parent prospectus

7/27/2019 Parent Prospectus

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Geoffrey Field Infant Community School

(READING Local Authority)

Exbourne Road

Reading

RG2 8RH

Telephone: 0118 937 5473

Website: www.geoffreyfieldinfant.co.uk

Parent Prospectus 2013


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Contents

Welcome Message page 4

School Informat ion page 5

School Staff page 6

Admissions Information page 7

The School Day page 9

Attendance and Punctualit y page 10

Day to Day Information pages 10 - 12

Curriculum Content page 13


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Welcome to Geoffrey Field Infant SchoolWe would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to Geoffrey Field Infant School. It may be

that you already have or have had children at the school, in which case you will be familiar with

our routines and organisation. However, if you are a new parent, we hope that you will find this

prospectus very helpful.

We are a large infant school, with 10 classes, including a Nursery

class. The school is set in extensive and attractive grounds, giving

children plenty of space to learn and play. In fact each year group

has its own dedicated outdoor learning area. The school opened in

1949 and was later officially opened by Alderman Geoffrey Field,

who had served as Vice-Chairman of the Education Committee.

Our commitment at Geoffrey Field Infant is to ensure that your child:

Feels safe whilst at school Enjoys learning

Makes excellent progress and learns as well as s/he can

We provide a broad curriculum whilst maintaining a particular focus on reading. This we believe is

important both for its own sake and in terms of enjoyment and developing imagination but also

in accessing all subjects.

The breadth of opportunity is seen in a wide variety of visitors who

are invited into school to work with the children e.g. musicians,

actors, artists, the mobile farm. The children really enjoy these

sessions and learn a great deal from them.

We also have our annual Arts Week with professional artists, dancers and musicians

working with the children plus Sports Day and Fun Day as well as after school clubs such as foot-

ball and basketball for both girls and boys.

Our aim is to support children to become confident, independent learners who gain

enjoyment from and have pride in their achievement at each stage of their education.

We hope you enjoy finding out about the school.

S E Farrow

Headteacher


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School Information

Parents are a very important part of the school and we aim to work closely with you to support

your child during his/her time with us.

You can help us by:

Supporting your child with homework

Sharing reading books with your child

Supervising a group of children on trips

Supporting curriculum workshops (e.g.

Reading, Maths, Phonics, SATs etc.)

Ensuring your child comes to school everyday

and on time (unless ill)

A highly trained Teaching and Learning

Assistant supports each class and there is

an Early Years Practitioner in Nursery.

We have received

an Outstanding

Ofsted grade in:

2007/2008

2012/2013

We have close links with

Voluntary Reading Help

volunteers

come into school weekly

All Whitley Schools and Nurseries and

especially with Geoffrey Field Junior

School

Reading University

The schools is part of the WhitleyExcellence Cluster (WEC) and supports the

charity ASPIRE2.

For more information on WEC/Aspire2 visit

www.whitleyaspire2.btck.co.uk


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School Staff and Governors (updated October 2013)

Headteacher: Miss S E Farrow Deputy Headteacher: Miss Z Dean

Finance Manager: Mrs H Mason Admin Officer: Mrs N Kirby

Intervention Manager: Mrs D Mace Family Support Worker: Miss S King

Governors

Community Governors:Ms L Wakelin (Chair ), Ms S La Rose (Vice Chair)

LA Governors:Mrs G Knight, Mrs R Crabtree

Staf f Governors:Miss Z Dean, Mrs E Clements, Mrs S Hanton

Senior Leadership Team

Miss E Mustoe Foundation Stage Team Leader

Mrs E Clements Year 1 Team Leader

Mrs A Whyatt & Mrs A Chapman Year 2 Team Leaders

Class Teachers

Mrs H Underwood Miss A McCallam Mrs J Bennette

Miss J Stuart Miss A Brown Mrs J Arnold

Miss A Knight Miss A Siddiqa

Teaching and Learning Assistants (class based)

Mrs T Austin Mrs T King Mrs B Holmes

Mrs C Jarvis Ms D Dymond Mrs V Wicks

Mrs S Hanton Mrs J Sheppard Mrs L Quirke

Nursery Assistant :Mrs K Snarey

Teaching and Learning Assistants (Literacy and individual support)

Mrs T Wright Mrs J Baker Mrs G Alpar

Miss S Geary Mrs S Allen Mrs S Chowdhury

Mrs T Shepherd Mrs C Statham Mrs M Harkin

Lunchtime supervisors

Mrs T Wright Mrs J Baker Mrs D Ferguson

Miss S Geary Miss M Norgate Mrs S Allen

Mrs V Varney Mrs T Shepherd Mrs C McManus

Site Controller: Mr D Batson


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Admissions Information

The school has a morning and afternoon Nursery class and three year groups:

Recept ion Year 1 Year 2

Nursery Admissions

Nursery admissions are handled internally by the School Admissions

Panel consisting of school staff and Governors.

