Prospectus - Introduction

01935 474984

We welcome your child to our school and hope your association with us will be happy and productive. We shall do our utmost to ensure your child's happiness and full educational development whilst here at Huish.

The purpose of the prospectus is to provide a brief outline of Huish School. In it you will find information about our aims, organisation and curriculum, about school uniform, what to do if your child is having problems, or you have a complaint, etc.

The other pamphlets, 'Starting School at Huish', 'Reading at Huish' and the 'Numeracy Guide' provide additional advice for parents of children starting school at reception level. We hope you will find all of this material helpful.

Our School

Historically our school is an amalgamation of two schools, one dating from 1846 and the other from 1904. They were situated close together, and combined under one headteacher in 1952. In 1989, due to town centre redevelopment, the school was re-located in a modern building, not far from the old site. During the planning and building phases the staff were able to work closely with the architect and building foreman. This resulted in a superb building that provides a balance between the vision of the architect and a professional input from educationalists.

The school is divided into 3 bungalow areas catering for different age groups. This allows children to develop an ownership within a large building. The 3 areas meet in a pleasant library dining area that is surrounded by natural wood finishes and display areas. From this library area there is access to a number of resource storage rooms, a pottery room, a dark room and a cookery area.

The school has 2 large rooms for PE and drama as well as 14 class bases. Outside there is 1 large play area and a smaller area for younger children. The field is soccer pitch size and includes a thriving environmental area and workshop. Within the main building there are also two semi-enclosed courtyards used for gardening and relaxation.

The administration block provides very good facilities for the clerical staff as well as a comfortable staffroom that is also used for Governors' and PTFA meetings.

Due to expanding rolls 2 additional temporary classrooms have been added to the original building. In September 1993 the school reached its maximum number and is 2 form entry throughoutt.

Huish is a Somerset County Council school and is part of the Local Education Authority. It is also part of the Council scheme for locally managed schools. The administrative centre for schools in Somerset is:

The Corporate Director for Education
Education Department
County Hall
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 4DY

The school office is normally manned from 8:30 am until 4:00 pm.

The Aims of Our School

We aim to provide a safe, caring, happy and well ordered environment where everyone's contribution is valued, and all members of our school community develop their full potential. The School is committed to providing a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum, where all our children have equal access and individual needs are met. We aim for the highest standards in education.

The following aims were agreed after discussion and consultation with children, staff, governors and parents. We aim:

to enable children to develop their potential in all aspects of school life.
to help children develop lively and enquiring minds; the ability to question and reason rationally.
to develop in children self-discipline, self-motivation, independence and confidence.
to develop the essential skills of oracy, literacy and numeracy in our children and to use these skills in intellectual, imaginative and creative contexts.
to encourage children to persevere with tasks and physical skills.
to encourage in children caring attitudes, thoughtfulness, respect and understanding for others.
to give children an appreciation of beauty and develop a spiritual awareness.
to develop in children a sense of responsibility for their immediate environment and the world in which they live.
to develop in children a love of learning which will continue in their future lives. When possible, the child's curriculum will stem from first hand experiences.
to provide the necessary tools of learning within the limits of a well managed budget.
to encourage and welcome parents into our school so they share their children's education in partnership with us.
that when our children leave us, they will look back on their years with us and say, 'I was happy there; I thought the work was worthwhile, and it was a good place to be.'

Organisation

The school is divided into two departments catering for infants (Key Stage 1) 5-7 years of age and juniors (Key Stage 2) 7-11 years of age.

It is organised on a class basis, with children spending the majority, if not all of the school day with their class teachers. We keep the size of Key Stage 1 classes to a maximum of 30 children, and aim that all other classes range between 30 and 32 children. All classes receive additional adult help.

During a normal week approximately 23.5 hours are spent on teaching. In addition time is set aside for registration and a 15 minute break in the morning.

The school roll for the educational year 2002/2003 will be approximately 421.

School Times

INFANTS	JUNIORS
8:50 - 10:30	8:50 - 10:30	NB: Sessions include time for registration and the daily act of collective worship.
BREAK	BREAK
10:45 - 12:00	10:45 - 12:20
LUNCH	LUNCH
1:30 - 3:20	1:20 - 3:20

School Staff

Teaching
Headteacher		Mrs V E Campbell
Deputy Headteacher		Mr V Nickels
Key Stage 2 Co-ordinator		Mrs R Toal
Key Stage 1 Co-ordinator		Mrs S Patterson
Learning Support		Mrs M McGrouther
		Mrs S Burgess
		Mrs H Dulwich
		Miss S Edmonds
		Mrs Cara Carlock
		Mrs L Eveleigh
		Mrs A Fossey
		Mrs S Hall
		Mrs W Ireland
		Mrs L McDonald
		Mrs C Reddyhoff
		Miss J Stott
		Miss Pru Seward
Non-Teaching
Secretary		Mrs M Willcocks
Financial Officer		Mrs D Salter
Resources Secretary		Mrs J Chapman
Classroom Assistants		Mrs B Bowles
		Mrs J Chapman
		Mrs K Chapman
		Mrs W Failes
		Mrs J Hockley
		Mrs J Hopkins
		Mrs A Hudson
		Mrs A Jones
		Mrs S Michie
		Mrs C Northover
		Miss K Whitlock
		Mrs M Willis
ITC Support Assistant		Mrs A Allen
Learning Support Assistant		Mrs T Miller
Caretaker		Miss J Jones
Crossing Patrol		vacancy
Lunchtime Supervisors		10
Cleaners		2
Kitchen Staff		3

School Governors

LEA Appointed		Elected Parent Governors
Rev D Keen		Mrs D D'Arcy
Mr A Chant		Mrs J Bachrach
Mr R Johnson (Chair)		Mrs S Miles
Key Stage 1 Co-ordinator		Mrs N Adcock
Mr T Witt (Vice Chair)		Mrs F Kitto

Elected Teacher Governors		Elected Staff Governor
Mrs L McDonald		Mrs B Bowles
Mr V Nickels
		Clerk to the Governors
Co-opted Governors		Mrs D Salter
Mr R Failes
Mr C Snell		Headteacher
Mrs L Hatcher		Mrs V E Campbell
Mrs A Whitlock
Mrs J Bachrach

Plan of School Grounds

The plan below outlines the traffic flow when entering and leaving the school campus. Parents are asked not to park in either the School Car Park or the access road to the school. Parking permits for the adjacent Public Car Park are available from the school office and enable parents to both deliver their children at the beginning of the school day, and collect them at the end of the school day. Children and parents walking to school are encouraged to use the bottom gate marked A when entering and leaving the site. This ensures that they do not cross the road into the flow of traffic.