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Our school curriculum
Flitwick Lower recognises the importance of giving all children a firm foundation in the basic skills of literacy and mathematics from the outset of their school-life. The school’s teaching in literacy and mathematics follows current national strategies for teaching these subjects from Early Years Foundation Stage through to Key Stage 2.
Parents receive a copy of their child’s timetable at the beginning of each term and an outline of the key areas being covered. This not only gives you an insight into what your child is learning but also enables you to reinforce this learning at home.
Early Years Foundation Stage
Pupils in the 4+ unit are taught the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. When pupils enter Year 1 they then move onto Key Stage 1 of the national curriculum. The Early Years Foundation Stage is broken down into six main areas:
• Personal, social and emotional development.
• Communication, language and literacy.
• Problem solving, reasoning and numeracy.
• Knowledge and understanding of the world.
• Physical development.
• Creative development.
Each area is broken down into a series of stepping stones against which your child’s progress is measured. This progress is recorded in a Foundation Stage Profile booklet. Learning in the 4+ unit is hands-on and multiple areas of learning may be covered in a single activity.
Years 1 – 4 are taught the following curriculum areas:
Literacy
This covers the teaching of reading and writing, speaking, listening and drama. There is a dedicated literacy lesson each day through which this range of skills is taught.
Literacy - Reading
Reading skills begin with letter recognition, moving on to the recognition of simple words and the introduction of phonics. A scheme known as THRASS (Teaching Handwriting, Reading and Spelling Strategies) is used throughout the school, so that the children can build up their skills from year to year.
From their earliest days in the school the children take home a reading book to share with their family, as well as reading aloud at school. Reading books are grouped according to levels of difficulty and children choose their own reading book from the appropriate level. There is a wide range of material and written styles to choose from, including stories, poetry and non-fiction.
Literacy - Writing
Writing is taught from the outset as children are encouraged to hold a pencil correctly and to form the letters in their name. Higher up the school a joined-up style of hand-writing is introduced.
Speaking and listening skills are emphasised in the teaching of writing. The children are encouraged to share and discuss ideas as they plan their written work. Drama is also used as a way to develop ideas for written work. The children are given a range of contexts in which to write including storywriting, poetry, reports and letters.
Literacy - Spelling
Spelling is taught through the daily literacy lesson, and correct spelling is encouraged throughout the whole school curriculum. Children from Year 1 onwards bring home a set of spellings to learn each week. Homework is set where appropriate to reinforce the concepts taught in school.
Mathematics
Each class has a structured maths lesson every day. The children are taught a broad range of mathematical skills. They learn how to count, to know and use number facts, how to calculate, to understand shapes and measures, and how to handle data. Both mental and written methods are taught. There is an emphasis upon problem-solving in all areas of maths and the children are taught how to use and apply these skills in situations they are familiar with e.g. telling the time, using money, sharing items, using timetables, gathering, organising and displaying information. Problem-solving activities reinforce the maths taught and give the children confidence in using maths skills in practical situations.
Children are taught in ability groups for mathematics, allowing work to be pitched at an appropriate level for both the most able children and those who need support and reinforcement.
Homework is set where appropriate to practice maths taught in class.
Physical Education
The school provides a well-balanced programme of physical education. It provides an environment which encourages physical activity and teaches the children the importance of staying active for life. Flitwick Lower is also a member of the Redborne School Sports Partnership, providing the children with access to additional sporting activities from time-to-time. In recognition of its work in PE, we have been given the DfES Activemark and the Healthy Schools award.
In addition, there are lots of opportunities for pupils to practice sport through the afterschool clubs which may include golf, tennis, netball and athletics and our active football teams.
Science
Our science curriculum aims to develop enquiring minds and instill a love of learning. Pupils are encouraged to explore and learn about the world around them through a hands-on approach. We provide opportunities for pupils to investigate everyday occurrences to develop their questioning skills. Pupils are encouraged to increase their scientific skills through problem-solving, planning their own investigations, predicting results, recording their findings and drawing their own conclusions. We aim to foster responsible attitudes towards the environment and all living things.
