly, help at various events and we are grateful for their support.
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Children’s Disco and Summer Fair Fun organised by the PTA
PLAYWORX: BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE
Many parents enquire about before and after school care for their children. PLAYWORX is run by an independent organisation which works closely with the school. The club is registered with Ofsted.
The Club offers excellent childcare, based in our dedicated building on the school premises. Please take a special pack with all of the detailed information you will require.
In term-time, PLAYWORX is open between the hours of:
7.45am - 9.00am
and
3.15pm - 6.00pm
The PLAYWORX also runs an established Play Scheme during the school holidays.
Each session is supervised by reliable staff, well-accustomed to caring for children. All of the Staff are fully trained and have child care qualifications.
A range of activities is available, including games, craft and outside play. A quiet area is set aside for homework and reading. A drink and a light snack are provided.
The service is offered primarily to regular users, but occasional users who are registered with the Club are welcome, space permitting. Requests for occasional use should be made with payment on the previous day, wherever possible.
The Club Organisers wish to assure parents that our aim is to provide a homely atmosphere for the children. Stimulation, together with recreation, should make the time spent with us as happy and harmonious as possible for all concerned.
Contact Number for enquiries 01457 865452
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BUSY BEES Pre-school
grounds of Brookside Primary School.
Busy Bees aim is to provide a happy secure and stimulating environment in which children are able to learn through experience and structured play.
Busy Bees is currently open five days per week 9am – 3pm (Term Time only). Children are accepted from the age of 2 yrs 9 months.
Busy Bees is an accredited Pre-school registered with OFSTED. We are able to deliver the government Nursery Education Grant which provides ALL children with up to 15 hrs of FREE nursery education per week commencing the term after their third birthday. Extra hours can be purchased to provide full time quality nursery care to suit all requirements.
Contact Number for enquiries 01663 767879
Wrap around care is also available in conjunction with the before and after school club PLAYWORX (e.g. 8am – 9am and 3pm – 6pm during term time)
BABY & TODDLER
We have very popular sessions run from 9.15 – 11.00 am (term time) in the school hall, every WEDNESDAY. These sessions aim to provide excellent play opportunities for parents and pre-school children.
There is the sole use of toilet facilities and a baby changing area. Tea, coffee and healthy, organic snacks are available during the session. There is a small charge is to cover expenses (e.g. insurance, refreshments, equipment and rent) as the group is run purely on a voluntary basis.
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SCHOOL ORGANISATION
The school is organised according to the numbers of children admitted each year. We currently have six mixed ability classes of infant to junior age range. It is school policy to keep class sizes as small as possible, particularly with the younger children, and in order to achieve this, classes with 'overlapping age groups' are sometimes necessary.
CLASS ORGANISATION
Classes are not only organised by age and year groups, the academic ability of children can also be taken into account. There is always a spread of ability in any class and work is given according to the child's individual development. Teachers use a combination of individual, group, and whole class teaching as appropriate to the subject and to meet the needs of all the children. Class organisation is considered carefully every year. Personal academic targets are set at the start of each year (Headteacher and class teacher) for every child and their progress is carefully tracked over the 7 years they are at Brookside.
There are two play trails, one for the infants and one for the Juniors.
THE SCHOOL DAY
Times of the day:
Start of the day 8.55am
Morning Break 10.25am to 10.40am
Lunchtime 12.00 noon to 1.00pm
Afternoon break (Key Stage 1) 2.00pm - 2.15pm
End of school 3.15pm
Children should not be at school in the morning before 8.45am unless attending Playworx.
The total hours spent on teaching, including religious education, but excluding the daily act of worship, registration and breaks are as follows :-
Infants: 22 hours 30 minutes
Juniors: 23 hours 45 minutes
At the start of the day;
We want the children to hang up their own coats and sort out their own lunch boxes and snacks. The focus will be on the children’s learning from the very start of each and every day.
Parents should leave their children at the entrance doorway or classroom door, where their teacher will be waiting to receive them.
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ATTENDANCE
The Education Act states that parents have the primary responsibility for ensuring that children of compulsory school age receive a suitable education. We ask parents to support school in promoting good attendance by:
Ensuring that children attend school regularly and arrive on time.
All children should arrive at school at 8.55am ready for registration at 9.00am. Please ensure that your child arrives at school on time so that we can check registers and lunch numbers efficiently and so that s/he doesn't miss any of the first lesson. Children arriving after 9.00am will be marked 'late' in the register and after 9.30am this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence. If your child is going to be unavoidably late we would appreciate a phone call to this effect.
If your child is ill please contact the school on the first morning of absence. If a call has not been received by 9.30am, the school office staff will call, for safety reasons, to find out the reason for your child not being in school.
