Prospectus - General Information

01935 474984

Starting School

During the Summer term, the Reception teachers and Key Stage 1 co-ordinator carry out home visits to introduce themselves to the new children and parents. Our teachers also visit local playgroups and liaise with group leaders. Parents of new entrants are invited to a meeting at the school where they meet the Headteacher and learn about the school curriculum. The children also visit for a play session. Admissions in September are staggered over a period of several weeks. This allows children to enter school part-time, in small groups, and helps ensure a happy and stable beginning to their school career. Details of the programme are given at the home visit and parents' meeting.

The LEA is the admission authority for this school and places are allocated in accordance with their published arrangements. A copy of these arrangements can be obtained by telephoning Parentline (01823) 6045555.

Each new group starting in September has a Planned Admission Number (PAN.) This limit is set annually after consultation between the Education Authority and the Governors of the school. The LEA can offer places up to this limit. The PANs aim to ensure that schools, and the Education Service as a whole, are run efficiently and that there is no waste of resources. This may mean that at some schools there are not enough places for all the children whose parents would like them to go there. The PAN for Huish is currently 60.

In the case of over-subscription, the LEA apply the following criteria:

Over-subscription criteria to all community and voluntary controlled schools from September 2001

Children living in the catchment area with an older brother or sister at the school at the time of admission and who live at the same home address.
Children living in the catchment area.
Children living outside of the catchment area with an older brother or sister at the school at the time of admission and who live at the same home address.
(For Voluntary Controlled Schools) Children whose parents are practising members of the church concerned, practising being defined as at least once a month attendance by at least one parent and child. (Not applicable to Huish).
Children living outside the catchment area but nearest to the school.

NOTE: Where a child has a statement of additional educational needs which names the school but is not accommodated when applying the above criteria, that child would be given first priority for a place. If there are not enough places to satisfy all the applications under any one criterion the following will apply:
For catchment children: Priority will be given to children who have a longer (as the crow flies) or more difficult (ie physical geographical barriers) journey to an alternative school.
For out of catchment children: Priority will be given to children living nearest to the preferred school (as the crow flies).

The Education Authority does not take the aptitude or ability of a child into consideration when making admission decisions.
Headteachers and Governors have no discretion either to admit pupils who are not the right age for the school or to exceed the planned admission limit.
Parents are able to appeal to the LEA if their children are not offered a place. The procedure for this is available from the school.
Parents who are considering sending their children to Huish may wish to make a preliminary visit. This can be arranged by making an appointment through the school secretary.

Moving On

Children transfer to secondary school at the end of the year in which they reach their 11th birthday. Huish pupils usually transfer to Preston or Westfield Community Schools. During your child's last year at Huish you will receive a form asking you to state your preference of secondary school. During the Summer term, senior staff from the secondary schools visit Huish to meet their future pupils. Parents' evenings are arranged at the community schools and in the Summer term children visit the school of their choice. Although the above schools are the general choices, parents are, of course, able to apply to any other school for admission.

For the academic year 2001/2002, 61 children transferred from Huish to secondary education.

Transfer Routes of Children to Secondary School, 2001

Preston Community School	23
Westfield Community School	32
Private Schools	1
Bucklers Mead Community School	5

Parents

We encourage and value parental involvement in school. Parents help in a variety of activities, including supervising the library, cooking, needlecraft, accompanying trips, sport and listening to children read. We are always looking for support of this nature. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you would like to play a part in some way.

In October parents are invited to school to informally meet their child's new teacher. In the Spring term every parent will receive a letter from the class teacher offering an appointment to discuss their child's work and general progress. At the end of the Summer term you will receive a written report on your child's progress, including statements relating to the National Curriculum. There are also open evenings in which children can share their year's work with their parents.

