School Prospectus (Updated May 2007)

Little Milton Church of England Aided School

Stadhampton Road, Little Milton,  Oxfordshire, OX44 7QD

  Tel:   01844 279 310 

WELCOME  TO  LITTLE MILTON SCHOOL

Dear Families

I should like to take this opportunity to welcome you to Little Milton School.

This prospectus is our attempt to inform you about our school by describing our ethos, values, curriculum and organisation. Our school is, however, a living and changing community and so one of the best ways to learn about it is to visit us.  We welcome visits by all prospective parents and these can be arranged by making an appointment with the school secretary, Mrs Jane Willis on 01844 279310.

If you wish to find out more information about the school please get in touch.

We are very proud of our school and we hope to have the opportunity to share it with you and your child.

Yours sincerely

                Eve Hunter, Headteacher

Comments from the children

I stay after school for netball and football clubs.  They are really good  -  Matthew

I like Little Milton because it is a small school, so it is easy to make friends – Harry

I like science because we are learning to measure temperature.  We are having fun making books in Design and Technology  -  Jayde

I like school because I like doing my spellings  -  Chloe

Little Milton has lots of nice teachers.  I like it when I get team points and when I get put in the Good Work Book  -  Tania

I like playing with my friends at playtime in our new playground. We play princesses and ballerinas  -  Holly

I like looking after the new children at playtimes.  I show them how to use the play equipment  -  Isabel

LITTLE MILTON SCHOOL – AN INTRODUCTION

Little Milton School was founded in 1871. It is a Church of England Aided School.    The school has recently been awarded Primary Status and now caters for boys and girls aged between 5 and 11.  At the age of 11, the children transfer to an appropriate secondary school.

As a C of E Aided School the governing body are responsible for the teaching of  religious education, the employment of all staff and the admissions policy.  It is also responsible for buildings, repair and improvement.  In addition to fulfilling National Curriculum requirements, a Church School aims to place great emphasis on the education of the whole child and on his/her spiritual development, as shown in our Mission Statement below.

MISSION  STATEMENT

As a small Church of England School, Little Milton aims to:

·        Provide a place where each individual has a sense of being valued in a community which finds its values within the Christian faith.

·        Provide an environment in which all children are encouraged to give their personal best and achieve their full potential.

·        Set realistic but challenging targets to raise our children’s performance.

·        Promote an atmosphere in which each child will learn mutual respect and tolerance and develop self-discipline.

·        Conduct assemblies and Christian worship in ways that are inclusive of the whole school community and offer opportunities for reflection and spiritual growth.

·        Set realistic but challenging targets to raise our children’s performance.

·        Create a place where parents are welcome as active partners in their children’s learning.

·        Participate fully in the community life of the village and the Church.

THE  AIMS  OF  THE  SCHOOL

The aims below show how our Mission Statement operates at a practical level:

Behaviour:

Our aim is to encourage an atmosphere of tolerance, understanding and self-discipline.  Children are expected to behave in a manner which is both sensible and kind at all times. If we are concerned about a child’s behaviour we consult the parents and work together to solve the problem.

Collective Worship:

There is a daily act of worship which is whole school based. Individual beliefs are welcome and respected.  We work closely with the Rector, a frequent visitor to school, and walk to St. James’ Church for special services.  Parents may, if they wish, withdraw their child from school acts of collective worship.  Any child withdrawn will be provided with an alternative activity.

The Curriculum.

The Curriculum 2000 consists of a number of subjects which primary children must study:

English                                   Physical Education

Mathematics                          I.T

Science                                  Art

Design and Technology       Music

Geography                             History

We teach Religious Education, following the guidelines of the L.E.A’s Agreed Syllabus. You have the right to withdraw your child from R.E lessons. 

In addition to these subjects we also teach French and Citizenship throughout the school.

Sex Education:

This is taught within the wider context of our Personal, Social and Health Education syllabus.  The children learn about leading a healthy lifestyle and are taught how the body functions.  Copies of our policy are available from the office if you would like further information.

