A brief introduction to our school
Prospectus (2024-25) The Federation of Abbey Infant and Junior School.
BB6Y LENS October 2019 Vol 6: Issue No. Eleven Excellence Through Partnership
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Welcome
Guinness! World record holders.
At Abbey, children are at the heart of what we do. It’s the first line of our ‘mission statement’ and drives all of our work. We believe in learning that is real, purposeful and memorable. We strive for learning that connects, learning that impacts and learning that inspires our children and adults!
Have you got a paragraph of good news to share? Write in under 100 words, attach a picture and your story may be published. All submissions to office@abbey-jun.sandwell.sch.uk or office@abbey-inf.sandwell.sch.uk
www.abbeyfederation.co.uk
At the Federation of Abbey Infant and Junior Schools, we believe in learning that's real, purposeful, and memorable . Our " Creative Curriculum," " Abbey Bucket List, " " Abbey Soft Skills ," and " Abbey Life Skills" are designed to bring our c urriculum to life, inspire and engage our pupils , and provide e xciting teaching and learning opportunities with a purposeful outcome . Through our taught curriculum, additional experiences and parent workshops through the year, children will experience a curriculum full of memorable learning that reinforces their skills and knowledge. We also supplement our curriculum with educational visits and visitors and organise educational visits, residential visits, and memorable learning experiences throughout the year.
Curriculum belief
We believe that children should be actively engaged in their learning and be given the opportunity to take ownership of it , which is why at Abbey we work with our students to plan a curriculum based on their interests. To provide memorable learning opportunities, we have introduced the 'Abbey Bucket List' , comprised of experiences that your child will have if they journey with us from Nursery to Year Six.
In addition, by working closely with our parents, we have developed a 'Soft Skills' * menu, focusing on essential work skills s uch as decision-making, leadership, creativity, problem- solving, teamwork, responsibility and communication.
We also have a ' Life Skills' list which includes activities such as catching the bus, making an emergency call, performing basic first aid, making a hot drink, cooking, putting away clothes, brushing teeth, handwashing, road safety and wearing seatbelts. Our goal is to create a broad and balanced curriculum that inspires, motivates and caters to the needs of our community *Soft skills is a term often associated with a person's "EQ" (Emotional Intelligence Quotient), the cluster of personality traits, social graces, communication, language, personal habits, interpersonal skills, managing people, leadership, etc. that characterise relationships with other people.
At Abbey we believe that; 'Children must have access to a rich learning environment which provides them with the opportunities and conditions to flourish in all aspects of their development. It should provide balance across the areas of learning. Integral to this is an ethos which respects each child as an individual and which values children's efforts, interests and purposes as instrumental to successful learning' (EYFS Handbook) Using a balance of teacher-led activities and child-led/child-initiated activities , which we refer to as 'child-initiated learning' (CIL), we provide the children with opportunities that allow every child to reach their full potential. Our Early Years areas are a secure, enjoyable and caring educational environment where each and every child feels valued. We track the progress of every child, based on ongoing observation and assessment of learning and the three characteristics of effective learning. Our observations are stored occasionally in a 'learning journey' but much reduced electronic use so that staff are freed up to work directly with children. The areas that we observe and report on at the end of FS1 (nursery) and FS2 (reception) are the 'Prime Areas' and the 'Specific Areas’. The Prime areas of learning are; communication and language, physical development and personal, social and emotional development. The Prime Areas are seen as key areas of development that are needed to ensure progress in the Specific Areas. The 'Specific areas' are ; literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and expressive arts and design. We also make judgements about the children and how they present themselves as 'little learners'. Noting and observing how a child learns is referred to as 'Characteristics of learning', here we discover how a child plays and explores, participates in active learning and how they develop their thinking. Using the DfE's non-statutory guidance; 'Development Matters' and 'Early Years Outcomes' w e will work closely with every child and their family to ensure that they try and reach their full potential and their early learning goals at the end of FS2 (reception). Our Early Years Team works hard to ensure continuity between FS1 (Nursery) and FS2 (Reception) so that children can build on skills already developed and follow routines that flow with their needs. We establish an environment for them to feel safe and confident throughout their Early Years, in preparation for their future years in our school. Our Early Years Department will: • Provide a happy, caring, secure environment where children feel valued; • Build on what our children already know and can do and provide new and exciting experiences that challenge, develop and stimulate their thinking; • Provide a rich and stimulating and aesthetically pleasing learning environment that is committed to raising standards; • Develop parents as partners , parents are a child’s first educator we aim to ensure parents are involved in their child’s learning; • Promote s elf-esteem and independence through praise and celebration of achievements; • Ensure that no child is excluded or disadvantaged ; Early Years - Nursery & Reception
• Offer a structure for learning that has a range of starting points, matches the needs of all children and provides opportunity for learning both indoors and outdoors; • Deliver a curriculum that is responsive to their interests and supports, fosters and promotes children’s: - social skills; -attention skills, persistence and a positive attitude to learning; -language and communication; -mathematical skills; -knowledge and understanding of the world;
-physical development; -creative development. Which encompass the Early Learning Goals set out by the DFE.