Children can be registered onto the waiting list from the age of 2 years.

Application forms and admissions policies are available from the school office or from the

school website. Completed forms should be handed into the school office during school hours

with the childs original birth certificate or passport to verify their date of birth.

Children are eligible for placement in Nursery the term after their third birthday however the

majority of places are filled in September due to the admission of children into the Reception

year. Parents are contacted as soon as a place is available .

If the waiting list is oversubscribed the oversubscription criteria is clearly marked in the

admissions policy. Nursery transfers are only accepted in exceptional circumstances.

School Admissions (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2)

The School Admissions Team at Reading Borough Council coordinate the school places in all

Reading schools.

For admission to any of the above years please contact the Admissions Team:

Telephone 0118 9373777 or visit www.reading.gov.uk

Registration

Once your child has been allocated a place we will ask you to complete the registration forms. It

is important that all the information requested is completed to enable the school to safeguard

your child. Please list the contact details of all adults that have permission to collect your child.

We will also require your childs NHS number available from your GP in case of emergencies and

school trips.

Admission to Year 3

School Admissions coordinate the places for children finishing Year 2. Application forms are

sent to parents through the Infant school in the autumn term whilst the child is in Year 2.Reading Borough Council allocate the places and contact parents directly to offer places.


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The School Day

NURSERY

Morning Nursery starts at 8.50am with registration at 9.00am and finishes at 11.50am

Afternoon Nursery starts at 12.15pm with registration at 12.25pm and finishes at 3.15pm

Children are expected to be in the class ready for the register before registration time and are

expected to attend every day and on time unless ill. Parents are requested to contact the

school office before 9.30am in the event of an absence. There is an answer phone available for

messages during out of school hours.

THE SCHOOL DAY

8.50am Doors open

9.00am Registration

10.30am Playtime

11.45am Reception Lunchtime begins

12.00pm Year 1 and 2 lunchtime begins

1.10pm Afternoon registration

3.05pm School finishes

Teaching time

In a normal week we spend 21 hours and 40 minutes on actual teaching. This does not include

time spent on the following:

Registration (approximately 50 minutes per week)

Morning Break (approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes per week)

Collective Worship (approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes per week)

Security

Security is taken very seriously and all visitors are required to report to the office.

If a child arrives after 9am a member of staff will take him/her to the classroom as the days

teaching will already have started.

A door phone system is in operation and staff are required to be vigilant at all times.

Lunchtime Support Staff supervise the children during lunchtimes and are fully aware of

procedures to be followed with regards to security and pupil welfare.


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Day to Day InformationPupil Safety and Welfare

First aid will be administered if your child has a minor cut or bruise while in school.

If a more serious accident occurs, every effort will be made to contact you. It is therefore es-

sential that we have at least one telephone number on which we can contact you.

If your child bumps his/her head you will be called and advised to monitor your child at home

as bumps can lead to concussion in young children.

Significant injuries are recorded and reported to the Local Authority.

Illness

If your child has been sick or had diarrhoea, please keep him/her at home for 48 hours after

this stops.

Inhalers

If your child has asthma and needs an inhaler during the day please complete an asthma card

at the school office and leave the inhaler, marked with yourchild's name, with the classroom

staff.

Medicine in School

This is given only at the Headteachers discretion and must be prescribed by a doctor. If this

is agreed, parents must fill in the relevant form and all medicines must be clearly marked

Hazards: Please note that buggies should

not be brought into the classrooms as they

would create a hazard if there was a fire.

You may leave your buggies in the entrance

hall or on the patios but this is entirely at

your own risk. It is recommended that you

take your child out of the buggy and carry

him/her with you down to the classroom asthe supervision of your child cannot be

provided.

Hazards: Exbourne Road is subject to

parking restrictions:

Parking on the yellow lines will

result in a 60 fine.

There should be no parking around

the roundabout.

The speed limit is 20mph.

Milk

The school offers a milk scheme for children to have a carton of milk after break.

Parents are required to register with the milk provider (Cool Milk) either by completing the

registration form available at the school office (can take approximately 2 weeks to register and

receive an invoice) or by completing the application and payment online at www.coolmilk.com

or by telephone 0800 854 2913 .
http://www.coolmilk.com/http://www.coolmilk.com/http://www.coolmilk.com/


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Parent/School Relationships

This school has always had good relationships with the parents and all parents are treated

with courtesy and respect by staff. It is expected that all staff will be treated in the same

manner by parents. Any parent with a concern or complaint must raise the issue in a calm

non-aggressive manner the school will listen and act upon issues raised. However, if a

parent is abusive or threatening in any way then the matter will be dealt with through the

Local Authority legal department. In extreme circumstances this can lead to banning from

the school site.

This school recognises that staff and parents working together enables children to learn as

well as they can.

Parent Board

There is an information board in the main corridor near the entrance hall and outside the main

entrance. Various notices are pinned up advertising events or giving information on services available.