Curriculum Organisation and Teaching Methods:

One of our main aims is to ensure a low ratio of children to teacher/adults and the Governors review staffing regularly in order to achieve this aim.  

We have three learning support assistants working throughout the week.    Parents also work with us on a regular basis.

Our school curriculum is based on a two year cycle which aims to cover all the National Curriculum requirements up to the end of year 6.  In accordance with government recommendations, Numeracy and Literacy strategies are in place in both classes, and phonics is taught through a structured programme.  The curriculum is carefully planned to ensure continuity and progression across the key stages with differentiation and awareness of the needs of the pupils.  Each term we will send details of what your child will be learning and ideas of how you can help to reinforce their learning at home.  A range of teaching methods is used including whole class, group work and individual teaching.

National Curriculum assessment tests at 7 and 11 years of age are undertaken in the normal course of the school day during the month of May. 

The time spent on teaching during each normal school week is 24 hours and 30  minutes.  This does not include break times and assemblies.   

Test Results

The Government expects children to achieve Level 2 at age 7.  Level 1 is below this expectation and Level 2 is on target.  Within Level 2 there are three bands – 2a, 2b and 2c.  2a is the highest of these levels.  Level 3 exceeds the Government’s expectations, and  Level 4 is the result expected at age 11. 

Task and Test Results : Percentage at each level

Comparative Report:

LITTLE MILTON C.E. (A) SCHOOL

SUMMARY OF THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM ASSESSMENT RESULTS OF PUPILS IN THE SCHOOL (2006) AND NATIONALLY (2005) AT THE END OF KEY STAGE 1, as a % of those eligible for assessment.

Teacher assessment : Percentage at each level

Parent / teacher  meetings and reports

Each year during the summer term you will be sent a written report.  This will outline your child’s progress in all the National Curriculum areas and in Religious Education.  In Year 2 and Year 6 the test results and teacher assessments in English, Maths and Science will also be recorded.  After you have read this report you will be invited to come into school to discuss any queries with the teacher and to look at your child’s work.  However, you are welcome to come and discuss your child’s progress at any time!  We also hold a parent-teacher meeting during both the Spring and the Autumn term.

Special Needs

Throughout the school the progress of individual children is closely monitored.  A pupil may be identified as having difficulties in one or more areas.  This may be short term and specific to a particular skill or area of knowledge or it may be an emotional problem.  Alternatively it may be a more general difficulty associated with a slower pace of learning or it may be a difficulty linked to a physical disability. 

The difficulty may be tackled as part of the everyday work of the class with the teacher modifying the programme of work for that child.  If it is felt that a child requires more help we are able to call upon the support of the area support team – teachers who have specialist knowledge in helping children with learning difficulties.  We can also draw upon the services of the area Educational Psychologist.

 Where a child is experiencing difficulties we keep parents fully informed and involved;

a)     The teacher identifies any child with special educational needs within their class.

b)     After discussion with parents internal records are kept and support is given.

c)      Learning Support teachers may be contacted to come into school to work with the child.

d)     Other agencies are contacted if the teacher and parent are in agreement about their necessity.  All children have access to the National Curriculum and are assessed accordingly.

The curriculum is organised to facilitate the development of children at their own individual pace within the classroom situation. We believe that each child should fulfil his or her potential, and arrangements are made to meet the needs of every child, taking into account their individual needs and skills. 

Mrs. Eve Hunter has responsibility for the school’s arrangements in meeting the special needs of pupils.  The governor designated to have oversight of this particular aspect of the school’s work is Mrs Val Connolly. 

Extra Curricular Activities and Clubs

We offer a variety of sporting and other extra curricular activities.  These are open to all children and currently include  art club, sports club, football club and recorder club. Some of our clubs are run by teachers and some by relevant experts.  We try to vary the clubs that are offered.  Parents are told each term which clubs are available.

 Sport

The playground is used for a variety of sports activities.  We also run weekly swimming lessons on a rota basis at the Abbey Sports Centre in Berinsfield.  We have the use of the facilities in their sports hall so that whilst one group is swimming the other group is in the hall doing PE.  We also have use of the village recreation ground for outside games sessions during the drier months. 