When your child returns to school ensure that a note is provided confirming the reason for absence.
Notes concerning dental, clinic, doctor or hospital appointments should be sent in the day before to inform the class teacher. Children will not be allowed to leave school unless collected by a designated adult, and the class teacher informed. Parents should sign their child in and out of school at the office if they have to be absent during the course of a day.
At Brookside we have a responsibility to work with the LA and the Education Welfare Service to ensure that children attend school. We are required to inform the LA if a pupil fails to attend or is late regularly and if no reason for absence is provided.
FAMILY HOLIDAYS IN TERM TIME
Pupil absence during term time can seriously disrupt their continuity of learning.
Government guidance states that “Parents should not normally take pupils on holiday in term time” and “School can only agree to absence for a family holiday if they believe there are exceptional circumstances that warrant it”. The guidance also says that the availability of cheaper holidays in term time, or overlapping with the beginning or end of term are not good reasons for term holidays to be allowed.
If it is unavoidable for parents / carers to take a holiday they must complete a holiday request form BEFORE any booking is made and meet with the Headteacher to discuss the circumstances. It is rare for holidays to be authorised.
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The school offers a wide range of additional activities either at lunchtime or after school. Some activities are available to all children from Year 2 upwards whilst others are restricted to particular year groups. Parents are advised on the availability and timing of clubs each term.
Activities organised voluntarily by staff, include:
Football, Wake-up / shake-up, Cricket, Athletics, Art club, Computer club, Rounder’s, Maths Club (Mathletics) Cross Country, Brass band – senior and junior, Choir, Country dancing, Guitars, Drama, Chess, Science, Gardening, Board Games.
A small charge is made for other clubs available e.g. the gymnastics club, lacrosse, judo…..these are run by outside staff.
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SCHOOL COUNCIL
This is our “Pupil Voice” where our children have the opportunity to offer ideas for improving the school. Our School Council meets every half term with the Deputy Headteacher, to discuss issues arising from the classroom, playground or any aspect of school life. At the start of every school year, each class votes for a boy and girl to represent them on the School Council. There is an expectation that councillors will ensure that their behaviour; presentation and attitudes is a model for the rest of the school. At Brookside, the school council is consulted on a wide range of school policies and developments. They also work hard with their peer groups to organise fund raising events for “Help for Heroes” this year’s chosen charity.
School Council
SPORT
Pupils at Brookside are encouraged to take part in a variety of sporting activities. During PE lessons the principals of competitive and non-competitive games are taught from the earliest age. As they progress through the school, pupils have the opportunity to play football, netball, hockey, cricket, rounders and tennis. Year 6 pupils are able to use the facilities at Woodside Tennis Club in the summer term. Swimming tuition is available to all Key Stage 2 pupils and athletics is also taught.
Football, Lacrosse and basket ball clubs meet in the autumn and spring terms and take part in matches. The school swimming team competes in the Stockport East Area Annual Gala and for the last four years the school has taken part in the Swimathon organised by the local Rotary club. The school organises lacrosse lessons, judo and a gym club is held at school once a week. The Year Two Infants attend a Multi-Sports festival each year.
During the summer term we offer rounders, athletics and we hold our annual sports day for parents to attend.
HOMEWORK
All children have weekly homework. This is an excellent way to promote the partnership between school and home and we expect you to support your child with this.
All children have a reading record book. We ask you to hear your child read, ask them questions about the book and write a comment on a regular basis, in their reading record booklet.
Each piece of homework will be reinforcing something already taught in class. Your child’s class teacher will explain the arrangements for ‘setting’ homework at the ‘Welcome Evening’ in September.
In setting homework we aim to:
Ø Promote positive attitudes to work and school
Ø Raise achievement of all pupils
Ø Consolidate and reinforce skills and understanding in literacy and numeracy and across the curriculum
Ø Encourage and develop independent learning and increase self discipline
Ø Develop the home/school partnership
Ø Prepare children for secondary transfer in Year 6.
Our homework policy recognises the need for children of primary age to have time after school for other activities and social occasions. All children are encouraged to read at home and to keep a reading record and we ask parents to help with this as well as helping children to learn tables and spellings.
Children in Years 1 and 2 also take home spellings to learn.
From Year 3 teachers ask for other work to be done or completed at home; this may include language, maths and science activities, researching and collecting evidence, topic work or activities designed for individual children.
The varying amounts of time children are expected to work at home increases from Year 3, and follows national guidelines.
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THE CURRICULUM
The curriculum of a school refers to the many activities designed to promote the intellectual, social, physical and personal development of its pupils. In addition to the formal teaching sessions in a day, it includes the ‘hidden’ curriculum: the relationships and values evident in the ethos of the school.
