Prospectus

01626 862444

Dear Parents/Carers

At Westcliff we provide a happy, enjoyable and successful place of learning where your children are encouraged to show independence and develop maximum use of their abilities. We think of Westcliff as being a large and caring family where good behaviour is valued and where all of us, adults and children, show respect and consideration for each other.

We believe that the education of your child includes not only academic achievement, but also their social, physical and creative abilities too, encouraging each child to fulfil the high expectations we have for all children in our care. To enable this to happen, every child is treated as an individual and offered support in all aspects of school life.

As a school, we place great importance on the understanding, co-operation and involvement of parents. We hope that this prospectus will help you when your child is admitted to Westcliff and will, therefore, help to strengthen the link between child, home and school.

The school staff and myself will do all in our power to ensure that your child's days here are productive and enjoyable. We are delighted to show you and your children around our school and talk to you about the excellent education that we provide.

We look forward to a happy and successful association with you.

Sue Waugh
Headteacher.

The School Day

The Playground is supervised from 8:45am. For their own safety, children must not arrive at school before this time. If this is a problem, please come and discuss it with the Headteacher.

Morning Session
infants8:55am - 11:55am
juniors8:55am - 12:05pm
Afternoon Session 1:00pm - 3:20pm

Playtime

Children are encouraged to bring a piece of fruit or vegetable (carrot, celery etc), to eat during morning play, as part of our healthy eating programme (biscuits, crisps and chocolate are not allowed). Fruit is also available for children to buy. Please support us in our efforts to develop healthy eating habits.

Free School Meals

If you are in receipt of Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance, your child is eligible for free school meals, so please ensure that you register. Part of our budget allocation is based upon the number of children registered for free school meals.

What To Wear

We feel that the children's appearance does affect their attitudes and behaviour and that the wearing of school colours will help them to take pride in their appearance and give them a feeling of belonging to Westcliff. We expect children to come to school suitably dressed. All children should wear sensible shoes in school colours. We do not consider trainers to be suitable footwear and they should only be worn for Games.

The preferred dress is:

Winter

Westcliff School sweatshirts in a choice of royal blue or navy blue with a school logo (available to purchase through the school office at a reasonable price). However, any royal blue or navy blue sweatshirt, jumper or cardigan is acceptable.
Westcliff School polo shirts in a choice of white or pale blue, with school logo. Alternatively, a white, pale blue or grey blouse/shirt. Polo shirts are available to purchase.
Skirt, pinafore dress or trousers in navy blue or grey.

Summer

As 1 and 2 for winter dress, or Westcliff School t-shirt in a choice of royal blue or navy blue.
Shorts, trousers, skirt or dress in blue or grey.

Physical Education

White or Westcliff School t-shirt.
White, navy or black shorts (black leotards for girls' gymnastics if preferred).
Footwear: indoors - barefoot, outdoors - plimsolls or trainers. Football boots, if possible, for children taking part in football skills.
Tracksuit if desired when weather is colder.
A one-piece swimming costume or trunks for swimming (all children with hair below their chin line must wear a swimming cap).
Except for watches and ear studs, no jewellery should be worn to school and for health and safety these must be removed for all physical education activities.

Physical Education

At Westcliff School, we believe in the importance of encouraging children to lead an active and healthy lifestyle, teaching them the importance of exercise and a healthy diet. As such, it is essential that children take part in our varied and exciting PE curriculum. However, if your child is not fit enough to participate, please ensure that they bring a letter excusing them from these activities.

To make sure that they are available, PE kits (refer to the section What To Wear) should be brought to school every Monday and taken home, to be washed, every Friday. Forgotten kits mean children may be excluded from this valuable part of the curriculum. It is not satisfactory for children to wear their school clothes for PE activities. All children must have a change ofclothing, including footwear, for all PE lessons.

The School Curriculum

The Curriculum includes the core subjects of the National Curriculum, ie English, Mathematics and Science and the foundation subjects - Information Communications Technology, Art, Design Technology, History, Geography, Music and Physical Education. There are daily literacy and numeracy lessons. In addition, we have a tradition of school events, extra-curricular activities and visits, both day and residential. All of these are considered to be a very important part of our children's whole education and complement activities in the classroom.

Celebrating Achievements

We believe strongly in celebrating achievements and successes. Developing self-esteem and confidence are considered to be of primary importance. We have a system of rewards. including stickers and certificates of merit. These can be awarded to individuals or whole classes. Children who have produced exceptional work are also praised in assemblies. In addition to these rewards, staff consistently praise good work or behaviour in a less formal way.

School Details

The school has approximately 300 children on roll with 16 teachers and 11 learning support staff. We pride ourselves on the small size of our foundation classes. The Headteacher is involved with teaching the pre-school children, enabling her to get to know each child and their family.

Aims and Ethos

At Westcliff School we strive to create a caring, secure and stimulating environment in which all members of the school community can grow in self-esteem and develop their potential as individuals.

Our aims are:

to help all members of the school community to develop sensitivity and responsibility to others
to encourage and develop the values of respect, tolerance, fairness, honesty and consideration
to understand that each individual has different abilities and needs and to enable them to develop their potential
to encourage a love of learning and a desire to continue to expand knowledge and skills throughout life
to promote a happy, friendly and secure atmosphere which is a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone in the school community - a place where children, parents, staff and governors work in partnership together
to provide opportunities for reflection
to make positive contribution within the wider community and recognise responsibilities beyond the school.

Facilities for Learning

We are fortunate to have a well-equipped school to support and develop your child's education.