Information Communication Technology (ICT)
Flitwick Lower regards ICT as an important aspect of pupils’ learning and as an important tool and skill for future development. We teach ICT both as a subject and to support other areas of the curriculum. Our computer suite, supported by a computer technician, is a fantastic resource. All the computers in the school are fully networked and have broadband access to the internet.
The school has a range of software packages as well as digital cameras and other equipment. In addition, each classroom also has at least one computer, an interactive whiteboard, a television with video and a CD player to support teaching and learning.
Pupils are encouraged to use all aspects of ICT safely and responsibly.
Arts
The arts at Flitwick Lower cover art and design technology, music, dance and drama. Specific art skills are taught separately and these skills are practiced during projects in other curriculum areas. We work with a range of external arts professionals to widen our pupils’ experiences of the arts. This includes visits to the theatre and performances by artists inside the school. Music is taught during dedicated music lessons, hymn practice and assemblies. Pupils also have access to musical instrument tuition run by the Bedfordshire County Music service at an additional charge.
Humanities
Don’t be surprised if you meet a 7 year-old Viking at Flitwick Lower – it’s just one of the ways that the humanities are brought to life for our pupils. History and geography are often taught through cross-curricular topics, so children studying the Fire of London may also meet real firefighters and learn about fire safety. Classroom work is often enhanced through visitors or visits out of school.
Personal, Social, Health Education (PSHE)
PSHE underpins every activity at Flitwick Lower because we believe happy, healthy children make the best learners. Children participate in formal lessons where they learn to express and cope with their feelings, encouraging them to grow into resilient individuals with high self-esteem and respect for others. Assemblies, particularly weekly celebration assemblies, special events and school trips also provide opportunities for children to develop in this area.
Religious education
Collective worship is broadly Christian in character and is non-denominational, although awareness of other religions is given a high profile. Religious education is taught through an agreed syllabus and children learn about the major world religions of the 21st century. Parents have a right to request that their child is withdrawn from religious education or collective worship.
Modern foreign languages
French lessons are introduced from Key Stage 2. From time to time, European cultural days are offered during Key Stage 1.
Special Educational Needs
We are dedicated to being a fully inclusive school with equality of opportunity for every child. A child with special needs may be any child with learning, social or physical needs who requires extra support. If a child has special educational needs, a Foundation Stage Profile is established in partnership with parents and the school, including any relevant external agencies. This continues to be developed throughout the child’s time at Flitwick Lower. If needed, children can be supported by an educational psychologist, learning support services, speech and language therapy plus other agencies as required. Termly and annual reviews plus regular assessments are completed for children with individual educational plans/statements.
Staff and whole school developments continue through a range of initiatives including the development of Basic Skills and the implementation of Thrass / Sounds Write and Phonics (see Literacy section). We work in partnership with the Downs Syndrome Support Group (including specialist speech therapy) to enhance our well-resourced support programme which includes a highly qualified network of adult helpers across all age groups.
Gifted and talented
The needs of gifted and talented children are met through a programme of clearly differentiated work. This programme ensures on-going support for pupils where required.
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Enrichment of the curriculum
There is always something going on at Flitwick Lower, such as our annual book week, arts week, Christmas concerts, class assemblies, history theme days and the fun run. These events all directly enhance children’s learning and curriculum experiences.
There are plenty of visitors to our school to such as the Fire Service; theatre companies; authors and musicians.
Pupils regularly participate in trips away from school, for instance to a local theatre, a nature reserve or the zoo, culminating in a residential visit in Year 4. These events directly enhance children’s learning, such as a visit to a local church to enrich learning in RE, or a trip to the postbox to post a letter they have written. Other events, such as a non-uniform day for Comic Relief, encourage the children to care about other people.
School awards
Flitwick Lower is proud to have received a number of accreditations and awards for its provision.