EARLY YEARS RECEPTION
Most children have their first experience of school in our Early Years (Reception) class. The experienced and caring staff provides a warm and welcoming learning environment for our young pupils. Children learn important skills whilst involved in structured play activities; developing imagination, curiosity, patience, concentration and the ability to co-operate with others.
When children join us in Reception, they follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum, which covers the six areas of learning. These are:
Personal, social and emotional development
Communication, language and literacy
Mathematical development
Knowledge and understanding of the world
Physical development
Creative development
“Outdoor education, what ever the weather
This provides the foundation upon which all other learning is based. As children move from Reception into Year 1 and until they leave us at the end of Year 6, we follow the published requirements of the National Curriculum in the core subjects.
Thanks to the Big Lottery, Brookside Primary has a stunning canopy to support the children’s outdoor education. This is an extension to the learning environment, enabling learning through play to take place no matter what the weather is doing!
Already reception has held a Royal Wedding street party under it, usual lessons, wet playtimes, planting, creative play, construction etc. The Reception class pupils are delighted to have the benefit of this new ‘outdoor’ covered classroom area.
ENGLISH CURRICULUM
Speaking and Listening, Reading, Writing, Spelling and Handwriting make up the English Curriculum. Where appropriate, literacy teaching is linked to work in other areas of the curriculum.
We encourage children to take part in a range of activities to increase their ability to listen carefully and express themselves clearly. The activities include story time, drama and discussion.
Writing begins with lots of pencil control activities which lead to letter patterns and develops into “joined” handwriting. Children are taught to form letters correctly and to develop a high personal standard of presentation. Children will be given the opportunity to write for a variety of purposes. This will include their own stories and poems, descriptive accounts and other forms of factual writing. They are taught spelling, grammar and punctuation. They are also to taught to plan, draft, revise and edit their own writing.
We aim to encourage children to become successful and enthusiastic readers. We teach a range of strategies to enable the children to get at the meaning of a text. We use a range of books and materials for the teaching of reading. This includes fiction, non-fiction and a wide variety of reading schemes. Children are taught basic decoding and spelling skills and to develop their knowledge of context and grammar. Information-seeking skills are taught in conjunction with topic work.
Children are encouraged to borrow books from our school library and to use the library for their own research. A book fair is held at school each term
We take great care to match the teaching and learning to the needs of each individual whatever their ability level. Children are set regular targets for achievement and these are closely monitored. We are proud of our levels of attainment and particularly of our ‘value added’ scores for all children.
MATHEMATICS CURRICULUM
Maths is a major form of communication in the modern world and we aim to help our children enjoy the subject and develop confidence in their ability to use it in a range of different settings. Our children spend at least one hour per day working on maths using the Primary Strategy backed by other activities that help the children further understand the concepts of time, shape, space, money, measure, algebra and graphical representation.
Parents are encouraged to develop practical Maths skills at home. Activities such as practical counting, weighing and measuring, playing board games, doing puzzles and investigations as well as more formal practice in mental arithmetic, are of enormous value. Parents are given advice about appropriate activities to do at home for each of the different year groups at school. Mathletics is an on-line maths challenge for children in Y2 to Y6 and is very popular with both children and parents.
SCIENCE CURRICULUM
Science is a natural and fundamental part of our lives and can be regarded as ‘organised curiosity’. Its study helps children to understand and respect the world around them.
From an early age children ask questions about their environment and our Science curriculum builds on this, encouraging children to ask questions, suggest ideas, test them out and evaluate and record their findings. We aim to develop enquiring minds and a scientific way of thinking.
Science is generally approached through subject specific lessons .The children follow a wide programme of study meeting all the requirements of the National Curriculum and based on the QCA Scheme of Work.
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
The school has a well resourced central technology suite as well as a range of computers, software and audiovisual equipment in each classroom. Every child has access to a computer and is introduced to its different uses including word processing, control technology, simulations and data handling as well as to some of the social implications of Information Technology. The children will be introduced to most aspects of Information Technology through thematic work.
Every classroom has an Interactive Whiteboard to ensure that ICT is used to support and develop learning in all curriculum subjects. It also supports teachers’ assessment work. Our Internet access is via Broadband. Its use is carefully supervised and also electronically screened to ensure only appropriate material is accessible.
PERSONAL, SOCIAL, HEALTH AND CITIZENSHIP
We believe that there are many areas of knowledge and understanding that lie outside the National Curriculum. In particular, the personal and social development of the children is an area that has become an increasingly important part of children’s education. In order to allow individuals friendship groups and classes to react to, and cope with, the pressures of the world around them, we allow time for talk, discussion and reflection so that everyone knows that they are important and that their opinions are valued.