In the early years, physical education is part of the daily early year’s curriculum and children take part in a range of fine and gross motor skills which are crucial to their development. There are planned PE sessions and children have access to a range of sports specialists.
Forest Schools in the Foundation Stage
At Abbey our Reception (FS2) children experience Forest Schools as part of their curriculum. Forest school, is not what the name suggests, it is not a school in a forest. Rather it is the application of a certain set of principles and way of working with people in an outdoor area. It is the ethos established by the practitioners and the use of the guiding principles which create a ‘forest school’. The principles of forest schools are: • Forest school is a long-term process of regular sessions rather than a one-off or infrequent visit; the cycle of planning, observation, adaptation and review links each session. • Forest school takes place in a woodland or natural environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world. • Forest school uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for being, development and learning. • Forest school aims to promote holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners. • Forest school offers learners the opportunity to t ake supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves. • Forest school is led by qualified Forest School practitioners who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice. Whilst we will teach various tool skills such as; using mallets, cutting tools, using saws and fire lighting, it is the behaviours and attitudes that are developed through the learning process which we believe are the most important. Children are given the opportunity to working collaboratively as a team, make choices, become a leader, communicate with others, practise fine and gross motor skills and most important and perhaps the most important of all, we have fun and make memories!
English
Talk 4 Writing:
School) as confident, fluent and able readers. We also have e-books matched to sounds for our early readers in Years Nursery to Year 3. All children practice their developing reading skills through daily phonics lessons (Infants), Talk 4 Writing, regular guided reading and individual reading scheme books (fully book banded beyond phonics). Each classroom has a dedicated reading area to encourage access to quality reading material and to promote a whole-school approach to the 'love of reading'. We have an extensive school library, which has recently been r e-fitted and re-stocked, used by confident readers in Key Stages 1 and 2. The process for borrowing books from the library, using an electronic record system, has been updated so that children and parents can browse the library stock, reserve books and review them all from home. We also have a committed group of reading volunteers who provide additional reading opportunities for some of our children. These volunteers are fully DBS checked and receive training on how to support children with their reading. If you would like to volunteer regularly in school, please talk to our team! We also have a dedicated Reading Shed in KS1 and a re-fitted reading bus in KS2.
At Abbey we use 'Talk for Writing' as our approach to teaching writing. Developed by Pie Corbett, this highly effective approach is based on the principles of how children learn to write. If a child cannot compose a piece of writing orally before they begin to write, then they will have a difficulty writing independently. So, the first stage of teaching children how to write is to ask children to imitate the key language they need for a particular topic orally before they try reading and analysing it. Over a three or four-week unit of 'Talk 4 Writing' the children participate in a range of activities that help them rehearse the tune of the language they need , followed by shared writing to show them how to craft their writing . Children are then supported to compose their own pieces. Children are given the opportunity to extend their writing and apply their knowledge and skills to cross curricular writing tasks. The 'Talk 4 Writing' approach is combined with 'Alan Peat's Sentence Types' and other grammar type activities to ensure that children are taught essential skills of grammar and punctuation. At Abbey we have created an agreed teaching schedule of these 'sentence types' which meet the needs of the English National Curriculum. Phonics We effectively use a s ynthetic and systematic approach to teaching Early Years and Key Stage One children phonics . We use the Department for Education's 'Letters and Sounds' schema (for the programme and progress), alongside 'Phonics Play' resources, to assist staff with teaching and learning and planning. This results in our young children quickly becoming confident readers. Children at our Nursery (FS1) learn Phase One of 'Letters and Sounds', identifying environmental and musical sounds, and learning how to identify individual sounds in words. For Reception (FS2), they are taught phases two to four, learning letter sounds, 'tricky words' and diagraphs/ trigraphs. More able pupils progress to phase five. At Year One, some children repeat phase four and most start phase five, learning spelling patterns, 'tricky words' and high frequency words. Year Two children are taught phase six, practising and applying their phonic knowledge. In 2024-25, children will have extra teaching in phonics to ensure they have completed the teaching in their phase.
