Abington Vale Primary School Brochure

Stirling Campus was completed and opened in September 2013. It is a fabulous office block conversion providing a unique and exciting learning opportunity for 210 children. Its modern and dynamic design is based upon Scandinavian school principals with large collaborative spaces. Although both sites are very different in appearance, both share the same ethos, values and dedication to high standards. The teachers work hard to ensure that the children experience a very high standard of all round education. Abington Vale is an exciting place to work and play for children and adults alike. We hope you enjoy being part of the AVP family!

―The vision is to be an outstanding, dynamic, vibrant and sustainable school for the

future.

A centre of the community.

A place of passion and learning‖.

Welcome to Abington Vale

Primary School and thank you so much for taking the time to

come and visit us.

We are a modern primary school across two sites approximately a mile apart.

Park Campus (the original Abington Vale site) was built in 1968, it has an attractive build-ing surrounded by extensive grounds, which provide a stimulating environment for both learning and play for our 270 pupils. There are nine classrooms and two smaller group rooms in the main building; a large games field for our extensive sport and PE provision; a large multipur-pose hall; a group/quiet study room; a purpose built research library and an ICT suite.

A M O D E R N S C H O O L F O R N O R T H A M P T O N

P A R T O F N O R T H A M P T O N P R I M A R Y A C A D E M T T R U S T P A R T N E R S H I P

O F S T E D

We had our last OFSTED inspection in June 2011. We were incredibly proud to be told that we are an “Outstanding” school. this reflects the hard work and effort that all the staff put into ensuring that your child gets the very best start to their educational career. “Pupils make excellent progress in both their academic and personal development in this outstanding school. The head teacher, two deputy head teachers and the governing body provide excellent

leadership and management. They constantly communicate a strong vision for excellence and work effectively as a team driving the pace of improvement.” “Teaching and learning are outstanding. Teachers make learning relevant and fun. Their lesson planning is a strength, ensuring that individual needs are effectively met. The overwhelming majority of parents and carers say their children enjoy school and feel safe and inspectors share these views. One parent

reflected the views of many when she said, 'The teach-ing staff are fantastic. It is a wonderful school.' “Achievement is outstanding because in the vast majority of lessons, learning is carefully matched to the ability of pupils. They listen atten-tively and are keen to learn. They enjoy excellent relationships with the car-ing and supportive staff and this gives them the confidence to share ideas in lessons and to evaluate their own work.”

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W E L C O M E T O O U R S C H O O L

S C H O O L B R O C H U R E

E D U C A T I N G T H E

W H O L E C H I L D . . .

Healthy schools

enhanced award

Gold anti-bullying

award

Gold school council

award

Sports excellence

Passionate music

Passionate drama

Passionate about life

skills

OFSTED

Outstanding!

We have developed our own Creative connected curriculum that combines topics and lessons. We forge cross-curricular links from literacy, mathematics, science and ICT to the foundation subjects in order to enrich and consolidate the children‟s learning experiences. We invite “experts” to work with the children in school and plan visits which will enrich aspects of the curriculum, making full use of our local environment. We plan the curriculum to meet the needs of individuals and groups of children, ensuring breadth and balance across the curriculum. As children progress at different rates the tasks they are given are tailored to meet their needs. So there will be several groups in each class working at varying levels of difficulty. We recognise that some children have difficulties with learning in particular curriculum areas. We endeavour to identify these problems early, put

in place appropriate support, and regularly review progress so that these children can achieve success. Learning, behaviour or physical targets may be set for individual children, according to individual need and in consultation with children, parents, class teachers, teaching assistants and the Special Needs Co-ordinator. In some cases additional support and advice is sought from outside agencies such as Speech and Language Therapy Service or Educational Psychologists. We are supported by the Children and Young People‟s Service (C.Y.P.S) We have teaching and non-teaching staff who have been trained in aspects of Special Needs and whose expertise we use throughout the school. We have Teaching Assistants who have skills in working with children who speak English as an additional language so that they can access all areas of the curriculum

successfully. We recognise that some children are especially talented. We endeavour to extend the curriculum and create opportunities to challenge our most able pupils.

We use a variety of teaching methods

Sometimes the whole class is involved in discussion or instruction. Sometimes a small group of children will work together. At other times teachers will work with individual children. Children develop their social skills through playing and working together. We try to ensure that each child‟s day comprises a balance of practical activi-ties, investigation and writ-ten work.

There is an extensive range of extended school and extra curricular activities, as shown in the grid below. There will be additional clubs run throughout the year by the teachers which will be free for the children to attend. Look out throughout the year for additional information about these.

T H E C U R R I C U L U M

E X T R A C U R R I C U L A R

A C T I V I T I E S

“There are 12

AVP Values.

Ideal

characteristics

that the

children

decided were

important to

them.”


