School Prospectus
1. Danesholme Junior School Key Stage 2 SATs Results
2. 2001 OFSTED summary.
3. The School Day
4. Lunchtime
5. Attendance
6. School trips
7. First Aid
8. The Curriculum and Homework
9. Religious Education
10. Children with Special Educational Needs
1. Danesholme Junior School Key Stage 2 SATs Results
We are pleased to report the latest national test results.113 of our children were entered into the Key Stage 2 SATs test in 2002.
Level 4 is the expected level of achievement for an eleven year old.
The table below shows the percentage of children achieving Level 4 or above. These are compared against the Northamptonshire average and the National average for 2002.
ENGLISH
Danesholme Junior School 79%
Northamptonshire Average 75.8%
National Average 75%
MATHEMATICS
Danesholme Junior School 82%
Northamptonshire Average 71.9%
National Average 73%
SCIENCE
Danesholme Junior School 91%
Northamptonshire Average 87.1%
National Average 86%
We are particularly pleased with the number of our children that achieved level 5, which is a very high level of achievement for children at Key Stage 2.
The table below gives a further breakdown of our results:
ENGLISH
LEVEL 4 58%
LEVEL 5 21%
TOTAL 79%
MATHEMATICS
LEVEL 4 55%
LEVEL 5 27%
TOTAL 82%
SCIENCE
LEVEL 4 62%
LEVEL 5 29%
TOTAL 91%
Absence Rates
Percentage of half days missed (of 442 pupils):
authorised 6.2%
unauthorised 0.5% Back to top
2. 2001 OFSTED summary.
Danesholme Junior School was most recently inspected on March 26th-28th 2001.Four inspectors, led by Tim Boyce, inspected the school.
The school received an excellent report, the key findings of which are summarised below:
"This is a very good school with many very significant strengths."
What the school does well:
· Standards in English, Mathematics and Science are much higher than average.
· The excellent provision for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) helps pupils to make excellent progress and to achieve above average standards.
· The provision for Religious Education (RE) is very good. It effectively supports the spiritual development of pupils.
· Standards in Design and Technology (DT) and Art and Design are very high.
· The quality of teaching and learning is very good and is much better than is usually found.
· The leadership and management provided by the head teacher, the deputy, the governing body and key staff is excellent.
· The very good provision for pupils' social and moral development and the excellent procedures for promoting and monitoring good behaviour result in pupils' very positive attitudes, excellent relationships and their exemplary behaviour.
· The quality, range, richness and relevance of the curriculum are very good.
What could be improved:
· Procedures for promoting and celebrating good attendance.
· The quality of the school's provision for multi-cultural education.
· The range of extra-curricular activities is limited for younger pupils.
The contractor appointed by OFSTED for this inspection was Evenlode Associates Ltd., 6 Abbey Close, Alcester, Warwickshire B49 5QW Tel: 01789 766099
A more detailed summary or a full copy of the inspection report can be obtained from the school upon request. Alternatively, all OFSTED reports are available to view online at www.ofsted.gov.uk Back to top
3. The School Day
Children may arrive at school from 8:45 am onwards.Before school starts children should wait on the playground.
School begins at 9:00 am.
At 9:00 am the teachers will come out to collect their classes.Year 4 and 5 children will be collected from the front playground (on Motala Close). Year 3 and Year 6 children will be collected from the back playground. Access to the back playground is through the front playground and along the pathway around the school.
PLEASE NOTE: No parents' vehicles or pedestrians are permitted in the school car park. Motala Close is exceptionally busy before and after school, so parents are requested to drive carefully and park sensibly for the safety of the children.
Morning break times vary according to individual class timetables, but will usually be taken between 10:15-10:30 or 10:30-10:45 am.Children may bring a piece of fruit (no crisps, sweets or chocolate) to eat during morning break.
Afternoon Registration is at 1:15 pm.
Afternoon break times vary according to individual class timetables, but will usually be taken between 2:15-2:30 or 2:30-2:45 pm.
School finishes at 3:30 pm. Back to top
4. Lunchtime
Your child may bring a packed lunch from home and stay at school during the lunch hour. Parents in receipt of income support are eligible for a free packed lunch and should ask at the school office for details. All children are expected to behave appropriately at lunchtime, to follow the school rules and the instructions of the lunchtime supervisors. In the case of any child being unable to do this, a letter will be sent to parents and that child will be required to spend the lunch break at home.We try and encourage all children to eat a sensible balance diet. We do not allow glass bottles, canned fizzy drinks, sweets or chocolate to be included in packed lunches.
If your child will be going home for lunch, then you need to provide written permission for the class teacher. If this is a regular arrangement, then one covering letter will suffice. Children going home for lunch should be back on school premises at 1.15pm for afternoon registration, but not before. Back to top
5. Attendance
Daily registers are kept on your child's attendance at school and the registers are inspected by the Education Welfare Officer on a regular basis.If your child is absent from school please phone the school office (01536 741657) as soon as possible.
On returning to school, please provide your child with a dated note for the class teacher explaining the absence so that it can be correctly recorded in the register.
Legislation states that failure to let the school know the reason for absence will result in an unauthorised absence being recorded by your child's name. All parents need to be aware that unless an explanation is received for ALL absences, then that period of absence will be coded as 'unauthorised' and appear on your child's record. At the Parents' Open Evening in July, parents receive a copy of the computerised breakdown for their child's attendance through the year.
The school has in place an attendance award system to acknowledge good attendance.
Medical/Dental Appointments
If your child will be attending a medical/dental appointment during school time then please advise the class teacher in advance.
If you wish to collect your child for an appointment during the school day then you should go to the school office, not to your child's classroom. Where class teachers have sufficient notice of appointments, they will endeavour to have your child ready at the office for collection. It will be necessary for you to sign your child out of the school building for health and safety purposes.