Reading Scheme
Our reading scheme is fully matched to the sounds that children learn in their phonics lessons. Once they have secured all the sounds and become proficient readers, they use book banded books (matched to their reading age) throughout the school, which supports our approach to teaching reading. In our Early Years phase, we use a range of books across different series to help children decode words and read 'tricky words' taught in their phonics level. This is supplemented by books from other publishers to give a varied range of reading material. Our aim is that by the end of Key Stage 1 (Infant School), children are ready for Key Stage 2 (Junior
Mathematics
Our current federated mathematics team, has worked hard to ensure that staff use an agreed approach to 'maths methods' and use creative and practical ways to deliver mathematics lessons. The use of a ‘Mastery’ approach where all children are expected to articulate and explain their thinking runs through the whole federation. The introduction of ‘Power Maths’ across the whole school (Y1-Y6) has developed the ‘Mastery’ approach further. The school has embraced ‘Numicon' and other practical resources to provide a practical and visual understanding of early number. The use of practical resources throughout the whole school and using the NCTEM website have developed approaches to practical maths across the school.
Foundation Stage (Nursery and reception)
Early Years have a range of fun mathematics activities linked well to topic work. Through a balance of teacher-led and child-led learning, children experience a range of opportunities to learn about and play with numbers , ensuring that all children are on track to meet their Early Learning Goal' for number. Using the school’s strategies for transition, along with the recent publication ‘Bold Beginnings’ a more formal structure is adopted in the second half of the summer term to support pupils in their ‘school readiness’ and move to year 1.
Key Stages 1 (infants) and 2 (juniors)
Our maths leader is also an NCETM accredited lead practitioner has worked to develop our approach to a ‘mastery’ style of lesson. Within the maths structure, pupils have the opportunity to draw upon prior learning to make links from and to the new learning; use the rich language of mathematics along with different representations of the concepts being taught; discrete teaching of the mini-steps toward mastery and deepening reasoning opportunities within every lesson. Opportunities to explain, reason, justify, prove are common elements across key-stages one and two. Pupils use, bar- model, dienes, part-part whole, Numicon all support mastery of the subject. Times-tables are supported through the teaching of arrays before standard recall to allow joined up processing of known facts. Abbey subscribes to ‘Times Table Rockstars’ an on-line games-based system to promote learning at home with healthy, sensible (anonymous) competition. Alongside this is the powerful package ‘Conquer Maths’ that enables home-school learning.
Fluency sessions/Same Day Catch up
At Abbey we have fluency sessions across our schools whereby children practise recalling and using their number bonds and multiplication facts. Using a range of resources (Number Fun etc) children will play games and take part in engaging activities to practise key skills and concepts. Children have opportunity to ensure they have understood the mathematical concepts with further small group work during same day catch up.
The national curriculum at Abbey
opportunity to participate in a range of physical activities regardless of gender, ethnicity or ability. Targeted groups will have additional time to 'close the gap' in their physical development. The Physical Education Curriculum is developed at school and is designed to support the National Curriculum. Each year group has two hours of timetabled PE each week where they engage in a broad range of physical activity. Assessment of progress in PE is determined by the age-related expectations as set out in the National Curriculum. In the early years, physical education is part of the daily early year’s curriculum and children take part in a range of fine and gross motor skills which are crucial to their development. There are planned PE sessions and children have access to a range of sports specialists. In KS1 children have regular physical activities sessions. Each week there are dance and games lessons, each contributing to the two hours of timetabled PE provision. Year Four children also take part in swimming during the Autumn, Spring and Summer Term, with the aim that all children will be able to achieve their target of swimming 25 meters. The school has used a proportion of the PE Premium to deliver additional swimming so that more pupils meet the end of key-stage attainment target.
Science
Science is taught each term from Foundation Stage to Year Six. Using a progression map of skills and knowledge, teachers plan lessons that build on the children’s prior knowledge . Interactive exploration and investigation activities linked to the National Curriculum are used to ensure all children achieve a successful outcome. Practical experience is encouraged to support ‘working scientifically’ and the teaching of key skills. Children are encouraged to be independent and collaborative scientific investigators and in KS2, to design their own experiments. Through observation, exploration, asking questions and evaluating evidence, pupils use reference materials to find out more and c ommunicate their ideas using scientific language, drawings, charts and tables.
Computing
Children at Abbey have a range of computing experiences. We have been successful in attaining the ICT Quality Mark which recognises the range of opportunities that the children have in our school. Our computing lessons are linked to Purple Mash & NCEE schema Ours is a progressive computing curriculum which meets the requirements of the National Curriculum. Children are taught computing skills that they can apply to other subjects across the curriculum. Essential updates to our hardware and software are regularly completed in order for us to teach the national curriculum. The children now have access to network PC, tablets, Netbooks, Chromebooks and, a range of electronic equipment, I-Pads, educational programmes and a wide range of apps and learning platforms such as Education City, Purple Mash, Charanga, 2 Simple etc. E-safety is systematically taught.
