The Horseshoe, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 2BQ

We are very proud of our wonderful school and hope that this prospectus will give you a taste of what it is like being a

member of our school community. Please come and see us to find out more and to meet our fabulous staff and children.

Banstead Infant School is a wonderful school in so many ways:

We are passionate about learning and the children, staff, parents and governors work

together to create an exciting and creative curriculum that nurtures and inspires all children to be independent thinkers and learners. For the past 20 years our

Key Stage 1 results have been above both Surrey and national averages.

The people at Banstead Infant School make the school a very special place indeed. It is a school full of laughter, friendship and

hard work. Visitors to the school always comment on the welcoming atmosphere. We have a fantastic staff, who are dedicated to doing their very best for the

children. All staff work closely with parents to ensure there is excellent communication. The governors are very committed and achieve so much more than

fulfilling their statutory duty. They are a real support and share the high expectations of the school. We would not be the school we are without the support of

our parents. We have a brilliant Parent Teacher association (PTA), who have bought the school quality resources and helped to make the school a real community.

Parents at Banstead Infant School support their children’s learning at home by reading with their children and helping with the homework. They take a deep

interest in all we do. It is this close working relationship with parents that ensures the children continue to achieve their best.

All our classrooms have interactive whiteboards or screens with wireless connection. The children

have access to desktop computers, microphones, laptops, netbooks, robots and tablets. Visualisers are used in every classroom as a way of sharing and

demonstrating teaching and learning. Tablets are used to support learning across the curriculum and offer the children opportunities for filming and recording

their learning in different ways.

. The children have a lot of space in which to play and learn. There is a main playground, a garden area, a pond and a woodland walk. The woodland walk is a wildlife haven, with minibeast hotels, a bird hide and specially planted beds which encourage

butterflies and ladybirds. The children have the opportunity to build dens, use natural materials to build sculptures and learn about the importance of caring for

a woodland habitat. We have a Forest Schools leader who works with us, she is passionate about the importance of learning outside and leads exciting sessions

in the woodland walk and school grounds.

. The school building is modern and very bright. The classrooms are arranged around a beautiful atrium. There are large practical areas attached to the classrooms and this promotes independent learning and exploration. There are quiet rooms too

for small group work or gentle play. Our classrooms are bright, welcoming and celebrate children’s learning. Displays reflect the high standards achieved by the

children. We have a themed and well-stocked library; the children asked for an ‘Under the Sea’ theme so there are waves painted on the walls, a tropical fish tank

and a huge whale suspended from the ceiling! Of course, we have lots of books too!

Health, happiness and safety

High expectations for all

An exciting, creative curriculum

Skills of creativity –the habits of an expert

Learning to Learn skills

Clear values and purpose

In this prospectus we will show you how we put our vision into practice.

Andrew Burbidge – Head Teacher Joan Hornsby – Chair of Governors

There is a happy, settled and calm atmosphere throughout the school. The school is full of friendly, caring people; we think of ourselves as a big family. At

Banstead Infant School every child is valued. We listen to the children. We encourage them to share their ideas and speak with confidence. High self-

esteem is crucial to successful learning. We find what is special about every child and make sure that they know about it too. We offer children as many

different opportunities to succeed as we can, both within and outside the curriculum.

Your child’s safety and happiness is our first concern. Children need to feel safe and happy to learn. We take time to get to know each child well. We

always listen to what they say and we work in partnership with parents so that we can understand how best to meet each child’s needs. Teachers are

available to meet with parents both before and after school and we encourage parents to come and talk to us if they have any concerns. We have an

open door policy and welcome parents at any time.

We want the children to feel safe when they are learning and not to worry about making mistakes. Our classrooms are safe learning environments where

mistakes are seen as learning opportunities. Children learn that making a mistake can build and strengthen brain pathways and is a vital part of learning.

We teach the children about the importance of having a growth mindset so that they understand the importance of effort and persistence in learning,

even when it is hard. This gives them the confidence to take on challenges and surprise themselves.

We teach the children how to stay safe in the real and virtual world through our citizenship programme. We also teach them how to develop good

relationships with others and to respect and celebrate the differences between people. Friendships are important and we observe the children at work

and play to make sure they are happy and not alone. They are given the language to explain how they are feeling: ‘warm and fuzzy’ for happy and ‘cold

and prickly’ for sad. This language is shared by the whole school. Every week, in every class, the children have a circle time and discuss such topics as:

making friends, sharing, accepting compliments, what to do if they are worried, giving praise and making good choices.

We have clear boundaries and simple school rules. The children know how we expect them to behave. We celebrate success at every

opportunity through our star learners, Head Teacher’s awards, the best effort board and, best of all, Golden Tea with the Head Teacher, for

those children who always do their best and who show the school values all the time.

RE is an important part of the children’s education and is taught in line with The Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education in Surrey Schools.

We teach through stories, artefacts and role play. There is a daily act of worship which is broadly Christian in nature.