Newsletters

Each year group sends out a termly curriculum newsletter. Other letters are also sent home giving

information about dates, forthcoming events or school procedures. Copies of all newsletters are

available to download from the website.

Text Messages

The school uses a text messaging system to contact parents. If you do not receive any texts over a

period of time it could be an indicator that the school does not have your current telephone numbers.

Please contact the school office to update information.

Lunches

Hot meals are offered at lunchtime and cost 2.04 for a dinner and a pudding. Drinks can also be

purchased separately. Water is provided on the dining tables. Copies of the menus are given to parents

and children can order one of three dinner options during morning registration. Dinner money must be

paid daily and brought to school in a named purse/wallet.

The school meal provider is Chartwells and more information about school meals, nutrition and

sustainable sourcing please visit the website www.dineatschool.co.uk.

If your child/ren are eligible for free school meals please complete an application form and provide current evidence of the

benefit being received. A full list of eligible benefits are on the back of the form. Free school meal entitlement is checked each

term, September, January and April and you will be required to provide current

evidence of entitlement to continue receiving free meals.

Alternatively children can bring their own packed lunch from home.
http://www.dineatschool.co.uk/http://www.dineatschool.co.uk/http://www.dineatschool.co.uk/


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Uniform

The school colours are blue and grey and we are

pleased to see that so many parents support the

wearing of school uniform.

Uniform items with the school logo are available

from the school office, during the school day, size

3/4 years, 5/6 years and 7/8 years. Larger sizes can be purchased from the Junior

school.

Prices (October 2013)

Royal blue sweatshirt 7.15

Royal blue cardigan 8.50

Royal blue polo shirt 6.00

P.E. t-shirt 4.00

P.E. royal blue shorts 3.50

Royal blue book bag 3.00

Royal blue P.E. rucksack 3.50

Baseball caps from 2.20

Water bottles 0.25

P.E. Kits

Please ensure your child has a P.E. t-shirt, shorts and pumps in school each Monday, these are

taken home on a Friday for washing.

Footwear

Young children are very active and need to run and enjoy themselves at playtime; it is advisable

that children wear appropriate - i.e. safe footwear. Shoes with high-heels are not considered

appropriate for young children.

Please ensure that all items of clothing, including P.E. kits are named.


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Attendance and Punctuality

Regular attendance makes a great deal of difference to your child's achievements, and the

school welcomes your support with this matter.

Schools are required to publish rates of attendance annually. If children regularly miss school

then this is time that is lost forever, which clearly has an effect on levels of attainment.

Please support your school by:

Making sure your child comes every day unless ill.

Letting the school know the reason for absence. (If a notification is not received by

9.30 a.m. you will be called by a member of the admin staff.)

Making sure your child arrives on time every day.

Attendance reports are given to parents each term during Parents Week. The report shows

your childs attendance as a percentage and this will include the number of authorised and un-authorised absences. The Education Welfare Officer from the Local Authority monitors chil-

drens attendance and where there are concerns will work with the family to increase atten-

dance and/or punctuality.

Requests for leave from school

The current situation, from 1st

September 2013, is that Headteachers may not grant any leave

of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Please note a family

holiday does not meet the criteria for exceptional circumstances.

The Headteacher must be satisfied that the circumstances warrant the granting of leave. The

Headteacher will determine the number of days a child can be away from school if the leave is

granted.

For further information on these changes please see:

http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/behaviour/attendance/a00223868/

regulations-amendments

A Holidays in Term Time leaflet can be requested from the school office.

Attendance Rates for the Year

2012/13

94.1%

The Local Authority expects all primary school

children to have a minimum of 95% attendance.


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Curriculum Content

This school provides education for children from 3-7 years old. This means that there are two phases: the

Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception) and Key Stage 1 (Year 1 and Year 2) . The following is a brief

description of what is covered in the curriculum during these stages.

The year groups covered are:

Nursery (3/4 year olds)

Reception (4/5 year olds)

Year 1 (5/6 year olds)

Year 2 (6/7 year olds)

The Nursery and Reception curriculum is called the Early Years Foundation Stage and covers the following areas

of learning and development:

Prime Areas

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Physical Development

Communication and Language

Specific Areas

Literacy

Mathematics

Understanding the World

Expressive Arts and Design

The Year 1 and Year 2 curriculum is called The National Curriculum and covers the following areas of learning:

Literacy (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening)

Mathematics Science

Religious Education (R.E.)

Physical Education (P.E.)

Information and Communication Technology (I.C.T.)

History

Geography

Music

Art and Design

Design and Technology (D.T.)

The Phonics Scheme used by the school is Read Write Inc. Please note the school does not use the reading or

writing programmes within this scheme.


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For furt her informat ion please visit the school website:

www.geoffreyfieldinfant.co.uk

Or contact the school office on:

0118 937 5473

Geoffrey Field Infant School

Exbourne Road

Reading

RG2 8RH

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