Basic Skills
The school holds the Basic Skills Agency’s Primary Quality Mark. This recognises that the school has in place a whole-school action plan to improve performance in maths and literacy. This includes a system for tracking the progress of each child in the school in these subjects. Any child whose progress is falling behind that of their peers can be identified and the school has a plan for improving the skills of those children so that they make the progress that they should.
Healthy schools
Flitwick Lower holds the Healthy Schools Award. This means that the school:
• Provides its pupils with the skills to make informed decisions about their lives.
• Teaches the children how to make healthy food choices, and makes healthy and nutritious food available during the school day.
• Provides the children with a range of ways to be physically active and helps them to understand how important this is.
• Promotes the positive emotional health and well-being of the pupils.
We are particularly pleased that our school dinners are cooked on site using fresh local ingredients. We hold special lunchtimes where parents are invited to eat a school dinner with their child. We are pleased with the positive feedback received from both pupils and parents about our meals.
The children have access to fresh drinking water throughout the day, and fresh fruit or vegetables are provided as a snack to all children in 4+ and Key Stage 1 each day.
In addition to the Healthy Schools award, Flitwick Lower’s provision in PE was rewarded with the Department for Education and Skills Activemark.
Extended schools
Flitwick Lower is working towards providing a range of extended school services for the families in our school community. This is in line with national strategies for improving the range of out-of-hours services for parents and young children.
Flitwick Lower runs a popular Beehive out-ofschool club for an additional charge. This club is run by its own qualified staff and offers before and after school care, ideal for working parents. The club runs a variety of activities including crafts and cookery. There is a range of play equipment, games, a TV and snacks are provided.
In addition to this, Flitwick Lower runs a variety of lunchtime clubs and after-school clubs. The range of clubs changes over the school year and may include football, computer, golf, art, drama, recorders and sewing. There is also an independent afterschool French club which operates from the school site. These services are provided for an additional charge.
An exciting development is our partnership with the Busy Bees pre-school. See the appendix for more details.
Moving on
Staff at Flitwick Lower work hard to ensure that children move smoothly from one stage of learning to the next. Particular care is taken for children moving up to ‘big school’ from the 4+ unit. The children are already familiar with Year 1 teachers who make regular visits to the 4+ unit. The children regularly visit the main school building for assemblies and to use the ICT suite and the library. At the start of Year1, teachers from 4+ unit are on hand to help them to settle in. The Year 1 timetable is designed to incorporate as many familiar structures and routines as possible to ease transition, and includes role-play activities, construction corner and reading, writing and ICT areas.
At the other end of the school, the children progressing from Flitwick Lower to middle school are also prepared for this big change. In the autumn term before transfer, parents and children are invited to attend open evenings at local middle schools. All pupils living within the catchment area for Flitwick Lower are eligible for a place at Woodland Middle School. In the summer term, staff from Woodland Middle School visit Flitwick Lower, to get to know the children and also to teach them, allowing children to experience middle school lessons in the familiarity of their own classroom. Ultimately, children spend a whole day at their new school in their new classes.
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Parents as partners
The school is proud of its positive relationship with parents and with the wider community. We involve parents and the wider community in the life of the school in a number of ways:
Communicating with parents
Every Friday, a newsletter is sent home written by the headteacher. This communicates what has been happening throughout the week and includes reminders and any important information for the week ahead. From time to time we also send home parental surveys, such as on how you travel to school, and we encourage parents to let us know their thoughts and ideas.
At the start of each term, your child’s timetable and key areas of learning are sent home. We also hold parent-teacher consultations twice a year providing the opportunity to discuss your child’s progress with their teacher. Curriculum evenings are also held, to give an insight into an area of learning such as phonetics or maths. These evenings are designed to make you feel more confident with helping your child with
school work.
Every term an informal viewing is held after school which gives you the chance to look at your child’s work. At the end of the school year, a written report on your child’s progress is sent home to you.