Community and Parental Involvement

The school encourages community involvement and is keen to develop a close relationship between home and school.  Parents are encouraged to be involved in their children’s learning both at school and at home.  Any parent or friend of the school with a skill or interest to share is very welcome to volunteer their help in the classroom.   In line with the Government initiative, parents, child and school are asked to sign a Home-School Agreement.

.

School Attendance

Rates of authorised and unauthorised absence for the year ending 26^th May 2006.

Number of Pupils of Compulsory

School Age                                            39                                                                           

Possible Number of Sessions         11524

Authorised Absences                         497

Unauthorised Absences                          0

KEY  STAFF

Headteacher:                                                                      Mrs Eve Hunter

Teachers:                                                                             Mrs Samantha Bell

                                                                                                Mrs Beth McLaren

                                                                                                Mrs Annette Morgan

                                                                                                Mrs Karen Post

Teaching Assistants:                                                        Mrs Diane Austin

                                                                                                Mrs Juliette Ford

Secretary:                                                                            Mrs Jane Willis

SCHOOL   DAY

Morning Session: 08:55 to 12:00

AfternoonSession:13.00 to 15.00

 School opens at 8:45. The school bell is rung every morning at 08.55 to start the day.

ADMISSIONS

All children who are 5 during the school year will have the opportunity to begin school part time in the September of that year.  They are offered a full time place in the term in which they are five.  There is a legal obligation for all children to attend school from the term after they are five.

Starting school is a big step in a child’s life and we are concerned that every child should have a happy and successful beginning. 

Our infant teacher, Mrs Post, visits the pre school settings to meet the children before they start, and a meeting is arranged where parents can meet the staff to discuss the first year at school and ask any questions they may have.

 Pre-school visits for your child are arranged to take place during the term before the child starts school.  The aim of these visits is for the children to become familiar with the routines of the school and for the children to meet the others in their class.

THE GOVERNORS

Chairperson:                                                                       Mrs Caroline Jones

Headteacher:                                                                      Mrs Eve Hunter

Representing the Diocesan Education Board           Mrs Linda Longshaw           

Representing the Parish Council:                                 Mrs Alison Shelton

Representing the Parochial Church Council:`           Mrs Val Conolly

                        Mrs Roger Summers

Mrs Louisa Kippin    

Mrs Amanda Key

Representing the County Council:                               Dr Kay Stevenson

Parent Governor:                                                               Mr Crispin Westhead

Teacher Governor:                                                            Mrs Annette Morgan

Non Teaching Staff Governor:                                       Mrs Diane Austin

Ex Officio                                                                              Reverend Victor Story

The Governors meet on a termly basis.  Other meetings of the sub-committees of the Governing body and full meetings of the Governors are held as necessary.

THE FRIENDS OF LITTLE MILTON SCHOOL

Chairperson:           Mrs Sarah Simmonds

Secretary:    Mrs Claire George

Treasurer:    Mrs Diane Austin

Committee:  Mrs Eve Hunter (Head)

                        Mrs Gerry Sedgwick Coward

   Mrs Sue Marriott

Mrs Sarah Rodgers

Mrs Melissa Blake

Mrs Amanda Key

The “Friends of Little Milton School” was formed to support the school through fund-raising and other activities.  Membership of the Friends applies automatically to all parents and staff of the school and in fact any person interested in the well being of the school.  The Friends’ Committee members are all volunteers elected each year at the AGM held in the Autumn Term.  Although fund-raising events involve some hard work, plenty of fun is guaranteed to all involved!

The main fund-raising events are the Spring Fayre and the Maypole Barbecue.  The Friends also run a 200 club with prizes drawn every month.  Several other activities are planned throughout the year.

You can usually find at least one member of the committee in the playground at 3.00pm during term time.  If you have any questions about the Friends or wish to become more involved please do not hesitate to talk to them.  They would welcome any comments or suggestions on any of their activities.

