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School

Prospectus

Headteacher: Mrs J Young

Lenham Primary School

Ham Lane

Lenham

Maidstone

Kent ME17 2QG

Tel: 01622 858260

Email: office@lenham.kent.sch.uk

Website: http://www.lenham.kent.sch.uk

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Contents

Page

1 School Motto 3

2 The Aims of Our School 3

3 General Information 4

4 Joining the School 5

5 Foundation Stage 6

6 Partnership with Parents 7

7 Term Time Holidays 8

8 Transfer to Secondary Education 9

9 School Uniform 9

10 Behaviour & Discipline 10

11 The Curriculum 10

12 Complaints 11

13 Assemblies 11

14 Clubs 12

15 Breakfast Club & After School Club 12

16 Governing Body 13

17 School Staff 13

18 Term Dates 14

19 Freedom of Information Act 15

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1 Lenham Primary School Motto

“Our school, our world, our future”

2 The Aims of Lenham Primary School

To encourage and motivate all children to achieve their full potential.

To nurture children to become healthy, happy and well balanced in a safe and secure environment.

To build the citizens of the future who make a positive contribution to the community.

To develop children who respect and care for each other and for their surroundings and the wider world.

To involve parents in supporting their children in every aspect of school life.

Pupils learning outside in the Nature Garden

LPS Sponsored Walk

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3 General Information Lenham Primary School is a “community” school with seven classes –

one for each year group. The classes are arranged in two wings

separated by a spacious hall. There is a reception area as well as

offices and our own kitchen. We have an ICT suite that is used by all

children in the school. We have recently opened a new wing to

provide a home for the Breakfast and After School Club and some

extra space for group learning and lesson planning.

Lenham Nursery (a private non-profit making organisation) leases

one classroom from the school.

The school has lovely grounds with an adventure play area, very large

playing field, a wildlife area, copse, chicken coop and many trees.

The new ICT Suite

The Adventure Playground

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4 Joining the School We welcome visitors who wish to look at the school before their child

joins us. Parents can make an appointment at the school office. When

children who are already at school elsewhere come to Lenham we

make sure that we plan with parents to give them the best possible

start.

Lenham Primary School accept all children who reach the age of five

between the 1st September and 31st of August the following year to

be admitted to school in September. All children commence schooling

on a part time basis for the first three weeks to enable them to settle

in easily. Any parent wishing to keep their child on a part time basis

for a longer period should discuss this with the Head teacher.

Additionally, the school is willing to consider deferral of admission to

the start of the spring term where this is appropriate and the wish of

the parents.

Applications for admission to the school are made through KCC

admissions process. If the class is oversubscribed the school will

operate the County Admissions criteria.

These are (in priority order):

Children in local authority care.

Current family association where a sibling is in the school at the time of the entry and the family continues to live at the same address as when admitted or move within 2 miles.

Health and special needs reasons.

Nearness of children’s homes and ease of access to school.

Details of the admission criteria are also available from the school or

online at

http://www.kent.gov.uk/education_and_learning/school_education

/applying_for_a_school_place/primary_school_places.aspx

While the criteria for admissions are in accordance with the KCC

guidelines, we strive to admit all local children. The school has

wheelchair ramps and an adapted toilet facility.

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5 Foundation Stage All the staff and governors agree that a happy and relaxed start to school is very important for our youngest children. We have an introduction programme of weekly “transition” sessions in the summer term before the children start. The children will have the opportunity to interact with their new classmates through play; there will also be opportunities for stories and singing. Children are given their own plastic wallet to take home with a book to borrow. Parents are also invited to an information evening. In September the children settle in gently with lots of contact between the staff and parents. Each family has an early consultation meeting with the class teacher. The teaching and learning that goes on in “Rainbow” Class is based

on the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum that began within the

preschool setting at age 3.

Throughout the year each child becomes increasingly independent

and confident within the class environment. They take responsibility

for making their own play choices, develop their new friendships and

quickly become confident at following school and class routines. The

children develop their motor skills as well as their literacy and

numeracy ability through a mixture of formal and informal teaching

methods.

Rainbow Class Science Week: A rainbow using only natural objects

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6 Partnership with Parents

Everyone at this school believes that parents play a very important

part in their child’s education. A strong partnership between home

and school makes a big difference to the children in our care. From

the very beginning, parents are invited to take an active part in school

life. There are meetings, newsletters, open days, formal

consultations, the school website, annual reports and numerous

other ways that school and home come together. We have an “open

door” policy where parents are always welcome to come in and

discuss matters with members of staff.

The school is committed to using homework to reinforce and extend

children’s leaning and to actively involve parents/carers in their

child’s learning. There is also a homework policy (available on the

school website).

Parents help in school in many ways. Some volunteer to help in class

with learning activities, computer work etc. or accompany children on

trips.

We have a very active Parent Teachers Association that does a great

deal to improve the life and work of the school. Everyone enjoys the

many activities they organise for the children and families. The money

raised makes a very big impact: the PTFA purchased the adventure

play area, made a major contribution to the new ICT suite and

classroom, replenished the book stock and provided the covered play

area for years R and 1.

PTA Cake Stall at the Summer Fayre

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7 Term Time Holidays

Like all state schools we are required to keep records of attendance for

every pupil. Absence is only authorised for health reasons including

medical appointments and ‘exceptional’ circumstances such as close

family weddings or bereavement. Absence is not authorised for any

term time holidays as per the Department of Education Regulations

2013. Penalty Notices of £120 will be issued to each parent for each

child reduced to £60 if paid within 21 days. Please see our online

Attendance Policy for further information. An attendance record for

every child is included in his or her Annual Report. The statistics are

also included in national records and our School Profile.