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Healthy School: We cycle to school
Circle time allows children to participate as partners in the process of developing responsibility for their own behaviour and learning. It aims to encourage the development of self-esteem, interpersonal skills and strengthen relationships; whilst at the same time allows all involved to have fun together. This forms an integral part of our discipline policy and pastoral support for the children.
* Family / personal relationships
* Appropriate behaviour and language
We invite all parents to view the materials and films and discuss the projects prior to their commencement so that the children can share this work with their parents. Parents have the right to withdraw their child from sex education if they wish.
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
This subject is concerned with practical action, and it draws on knowledge and understanding from a wide range of other subject areas. It gives children the chance to become aware of the ways in which technology changes their homes and lifestyles.
From an early age children are given opportunities to handle a variety of materials and are encouraged to design and make finished products. During this process the children learn the skills of researching, planning, recording and evaluating. This subject is taught within the context of our thematic work.
HUMANITIES
Our aim in teaching History and Geography throughout the school is for the children to develop an interest in, and an understanding of, the changes and developments in the world around them. We believe in working from a child's own experiences e.g. tracing back through their family, finding out about where they live, finding out about their school, and then widening this to include the nearest town and places they visit.
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Through this type of work the children develop the skills needed to use reference systems and to extract relevant information from different sources such as people, maps, objects and places. School visits, either local or to places of special interest, frequently form part of this work and every year a residential visit is arranged for Year 5 and 6 pupils. In 2010 this was to Bendrigg Lodge in Cumbria, a fully inclusive outdoor activity centre, (www.bendrigg.org.uk). In 2011 the trip will be to Northumberland. |
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Through this type of work we encourage the children to develop an understanding of the consequences of the use and misuse of resources and the possibility of managing and protecting the environment. We hope to extend their range of experiences and encourage them to develop attitudes towards events, circumstances and people in the world around them and in the wider world, both past and present. Our guardianship scheme with the National Trust (Lyme Park) is a good example of this.
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Design and Technology and Lyme Park visit.
ART, MUSIC AND DRAMA
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The school has a strong commitment to all the arts believing they are of great importance both to learning and to the emotional and spiritual
We are proud of our reputation for performing at the Royal Northern College of Music and Stockport Town Hall. |
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Children are introduced to music from the moment they enter school through singing, playing music games and using musical instruments. The activities of composing, performing and listening are central to our music education and children use a variety of sounds to produce increasingly sophisticated musical compositions. Singing, listening to recorded music, and to live performances both by children and by visiting musicians are also regular features of the school. Guitar, brass and percussion tuition are available.
Art has a dual role in the child's education. It is important as a vehicle for exploring awareness and imagination and for providing opportunities for expressing ideas and emotions, but is also an educational tool, which can support other areas of the curriculum. Experience in painting, drawing, model making, fabric/textile work and pottery are all included in our lessons. The children experience the use of a wide range of media, including scrap and found materials, and their work is carefully displayed around the school.
Drama is taught in all classes as part of our literacy work, but also to develop personal skills and to enhance topic and Literacy work.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
All children participate in a wide variety of physical activities including athletics, gymnastics, dance and games. In addition junior aged children have swimming lessons at Marple baths and play netball, football, rounder’s, hockey, cricket and cross-country.
Many extra-curricular clubs support the work within the curriculum and the school takes part in competitive games with other schools. The school is well resourced for these activities with a light, spacious and well-equipped hall, two hard standing playground areas marked out for various games and sizeable playing fields.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Our religious education is nondenominational and follows the LA's Agreed Syllabus. It is based mainly on Christian history and beliefs but also draws upon other cultures and beliefs in order to reinforce concepts, which span many religions.
Every school day contains an assembly, which incorporates religious education, celebrates achievements and raises awareness of current issues. The daily act of worship, which is broadly Christian in character, is part of this assembly and recognises, through its choice of themes and stories, a society made up of peoples of different backgrounds and traditions. We aim to encourage the children's' spiritual, moral and cultural development in all areas of their life.
Any parent wishing to exclude their child from such assemblies may do so following consultation with the Headteacher.
SPECIAL NEEDS
A child has special educational needs if he/she has a need which requires a specific programme of support.
Every child at some time in their school life may need special educational help for any number of reasons - emotional, behavioural, learning or related to a medical problem. At Brookside the special needs of children are identified by the class teacher, an outside agency or parent.