Holidays in Term Time
The education of your child is vital and therefore holidays should be planned whenever possible during school holiday dates.
Under education law, parents may request absence for pupils from school due to a family holiday. Schools may authorise absence for this purpose for up to ten school days in any school year.
Parents wishing to take their children on holiday during term time should collect a holiday form from the school office.
Permission for holidays during school time is given at the discretion of the Head Teacher. Back to top
6. School trips
From time to time your child may be asked to bring money into school to pay for a trip or visit that has been organised. Any money that is sent into school should be in an envelope clearly marked with:1. your child's name
2. your child's class
3. the amount of money
4. what the money is for.
For any trip that involves taking children off the school premises we must have a signature giving parental consent. When this is the case, the initial letter that you receive giving details of the excursion will have a tear off slip at the bottom. In all cases, it is vital that this permission slip is signed and returned to school because without it we will be unable to include your child in the trip. Back to top
7. First Aid
While at school the general well being and safety of your child is of great importance and to these ends we deal with minor medical accidents within the school. We have a small medical room where the children are taken when they are injured or feeling ill. When a more serious accident occurs, parents are informed as soon as possible and joint action is taken.The school has two members of staff with current First Aid qualifications and two members of staff with Life Support Training who can provide emergency First Aid.
We are not able to give any form of medication to your child.
Our School Nurse is Mrs Julie Palmer. She is based at Stuart Road Clinic, Telephone 01536 400030 should you need to contact her.
For the protection of all of the children in our care, we urge parents not to send ill children into school.
In order for us to provide the best possible care for your child it is vital that we have up-to-date emergency contact details. Please ensure that the school is informed of any change of address, telephone number (including mobile phone numbers) or place of work. Back to top
8. The Curriculum and Homework
The CurriculumAt Danesholme Junior School we plan the curriculum carefully to provide a meaningful and worthwhile education that will prepare our children for the experiences and responsibilities of secondary education and later life.
We offer a well-balanced, varied and broad based curriculum that ensures that all targets set by the National Curriculum are available to all children. This education is not only academic, but includes cultural, social, spiritual and physical development and growth.
The school has invested in excellent I.T. facilities. There is a computer in each classroom that is networked to the school computer suite. Children spend at least one hour a week learning specific I.T. skills. In addition, as part of the wide and varied curriculum on offer, children in Years 5 and 6 learn French. These lessons are taught by a specialist teacher. A wide range of educational visits and visitors offering specialist knowledge and skills further enhances the curriculum.
A wide range of activities offered outside of it compliments opportunities within the classroom. Children can participate in choirs, act in productions, and belong to various games teams, dance and much more. Some of these opportunities are offered within school time and some are as part of an after-school club.
Every term your child will bring home a 'curriculum sheet'. This summarises the specific areas that your child will be covering in school as part of the National Curriculum.
Homework
Homework at Danesholme Junior School is generally as follows:
· Every week your child will be given spellings and tables to learn. He/she will be tested on these later in the week.
· There will be one piece of written homework to complete every week. This homework should be handed in on a specified day.
· Reading his/her reading book is also part of your child's homework. This should be done as often as possible. Your child will be given a reading record book in which you can record any comments about his/her reading.
This information provides general guidance. Specific information about homework may vary between Year Groups. The class teacher may give additional homework, and there is likely to be an increase in the amount of homework given in Year 6. Back to top
9. Religious Education
Danesholme Junior School recognises the importance of an understanding of major world religions and has forged worthwhile links with members of the Christian and non-Christian religions in nearby communities.Children will be helped to develop an awareness of the world around them through the exploration of religious, cultural, social and ethnic issues. As well as having knowledge and understanding of religions, they are encouraged to respond to questions of meaning and value.
Christian studies form part of classroom education, while more formalised acts of worship, involving the entire school, take place at twice-weekly assemblies. The local minister sometimes leads these. Lower and upper school assemblies; along with smaller class assemblies are also held. Here, the emphasis is on general moral issues often covering material from the Personal, Social and Health Education (P.S.H.E.) framework in the National Curriculum.
Parents should be aware of the provision of the 1944 Education Act allowing exemption from Religious Education. It states:
'If the parent of any child in attendance at any county school or any voluntary school requests that he be wholly or partly excused from attendance at religious worship and religious instruction or from attendance at both religious worship and religious instruction in the school then until the request is withdrawn the pupil shall be excused such attendance accordingly.' Section 25
Appropriate alternative provision will be made for any child that is withdrawn, based on the individual case and discussion with parents. Back to top
10. Children with Special Educational Needs
When our pupils enter the school, the class teachers carefully assess each child's ability in order to ascertain whether a child may require any additional support. Where necessary the child is referred to the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator and an individual programme of support is designed to help address their needs. All programmes are approved by parents and drawn up in consultation with other professionals where needed. Some programmes will address only one specific area of need for a short period of time while others may offer comprehensive support across the curriculum long term.Danesholme Junior School works closely with a wide range of agencies including I.P.S. (Inclusion and Pupil Support), the Education Welfare Officer, Educational Psychologist, the School Doctor and Nurse and Speech and Physical Therapists. At all times the needs of the individual child are paramount and the professionals and families of pupils work together, in an atmosphere of openness and respect, to arrive at the best possible programme of support.
It is hoped that the programmes implemented will increase children's self-confidence and hopefully enable them to achieve to the best of their ability. The school prides itself on its positive and supportive approach to Special Educational Needs and all achievements, however small, are celebrated and rewarded.
Our aim is that all our pupils have access to a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum in an atmosphere, which encourages them to succeed. Back to top