We ask that no jewellery is worn whilst remaining culturally sensitive.
French in KS2 There are a number of opportunities that teaching a modern foreign language presents and these include: • Embedding languages into an innovative approach to the curriculum; relating to an outcome such as a Foreign Food market for instance, or connecting languages to topics • Using language study to connect learning to other cultures, Geography and the SCMS agenda • Working with specialists and partners in the area of languages Religious Education We follow the Sandwell Agreed Syllabus for R.E teaching across the school. This syllabus was published by The Local Authority and The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE). All pupils on the school roll are entitled to receive Religious Education, this includes pupils in the reception year of the Early Years Foundation Stage to Year 6. At Abbey we believe that Religious Education is an essential component of a broad and balanced education and is a focal point in the curriculum for work on SMSC and British Values. It enables the growth of religious literacy, essential for life in modern Britain and the wider world.
Physical Education
The school is committed to promoting the health and well-being of its pupils and staff through physical activity. Through the philosophy of 'head, heart and hands' we provide high quality physical education which inspires all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically demanding activities. PE at Abbey provides opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way that supports their health and fitness. Opportunities to compete in sport and other activities build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect. Physical activity develops our children technically, physically, psychologically and socially. It also promotes positive attitudes towards a healthy lifestyle enabling our children to make informed choices about physical activity throughout their life. All physical activity opportunities offered at Abbey Infant and Abbey Junior Schools are designed to be inclusive, and cater for different ability levels. All children will be given the
A creative curriculum Our ‘Creative Curriculum’ encompasses a knowledge & skills-based approach to learning through Geography, History, Art and Design Technology a whilst consolidating core areas. Underpinning the combination of skills and knowledge is also the over-arching aims of each subject’s National Curricular aims, for example, in History: • know and understand the history of these islands as a coherent, chronological narrative, from the earliest times to the present day: how people’s lives have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world • know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world: the nature of ancient civilisations; the expansion and dissolution of empires; characteristic features of past non- European societies; achievements and follies of mankind • gain and deploy a historically grounded understanding of abstract terms such as ‘empire’, ‘civilisation’, ‘parliament’ and ‘peasantry’ • understand historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance, and use them to make connections, draw contrasts, analyse trends, frame historically-valid questions and create their own structured accounts, including written narratives and analyses • understand the methods of historical enquiry, including how evidence is used rigorously to make historical claims, and discern how and why contrasting arguments and interpretations of the past have been constructed • gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different contexts, understanding the connections between local, regional, national and international history; between cultural, economic, military, political, religious and social history; and between short- and long-term timescales. Subjects such as Geography, History, Music, Art and Design, Design and Technology and Computing are taught through a creative, purposeful and skills & knowledge based approach to learning. Each year group plans for each subject area and may use topics or projects to ensure National Curriculum coverage. Using Knowledge Grids at the start of each lesson the teacher will consider prior and future learning, this method of teaching ensuring that there is good subject progression from EYFS to Year 6. Within each topic – each National Curriculum subject has a discrete and clear place that pupils understand well. Parents are given information about each subject area, the topics covered, the skills taught and the learning experiences through a termly 'Curriculum Information Leaflet'. This is also uploaded to the website and the class pages. Topics or projects may begin with a fun, engaging or memorable experience (a ‘hook') which leads to a 'real and purposeful' outcome. Memorable experiences are provided at the start of a topic to engage and inspire the children, this may be an in-school activity, visitors or an educational visit. Events may include exhibitions, school productions, a local theatre performance, class activity, or a product to be marketed, shared with parents, staff, governors and the wider community.
Wellbeing; Spiritual, Moral, social and cultural learning; British Values At Abbey we recognise the 'golden thread' that links all of our learning comes in the form of values and respect for each other. Essential life skills, values and emotion work is done through our half termly wellbeing themes, British Values work and Social, Spiritual, Moral and Cultural Learning. From looking at 'relationships', ‘managing emotions’, taking care of our physical and mental health, to dealing with 'bullying' the children have weekly wellbeing lessons and half termly assemblies which address these issues and importantly look at how we deal with the issues in a practical way. We take the 'Let's Start STOP' approach to anti bullying; the analogy S.T.O.P helps us identify what bullying is; Several Times on Purpose and it helps empower us to do something about it; Start Telling Other People. Abbey’s wellbeing curriculum includes important aspects of positive self-image and mental health/well-being. Children are taught essential life skills on how to manage their wellbeing and health through breathing techniques, yoga and mindfulness activities. Our work on British Values looks at how we can actively promote the 'values' of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, through our everyday teaching and experiences with the children. We regularly promote these values through our own school values, curriculum and wide range of enrichment activities. We focus on: • an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process; • an appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their wellbeing and safety; • an understanding that there is a separation of power between the executive and the judiciary, and that while some public bodies such as the police and the army can be held to account through Parliament, others such as the courts maintain independence; • an understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law; • an acceptance that other people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour; and • an understanding of the importance of identifying and combating discrimination.
