thomas walling primary academy

Thomas Walling Primary AcademyAt the heart of our school are our children and their learning

2 3At the heart of our school are our children and their learning

Foreword: Governors and staff say:Staff and Governors welcome you to Thomas Walling Primary Academy, on behalf of all children.

At the heart of our school are our children and their learning.

This is a friendly, caring school where everyone works hard towards our school motto which is: ‘At the heart of our school are our children and their learning.’

Laidlaw Schools Trust

Thomas Walling Primary Academy is part of the Laidlaw Schools Trust. The Trust was founded by Lord Laidlaw, a successful international businessman and entrepreneur. Lord Laidlaw is committed to investing financial resources as well as his own business expertise to improving education and the life chances of young people and their communities.

Inclusive

We are an inclusive school, committed to developing the full academic, spiritual, social and individual potential of each child within our ‘Family of Learners’. We aim to foster good

relationships between children, staff, parents and the wider community and are committed to protecting and safeguarding the welfare of every child.

Igniting an interest in the world

We expect high academic standards and results. Within our pupils, we want to ignite an interest in the world around them, and for that interest to lead to fulfilling and imaginative lives. Learning should be fun, rewarding and lifelong!

Pastoral care

Whilst academic achievements are an important part of life at our school, all our children also have the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of sporting and musical opportunities, as well as regular trips and residential visits. Our pastoral care is exceptional, ensuring all children are kept safe and are supported both inside and outside school.

Dedicated staff

We are very proud of our experienced and exceptionally dedicated staff and Governors, who ensure that all our children

are well supported to achieve their true potential, and work hard with families to overcome any barriers to learning.

Parent and carer partnership

Another very important part of our school is you, the parent or carer! We value the link between school and home and work very hard to involve you in every step of your child’s time here. We hope that your association with us will bring both happiness and success for your child. We have an open-door policy, and encourage parents and carers to come in, as their input is always greatly valued.

Get in touch

If you wish to hear more about what we can offer your child please contact us for more information or to make an appointment to meet with us. We welcome visits and love to show our school ‘in action’. To contact us to arrange a visit please call on 0191 286 0333 or email [email protected]

School hours Main school:

· 8.50am to 3.30pm (8.50am to 2.10pm Friday)Little Owls (two year-old children):

· Children attend either the beginning of the week or the end:

· Monday and Tuesday – 9.00am to 3.10pm, and Wednesday – 9.00am to 11.40am

· Wednesday – 12.30pm to 3.10pm, and Thursday and Friday – 9.00am to 3.10pm

Nursery:

· 9.00am to 3.15pm (9.00am to 1.55pm Friday)Reception:

· 8.50am to 3.20pm (8.50am to 2.00pm Friday)

Breakfast and After School Clubs Breakfast Club opens at 8.00am. This is free to all pupils at Thomas Walling and all children are welcome from Nursery up to Year 6.

After School Clubs for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils are also free and run until 4.30pm.

Uniform We believe that wearing a school uniform gives every child a sense of belonging and presents a positive image to our community. Our school colours are burgundy for Nursery to Year 5, and blue for Little Owls and Year 6.

Free

All new starters are provided with a free waterproof coat, book-bag, polo shirt and sweatshirt for Nursery to Year 5, a jumper and school tie for Year 6, and Little Owls receive a waterproof coat, sweatshirt, polo shirt and jogging bottoms. A P.E. kit is also provided free of charge for all pupils and consists of burgundy

shorts and a pale blue T-shirt. Trainers and tracksuits can be provided by parents for outdoor use.

School meals and snacks Free school meals

All children in Early Years and Key Stage 1 are entitled to a free hot or cold meal. Older children whose family is in receipt of certain benefits may also qualify. We offer vegetarian, fish and meat options every day, as well as a halal and non halal option. A range of sandwiches are also available as an alternative to a hot meal.

Packed lunches, drinks and snacks

Children in Key Stage 2 may bring a healthy packed lunch if they prefer. These should not contain sweets, crisps, chocolate bars or fizzy drinks. All children are offered a piece of fruit, water and milk at some point during the school day. This is provided free of charge.

Welcome to Thomas Walling Primary Academy School day: settling in


Lots of opportunities At Thomas Walling, our curriculum is designed to promote academic, social, emotional and personal success. It includes not only the formal requirements of the National Curriculum, but also the range of additional opportunities that the school organises in order to enrich the experiences of our children.

Three stages of the curriculum The curriculum is divided into three stages:

1. Little Owls and Early Years.

2. Key Stage 1.

3. Key Stage 2.

Little Owls and Early Years Children in Early Years and Little Owls follow the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. Our aim is to provide the children with a play based curriculum that is tailored for each child’s individual needs. We offer a welcoming, safe and secure environment where children’s excitement and love of learning can be ignited and developed.