Should the teacher, at any point, be concerned about your child's educational or social development, we will contact you. In return, we invite you to contact the Headteacher, or the class teacher if you or your child have any concerns. It is normally best to make an appointment rather than call on the off-chance. Your visits need not only be confined to times of concern. If, for example, children have produced work of which they are especially proud, please feel welcome to come in and share it with them.

Should parents have any complaints, we would hope that they can be resolved by the school. An approach, in the first instance, should normally be made to the Headteacher, and it is hoped that in most cases complaints will be dealt with at this informal level. However, if the complaint cannot be resolved, there is an agreed LEA Complaints Procedure, which is that complaints are submitted in writing to the Clerk of the Governors, who will acknowledge receipt and inform the LEA. If the matter cannot be resolved by the Governing Body, it will be referred to the LEA, who will arrange for an investigation to take place. If you require detailed information on the Complaints Procedure, please contact the Headteacher or refer to the Home-School Agreement.

Parents who are separated both have a statutory right to be informed about their child's education. This can be achieved if both parent's addresses are known to the school office, we will then endeavour to do our best to send on relevant information.

The partnership between home and school in your child's education is vital, and there is no doubt that when a good relationship prevails, progress is more smoothly and quickly achieved.

Home/School Agreement

In September 1999 all schools produced a Home-School Agreement which we will ask every parent/carer to sign. To produce this we carried out consultations with all our families about what should be in our final document. The adopted agreement refers to:

the ethos, aims and values of the school
the standard of education
regular and punctual attendance
discipline and behaviour
homework
complaints procedure
the information that schools and parents will give to one another
children's safety

We look forward to presenting our agreement to you prior to your child being admitted to school.

Parent Teacher & Friends Association

Huish has an active Parent Teacher and Friends Association and all parents with children at the school are deemed to be members. Through a programme of social and fund-raising events the PTFA supplements the school's finances. At the Annual General Meeting in October, the work of the PTFA is outlined and new officers are elected for the committee which meets approximately twice a term. We hope that new parents will actively support our PTFA, which further strengthens the important link between home and school.

Governors

The governing body is a supporting and liaising committee which meets termly to oversee the current situation within the school. In addition, working parties monitor specific aspects of school life, such as financial, premises, curriculum and personnel matters.

Governors discuss a wide variety of issues, such as details about additional training for the staff, the development of curriculum areas, and the use of the school's financial resources. Each year they present their annual report to Huish parents. The governors also meet on other occasions throughout the year for governor training sessions.

The governors at Huish School are both elected and appointed. Under our new constitution, parents elect five representatives and the teachers and staff three. Other governors are appointed by the Local Education Authority or co-opted. The common ground amongst them is that they are all interested and concerned in the running and development of Huish School.

At the first meeting of each school year, a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson are elected. These two people conduct the meetings, chair interviews for staff selection and are frequently in contact with the Headteacher. A Clerk is also elected to keep minutes of meetings and write letters. Minutes of meetings are displayed on the school notice board. Each governor is elected for a four year term of office.

School Finance

Our school is financed from three main sources:

The Annual LEA Delegated Budget
Since April 1991 Huish School has had a delegated budget under the Somerset County Council's Local Management of Schools' scheme. The school Governors oversee the allocation of this money with the day to day management being delegated to the Headteacher. There is an allocation to provide the school with basic consumable items, including exercise books, paper, writing and art materials, school cleaning materials, telephone and postage bills, etc. The overall budget for running the school, including staff salaries, is approximately 820,731.

School Fund
The school fund is used to purchase small items required by teachers in their classroom work, for the occasional more expensive piece of equipment, or to subsidise the fees for visiting theatre groups and musicians. The account also handles all money that is collected from parents for items such as school trips, photographs and swimming. To sustain our fund, every two years we organise a sponsored event. Your child's participation in this is voluntary.

PTFA Fund
The PTFA raises around ,4,000 per year mainly for the purchase of equipment for the school. The PTFA treasurer manages the fund and periodically a member of the teaching staff will put forward a request to the PTFA committee for an allocation of funds. The fund has been supportive in allowing us to buy many resources for both our infant and junior children.