T eaching about relationships is done through the wider curriculum, our wellbeing programme and assemblies. From EYFS up to Year 6 we consider; what is a friend? How can you be a good friend? What does a healthy relationship look like? How can we manage difficult relationships? How can we promote kindness, honesty, humility, generosity consideration and respect? • Wellbeing assemblies (PSHE and SMSC) across the school help children to make informed decisions about their wellbeing (physical health and mental health) and relationships. These provide essential life skills, develop resilience and know who to turn to for help. • Good RE teaching ensures that children have an understanding and respect for different faiths and develop a social, moral, cultural awareness. • On Line Safety education provide children with about appropriate behaviour and conduct online, how to keep themselves and their personal information safe. Children are made aware of CEOP and who they can turn to for help. • Gender equality teaching throughout the school (which challenges perceived limits on pupils based on their gender or any other characteristic). Ensure that males and females are respectful to each other and foster a health and respectful peer to peer communication and behaviour between girls and boys. Use the policy Sexual Violence and Harassment Between Children In Schools and Colleges for advice. • Staff play a role in modelling positive behaviour. There is a culture where homophobia and gender stereotypes are not tolerated and any occurrences are identified and tackled. • Through our assembly schedule we provide information and education about a range of global and domestics issues including: Anti-Bullying, Black History Month, Holocaust Memorial Day and International Women’s Day, Neurodiversity, E-safety etc). • Sensitive teaching about families and how families of many forms provide a nurturing environment for children. • UNICEF – ‘the rights of the child’ and NSPCC safeguarding assemblies to ensure that children reflect on their rights, consider the relationships around them and recognise abuse. Children are encouraged to speak to a trusted adult or Safeguarding Champion if things are difficult for them. • Transition from Year 6 to 7 to support pupils ongoing emotional and physical development (see RAISE programme, transition assemblies and meetings). Health Education Each Year group across the school works in partnership with the School Nurse team to deliver lessons which promote health education. • The topics covered range from lessons on hand washing, basic hygiene and dental hygiene, to puberty, sexual relationships and transition. Relationships education
• Science teaching covers, subject related content i.e. external body parts, the human body as it grows from birth to old age (including puberty) and reproduction in some plants and animals. • Wellbeing assemblies provide information on ‘healthy bodies’ with a focus on personal hygiene (using the toilet, washing hands, brushing hair, dental hygiene etc). Sex Education Teachers and local health professionals (School Nurse Team) work together to plan a relationship an age appropriate sex education programme. • Children in Year 4 consider the importance of consent (relationships) • Children in 5 receive a lesson on puberty (Health) • Children in Year 6 receive a lesson about sexual relationships. • Parents are provided with information about the RSE sessions and have the right to withdraw pupils from sex education but not relationships or health education. Good practice would be the head teacher discussion with parents the benefits of receiving this important education and any detrimental effects that the withdrawal may have on the child. • Brook Advisory and the NSPCC are used by the inclusion team to provide information about ‘healthy sexual behaviour’. These links including NSPCC PANTS provide advice to children and parents. • The Brook Advisory have produced a Sexual Behaviours Traffic Light Tool which supports professionals working with children by helping them to identify and respond appropriately to sexual behaviours. • We have worked to develop a programme will include information about the following: 1. Relationships 2. Puberty 3. How babies are made and born 4. Growing up These sessions are to be delivered in single sex groups for year 6 pupils and content is age appropriate for pupils. Parents are provided with information and leaflets about the sessions.
Educational visits
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The children are given the opportunity to experience a wide range of educational visits and have visitors in school throughout every school year, from Nursery (FS1) to Year 6. The staff work hard to select carefully chosen and purposeful experiences to supplement teaching and learning. These events support year group topics and teaching and most importantly provide the children with first-hand experiences that a child may not necessarily have had. Whether this be to visit the Severn Valley Railway, the beach, visit a farm or the Houses of Parliament or participate in adventurous sports, there is lots on offer at Abbey. In addition to this the children are given three opportunities throughout their time at Abbey to participate in a residential experience . I n Year 2 , the children can visit the Frank Chapman Outdoor Education Centre, in Bewdley Worcestershire, participating in outdoor activities and staying for two nights. For many children this is their first stay away from home; they have so much fun and come back with so many memories. In Year 4 the children may like to go to the Edgmond Hall Centre for Outdoor Learning. Edgmond Hall is a converted Georgian farm in rural Shropshire, owned and run by Sandwell Council, where the children have the opportunity to stay for four nights. Finally, i n Year 6, a visit to Plas Gwynant in Snowdonia, Wales, may be an option for children, where they will experience a range of outdoor pursuits including canoeing, kayaking, climbing, and hill walking. Visit our class page; https:// www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/plas-gwynant-2019/ All educational experiences (except residential which are charged per place) require a voluntary contribution from parents - but but child is ever excluded on the basis of cost. We are mindful of the cost to parents so we have reduced the number of external visits following consultation; we have also brought in workshops that can provide cost-effective inspirational learning.