Developing abilities

We will develop your child’s abilities across a range of areas, including Personal, Social and Emotional needs, Communication and Language, Physical Development, Literacy, Maths, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design.

Early Learning Goals

Teachers select the objectives on a lesson by lesson basis, depending on the needs of the children. At the end of the Reception year children are assessed using the Early Learning Goals.

Key Stages 1 and 2 Areas of the curriculum are:

• Mathematics

• Reading

• Writing

• Science

• Information and Design Technology

• History

• Geography

• Art

• Music

• Physical Education

• Religious Education

• Health

• Personal and Social Education.

Creative approach In Key Stages 1 and 2, the children study the core subjects of English, Maths and Science. We develop their reading and writing, calculating, reasoning and investigative skills through a variety of exciting and stimulating activities.

Immersive topics

We take a creative approach to teaching the foundation subjects (History, Geography, Art, Design Technology) through an immersive topic week once a half term. Within this week, children are given the opportunity to apply skills learnt in the core curriculum areas, as well as furthering their historical and geographical knowledge, and their creative skills through art and design lessons. Exciting trips also take place within these weeks. PE lessons are taught by a qualified instructor, and includes a range of competitive games as well as dance and gymnastics. As part of our music project, all children receive bespoke instrument tuition and singing lessons. The school also offers a variety of after school clubs taught by specialist teachers. Educational visits

We believe that educational visits are an integral part of the entitlement of every pupil to an effective and balanced curriculum. Appropriately planned visits are known to enhance learning and improve attainment, and so form a key part of what makes our school a supportive and effective learning environment.

Residential trips and visitors Children have the opportunity to go on residential trips during the school year. We feel these experiences can help to develop qualities of self-reliance and tolerance of others. Children learn independence and develop confidence. In small steps, these get progressively more challenging and rewarding. Additionally, we arrange visits to the school by theatre groups and those with professional expertise such as singers, artists and musicians etc.

Curriculum: promoting academic, social, emotional and personal success Enriched curriculum: trips and visits


Making a difference In Thomas Walling Primary Academy we aim to develop self-discipline and a sense of social responsibility in every child. Children will be taught that each individual’s behaviour affects others, that every child has the right to work and play without interference from others and that every child has the right to a happy childhood free from threats of harm from physical, verbal or psychological bullying.

The purpose of the school’s behaviour policy is to develop self-discipline. The school encourages good behaviour through a mixture of high expectations, clear policy and an ethos which fosters discipline and mutual respect between pupils, and between staff and pupils.

Our school rules • Listen carefully and follow instructions from all adults working

in school.

• Respect other people and treat them how you would like to be treated, in school, at home and in the community.

• Work hard with enthusiasm and try your best without disturbing other people.

• Always be in the right place at the right time.

• Respect property which belongs to other people, the school and to the community.

• Be honest and tell the truth.

Improving the learning experience Effective learning will take place if there is a sound behaviour policy, both throughout the school generally and in individual classrooms. Learning not only takes place within the subject based curriculum but also through a hidden curriculum of socialisation and the development of values, beliefs and attitudes which permeate the ethos of the school.

Rewards and sanctions Our school is committed to reinforcing positive personal attitudes and behaviour. We have a successful House Point reward system to support us in this which translates into certificates and prizes for our children.

Supporting learning We are very fortunate to have some excellent facilities to benefit the children, and further support their learning and school experience, including an excellent amount of space for outdoor learning, recreational play and sports. Little Owls, EYFS, KS1 and KS2 each have their own dedicated outdoor areas. In addition we offer:

• Sensory room.

• Nature garden.

• High quality IT suite.

• Tablets for classroom internet learning access.

• Fully-fitted Community Room for use by pupils and parents.

• Large, newly-fitted dining hall and kitchen.

• Team of dedicated staff to support new arrivals and SEN pupils.

• Additional music provision.

Ducklings We provide a toddler group twice a week to our local community called the Ducklings. This is led by our Little Owls staff who include our Little Owls children in every session. If you would like more details about these sessions please ask at the school office.

Behaviour and self-development: self-discipline and a sense of social responsibility Facilities


Feedback, assessment and planning We believe that effective assessment provides information to improve teaching and learning. We give our children regular feedback on their learning so that they understand what it is that they have done well and what their next steps will be. This allows us to create lesson plans based on a detailed knowledge of each pupil.

Our school has an effective marking policy which helps children to understand more clearly how well they are doing, and how they can become even better learners. In the children’s books you will clearly be able to see how hard they have tried, what the teacher thinks about the presentation of their work, and whether they need to do a little more work in a particular area. Our children are always aiming for an E* for amazing effort and a P* for wonderful presentation.

Marking is done on a daily basis so that the children are assessed each evening and a lesson plan put in place for the following day, based on their performance.

Aims and objectives The aims and objectives of assessment in our school are:

• To enable our children to demonstrate what they know, understand and can do in their work.