Written Information

Throughout the year, parents and guardians receive copies of our news sheet "Huish Headlines". In addition, minutes from Governors' meetings are displayed on the school notice board and their report is circulated to parents and guardians annually.

We are also required by DfEE regulations to make certain items of information available at school for parents and members of the public to view. The school holds information on the following:

The LEA's statement of curriculum policy and the school's statement of curriculum aims.
Statutory instruments (including those for the National Curriculum subjects), circulars and administrative memoranda relating to the powers and duties under the "Curriculum" Section of the Education Reform Act.
Any published Inspection reports which refer explicitly to the school.
Schemes of work currently used by teachers.
A full copy of the arrangement for the consideration of complaints about the school made by the LEA.
The LEA's agreed syllabus for Religious Education.

We also hold copies of our prospectus and the governing body's annual report to parents, which are available free to parents, on request, at the school.

Visitors and Visits

During the year we would hope to invite people from the Arts, or local community to share their expertise with us. Children also have the opportunity to take part in excursions during the year and will visit their immediate local environment. All these trips and visitors are seen as an extension and enhancement of the work that takes place in the classroom, and will involve both preparation and follow-up activities.

On occasions we will ask all parents for a voluntary contribution towards the costs of our visits and visitors. The Education Reform Act 1988 introduced new provisions on charging for school activities. Under the Act schools are unable to charge for the following:

Education wholly or mainly during school hours.
Materials and ingredients for things made in school which pupils or parents do not want to keep.
Visits inside or outside school hours which are necessary for an examination.

Charges may be made for the following:

Music tuition which is not part of the National Curriculum.
Educational activities where a school activity involves a residential element.
The exact cost of optional extras not directly connected with the National Curriculum.

Some school activities will only be possible if parents make a voluntary contribution, and where this is the case, parents will always be informed at the outset.

Welfare

We occasionally have children with health problems, or on a course of medicine, that we should know about. If your child has an illness, a disability, or a domestic problem which could affect his/her progress, please inform the class teacher. If your child becomes unwell during the school day, we will make every effort to contact you. It is very important that we have up-to-date home/work telephone numbers, or other contact numbers. Until we have contacted you, we will take any action required in the interest of your child. If your child is absent from school, please ensure that the class teacher receives a letter on his/her return. This will avoid children being recorded as having an unauthorised absence. If he/she has to attend the doctor or dentist, etc. during the school day, please inform us beforehand of your arrangements. You must ensure your child's collection and return is reported at the front office. If you wish your child to miss swimming or PE due to illness, a letter will also be required. If your child is ill, please ensure that he/she is completely recovered before sending him/her back to school. In the case of a lengthy absence, your child's class teacher will be most happy to organise some work for your child to complete at home. Generally, parents should make arrangements to administer medication to their children during the school day when they have returned following an illness. If this proves difficult, parents should contact the class teacher. The administering of medication by the teachers is at their own discretion and written instructions must be given. For those children who take medication regularly, eg Asthma inhalers, arrangements will be made for teachers to support children in their use. Many of our staff are trained 'First-Aiders', and in the unlikely event of an accident, appropriate first-aid will be given. In the case of a more serious accident, we will contact you as soon as possible.

Security - In the interests of children's safety, for both fire and security reasons, we operate a Visitors' Badge system. As all external doors are bolted during the school day, visitors are requested to report at the front reception office. The school has comprehensive security procedures in place and staff are vigilant in matters relating to children's safety.

Auxiliary Services

Medical examinations, including dental, eyesight and hearing checks, are carried out from time to time. Parents are notified in advance of any examinations and are welcome to attend. The Social Worker for Schools is also available to support children and families when requested.