200   CLUB

The 200 Club, run by the Friends, raises funds for school – and perhaps you!  You may join in October each year.  For £12.00 a year you will be included in a monthly draw for cash prizes.  Half the amount raised from the sale of tickets is given away in prizes each month. 

THE   ORCHARD   PRE-SCHOOL

The Orchard is situated in new purpose built premises adjoining the village hall and adventure playground.  The Orchard was initiated by the Staff and Governors of the School and is organised by parents.  The Chair is Mrs Val Coates and the Supervisor is Miss Yvonne Brammer.  Children are admitted at two and a half years of age.

The School and the Orchard have close links.  We aim to make the transition from Pre-School to main School as smooth as possible and to this end staff from the School make regular visits to the Orchard.  Children from the Orchard are involved in school events such as Christingle and our Harvest celebrations.  Parents wishing to have their children’s names put down for entry into the Orchard Pre-school should contact Miss Yvonne Brammer on (01844) 279989.

TRANSFER AT AGE 11

Wheatley Park is our local secondary school and all children who go there will have several visits arranged to the school in the term before they leave us.

A  significant number of our children currently go to schools in the independent sector.  Little Milton School’s excellent standards and the low ratio of children to adults means that the children are able to approach external examinations with confidence.

THE   WHEATLEY   PARTNERSHIP

We belong to a partnership of 12 schools, which caters for the education of children from 4 to 19 years of age within the local area.

The Partnership works closely together to further the educational opportunities for all the children and offers mutual support for all staff.  Whenever possible, the Partnership uses the greater power of its corporate voice to comment on, and respond to, issues of concern to all.

The Partnership offers opportunities for teachers to support one another and to share expertise in many areas of the curriculum.  Joint events are organised throughout the year so that children may join together in activities such as music festivals and sporting events.

Headteachers’ meetings are held regularly every term and there are also meetings arranged for all staff as well as joint inset training days.

Partnership Schools

Wheatley Park School                   John Watson                       Wheatley

Beckley                                             Great Milton                         Horspath

Ickford                                               Little Milton                          Marsh Baldon

Oakley                                               Sandhills

COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

If you are worried about any aspect of the teaching of the curriculum or have any concerns of any nature whatsoever please make an appointment to see your child’s teacher or the Headteacher.

HEALTH   AND   WELFARE

If your child is unable to attend school for any reason, please inform us as soon as possible by letter or telephone.  Please also leave a telephone number where we can contact you during the day, in case of illness or accident.  If you cannot be contacted the Headteacher will act in  loco parentis in an emergency.

Children may only leave the premises during the day if they are collected.  The infant children wait in the classroom at 3.00pm until parents collect them.  If you have arranged for anyone else to collect your child please let us know who it is.  The children have instructions not to accept lifts or go home with other people.

SCHOOL   YEAR 2007/2008

TERM 1

Wednesday  5^th September –  Friday 19^th October 2007

October Holiday   Monday 22^nd October to Friday 26^th October

TERM 2

Monday 29^th October  – Friday  21st December 2007

TERM 3

Monday 7^th January – Friday 15^th February 2008

February Holiday     Monday 18th February – Friday 22nd February

TERM 4

Monday 25^th February – Friday 4^th April 2008

Easter Holiday   Friday 21^st – Monday 24^th March

TERM 5

Monday 21^st April  – Friday 23rd May 2008

The school will be closed on Monday  5^th May  – May Day Bank Holiday

Late Spring Holiday  Monday 28th May – Friday 1st June 2007

TERM 6

Monday 1^st June   – Wednesday 23^rd July  2008

SAFETY

In the interest of safety there is NO PARKING for parents in the school grounds. Parents are requested to park thoughtfully in Gold Street without blocking entrances or exits.  Cars parked near the corner of Gold Street and the A329 cause a dangerous hazard to children coming to or leaving school.

Children should walk round the back of the school to reach their classrooms and not take short cuts through the car park.

PLEASE ALWAYS SHUT THE SCHOOL GATES.