When a child has special needs the class teacher ensures the child has support in class and sets appropriate tasks. We have a Special Education Needs coordinator (SENCO) in school that regularly helps to assess children with learning difficulties and works with the child’s class teacher to plan suitable programmes of work and support. If it is felt that the child's needs cannot be fully met by school, a procedure of consultation with parents will be set in operation and school will call upon the professional advice and experience of outside agencies provided by the Authority or the NHS.
Parents who are concerned about their child in any way are invited to discuss their concerns with the Headteacher at the earliest opportunity. The school follows the LA procedures to implement the Special Needs Code of Practice, and also seeks their guidance with reference to the Disability Discrimination Act. Please refer to the booklet “Primary Education in Stockport – Information for Parents. Individual Education Plans (IEP’s) are written by the class teacher in consultation with the pupil, parents, and the SENCO.
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Care room with electric |
Wheelchair lift |
Therapy room |
PUPILS WITH DISABILITIES
We are privileged to have been chosen as a 'resourced school' by the Local Authority. This means that from January 1996 we were able to admit some children with severe or profound learning difficulties. We receive substantial, additional funding to ensure the resource school model works to the benefit of all our pupils. In July 1996 a Sensory Centre was created in a small area of the school from money donated by local firms and the Local Education Authority. This is used by all children at school. All children benefit from the wider friendship groups the 'resourced school' promotes, at the same time as developing mutual care and understanding.
The Local Authority is responsible for the admission of pupils with disabilities. Parents of all prospective pupils are invited to look around the school so that they can indicate their preference to the Authority. Before admission, the SENCO or Resource School teacher and, where appropriate, teaching assistant, will visit the child at their current school and the child will be invited to come into school on several occasions.
Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, school is required to have an accessibility plan, which covers future policies for increasing access to the school by pupils with disabilities. Various physical adaptations have been made to the school, including ramps, a sensory room, toilets with facilities for the disabled and a resource base has created with specialist equipment and teaching aids.
Strategies implemented at Brookside include:
To provide disability awareness training for all staff so that members of staff understand the range of disabilities represented in the school.
To regularly identify barriers to physical access so that appropriate cost effective adjustments are put into place.
To identify barriers to access the curriculum including materials, resources, approaches and planning. All curriculum materials and information will be accessible. Information will be presented in a variety of user-friendly ways including simple language, symbols and signs, large print, audiotape, Braille.
We are further committed to challenging attitudes about disability and accessibility and developing a culture of awareness, tolerance and inclusion.
INCLUSION / GIFTED & TALENTED
We provide well planned, challenging activities in every class. Lessons are differentiated to meet the needs of all pupils. However we also offer other opportunities to extend pupils’ learning. The school is involved with North West Gifted and Talented (NWGT) to offer weekend workshops for more able children in KS2, these workshops take place in many schools across the North West. We also involve children in Stockport’s Young Enterprise Scheme for budding entrepreneurs.
ENTERING AND LEAVING THE PREMISES
Children should enter and leave the school premises through the large green gates at the front of the school, not the car park gates. The car park can be a very dangerous area as many vehicles use this entrance and we ask parents to be particularly careful about supervising children near the car park gates.
If for any reason parents are delayed and unable to collect children from school on time, they should, if possible, contact school by telephone. Children are taught not to leave the school premises on their own. If no one arrives to collect them, children are instructed to return to the class so that we can arrange for them to be supervised and contact parents if necessary.
BIKE-IT SCHOOL
It’s official! We are the top school in Stockport for children and parents cycling to school. As a bike-it school, we encourage all children and families to ride their bikes to school. We have a bike weather shelters and have a safety code to ensure children wear helmets and cycle safely.
CAR PARKING
The school car park and approach road is restricted space and not available for parents to use when dropping of or collecting children, please keep clear at ALL times for access of emergency services, delivery vehicles and coaches. Parents are asked to park legally on local roads and drive slowly near school, please keep local residents' driveways clear.
PLAYTIME ARRANGEMENTS
Weather permitting, children go outside to play. One playground is restricted to junior children only, but there is mixing of ages on the second playground and on the field when it is in use. Members of staff are always outside with the children. Generally if a child is fit to be in school then they are expected to be outside at playtimes and lunch times. There is a high ratio of adults to children at playtimes.
LUNCHTIME SUPERVISION
During the lunch break the children are cared for and supervised by a team of Midday Assistants. They supervise the children washing their hands, take them to the dining room, oversee the meals, and then supervise the children in the playground for the remainder of the lunch period.
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ARRANGEMENTS FOR SCHOOL MEALS
Lunch is eaten in the hall between 12.00 and 1.00pm. Children eat together in a cafeteria type system but may either have a meal prepared on the premises or bring a packed lunch from home. Although we try to keep children's lunch boxes cool, we have no facilities for refrigeration so prepared meals should not contain food which will go sour or bad in warm conditions.