Year 6 children learning vital

team work skills on their

residential to Whitemoor lakes

Sport, Art, Music, Drama and

creativity are at the heart of

our lessons

Activity Year Groups Provider

Art 1,2,3 AVP staff

Basketball 3, 4, 5 & 6 Outside agency

Book Club (TBC) All years Parents

Brass Tuition (TBC) 4, 5 & 6 Music Service

String Tuition (TBC) 4, 5 & 6 Music Service

Cricket 5 and 6 Chance to Shine

Dance Years 1-6 Outside agency

Drama (TBC) Years 3-6 AVP staff

Football Years 1-6 Outside agency

Guitar Tuition 4, 5 & 6 Music Service

ICT (TBC) 4,5,6 AVP staff

Football, cricket, hockey 1,2,3,4,5,6 AVP staff

Rock School 5 & 6 Outside agency

Woodwind Tuition (TBC) 4, 5, & 6 Music Service

Breakfast Club All years Gr8 Kids

After School Club All years Gr8 Kids

At Abington Vale Primary School, we understand that teaching children is a partnership between family and school, so we provide many opportunities for parents and families to share in the life of the school. There is a brand new home-school agreement written for the start of this year and it explains what the school, you the parents and most importantly your child will do! For example:- Parents are given opportunities for formal consultations with teachers during the year to discuss their child‟s progress. We hold information evenings to help support our parents in supporting their children. We have an “open door” policy and are pleased to talk to parents at any time, either informally or by appointment At the start of the year each teacher holds a brief introductory meeting for parents and provides them with a handy booklet outlining everything for the year and explaining the

timetable, etc At the end of each school year a written report is sent to parents detailing their child‟s progress in each curriculum area. There are numerous special occasions during the year when parents are invited to come and be in-volved in school activities. Some of these have a cur-riculum-based purpose but many emphasise the so-cial and fun aspects of school life. There are „sharing assemblies‟ throughout the year, when parents are welcome to join us in celebrating the children‟s achievements. We really appreciate parental help in the classroom or on educational trips/visits. Please volunteer - but in good time, so that neces-sary checks may be made. We have a weekly newsletter that highlights all our events. All children have a home-school link book or

H O M E / S C H O O L P A R T N E R S H I P

H O M E W O R K

“Northamptonshire

Anti-bullying

songwriters of the

year,

3 YEARS IN A

ROW!”


Learning to do things

you never thought

you’d do!

Our superhero VALE.

Designed by the children,

keeps us all safe and on the

right path!

The Government recommends regular homework for all children from Year 1 upwards. At Abington Vale Primary School, homework is an important part of our Home School Partnership. Our youngest children start by being encouraged to share books at home and to bring in artefacts connected with aspects of their learning. For older children, the recommended amount of homework is as shown:

Years 1 &2: 1 hour per week This consists of daily reading, and weekly literacy or numeracy tasks, as well as half-termly tasks connected with other curriculum areas. Years 3 &4: 1½hrs per week Daily reading is still expected, practicing and understanding their spellings and weekly tasks are based in work being undertaken in literacy and numeracy. Half-termly tasks are set to complement work in other

curriculum areas. Years 5&6: 2½ hrs per week Regular homework tasks are set each week. Home-work is set regularly, on the same day each week (to help parents keep a check!) up to years 4. In years 5 and 6 to help develop their Independence the children can be given homework any night of the week and it is hoped that they record and remember it for themselves!

homework diary (Years 5 and 6) that form a channel of daily communication between school and home Our parents' association, Friends of Abington Vale Primary School, welcomes your help, participation and support. Most of our fund-raising activities are organised by the association. Money raised is used to provide additional resources for the children. Recent fund-raising has been focused on the provision of a range of computer hardware and software. Anyone with time to spare is most welcome to join. We are trying really hard to develop our communication with home as much as possi-ble and in the entrance hall there is a worry box and a suggestions box for parents to contribute to. We would like you to volun-teer to help in any way you can to support the school, perhaps you could spare some time to listen to chil-dren read throughout the school?

The school takes an active part in promoting good relationships within the local community. We produce a newsletter for our neighbours to keep them abreast of the school‟s news. We are passionate about being a community school for the future and to that end we work very hard at our community cohesion. We are very proud of the fact that we were awarded the International School‟s Award in 2010 and we aim to develop further links with schools across the globe over the next few years. We try to make full use of the local environment in delivering the curriculum: We participate in every local sporting opportunity, We ensure that we invite the community to our amazing school productions throughout the year We entertain some of our elderly neighbours at Christmas with our

fabulous choir singing. We travel to events around the country singing at both Wembley and the O2 arena recently. We visit the local shops, churches and park. We survey the traffic around the school site. We take part in local events. We invite our neighbours to share their skills with us, and to attend events at the school. We have valuable contact with local nurseries and playgroups. Many of our children have visited the school before they start in our Foundation Stage because we invite them to concerts and other activities. In addition, our Foundation Stage teacher visits them while they are at playgroup or nursery. The children regularly raise money for a variety of charities. They do this in a

range of ways including: Supporting local or national charities or raising money to help communities in Africa. “Mufti” days to support charities such as Children in Need. Our recent Macmillan coffee mornings were very popular! Sponsored activities We have a School Council with representatives from each class. The School Council meets regularly to discuss a variety of matters of interest to the whole school community and to influence positive changes for the benefit of everyone. This very organised school voice has raised money for equipment, supported charities such as the Food Bank and fed back the news and views of the children to the staff. The School Council were awarded the Northampton-shire Gold standard in 2013.