Banstead Infant School promotes equality of opportunity for disabled people: children, staff, parents, carers and visitors to the school. We are an inclusive

school and we are proud of that fact! The governing body continually strives to increase the extent of access to the curriculum, the environment and to the

written information provided by the school.

We teach the children to care for others in their world by supporting local and international charities.

We are a healthy school. The children are taught the importance of a healthy lifestyle which includes

eating healthily and keeping fit. It is important that the children have the right knowledge so that they

are able to make informed choices about how to lead a healthy life. We teach about healthy lifestyles

under the following 4 headings:

Physical: 2 hours of sport plus ‘wake and shake’ (aerobics). The PE curriculum is made up of three

strands: gymnastics, dance and games. These strands enable the children to develop physical

competence, stamina and strength, positive self-awareness and to have the chance to express

themselves artistically. We have worked alongside professional coaches and players to enhance our

skills. As a result the children learn to play tag rugby, netball and cricket from reception to year 2. We

have good links with the local sports clubs who provide excellent role models for our children. We

encourage the children to cycle or scoot to school whenever possible.

The children have many opportunities to learn in the outside classroom and as part of the Forest Schools

programme. Forest Schools is designed to develop confidence and self-esteem through independent

learning in a woodland environment. The focus is led by the children’s ideas and gives many

opportunities for them to investigate, be curious, take on challenges together and use their imagination.

“..the best classroom and the richest cupboard is roofed only by the sky.” Margaret McMillan,

philosopher, c 1925

Mental: Emotional Literacy: our programme teaches the children about how to express their feelings and

manage relationships so that they understand the importance of good mental health. They are taught to

respect others and themselves and to make the right choices. Children are given responsibilities which

they enjoy, such as being lunchtime helpers, playground buddies or library monitors. Children have a

voice via the school council and help in decision- making, such as the development of the playground and woodland walk.

Nutrition: children learn about how to make healthy choices to ensure that they can keep fit and well. They learn about the importance of a balanced diet

and the role that fruit and vegetables should play in that diet. All our children are encouraged to eat a school meal as they are nutritionally balanced and

prepared using fresh ingredients. The children are asked to bring in fresh water every day. Fresh fruit or vegetables and milk are supplied daily for a

morning snack. Lunches are vigorously monitored to ensure quality, and to ensure the children have eaten and drunk enough.

Environmental: the children are taught to respect their local environment and that of the wider world

We want the best for all our children and therefore we expect the best in everything we do! We plan for learning that promotes deep engagement, gives

children motivation, courage and belief in their power to influence their own future through a focus on learning.

We believe in the potential of every child so all the children are given the opportunity to develop the capacity to surprise themselves and those around

them. They are taught to challenge themselves to build confidence and resilience. We ‘teach to the top’ to provide models of excellence, ensuring that

support is given for those children who need it.

When they are learning the children support and help one another and it is recognised that everybody has a unique contribution to make; everybody can

learn with and from everybody else. Children are actively encouraged to learn from and with one another. They are expected and enabled to listen to,

value and build on the ideas of others in their own learning. They are taught in mixed-ability groups so that they learn to use each other’s resources to

generate ideas, build confidence, support each other’s thinking, provide an audience and offer feedback.

We believe in the growth mindset which enables children to embrace learning and growth, to understand the role of effort in creating talent and to

maintain confidence and effectiveness in the face of challenges and setbacks. The children learn that the brain is like a muscle that gets stronger with use

and that it has the ability to grow and change. Practice and effort leads to success: I can’t do it ... yet!

Children with Additional Needs

Some children experience difficulty with a specific area of their learning at some time in their school life and may need support from our additional needs

team. At Banstead Infant School we believe it is important to help a child as early as possible in an endeavour to prevent future difficulties with learning and

to maintain a high self-esteem. Parents are involved in reviewing their children’s targets and making suggestions for new targets. We are determined to

promote a partnership with parents of all children, which is based on trust, understanding and open communication. Our Special Needs Co-ordinator and

team of teaching assistants use a multi-sensory approach to learning. We work in partnership with parents and professionals including educational

psychologists, speech and language therapists and the school nurses.

Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan

Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan take priority in the admissions policy of the school. This is in line with local and national expectations. We

aim for the children to be included in all aspects of school life. They are well provided for at Banstead Infant School. Teaching assistants give 1:1 and small

group support during the day and often at lunchtimes too to ensure that children are safe and happy. For more information about our provision for children

with special educational needs please visit the school website at www.bansteadinfant.co.uk and go to the ‘Policies’ section under the ‘Parents’ tab or click

here. Paper copies are available from the school office.