The school also operates an open door policy, parents are welcome to visit at any time. If you would like to discuss an issue with your child’s teacher you are welcome to make an appointment to see them.
The Flitwick Lower School Association
We are privileged to have a very active parent-teacher organisation — known as the Flitwick Lower School Association. This is a registered charity made up of the school’s staff, and all those who have children at the school.
Each year the Association is active in raising funds to enhance the education of pupils, for example by paying for theatre groups to visit the school, subsidising the cost of school trips and paying for classroom equipment. Funds are raised through events such as the annual fun run, bingo nights and a Pantomime, which has spanned three decades and is staged in the Village Hall.
The Association also has a social function, allowing parents and staff to work closely together and promoting good home-school relationships. Parental involvement in the Association’s activities is always very welcome.
Parent helpers
The school always welcomes help from parents on school trips, on themed days in the classroom, in art and design and technology lessons or to help with the children’s work.
Community involvement
The children at the school are encouraged to look beyond the immediate school community, through the school’s involvement in local community activities such as the Community Fun Day, and through the school’s charitable activities.
Each year the school supports one UK charity as well as national charitable initiatives such as Red Nose Day.
As a school we also think that our resources should be accessible to the local community. The main hall is available for hire by local sports/activity groups as well as for parties, discos and other private events.
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General information
If your child is starting Flitwick Lower you may find this A-Z information guide useful.
Admission Arrangements
Under the current School Admissions Code and Regulations parents have the right to express a preference for the school they wish their child to attend. Although all school admissions are controlled centrally by the county council, using an equal preference method, the governors of Flitwick Lower School welcome enquiries for places in the school from within the surrounding areas. If the number of places in a particular year group at the school is not sufficient to meet the requests of all the parents the county will then apply the following criteria, in rank order as shown, to determine how the places will be allocated.
1. All ‘looked after’ children.
2. Pupils living in the catchment area.
3. ‘Very exceptional’ medical grounds.
4. Siblings.
5. Any other children.
In any situation where the application of the above criteria results in a situation where there are more pupils with an equal right to admission to the school than the number of available places, the ‘distance criterion’ will be used as a ‘tie-breaker’ to resolve the matter. If a pupil moves into the catchment area outside the normal admissions round there will be no guarantee of a place at the catchment area school if this would mean exceeding the standard number at the school.
Attendance
Flitwick Lower School works very closely in partnership with parents to ensure all pupils follow the School Attendance guidelines. Pupils are expected to attend school regularly and on time. The Governors are very pleased to note that most families support this. If a pupil is absent from school parents are requested to telephone the school on the morning of the absence and send a note on their return. If this is not done it is regarded as an ‘unauthorised absence’ and it is reported to the Education Welfare Officer, who works in close partnership with the school. Please see the section ‘Holiday’ for guidance on absence during term-times.
Availability of Public Documents
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 any person has a legal right to ask a school for access to information that it holds. Many school documents are available either through the school website at www.flitwicklower.co.uk or by contacting the Headteacher.
These include:
Curriculum Policy
Collective Worship Policy
Sex Education Policy
Special Educational Needs Policy
Child Protection Policy
Race Equality Policy
Complaints Procedure
Charging and Remissions Policy
Health and Safety (including risk assessments) Policy
Home-School Agreement Policy
Pupil Discipline (including anti-bullying) Policy
The most recent OFSTED or HMI report
Charges for School Activities
By law Flitwick Lower School has a policy about charging for school activities. Charges are only requested for optional extras. Parents are asked to make a voluntary contribution towards the cost of a visit. The school will usually suggest an amount calculated to cover the expense of a trip. The School Association may contribute towards costs. If there are insufficient contributions the activity may be cancelled. The County Music Service sets its own charges for lessons, with a standard rate for lower school pupils.