Outdoor adventure! Year 6 residential trip.
CHALLENGE YOURSELF The first week of November saw Year 6 pupils away from home for the week, staying in North Wales. Plas Gwynant is at the heart of outdoor education and adventure in the Snowdonia National Park, North Wales. Based at the foot of the highest peak in Wales, the centre combines the power and magic of the natural environment with the challenge of adventurous activities to inspire young people; helping them to recognise what they are capable of achieving.
Have you got a paragraph of good news to share? Write in under 100 words, attach a picture and your story may be published. All submissions to office@abbey-jun.sandwell.sch.uk or office@abbey-inf.sandwell.sch.uk
www.abbeyfederation.co.uk
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Back at Edgmond! Residential
YEAR 4 AWAY The week after the holiday, some of Year 4 went on a really exciting trip to Edgmond Hall. It was both fantastic and fun. We had a mind-blowing week where we did a variety of activities including: team building games, archery, fencing, zip wire, blind sensory walk, fire breathing dragons and a night walk in the pitch black with our torches. Happily, we got to meet the cute and cuddly goats, rabbits and guinea pigs. We even got to feed the chickens (the brave ones fed the scary Big Bertha!). Whilst we were there, we were fed delicious food; amazing pizza and a fabulous roast dinner. We got to sleep with our friends in dormitories and that was so cool! We had a camp fire which was a blast! We sang loads of songs together, our favourite was Lady Gaga and her shiny bra! We had the best time ever! We wish we could go back again.
Thanks to Miss Stocking, Clara, Hannah, Alice and Jia (4S) for the story.
https://abbey-federation.secure- primarysite.net/edgmond-hall-2020/
Have you got a paragraph of good news to share? Write in under 100 words, attach a picture and your story may be published. All submissions to office@abbey-jun.sandwell.sch.uk or office@abbey-inf.sandwell.sch.uk
www.abbeyfederation.co.uk
After school clubs Extra-curricular activities at Abbey Schools have excellent attendance with most clubs selling out all of their available places and some having a long reserve list. This highlights the impact of PE and school sport as children are keen to continue engaging in physical activity in their own free time. This is a positive behavioural change as it contributes to the healthy active lifestyle that Abbey Schools promote. Abbey offers a broad and varied range of after school clubs, delivered by external providers, such as football, girls’ football, dance, multi sports, gymnastics, or athletics, art & craft, dodgeballl and choir. We encourage all pupils to take part in a range clubs and involve them in deciding the clubs we put on offer. Registers of clubs are kept to identify those who do and do not take part in regular extra exercise. We try to rotate and update the range of clubs and are always looking out for reliable providers. Music tuition We offer additional music lessons to pupils using a range of expert peripatetic staff. There is an additional cost for these lessons as set out in our Charging and Remissions policy.
Instruments include : Guitar, Violin, Drums, Keyboard. A ll pupils have the opportunity to learn tuned and un-tuned percussion; recorders are taught as whole class instruments in KS2.
Friends of Abbey PTA Coming together for education and fun, this is where our school builds a great partnership. There are regular opportunities for the school to be part of family life and the community and we hope that you will embrace this through attending; performances, presentations, parent workshops, exhibitions, educational visits, sporting events and competitions, links with the local community (Library and Warley Woods), events held in local buildings (the church, temple, mosque or theatre). Contributing to parent surveys which develop and shape our practice. Our Friends of Abbey events include events such as: the Christmas Fayre, Easter Eggstravaganza and the Summer Fayre, Fashion Shows, Family Fun Days and Family Quiz Night. There is so much going on and something for everyone so please check out our website calendar and diary with dates of all the event to keep you informed and engaged. https:// www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/diary/grid/2020/07/
Excellence through partnership
Working together, communicating together
We strive to build strong relationships with our carers and parents, knowing that our children will reach excellence when s chool and home are working together. Our school motto, 'Excellence through Partnership', reflects our commitment to families and motivates us to improve our communication with them. Every week we publish T he Abbey Lens newsletter , which celebrates the good news from our school and is distributed both electronically and in paper form. We also encourage our students and parents to submit news, photos, and stories to share with our 650+ families. Our website (http://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/) is regularly updated with events and information for each year group. The calendar page is visited 28,000 times in an average year, averaging 700 hits per week over term-time. T his diary can be synced to your smartphone , so you won't miss any school events!