Absences

All schools are required to publish figures for both authorised and unauthorised absences. The figures for Huish Primary School for the academic year 2000/2001 were:

Authorised Absences: 4.5%
Unauthorised Absences: 0.1%

Lunch

A cooked meal is available at school for £1.30 per day. This consists of a choice of main course, a pudding and a drink. There is also a vegetarian alternative. Alternatively children may bring a packed lunch. For this period they will be supervised by our lunchtime supervisors. When the weather is fine and warm, those children bringing a packed lunch are given the choice of eating outside on the school field or at picnic tables.

Parents who believe they may be entitled to free school lunches for their children should contact the School Office.

Lost Property

It is extremely difficult to trace the owners of lost, unmarked clothing. We would be grateful, therefore, if all clothing and personal items could be named. Order forms for woven tags are available from the school. Lost property is kept in the changing room and drama room. At the end of each term it is displayed in the hall and unclaimed items are donated to a local charity shop.

Magpie Collection

We have, at school, a number of items that we call our Magpie Collection. It consists of a wide variety of materials, such as old cameras, shells, driftwood, bottles and historical items. The possibilities are endless. Its principal purpose is to support teachers in their efforts to involve children with real materials. Children will respond more readily when they can relate their experience to something that is tangible and first-hand. The quality of the learning is often greatly enhanced.

You are always welcome to come and see our collection, and we would be most grateful for any additions you may offer us. We promise they will be given a new lease of life in the classroom.

School Exhibition Collection

Within school, we keep a collection of children's work that exemplifies good practice across all areas of the curriculum. The items in the collection are used to support other classroom works, and to mount exhibitions in places such as the town library and County Hall. Your child may be asked to contribute to the collection during his/her time at Huish. Items will be returned at the end of your child's last year.

Clubs

Various clubs are held at lunchtime and after school. They are generally for older children, and include football, netball, athletics, choir, country dancing, tap dancing, cricket, recorder playing and drama.

If children wish to join an after school club, we feel happier if they first obtain written consent. Therefore, on joining, children will be given a parental consent form.

Library

Children are encouraged to borrow books from the school library. Junior children will need to bring their book to school each day.

Parents are also welcome to use our library. We encourage you to choose books with your children, especially in their infant years, and you are invited to come into school at the end of the day for this purpose.

Uniform and Physical Education Kit

Parents are asked to send their children to school in uniform, as this will help children to develop their sense of identity with the school. The correct PE kit is equally important in that it provides the appropriate clothing for specific activities.

Please ensure that all items of clothing and footwear are clearly marked with your child's name.

School Uniform

Girls:	Boys:
navy skirt, pinafore dress or trousers pale blue blouse royal blue cardigan or jumper school tie Blue gingham dress for summer wear	grey trousers pale blue shirt royal blue jumper school tie

Sweatshirts and polo shirts with the school logo are available from the school office at a cost of:

	Size		Cost
	24" - 32" Chest		£7.50
	Extra Small		£8.50
	Small/Medium/Large		£8.50

Fleeces are also available at a cost of:

	Size		Cost
	24" - 32" Chest		£10.50
	Larger Sizes		£12.50

Children should not wear trainers, pointed heeled shoes or jewellery. Ear studs are permitted.

Physical Education Kit

Girls:		Boys:
black or navy P.E. shorts white tee shirt (or leotard) P.E. bag (drawstring) games shorts or skirt games top and socks plimsolls (slip-on or laced)		black or navy P.E. shorts white tee shirt P.E. bag (drawstring) games shirt, shorts and socks plimsolls (slip-on or laced) trainers for junior boys and girls

Children will take part in outdoor games activities throughout the year. During the winter months they will be allowed to wear their school jumpers over their games shirts. However, you may prefer to provide a tracksuit or sweatshirt for cold days.

Older children will have the opportunity of taking swimming lessons, and they will need the appropriate kit and bag.

The PTFA run a second-hand clothes shop in the school library on the first Friday of each month at 3.15 pm (see School Notice Board for details).