Complaints Procedure
From time to time parents may naturally have concerns about an aspect of their child’s education. Often those concerns will resolve themselves, but on occasions parents may feel that the issue will need the school’s help to be resolved. Most complaints are best dealt with informally. If there are any concerns regarding the school or the education provided please make an appointment to discuss the matter with the child’s class teacher. Should a matter not be resolved informally despite meetings with the class teacher, Key Stage leader, Deputy Headteacher or Headteacher then the school has a formal complaints procedure, monitored by the Governing Body. For details of how to follow this procedure please contact the Headteacher.
Disability
The school recognises its duties under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. These guidelines are outlined in detail in our inclusion policy.
Holidays during term-time
By law, schools are allowed to authorise absences for up to ten days during term-time in exceptional circumstances only. Please contact the office at least two weeks in advance for a permission form. Flitwick Lower kindly request that you avoid taking holidays during May as this is an important month for testing pupils in the school. Unauthorised absences are reported to the Education Welfare Officer.
Home-School Agreement
Every child attending Flitwick Lower is given a copy of the Home-School Agreement and asked to sign it in conjunction with their parents or carers. This document outlines agreed standard s of behaviour and responsibilities of parents and staff.
Homework
At the start of each term, a list of topics to be covered in class is sent home to parents. This provides information on how learning can be supported at home. Pupils are also expected to read at home on a daily basis. Other homework includes words and spellings to learn and practising number facts. Older pupils may occasionally be asked to research a topic at home.
Safeguarding Children
• We work within the Legal Framework: Section 47(1) of the Children’s Act 1989 – which gives the Local Authority a duty to investigate when it is suspected, or found, that a child is suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm.
• This is strengthened by: the Education Act 2002 (section 175).
The process of how we work with other organisations and individuals to safeguard and promote the welfare of our children can
also be found in the:
• National Document ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children 2006’.
• ‘Every Child Matters’ Children Act 2004.
For all of these sections Flitwick Lower School works in close partnership with the Bedfordshire Local Safeguarding Children Board, who are the statutory body responsible for ensuring that these processes are being followed.
Child protection
As a school, we have a statutory duty to assist social services departments acting on behalf of pupils in need or enquiring into allegations of child abuse. As well as this statutory duty we have a pastoral responsibility towards our pupils and we recognise that pupils have a fundamental right to be protected from harm. Pupils cannot learn effectively unless they feel safe and secure. We, therefore, have a Child Protection Policy, which reflects both our statutory duty and our pastoral responsibilities. If we have concerns that a child has been abused or is at risk of being abused, we have a duty to refer this to Social Services. In making any referral, the school is not making any judgement, for example, about individual parents or carers. It is for social services to decide whether there should be an investigation.
Child in need referral
There may be other circumstances (which are not to do with child protection, but more related to meeting pupil’s needs) when we feel that you and your family may benefit from some support from other agencies. Before we can do this we will need to seek your permission. We will then complete a Child in Need form. In all cases this will be completed in partnership with you.
Uniform
Flitwick Lower operates a uniform policy.
Girls and boys
*Gold or black sweatshirt with crew or V-neck
*Gold or black cardigan
*Gold or black short-sleeved polo shirt
Grey or black trousers, skirt or pinafore Yellow gingham summer dress
In addition, children in the 4+ Unit may wear black jogging trousers
PE Kit girls and boys
*Black shorts
*A T-shirt
Black plimsolls
* These items can be purchased from the school office and bear the school logo.
Other items that are needed are a book bag for reading books and a drawstring bag for PE kit. Flitwick Lower book bags can also be purchased from the school office. Please ensure that all items are named.
Jewellery
Most jewellery is inappropriate for school activities. With regards to the health and safety of all pupils jewellery is deemed inappropriate for physical activity. Earrings can cause injury to other children if they fall out and should be removed for all PE lessons. If they are not removed then the ear should be taped. Similarly watches should be removed. Spectacles should be removed or secured to avoid slippage or falling off.
Medical alert necklaces or bracelets should not be removed but should be secured to avoid injury or breakage.
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