We offer parents 'Schoolcomms', which provides email correspondence.
We also have ‘Parentpay’, an online and cashless payment system, and ‘Medical Tracker’, a notification tool which emails parents when their child receives first aid or medicine in school. Throughout the year, we also ask for parent feedback through online surveys, which have seen a high response rate and help us in our ongoing school development. Furthermore, parents select each day’s menu for lunch time so that children are guaranteed to get their first choice; this reduces waste and increases uptake,
We are now a completely ‘cashless’ school. More information can be found at: https://www.parentpay.com/schools/customer/primary
Find out about our school
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Our website is a key gateway for information about our school. There are some examples below.
Hello! 6th Year of our Abbey Lens
Abbey’s curriculum pages http://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/parent-guide-to-the-national-curriculum/
Abbey’s Phonics pages http://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/phonics-for-parents/
MEET THE STAFF Fun, short videos that introduce some of our staff. http://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/whos- who/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS Planned out for the year, including a link to add the dates to your smart device. http://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/diary/ grid/2017/09/ OUR CURRICULUM A detailed guide to the national curriculum and how we tailor it for our children. http://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/parent- guide-to-the-national-curriculum/ KIDS’ ZONE Educational based games that change every month supporting many areas of the curriculum http://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/special/ kidszone/ CLASS PAGES Year group pages and lots of great events that our children have taken part in. http://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/topic/ class-pages ON-LINE SAFETY Advice and guidance for parents on keeping our children safe in the ever growing technological world. http://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/useful- links/
Abbey’s handwriting (at the bottom of the YR page) http://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/reception/
Abbey’s Maths Methods https://abbey-federation.primarysite.media
http://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/maths-methods/
Abbey’s British values http://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/british-values/
Abbey’s home-school learning http://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/home-school-e-learning/
Abbey’s School council http://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/school-council/
Commercial website that has many useful reference guides https://www.theschoolrun.com
Abbey’s Class pages https://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/topic/class-pages
Abbey’s Safeguarding information https://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/safeguarding/
Abbey’s On-line safety information https://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/on-line-safety-information/
Abbey’s Special needs information https://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/sen-inclusion/
Abbey’s DFE Publishing requirements https://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/how-is-the-abbey-website-compliant-with-dfe-requir/
Have you got a paragraph of good news to share? Write in under 100 words, attach a picture and your story may be published.
www.abbeyfederation.co.uk All submissions to office@abbey-
jun.sandwell.sch.uk or office@abbey-inf.sandwell.sch.uk
Times and uniform Nursery morning 8.30-11.30 Nursery afternoon 12.20-3.20 (if running) Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 (Infants) 8.40am - gates open for flexible drop off 8.50am - start of the school day
10.45am - playtime 12.00pm - lunchtime 1pm - start of the afternoon 3.15pm - end of school
Year 3-6 (Juniors) .40am - gates open for flexible drop off 8.50am - start of the school day 10.25am - playtime for Years 3 & 4 10.45am playtime for Years 5 & 6 11.45am- 12.45pm - Lunchtime for Years 3 & 4 12pm- 1pm Lunchtime for Years 5 & 6 3.25pm - end of school
The following is our school uniform. Most items are available from an on-line shop https:// ais.ace-online.co.uk/catalogue . We do not insist on purchases from this store and comparable colours from the high-street are equally acceptable.
Grey or black trousers/skirt/shorts (summer); White polo shirts; Royal sweatshirt or cardigan; Blue and white gingham dress; Black school shoes; PE kit royal blue shorts and white round neck t-shirts.
Abbey Playden
Before and after school provision for families
Abbey Playden has been developed in order to provide the children and parents of Abbey Junior School, Abbey Infant School and Abbey Nursery with quality out of hours childcare provision. Based on the schools’ caring ethos of excellence and inclusion for all, Abbey Playden provides a safe, stimulating environment for children to share, play and learn. By making use of the junior school’s wide range of facilities, including IT suites, dining hall, library, indoor and outdoor sports equipment and the ‘house’, children have the opportunity to explore numerous activities. A team of Playworkers and Early Years Workers are employed together with catering support from the school’s own superb kitchen, to provide peace of mind for parents and quality care and support for children.
Abbey Playden offers the type of all round quality childcare that only a school can provide.