• To help our children understand what they need to do next to improve their work; to allow teachers to plan work that accurately reflects the needs of each child.

• To provide regular information for parents that enables them to support their child’s learning.

• To provide the Headteacher and Governors with information that allows them to make judgements about the effectiveness of the school.

School reports and parent evenings Home-school communication and the support of parents is fundamental to pupils’ progress and attainment. Half-termly reports are given for each pupil, detailing their classroom attainment as well as their attendance and behaviour record. A full and detailed report is given at the end of each academic year.

We hold two parent evenings each year, where parents have the opportunity to discuss their child’s progress with the teachers.

Equal opportunities Our school is an inclusive school in which the learning, achievements, attitudes and well-being of all learners matters. This means that equality of opportunity must be a reality for our children. We are committed to taking positive steps to ensure that:

• All people are treated with dignity and respect, valuing the diversity of all.

• Equality of opportunity and diversity is promoted.• Services are accessible, appropriate and delivered fairly to all.• The mix of its employees, pupils and governors reflects, as far as

possible, the broad mix of the local population of the academy.

EAL

We have members of staff who fluently speak a range of different languages including French, Bengali and Hindi. We also have a dedicated team of staff who work specifically with children who have limited English in integrating them into Thomas Walling.

Special Educational Needs We are an inclusive school where every child is welcomed and we are proud of the types of support can we offer children with Special Educational Needs. Our Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Co-ordinator (SENDCo) works with parents to share any concerns the school may have, and assists the class teachers in providing an Individual Educational Plan where necessary. Regular meetings are held to keep parents informed of their child’s progress towards their individual targets.

More able and talented children Our teachers have high expectations of all our pupils and we treat every child according to their own abilities. Every child is supported in the most appropriate way according to their own individual needs, including those who show a particular skill or talent.

Your child’s achievements: celebrating success Inclusion: a curriculum for all


Wide range We offer a wide range of after school clubs, which start at the end of the school day at 3.30pm and finish at 4.30pm. We offer these completely free of charge and they are open to our pupils from Year 1 to Year 6. Clubs available currently include:

• Multisports.• Choir.• Samba.• Archery.• Dodgeball.• Dance.• Invasion games.• Net and wall games.• Football.

Musical Instruments

All children have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and take it home during the week to continue their learning.

The Music Project here at Thomas Walling is an opportunity to put music at the heart of the school and the community.

Increasing confidence, teamwork, pride and aspirations

Many schools are beginning to understand the effectiveness of using music to support learning in schools - it is proven that music can foster confidence, help develop teamwork, increase pride and aspirations, aids retention and develops resilience. Music education can be so powerful!

Innovation and musical enjoyment

Our sponsor, Lord Laidlaw, is passionate about your children receiving the best opportunities and reaching their full potential whilst at Thomas Walling, and his generosity is funding the project so that children and families can have the opportunity to engage with music in new and innovative ways. Part of this project means all of our children have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and take it home during the week to perfect their skills.

Admission to Thomas Walling Primary Academy We are very proud of our wonderful school and all that it is has to offer. We strongly recommended that you contact us directly to arrange a visit as we would love to show you around. During the visit you will have the opportunity to speak with the Headteacher and other staff. Please ring the school office on 0191 286 0333 to make a mutually convenient appointment.

Applications Places in Reception classes up to and including Year 6 can be applied for online at www.newcastle.gov.uk/admissions. Alternatively, please contact the school directly where we will be able to help you further.

Applications for places in Little Owls and Nursery should be made directly to the school.

Voluntary helpers

Parent volunteers are very welcome to assist in the classroom with reading, arts and crafts or other projects. All volunteers are required by law to undertake a Safer Recruitment vetting process.

Governors

Governors have an important part to play in raising school standards and are key to the effectiveness of a school. Our Governing Body has a range of duties and a general responsibility for the conduct of the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement. A list of our current governors and their responsibilities can be found on our website, and they can be contacted through the school.

If you would like to be a school Governor please contact our school office to find out more.

Clubs The Music Project Admissions and getting involved

Thomas Walling Primary Academy Lindfield Avenue Blakelaw Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 3PL

Telephone: 0191 286 0333 Email: [email protected] Website: www.thomaswallingacademy.com

At the heart of our school are our children and their learning

School aims Our School Aims are to create a school community with:

• Successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve;

• Confident individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives;

• Responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society.

Laidlaw Schools Trust We are part of the Laidlaw Schools Trust.

Trust Vision

To transform the lives of children and communities in the Laidlaw Schools Trust, through inspirational teaching and learning.

Trust Mission

Working in partnership with children, their families and the wider community, we will provide a safe and nurturing environment for each child, irrespective of ability or background. We will empower them to believe in themselves and to embrace the future as active, respectful and responsible citizens.

thomas walling primary academy

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