School meals are served on ‘airline style’ trays and there is always a choice of two main courses and desserts. Salad, fresh fruit and jacket potatoes are always available. A ‘homemade’ meal is prepared daily. The children are encouraged to try new items and to leave clean trays but they are not forced to eat foods they dislike.
The cost of school meals are reviewed annually, any increases taking effect from 1 April. Dinner money is paid in advance. It should be sent in a sealed envelope marked with the child's name, class and the amount enclosed. If a child is absent for one or more days then credits are given and the amount for the missed meals deducted from the next payment. Cheques are accepted (payable to SMBC) but they must be for the correct amount. Parents with more than one child may send all the money in one envelope with the oldest child. Some parents chose the option for their child to have school lunches only on e.g. Mondays /Fridays. This can be arranged via the school office.
Parents who wish to change their child's dinner arrangements (e.g. from sandwiches to a cooked meal) are asked to give two weeks notice to the school secretary.
Parents in receipt of Income Support can apply for free school meals and should contact the Education Department at the Town Hall (0161 - 474 - 3878). When children become entitled to free meals the school is informed by letter and this is confidential. At lunchtime no distinction is made between children who pay and children who do not pay.
FRUIT
Fruit is available for infant children daily, and the junior children have their own fruit tuck shop, with toast on Friday.
DRINKING WATER
Children from Year 1 to Year 6 are encouraged to bring a plastic bottle of water to school. It has been proven that if children have regular access to water during the day, they are more able to concentrate and make greater progress at school. Containers are kept in the classroom and children can fill these up from the two water coolers. Children in Reception also have access to chilled drinking water throughout the day.
SCHOOL UNIFORM
The school colours are bottle green and grey.
We prefer and encourage children at Brookside to wear school uniform as follows;
Grey/black trousers (Long or short as appropriate)
or Grey Skirt or Pinafore dress
or Green and white dress (Summer)
Bottle green sweater, cardigan or school sweatshirt
White or bottle green polo shirt or white shirt
White or grey socks
Shoes or sandals – please note trainers and many designs of ‘fashion’ shoes are not suitable for day to day wear in school.
School sweatshirts and polo shirts embroidered with the school logo can be purchased from the school office.
Make up is not allowed
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CLOTHING FOR P.E. AND GAMES
All children need a change of clothing and footwear for physical activities. These should be clearly marked with the child's name and kept in a draw string bag and should include:
White shorts and white vest or T-shirt for PE and Games
A pair of pumps. Elastic tops are better than laces for young children although much indoor PE work is done in bare feet.
A band for long hair so that it can be tied back.
All junior children attend swimming lessons for some part of each year. They need a costume or trunks (not Bermuda style shorts) and a towel. Goggles are not normally acceptable and long hair must be tied back or worn with a cap.
Games lessons for junior children take place outside unless the weather is particularly inclement. Substantial trainers will be needed for these lessons. These should be a separate item as after all games lessons children are expected to change back into their normal school footwear. In winter an old sweater and jogging bottom or an old tracksuit can be worn over games kit and a spare pair of socks is often needed.
JEWELLERY
Jewellery should not to be worn in school. The accidental pulling and catching of earrings, rings and necklaces during play can cause severe damage to fingers and ear lobes! Stud earrings, are the only jewellery permitted in school and these must be removed or covered during PE.
It is accepted that many children wear watches to school, but the school does not accept responsibility for loss or damage to these items.
LOST PROPERTY
The children are expected to take responsibility for their own belongings as a great deal of teaching time can be spent looking for lost items. Please help your child by making sure that clothes, pumps, lunch boxes etc. are clearly marked with the owner's name. A strong hanging loop in outdoor coats is a great help in keeping coats on the correct peg. Lost items that are clearly marked can be returned to their owners but unmarked items are put in the lost property box in the junior corridor.
We ask parents to ensure that items of value are not brought to school. This includes expensive watches, personal stereos, Hand-held consoles, mobile phones etc.
CARE AND CONDUCT
BEHAVIOUR AND DISCIPLINE
We expect high standards of behaviour from our children and have a clear policy, which is central to the way in which everyone at school is expected to behave. The emphasis in our school is to praise good behaviour, attitude and effort and increase children’s awareness of the need to make appositive contribution to their community. When sanctions are necessary, they will be appropriate to the child and the incident. Our Code of Conduct emphasises 'Care, Courtesy and Consideration' and all our guidelines on behaviour, including our Golden Rules, our Anti-bullying Policy and Equal Opportunities Policy, stem from this. We are often complimented on the happy atmosphere in our school and the good behaviour of our children.