CHILD PROTECTION

Keeping your child safe.

Our first priority is your child’s welfare. If you want to know more about child protection procedures, please speak to the Headteacher.

SCHOOL   UNIFORM 

School uniform details are set out below. * Obtainable from school

Fair processing notice

DATA PROTECTION ACT

Schools, Local Authorities (LAs), the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), the government department which deals with education, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), Ofsted and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC)  all process information on pupils in order to run the education system and Department of Health (DH) and Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) process information on pupils in order to tackle the year on year rise in obesity among children, and in doing so have to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998. This means, among other things, that the data held about pupils must only be used for specific purposes allowed by law. We are therefore writing to tell you about the types of data held, why that data is held, and to whom it may be passed on.

The school holds information on pupils in order to support their teaching and learning, to monitor and report on their progress, to provide appropriate pastoral care, and to assess how well the school as a whole is doing. This information includes contact details, national curriculum assessment results, attendance information, characteristics such as ethnic group, special educational needs and any relevant medical information. From time to time schools are required to pass on some of this data to LAs, the DfES and to agencies that are prescribed by law, such as QCA, Ofsted, LSC, DH and PCTs.

The Local Authority uses information about children for whom it provides services to carry out specific functions for which it is responsible, such as the assessment of any special educational needs the child may have.  It also uses the information to derive statistics to inform decisions on (for example) the funding of schools, and to assess the performance of schools and set targets for them. The statistics are used in such a way that individual children cannot be identified from them.  LAs have a duty under the Children Act 2004 to cooperate with their partners in health and youth justice to improve the well-being of children in their areas.  As part of this duty they will be required to maintain the accuracy of the information held on the Information Sharing (IS) Index about children and young people in their area (see IS Index under Department for Education and Skills).

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority uses information about pupils to administer national curriculum assessments throughout Key Stages 1 to 3. This includes both assessments required by statute and those that are optional.  The results of these are passed on to DfES to compile statistics on trends and patterns in levels of achievement.  The QCA uses the information to evaluate the effectiveness of the national curriculum and the associated assessment arrangements, and to ensure that these are continually improved.

Ofsted uses information about the progress and performance of pupils to help inspectors evaluate the work of schools, to assist schools in their self-evaluation, and as part of Ofsted’s assessment of the effectiveness of education initiatives and policy.  Inspection reports do not identify individual pupils.

The Learning and Skills Council uses information about pupils for statistical purposes, to evaluate and develop education policy and to monitor the performance of the education service as a whole. The statistics (including those based on information provided by the QCA) are used in such a way that individual pupils cannot be identified from them.  On occasion information may be shared with other Government departments or agencies strictly for statistical or research purposes only.  The LSC or its partners may wish to contact learners from time to time about courses, or learning opportunities relevant to them.

The Department of Health uses aggregate information (at school year group level) about pupils' height and weight for research and statistical purposes, to inform, influence and improve health policy and to monitor the performance of the health service as a whole. The DH will base performance management discussions with Strategic Health Authorities on aggregate information about pupils attending schools in the PCT areas to help focus local resources and deliver the Public Service Agreement target to halt the year on year rise in obesity among children under 11 by 2010, in the context of a broader strategy to tackle obesity in the population as a whole. The Department of Health will also provide aggregate PCT level data to the Healthcare Commission for performance assessment of the health service.

Primary Care Trusts use information about pupils for research and statistical purposes, to monitor the performance of local health services and to evaluate and develop them. The statistics are used in such a way that individual pupils cannot be identified from them.  Information on the height and weight of individual pupils may however be provided to the child and its parents and this will require the PCTs to maintain details of pupils’ names for this purpose.  PCTs may also provide individual schools and LAs with aggregate information on pupils’ height and weight.

The Department for Education and Skills uses information about pupils for research and statistical purposes, to inform, influence and improve education policy and to monitor the performance of the education service as a whole. The DfES will feed back to LAs and schools information about their pupils for a variety of purposes that will include data checking exercises, use in self-evaluation analyses and where information is missing because it was not passed on by a former school.