Our Governing Body: Chair Adrian White Vice Chair Garry Coles Parent Governors: Dee Richings Dave Anderson Scott Webster Sarah Aldridge Jane Horne Community Governors: Peter Ridley Jackie Frampton LA Governors: Lynne Gamble Associate Governors: Louise Chown Staff Governors: Mark Currell

Laura Cichuta Sue Roberts Georgie Harrison Clerk: Kim Johnson

T H E L O C A L C O M M U N I T Y

G O V E R N O R S

Abington Vale

governors work

hard to ensure

that the school

never rests and

is always

looking for the

next exciting

adventure!


We challenge our children, not just

in the classroom!

Our school golf team were

2013 county finalists,

winning the fair play award!

There are opportunities to

work with other children from

across our academy on a

variety of events!

W H O ’ S W H O ? !

In 2013 Abington Vale

was a Northampton

finalist for

“School of the year”

“Leadership”

“ICT award”

“Life time

achievement”

At the Northants

education awards


We are very proud of our

achievements and proud

to be part of our amazing

town!

HEAD TEACHER Mr Mark Currell++ Child Protection, Leadership Team, PE Co-ordinator DEPUTY HEAD TEACHERS Mrs Laura Cichuta+ Key Stage 1 Co-ordinator, PSHE, Assessment, Leadership Team Mrs Sue Roberts+ Foundation stage Co-ordinator, Special Needs Co-ordinator, Gifted & Talented, EMAG, Child Protection, Leadership Team

TEACHING STAFF

Mrs Kirsty Hill+ Foundation Stage teacher Miss Flo Head Foundation stage teacher Miss Sophie Rogers Year 1 teacher Miss Claire Nicolas Year 2 teacher Miss Jade Dixon Year 2 teacher Mrs Dawn James Year 3 (job share) Mrs Adele Butterworth+ Year 3 (job share) Miss Monica Nelson Year 4 teacher Mrs Jane Lody+ Year 5 Key Stage 2 Co-ordinator, EVC Co-ordinator, Leadership Team Miss Lydia Gendoo+ Year 6 (job share) Mrs Rebecca Tompkins+ Year 6 (job share) Mrs Erica Wallace Music coordinator

Classroom Assistants: Mrs Michele Franchi +

Mrs Mary Mason+ Mrs Catherine McDonald

Mrs Maria Moss+ Mrs Hannah Paterson (HLTA)

Mrs Pam Potts+

Mrs Tessa Smith+ (HLTA) Mrs Carole Thomas+

Mrs Cathy Whaler ++

HLTA (Higher Level Teacher Assistant): Mrs Nola Collyer+

Mrs Tracy Lyman+

We explore our local parks

and make sure our children

know about the town they live

+ First Aid Trained

++ First Aid at work Certificate

T H E A D M I N I S T R A T I O N T E A M

G R O W I N G T O G E T H E R

Lots of opportunities for our

children to perform!

www.abing

tonvaleprim

ary.co.uk

Our productions are fabulous!!

W H O ’ S W H O ? !

Midday Supervisors: Mrs Caroline Chandler+

Mrs Elaine Mullally Mrs Shazia Khawaja

Mrs Caroline Pettit+ Mrs Tessa Smith+

Mrs Carole Thomas+

Catering Staff: Mrs Michelle Clarke Mrs Carole Briggs

Site Supervisor: Mrs Paula Dunkley—day time

Mrs Louise Miller—evening

Miss Shantelle Smithson

As everyone knows the school office keeps everyone organised and is the place to go to find

out any information or hand in any correspondence.

Our hard working admin team are ready to answer your call!

Mrs Georgie Harrison++ – School Business Manager, Leadership Team Mrs Claire Reeves – Admin assistant Park Campus Mrs Emma Reed– Admin assistant Stirling Campus

Mrs Chris Benneworth+– ICT Administrator

We are proud of our smart and attractive school uniform, with its logo, which was designed by one of the children. We have strict rules about the wearing of uniform and it is a focus for the governing body that the uniform is worn and that the children are aware of the importance of looking smart and being ready for school. It consists of:

Sensible shoes - not trainers Red school sweat-shirt/ sweat-cardigan with school logo Grey skirt, tunic Grey/black trousers White shirt, blouse White/red polo shirt Red and white gingham dresses Red & white ties are available for years 5 & 6 only and are optional Red fleeces and waterproof jackets with school logo are also available

and for P.E.