School and home are joint partners in developing a sense of responsibility and encouraging community awareness and Brookside is a school where parents and staff work together to maintain a high standard of behaviour. Unacceptable behaviour will occasion the use of appropriate sanctions and, if specific difficulties arise, consultation and co-operation with parents will be sought.
Children are awarded team tokens by staff in recognition of good work or good behaviour. Merit cards are given out during Fridays Celebration assembly, awarded by class teachers.
PASTORAL CARE
Children learn most effectively when they feel safe and secure 
and we work very hard to ensure that all our pupils are happy in school. Pastoral care is provided, in the first place, by the class teacher who is alert to the needs of individual children, but also by the Headteacher, teaching assistants, administrative manager and midday staff. Parents should not hesitate to contact school if they are concerned about something or wish to pass on information.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
We wish to promote a positive attitude in children, staff, governors and parents so that everyone can fulfil their potential and make choices, unhampered by expectations based on gender or role stereotyping. We seek to fulfil the aims of the school regardless of age, gender, ability (both academically and physical), ethnic origin or background of the child.
CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES AND SAFEGUARDING
Because of day-to-day contact with children, schools are particularly well placed to observe outward signs of abuse, changes in behaviour, or failure to develop. Parents should be aware, therefore, that where it appears to a member of the school staff that a child has been abused, the school is required, as part of Stockport Child Protection Procedures, to report their concern to the Safeguarding team immediately.
MANAGING MEDICAL CONDITIONS
First Aiders
Brookside has three paediatric first aiders and five full first aiders on the premises. All staff have undertaken asthma awareness training and strict guidelines are in place for managing children who are ill. First Aiders care for children suffering minor cuts and grazes or children who may be unwell at school; teachers, the Headteacher, the school secretary and midday staff also provide such care. If a child suffers any type of head injury that we feel does not require immediate treatment, parents will be contacted by letter so that any ill effects can continue to be monitored.
Certain childhood illnesses such as measles or chicken pox mean that a child must be excluded from school. School has guidelines on communicable diseases and the length of time children should be excluded and will be happy to advise parents in these circumstances.
If a child has sickness or diarrhoea, they must be kept at home for 48 hours after all symptoms have ceased. Please note; if a child is too unwell to be in school then they must not attend social events at school either.
When a child is ill and needs to be taken home, parents will be contacted and the child should be collected from school as soon as possible. Emergency contact forms are kept in the school office and in order to keep these up to date, parents are requested to inform school immediately when any details concerning their addresses, employment or telephone numbers are changed.
In their first year at school children will have their sight and hearing tested by the school nurse. Any problems that may need further investigation will be communicated to parents and not to the school.
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MEDICINE
Some children have long term daily medical needs and these should be discussed initially with the Headteacher so that arrangements can be made for children on permanent medication to be supervised whilst taking it.
We do not encourage the presence of medicines and tablets on school premises and generally young children taking antibiotics for a short-term illness are not well enough to cope with a school day and should remain at home. For older children at the end of a course of treatment we encourage parents to consider the 'before school, after school and bedtime' routine for administering medicine which has to be taken three times a day.
When medicine has to be given during the school day a Medical Form, available from the school office, should be completed and returned to the office together with the clearly labelled medicine. The medicine will normally be administered during the lunch break. Medicines are kept in a cupboard in the school office or in the refrigerator in the staff room from where they can be collected at the end of the day.
EDUCATIONAL VISITS
The educational value of all proposed activities and visits and the health and safety of our children is carefully considered by staff. As part of the broad curriculum we offer at Brookside, a varied programme of visits to places of interest are arranged, as well as visits from theatre and music groups to school.
The school’s policy for Charges and Remission meets the requirements of the Education Reform Act 1988 and reflects the high standard of learning experiences which we provide for the children of Brookside Primary School. In order to fund these activities parents are asked to make a voluntary contribution towards the cost of the activity. Each visit/activity will only take place if sufficient voluntary contributions are received to enable us to fund it.
We aim at keeping costs down and we welcome subsidies from our PTA for some events. Parents who are in receipt of Family Credit or Income Support are asked to contact the Headteacher so that arrangements can be made to fund the activity for their children. Similarly, other parents for whom payment would be a difficulty should contact the Headteacher. Parents are assured that this is entirely confidential.
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PARENTS AND SCHOOL
Parents considering sending their child to Brookside are invited to visit the school and find out about the philosophy, methods and general running of the school. Arrangements for visiting can be made by telephoning the school office.
You are your child’s first and most important educator. At Brookside we value and appreciate the important role you have to play in supporting your child in developing a positive attitude to school and learning. Studies have proven that children learn best when home and school work in partnership. At Brookside we offer a wide range of opportunities for parents to actively participate in supporting their child at school.