We have embraced the new National Curriculum which comprises English, Mathematics, Science, Computing, Geography, History, Technology, Music, Art

and Physical Education together with The Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education in Surrey Schools and have added key elements which drive the

curriculum. These drivers are:

Literature at the heart of the curriculum

The habits of an expert: determined, observant, imaginative, investigative, curious, adventurous, co-operative and the use of reasoning

Learning to learn skills: resourceful, reflective, resilient and the use of reciprocity

Learning without limits: allowing the children to surprise us and themselves

Environment: creating a stimulating learning environment inside and out

Within the framework of the National Curriculum requirements we have developed a creative curriculum which offers a broad and balanced approach to

learning and is underpinned by strong purpose and values. We have high expectations for all children and expect them to surprise us. Our curriculum is

based on cross curricular topics which are driven by key children’s stories. We listen to the children first and then the staff plan together and share their

ideas in order to deliver the most exciting and relevant curriculum to motivate and inspire the children. The teachers work together to ensure that over the

course of Early Years Foundation Stage (Reception) and Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) the children are provided with a rich, dynamic curriculum that enables

them to be independent and share responsibility for their learning. The curriculum offers challenge and choice and is built on our assessment of what the

children know now and what they need to learn next.

We teach phonics as an early reading skill using a range of reading scheme books to support our teaching. Single and double sounds are taught throughout

all three year groups, during daily phonics sessions. As the children become more fluent they are taught to use other strategies alongside their phonic

knowledge. This results in children becoming fluent, expressive readers who have a love of reading.

Every year group will go on an educational visit. Educational visits are planned for learning in the same way as in the classrooms. They bring learning to life,

are very valuable and are often never forgotten by the children.

Children learn best when home and school work closely together. Homework includes spellings, reading and maths. The amount of homework

increases as your child progresses through the school.

We are delighted to offer a range of extra-curricular clubs led by external providers – these run both before and after school. Our clubs are: Football, Multi-

skills, drama, drawing, gymnastics, gardening, choir, netball, Irish dancing, Lego engineering, chess, yoga, golf, Spanish, Cooking and Big Teds (a club run by

our local church, All Saints).

Proud horticulturalists from the gardening club

As a parent at the school, you will automatically become a member of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). The PTA arranges fun events for the children

and their families such as the school disco, summer and Christmas Fayres, movie nights, quiz nights and many more. Funds raised have enabled

the school to achieve so much more for the children than they could alone. The PTA provides funds each term to enable class teachers to buy

resources to support our curriculum that the school otherwise could not afford. The PTA have also recently provided funding for new

playground equipment and the replacement of outdated IT equipment for the children.

We teach the children the skills they will need for life. In this changing world the

children need to be truly creative when tackling problems. We teach the children the

behaviours they need for successful learning in each subject. Children need to gain

knowledge but they also need to know which skills to use in order to be successful.

The children are given opportunities to explore, think and reason and to find out for

themselves rather than simply being filled up with knowledge. They learn as experts -

mathematicians, writers, artists, gymnasts, scientists – rather than ‘doing’ a subject.

They are mathematicians learning in the same way that a mathematician would. This

implicit expectation of quality raises their aspirations and enables them to take

charge of their learning. They learn to be observant, determined, co-operative,

curious, imaginative, adventurous, investigative and to use reasoning.

Alongside the habits the children are taught learning to learn skills:

These skills underpin what it means to be a good learner and the children are

encouraged to reflect on their learning using the skills as a framework. This means

that when the children leave us at the end of year 2 they are truly resilient learners

who know how to learn well.

Investigative, curious scientists

Learning in this way gives the children a sense of ownership of their learning and builds self-esteem as they recognise that they can take on the role of any

expert successfully by using the ‘habits’ of that expert.

Co-operative learning as rugby players

Observant learning as an artist

We explicitly teach these values in school. Values are at the heart of our school and guide our actions and decision making. This has made the school a very

magical place because we have shared and agreed morals.

We talk to the children about values using a Jammie Dodger biscuit to represent both learning and values. The biscuit part represents all

the learning but the jam is the heart of the school. The children talk about having a ‘Jammie Dodger heart’ which means that they show

the values in their everyday lives.

They identify these elements when asked what it means to have a ‘Jammie Dodger heart’

Friendship: be a good friend, help each other, be kind/helpful, share, take care of each other, love each other,

Respect: respect other people, listen when other people are speaking, be responsible, be trustworthy, be honest, look after the school – woodland walk,

playground equipment, trees, computers, toys, books, our learning, everything

Self-respect: respect yourself, be kind to yourself, make the right choices, have self-control

We have a clear purpose: to provide an outstanding education for all children.

We would love you to see our wonderful school to see the children, staff, governors and parents – all working together to mix the ingredients into a

successful recipe.

Choosing your child’s first school is one of the most important decisions you have to make so please do come and visit.

Contact us:

Head Teacher: Mr Andrew Burbidge

Address: Banstead Infant School, The Horseshoe, Banstead, Surrey SM7 2BQ

Email: school@bansteadinfant.co.uk

Website: www.bansteadinfant.co.uk

Telephone: 01737 354816