The Children Act 2004 provides for the Secretary of State to issue Regulations requiring the “governing body of a maintained school in England” to disclose information for inclusion on the Information Sharing (IS) Index.  The purposes of the index are to:

·        help practitioners working with children quickly identify a child with whom they have contact;

·        determine whether that child is getting the universal services (education, primary health care) to which he or she is entitled; and

·        enable earlier identification of needs and earlier, more effective action to address these needs by providing a tool to help practitioners identify which other practitioners are involved with a particular child; and

·        encourage better communication and closer working between practitioners.

The index will hold for each child or young person in England:

·        basic identifying information: name, address, gender, date of birth and a unique identifying number based on the existing Unique Identifying Number/National Insurance Number;

·        basic identifying information about the child’s parent or carer;

·        contact details for services involved with the child: as a minimum school and GP Practice but also other services where appropriate; and

·        the facility for practitioners to indicate to others that they have information to share, are taking action or have undertaken a common assessment in relation to a child.

The index will NOT record statements of a child’s needs, academic performance, attendance or clinical observations about a child.

All practitioners and system support staff (in LAs who will be responsible for maintaining the data) will have to have relevant training and to have undergone rigorous checks and appropriate security clearance procedures.  To ensure high standards of accuracy, information on the IS Index will be drawn from a number of sources including the termly School Census from which, from January 2007, pupils’ home address will be collected.

The DfES will also provide Ofsted with pupil data for use in school inspection. Where relevant, pupil information may also be shared with post 16 learning institutions to minimise the administrative burden on application for a course and to aid the preparation of learning plans.

Pupil information may be matched with other data sources that the Department holds in order to model and monitor pupils’ educational progression; and to provide comprehensive information back to LAs and learning institutions to support their day to day business. The DfES may also use contact details from these sources to obtain samples for statistical surveys: these surveys may be carried out by research agencies working under contract to the Department and participation in such surveys is usually voluntary. The Department may also match data from these sources to data obtained from statistical surveys.

Pupil data may also be shared with other Government Departments and Agencies (including the Office for National Statistics) for statistical or research purposes only. In all these cases the matching will require that individualised data is used in the processing operation, but that data will not be processed in such a way that it supports measures or decisions relating to particular individuals or identifies individuals in any results. This data sharing will be approved and controlled by the Department’s Chief Statistician.

The DfES may also disclose individual pupil information to independent researchers into the educational achievements of pupils who have a legitimate need for it for their research, but each case will be determined on its merits and subject to the approval of the Department’s Chief Statistician.

Pupils, as data subjects, have certain rights under the Data Protection Act, including a general right of access to personal data held on them, with parents exercising this right on their behalf if they are too young to do so themselves. If you wish to access the personal data held about your child, then please contact the relevant organisation in writing:

-          the school at Stadhampton Road, Little Milton, Oxfordshire;

-          the LEA’s Data Protection Officer at Learning & Culture, Systems and Performance Management Service, Macclesfield House, New Road, Oxford OX1 1NA

-          the QCA’s Data Protection Officer at QCA, 83 Piccadilly, LONDON, W1J 8QA;

-          Ofsted’s Data Protection Officer at Alexandra House, 33 Kingsway, London WC2B 6SE;

-          LSC’s Data Protection Officer at Cheylesmore House, Quinton Road, Coventry, Warwickshire CV1 2WT;

-          the DfES’s Data Protection Officer at DfES, Caxton House, Tothill Street, LONDON, SW1H 9NA;

-          the DH’s Data Protection Officer at Skipton House 80 London Road London SE1 6LH;

-          your local PCT.

In order to fulfil their responsibilities under the Act the organisation may, before responding to this request, seek proof of the requestor’s identity and any further information required to locate the personal data requested.

Separately from the Data Protection Act, regulations provide a pupil’s parent (regardless of the age of the pupil) with the right to view, or to have a copy of, their child’s educational record at the school. If you wish to exercise this right you should write to the school.

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