PARENT/TEACHER CONSULTATION
In the term preceding the start of a child's career at school, parents are invited to a 'new parents' evening to meet the Headteacher and class teacher for informal discussions. All new children have the opportunity to spend time at the school, meet their new class teacher and familiarise themselves with the school situation.
Early in the Autumn term parents are invited to attend a first parents’ meeting at which class teachers explain the organisation of their class and their day, the programme of work for the year and the kind of activities the children will do. This is an opportunity for parents to find out about the routines for homework and how they can support their child, and is intended to establish lines of communication that can continue throughout the year.
Class teachers write to parents at the beginning of each term outlining the work and activities planned for the coming term.
Individual parents’ consultation evenings are held in November and March. This is an opportunity to discuss in detail each child's achievements and progress and to set targets for the future. At the end of the school year each child receives a written report and there is an open evening when children bring their parents to see displays and exhibitions of their work.
We wish to establish close contact with parents who are always welcome in school. Sometimes you may wish to see us on an urgent matter and although making an appointment is helpful, it is not essential. At other times parents are welcome to telephone or come into school and arrange a mutually convenient appointment time so that more lengthy discussions can take place uninterrupted.
INFORMATION EVENINGS
We organise information evenings for the benefit of parents on a regular basis. These might be on curriculum matters or on matters of general interest such as an evening about SATs for the parents of Year 2 and Year 6 children, curriculum events, open day events when all parents and carers are welcomed into the school or a meeting in preparation for our residential visit.
COMMUNICATION
Parents receive a weekly school newsletter which is given to children to bring home. Unfortunately, pupil post is not always as reliable as it might be, and it is advisable for parents to check in their child's book bag if they think news might be passing them by. Please let us know if you would like us to email your newsletter to you. It is also posted on the school website along with holiday dates for the next two years. Parents are welcome to attend our Friday celebration assembly where the children celebrate their achievements.
SCHOOL AND THE COMMUNITY
We regard ourselves very much as part of the community and incorporate the physical and social environment of the school into the children's learning. We spend time in the neighbourhood using the community as part of our learning and look for opportunities to bring members of the community into school to bring an extra interest and dimension to the children's learning.
We contribute to the community by entertaining at various functions, and by inviting members of local groups to functions at school. The school is used for activities after school hours; an aerobics club meets on Thursday evenings, the University of the Third Age use the ICT suite twice a week and local football teams use the pitch at weekends. We also have links with the local churches who visit our school to participate or lead our assemblies.
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
We encourage parents who have concerns or complaints to call into school to discuss these directly with the Headteacher or members of staff. The school aims to resolve, as far as possible, any complaints on an informal basis. However, if the complainant still remains dissatisfied after this stage has been exhausted, then the formal procedures adopted by the LA come into effect. This means that the complaint would be referred to the Governing Body, then the Local Education Authority and, if necessary, the Secretary of State.
Duties to be covered under the complaints procedure are the provision of a curriculum, including Religious Education and worship, plus implementation of the National Curriculum. Full details of the complaints procedure can be obtained from the school.
ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS
Copies of school policies are available from the Headteacher and copies of Governing Body minutes are displayed on the Governors notice board outside the office. Copies of the most recent Ofsted report are available.
A great deal of documentation containing advice, orders and regulations is received from the Department for Education (DFES) and the Local Education Authority (LEA). These are reference documents and mostly stored in office files, but much of this is open to parents and reasonable access is required to be provided.
Anyone wishing to read a particular document is asked to contact the Headteacher so that it can be made available.
BROOKSIDE SCHOOL YEAR 2011/2012
Autumn Term
Tue 6th Sept 11* to Fri 21st Oct 11 - Half Term - Tue 1st Nov 11** to Fri 16th Dec 11 ***
Spring Term
Tues 3rd Jan 12 to Fri 10th Feb 12 - Half Term - Mon 20th Feb 12 to Fri 30th Mar 12
Summer Term
Mon 16th Apr 12 to Fri 25th May 12 - Half Term - Tue 12th Jun 12**** to Thu 26th Jul 12 *
Brookside Inset Days
*Monday 5th September 2011
**Monday 31st October 2011
***Monday 19th December 2011
***Tuesday 20th December 2011
****Monday 11th June 2012
Public Holidays
Good Friday - Friday 6th April 2012
Easter Monday - Monday 9th April 2012
May Day - Monday 7th May 2012
Spring Bank Holiday - Monday 4th June 2012
*Extra Bank Holiday - Tuesday 5th June 2012 (Day in Lieu Friday 27th July 2012)