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8 Transfer to Secondary Education

As pupils reach the upper end of the school we will offer parents

advice on the most suitable type of school for each pupil. Parents may

choose whether their children sit selection tests in year 6 for

admission to grammar school. Full details of this procedure will be

given to parents in the last term of year 5 but staff are happy to

answer questions at any time

Once pupils have been offered a place at a secondary school,

opportunities are provided for them to get to know their new school,

making the transition process less daunting. These include Taster

days and visits to our school from the heads of year 7. We work

closely with the many different schools our pupils choose to attend,

ensuring that all children feel reassured about moving on.

9 School Uniform

All the children are expected to wear the school uniform. This is

mainly Green and Gold with the school logo (a Saxon Warrior) on the

sweatshirt and t-shirt. Year 6 are given an added privilege of wearing

white shirts or blouses. A full uniform list is provided in the starting

school handbook or is available on the school website. Order forms

and supplies can be collected from the office. Long hair must be tied

back and ‘tram line’ or other extreme hairstyles are not permitted.

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10 Behaviour & Discipline

We have a positive approach to behaviour management, encouraging

good behaviour. This is set out in the school policy. We consider self-

discipline to be an important part of development and we expect

every child to show courtesy and consideration for others. Bullying is

not tolerated. We hope that all parents will support and assist the

school in promoting good behaviour. If there is a concern about a

child’s behaviour the parents will be actively involved in agreeing a

positive programme of support for the child. Copies of the first two

pages of the policy are distributed and parents may ask to see the full

policy and appendices from the school office. All teachers, children

and families are invited to share in signing The Home School

Agreement in the child’s first term.

11 The Curriculum

In the reception year the children follow the Foundation stage

curriculum (see Early Years). Throughout the rest of the school there

are core subjects of English (Literacy), Maths (Numeracy) and Science.

The daily numeracy and literacy hours are the main feature of maths

and english teaching. Information and Communication Technology

(ICT) is also given high priority. The other foundation subjects are

History, Geography, Design and Technology, Art, Music and Physical

Education; we are beginning to teach these subjects in a cross-

curricular way to incorporate the Creative/new curriculum. Personal,

Social and Health Education and Citizenship (PHSE) and Religious

Education complete the curriculum. KS1 learn some simple French

and KS2 are beginning to incorporate some French teaching into the

timetable.

At the start of the school year teachers meet with parents to talk

about the curriculum that the children will be covering during the

year. The school curriculum is very complex and carefully planned to

make sure that there is continuity, breadth and balance. Parents are

very welcome to see planning documents if they so wish and should

ask the Headteacher.

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12 Complaints

We aim to resolve most complaints very quickly by discussion

between parents and class teachers or headteacher. If no satisfactory

conclusion is reached, parents may go through a more formal

procedure. A copy of the Complaints Policy is available from the

School Office.

13 Assemblies

Lenham Primary is a “community” school and so does not have a

formal religious connection. However collective worship follows a

broadly Christian approach with songs and prayers included. We use

The Kent Guidance document. We also link with local churches and

enjoy visits from their clergy. Parents have a legal right to withdraw

children from collective worship and may discuss this with the

Headteacher.

Each class takes a turn in organising collective worship on a Friday. At

least once a year parents are invited to see their child’s Assembly.

Class 3 Recorder Recital

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14 Clubs

At Lenham Primary School the staff and parents run a number of clubs

and activities after school. This year the children have had the

opportunity to join: dance, football, tag rugby, cross country,

gardening, cricket, chess club, art club and film club. For an up to date

listing of clubs, please see the school website.

15 Breakfast & After School Club

Breakfast Club

Breakfast club runs every day from 8.00 am until the start of school.

We cater for all children so please let us know, in advance, if your

child has an allergy or special diet and you would like us to cater for

him or her. The cost of breakfast club is £2.25 payable in advance or

on the day. As places are limited we will operate a first come first

served system.

After School Club

Our after school club is now up and running. It is on from 3.15-6pm

on Mondays to Thursdays and costs £8.00 per session. Discounts are

available for siblings. The costs remains the same regardless of

whether or not your child attends an after school club as we need to

employ staff for the whole session. Fees should be paid to the school

office in advance on a Monday morning.

Pupils enjoying Breakfast Club

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16 Governing Body

The role of the Governing Body is to determine the aims and oversee

the curriculum and the development of the school as a whole

The Governing Body includes the Headteacher, Authority

representatives appointed by the Local Education Authority, elected

parents, teachers representatives, non-teaching staff members and

co-opted members from the local community. Governors are

appointed, elected or co-opted for a four year period.

The Governing Body is involved in decisions concerning the general

management of the school, the curriculum, the school budget and

staffing.

For a list of the current Board of Governors, please ask the school

office, or see the school website.

17 School Staff

For an up to date list of our teachers, teaching assistants, midday

supervisors and the Family Liaison Officer, please see the school

website.

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18 Term Dates 2014/15

This list is updated regularly and can be viewed on the school

website.

We hope that this Prospectus has given you an insight into our

school. Details about the day-to-day organisation can be found in

the “Starting School” Booklet. Please ask if you would like one.

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19 Freedom of Information Act

We hold many policies about the various aspects of the school.

These are available to view at the office or on the school website.

However should you require a personal copy a charge may be made

depending on the size of the document.

Information about the Local Education Authority can be obtained

from:

Kent County Council – Mid Kent Area Education Office

Kroner House

Eurogate Business Park

Ashford

Kent TN24 8XU

01233 639677