Abbey Playden
Breakfast Club - 7.30am - 9.00am After School Club - 3.15pm - 5.30pm
£5.50 per session* £9.50 per session*
Abbey Junior School Barclay Road Smethwick B67 5LT Bookings are made electronically by parents using the Parentpay App: Queries and enquiries via email to; abbeyplayden@abbey-jun.sandwell.sch.uk
Payment can be made by childcare vouchers or on Parentpay. The application pack can be found on our website https://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/abbey-playden/
Additionally there is a holiday play-scheme service for most term breaks. Parents can use the Government tax-free childcare account to pay fees.
* Prices do not include any potential pay award from local government and are subject to change.
Other useful information
ParentPay: We are a ‘Cashless’ school. All payments need to be made through ParentPay which is our e-payment method. This can be done using a very secure website or in cash at local stores where you see the PayPoint logo. We do not have the facilities to collect payments by cash or cheque. Approximately 97% of our parents have now registered with ParentPay and are successfully using this as their preferred method of payment. If you would like any assistance in activating your ParentPay account please contact either of the school offices. More information about ParentPay can be found on their website: https://www.parentpay.com/schools/customers/primary/ Term Time Leave of Absence: The Head Teacher will not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Therefore, should you decide to take your child out of school for holidays or any other reason during term-time, this will be recorded as an ‘Unauthorised Absence’ and your child’s overall attendance figure will be affected. A list of school holidays and Inset days is available on the school website for your information. If you still decide to take your child out of school during term time you will need to complete a ‘Leave of Absence Request Form’. This can be collected from the school offices and is also available on the school website. Please note that if you choose to print the form from the school website yourself, this has to be printed in colour. Child Absence: If your child is unable to attend school you are requested to call the school office by 8.50am to notify us that your child will be absent. There is an option to leave a message on our pupil absence line before the office opens at 8.30am. If you do not inform the office of an absence, you will receive a courtesy call from us as part of our welfare checks. We request that medial appointments are made out of school hours wherever possible. Where this is not possible, evidence of the appointment will be required. School Meals, free school meals in KS2, milk for under 5’s: Dinner money at the junior school is £2.73 per day – £13.65 per week. Please make sure you have added your child to your ParentPay account if your child has transferred from the infant school to the junior school. Parents are requested to pre-book their meal choice (on ParentPay) and pay at the point of booking. Please ensure you have sufficient funds on your dinner money account within ParentPay to enable them to choose a school meal. Dinners have to be paid for in advance, before any meals are taken. A menu is available on the school website to give you an idea of the food available to your child at lunchtimes. There is no cost for dinners for the infant children due to the introduction of the universal free school meals scheme which started on 1st September 2014. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/info/200151/education_benefits/2176/free_school_meals Your child will be automatically registered for free milk, if under 5 years old. Once your child is 5 then parents must register themselves at the link below https://www.coolmilk.com/parents/
Other useful information
Schoolcomms. Please remember to ensure that we have your most up to date email address and contact numbers as all correspondence is sent via Schoolcomms, our electronic mailing system. This will also ensure that we will be able to contact you in the event of an emergency. We endeavour to be a ‘Paperless school’ where possible with all communication being sent via email. If you do not have an email address you will receive hard copies of correspondence. Collection of children. All children are collected from the 2 x playgrounds at the end of the school day. Please be mindful of coats in the event of poor weather. But additionally: Juniors: If you wish your Y6 child to leave the site unaccompanied at the end of the school day - would require email/written consent. This can be done via email to the school office. We do not allow younger children to leave site unaccompanied. The school children will not be released to anyone different coming to collect them unless the teacher or the school office has been informed beforehand and this information can then be passed on to the teacher. Please ensure that you collect your child on time. All staff have after-school commitments for planning, marking and curriculum meetings. Lateness can cause inconvenience. Site. We would like to remind you that the whole of our site, inside school, the playground and surrounding grounds, is a ‘chewing gum free zone’ and a ‘no smoking / vaping zone’. Junior Break-Time. All children in YR, Y1 and Y2 receive free fruit at break time as part of a Government scheme. Juniors can bring a healthy and proportionately sized snack. PE Kits / Earrings. Children are allowed to wear one set of stud earrings. These should be removed for PE and any other physical activity, if your child cannot take out their own earrings please make sure that you remove them on the day they have PE etc. Please note that staff are not allowed to remove earrings and children are not allowed to do PE with them in. Please ensure your child has their full PE Kit with them in school at all times as we are unable to loan spare PE Kits due to Health and Safety. This should comprise of a white t-shirt, royal blue shorts and black pumps all labelled in a PE bag. Full PE kits can be purchased from Ace Embroidery - see the Uniform page. Water bottles and swimming caps can also be purchased through your ParentPay account. After making your purchase, items will be sent home with your child the following day. A price list is also on the school website for your information.
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