Red T-shirt with logo Navy or black shorts, black plimsolls

All items of uniform is available from The School Wear Shop, Abington Square, Northampton. Please make sure that all items of clothing are clearly marked with your child‟s name. In accordance with school policy and for security, as well as health and safety reasons, the only items of jewellery permitted to be worn in school are wrist watches and stud earrings. Stud earrings MUST be able to be removed by your child when participating in PE.

S C H O O L U N I F O R M

L U N C H T I M E !


Caption describing picture or

graphic.

2013 saw the opening of our

brand new Stirling Campus

Hot lunches are available at school. These are provided by the NCC hot meals team and weekly menus are available for children to order their meals in advance. The meals are healthy and well balanced. As an alternative, children may bring a packed lunch in a named plastic container. Please do not give your child sweets in the lunch box, nor glass bottles, cans and fizzy drinks. We encourage the children to respect our school environment and dispose of litter in the appropriate containers. We have a Healthy Eating Policy. We have midday supervisory assistants, who take care of the children during the lunch break, looking after them while they eat and when they are outside. If parents are in receipt of certain benefits, they can apply for free school meals for their children, and we encourage them to do so. Information can be obtained from the school office and on the County Council. Website at :- www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/learning/parents/free_meals.htm We participate in schemes which provide daily milk and fruit for children at morning break. We have a Healthy Tuck Shop for Key Stage 2 children each Friday. Underpinning this we have a Healthy Snacks Policy which asks for parents‟ support in ensuring their child has a healthy snack that does not produce litter, e.g. fruit, vegetables, pieces of cheese in a reusable plastic box. Some of our children have severe allergies to nuts and seeds, we therefore politely ask for your support by not sending them to school with nutty or seedy foods!

All children have a break mid-morning and a mid afternoon break as we see that developing the physical, emotional and social sides of our children is just as important as the academic progress they make. Absence To ensure the safety of the children, we need to be informed when they are going to be absent, or if they are ill. There would be cause for concern if a child were to be absent regularly. If your child is absent for any reason, please let us know by

School Times Morning: 8.50am - 12.00pm Afternoon: 12.50pm - 3.15pm Classroom doors are opened at 8.50am, so that children can settle into the classrooms and begin lessons promptly at 9.00am. We ask that parents get into a routine and understand that school starts at 8.50! We wake up our minds and our bodies at the start of every morning and afternoon by using activate exercises.

phone, on the first day of absence. If the school has not heard from parents by 10.00am on the first day of absence, school office staff will try to make contact in order to confirm the reason for the absence. 2012/2013 Information: Number of pupils of compulsory school age on roll: 298

% atte

S C H O O L T I M E S

G R O W I N G T O G E T H E R

Lots of opportunities for our

children to perform!

www.abin

gtonvale

primary.co.u

k

Our choir travels everywhere

to entertain! We played

Wembley this year!

A D M I S S I O N S A N D H E A L T H

The “admission number” for both Sites is 30, however due to popularity and being very oversubscribed, the LEA asked us to take 60 children into our current year 2 and 3. Children who are 4 years old on or before August 31st will be admitted in the Autumn Term. For their first few days they will attend for half a day only. Following the allocation of places to pupils who have a statement of special educational needs that names the school as appropriate provision, when there are more applications for places than there are places available, priority will be given in the following order: 1. Children in public care /children who have very specific needs that would need a specific setting to enable

them to achieve their potential. 2. Pupils with an older brother or sister continuing at the school at the time of admission of the younger child. 3. Pupils who live closer to the preferred school than any other school. 4. Other pupils. If the admission number is exceeded within criterion 3, priority will be given to those who live furthest from the nearest alternative school. If the admission number is exceeded within any other criterion, priority will be given to those who live closest to the school.

Your Child’s Health Our school nurse visits the school regularly and organises „drop-in‟ sessions for parents each term. In addition to routine hearing and vision tests, she organises medical examinations and is available to advise you on any medical problems your child may have. A copy of our Medicine Policy is given to all parents. Please keep sick children at home, as they find it difficult to concentrate if they are ill and we run the risk of spreading infections. If your child is absent for any reason, please let us know on the first day of absence.

T H A N K Y O U F O R S P E N D I N G T H E T I M E R E A D I N G A L L

A B O U T U S . W E A R E P R O U D O F O U R S C H O O L , B U T W E

A R E W O R K I N G H A R D T O I M P R O V E F U R T H E R .

W E H O P E Y O U W I L L J O I N U S O N O U R J O U R N E Y !

Abington Vale Primary School Brochure

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