Our facilities include:

a large purpose-built hall
an under-cover swimming pool
a large sports field
a unique and attractive reading gallery
a well-stocked and accessible library
a food technology area
a computer suite, plus class-based computers
a large playground with play leader and quiet sitting area
an environmental area
clay-firing facilities (kiln room)
attractive grounds

Starting School

It is Devon LEA's policy for there to be two admission points during the year. The school has also adopted a pre-school policy, admitting the children the term prior to starting school full time.

Children born between 1st September and 28th (29th) February commence pre-school in the Summer term before they are five and full-time education in the Autumn term.

Children born between 1st March and 31st August commence pre-school in the Autumn term before they are five and full-time education in the Spring term.

All pre-school sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

Parental preference is agreed wherever possible. Where demand exceeds available places, preference is given to those who live nearest to the area served by the School and to those whose older brothers and sisters will be attending the School at the beginning of the school year.

Extra-curricular Activities

Our children enjoy a wide range of extra-curricular activities, both after school and at lunch times. These include: Football, Choir, German, Recorders, Art, Netball, Environmental Studies, Dance and ICT. A variety of visits are organised, throughout the year, to enhance the children's learning. Residentials are arranged for the pupils in years four and six, providing the opportunity for pupils to take part in a spectrum of outdoors activities such as rock-climbing, abseiling, orienteering, walking and problem solving.

Insurance

Children are insured against injuries caused by building defects and accidents which occur as the result of negligence by a member of the Authority's teaching and non-teaching staff.

Children attending the Authority's schools are not insured against personal injury or accident while on educational premises or taking part in recognised activities outside the school.

The council expects all employees, pupils and students to accept full responsibility for their personal possessions, including money, and to consider taking out insurance themselves to cover risks.

Homework

We feel that, at primary age, much of the children's time out of school should be their own time in which to pursue their own interests, hobbies and play. However, we feel that by setting regular homework we are helping to develop an effective partnership between school and parents/carers.

Through setting homework we aim to:

consolidate and reinforce skills and understanding, particularly in literacy and numeracy
exploit resources for learning, of all kinds, at home
extend school learning, for example, through additional reading
encourage pupils, as they get older, to develop the confidence and self-discipline needed to study on their own, and prepare them for the requirements of secondary school

Absences and Leave of Absence

Parents are asked to let us know the reasons for absences as soon as possible. A child's ill health or up to a two week family holiday are the only legally accepted reasons. If you plan to take your child out of school for a holiday, please complete a holiday form requesting permission and return this to the school before your holiday commences. However, if you have to take your child out of school for a holiday during term time please try to take this during the second half of the Summer Term.

Holidays during the Autumn Term are very much discouraged as the start of the school year is really the most important time of the year. Children are not legally allowed absences from school to look after sick relatives, or for shopping, hair appointments or any of the other things that might be done in their own time. For dental or clinic appointments, we ask that a telephone request or written request should be submitted in advance.

No child may leave the school premises between 8:55am and 3:20pm without the Headteacher's permission, with the exception of those children going home to dinner.

Effective Education for pupils of all abilities

All children are special. At sometime in their school life they may require support with their learning, because of emotional, academic or social needs. We recognise the importance of very close liaison with parents to ensure that their children's individual needs are met. In our last OFSTED report, provision for children with special needs was recognised as a particular strength. Our school has a dedicated and experienced Special Needs Co-ordinator who is responsible for identifying children with special needs, including those who are more able and talented.

Additional support may include:

specially designed learning programme (I.E.P.)
teaching in small groups or on a one-to-one basis
referral to outside agencies, with parental permission
different or more challenging work

Using these and other strategies, we endeavour to provide the most appropriate education possible.

Religious Education

The school follows the Devon Agreed Syllabus on Religious Education and Collective Worship. This ensures that the teaching of religion is wide ranging and that there is a balance between Christianity and other principal religions.

Children are encouraged to discuss and consider their own beliefs and are given the opportunity to share them in order to give lessons true meaning. It is a major aim of the school to promote tolerance and respect towards others and for different religious/cultural backgrounds.

To enrich and broaden children's experiences, the school:

invites speakers from different Christian denominations
visits local churches
has developed a resource of religious artefacts

All pupils participate in an act of Collective Worship which may be held in their classrooms or in the school hall.

If parents wish their child to be excused from either or both of these activities, requests should be made to the Headteacher.

On Fridays, during the Autumn and Spring terms, parents and carers are invited to come along to our class assemblies when the children share with us all their thoughts and the work they have been doing.

Assessment

Assessment of children is an on-going process. In addition to the teacher's assessment, children are encouraged to review their own progress and set their own targets. National Curriculum tests take place in Years 2 and 6 with optional testing in Years 3, 4 and 5.

Home and School

At Westcliff School, we believe that good communication between home and school is vital.

To achive this we:

send home regular newsletters
provide information on the curriculum each term
provide an annual report
arrange termly parent consultations
invite parents into school for class assemblies
arrange various evenings concerning the different curriculum areas

Parents are welcome to see their child's teacher or Headteacher at any mutually convenient time. It is advisable to make an appointment.

School Policies

All policy documents, governor's minutes, newsletters and the latest OFSTED report are available on request.

Home, School and the Community

Our school family includes children, parents, staff and governors, as well as many friends in the community and we are very fortunate that a large number of these people provide very valuable help with school activities.

We place great importance on links between home and school and we would like you to feel welcome at school at any time. A real partnership between children, parents and teachers is at the core of your child's education and it is essential that communications between us are open, honest and friendly.

We have a Friends of Westcliff School Association who support and extend relationships between parents, staff and others in the community. They co-ordinate a range of activities for both children and adults and enhance our children's learning with financial support.