A brief introduction to our school
Prospectus (2025-26)
The Federation of Abbey Infant and Junior School
Welcome
At Abbey, children are at the heart of everything we do. This guiding principle is the foundation of our mission statement and inspires all aspects of our work. We believe in learning that is real, purposeful, and memorable. Our aim is to create experiences that connect, make a lasting impact, and ignite inspiration—both in our children and in the adults who support them.
At the Federation of Abbey Infant and Junior Schools, we believe learning should be real, purposeful, and unforgettable. Our unique approach—through the Creative Curriculum, Abbey Bucket List, Abbey Soft Skills, and Abbey Life Skills— brings learning to life, sparking curiosity and inspiring every child. These initiatives provide engaging opportunities that lead to meaningful outcomes. Throughout the year, children benefit from a rich blend of classroom teaching, hands-on experiences, and parent workshops, all designed to deepen knowledge and build lasting skills. We also enhance our curriculum with a wide range of educational visits, guest speakers, and residential trips— ensuring every child enjoys memorable, impactful learning beyond the classroom.
Curriculum Belief At Abbey, we believe children learn best when they are actively involved and take ownership of their learning. That’s why we work closely with our pupils to shape a curriculum that reflects their interests and passions. To make learning truly unforgettable, we’ve created the Abbey Bucket List—a carefully curated collection of enriching experiences that every child will enjoy during their journey with us from Nursery to Year Six. At Abbey, we work in partnership with parents to develop the whole child—not just academically, but personally and socially. Together, we've created a Soft Skills programme that focuses on essential workplace and life-ready skills such as decision- making, leadership, creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, responsibility, and communication. These skills—often linked to emotional intelligence—help children build confidence and thrive in real-world situations. Alongside this, our Life Skills list equips pupils with practical, everyday knowledge. Children learn how to catch a bus, make an emergency call, perform basic first aid, make a hot drink, cook simple meals, put away clothes, brush their teeth, wash their hands properly, and stay safe on the road, including wearing seatbelts. Our aim is to deliver a broad, balanced curriculum that motivates, empowers, and reflects the real needs of our community.
Early Years - Nursery & Reception
Early Years at Abbey: A Foundation for Flourishing
What Our Early Years Provision Offers
At Abbey, we believe that every child deserves a rich, balanced learning environment—one that nurtures growth across all areas of development. Guided by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) principles, we provide a setting where children feel valued, respected, and inspired to learn. As the EYFS Handbook states:"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."We achieve this through a thoughtful blend of teacher-led and child-initiated learning (CIL), where children are encouraged to explore their interests, take the lead, and reach their full potential. Our Early Years classrooms are welcoming, caring, and secure spaces that foster a strong sense of belonging. How We Support Learning We carefully track each child’s progress through ongoing observations, focusing on the three characteristics of effective learning: • Playing and exploring • Active learning • Creating and thinking critically While we record key moments in a child's 'Learning Journey', we intentionally reduce screen time for staff to prioritise real, meaningful interactions. Areas of Learning and Assessment We assess children in both the Prime Areas—communication and language, physical development, and personal, social and emotional development—and the Specific Areas— literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design. We also observe how each child learns, known as the Characteristics of Learning, which help us understand their approach to play, engagement, and problem-solving. Using the DfE’s guidance (Development Matters and Early Years Outcomes), we work closely with families to help every child work toward their Early Learning Goals by the end of FS2 (Reception). Continuity and Care Our Early Years team ensures seamless progression from FS1 (Nursery) to FS2 (Reception), building on prior skills while adapting routines to meet the evolving needs of each child. We provide a safe, consistent, and nurturing environment that sets the foundation for success throughout their school journey.
We aim to: • Provide a happy, caring, and inclusive environment where children feel secure and valued. • Build on what children already know, while offering new experiences that challenge and inspire. • Create visually stimulating spaces that encourage curiosity and high standards. • Involve parents as partners in their child’s learning journey. • Celebrate achievements to build self-esteem and independence. • Promote equality, ensuring no child is excluded or disadvantaged. • Offer indoor and outdoor learning tailored to each child’s starting point and interests. • Deliver a curriculum that nurtures social skills, persistence, communication, mathematical thinking, creativity, and physical development—all aligned with the Early Learning Goals. Physical Development and PE Physical education is woven into daily life in the Early Years. Children engage in a wide range of fine and gross motor activities, including planned PE sessions and work with specialist coaches to support their physical growth and coordination. Forest School in Reception (FS2) Our Reception children take part in Forest School sessions—a unique, long-term approach to outdoor learning that develops confidence, independence, and a deep connection to the natural world. Led by trained Forest School practitioners, these sessions follow key principles: • Regular, ongoing sessions rather than one-off visits • Immersion in natural environments • Learner-led exploration and community building • Focus on holistic development • Supported risk-taking • Reflection and continuous improvement by practitioners While children learn practical skills—such as using mallets, cutting tools, saws, and lighting fires — the most valuable outcomes are the behaviours and attitudes they develop. Forest School helps children work as a team, lead and communicate effectively, refine motor skills, and most
English
• Nursery to Year 3: Pupils also have access to e-books that correspond with their phonics stage, making it easier to practise at home. • By the end of Key Stage 1: Our goal is for every child to become a confident, fluent reader, ready to succeed in Key Stage 2. Children’s reading development is supported through: • Daily phonics (Infants) • Talk for Writing activities • Guided reading groups • Individual reading with fully book-banded texts • Access to engaging reading corners in every classroom Fostering a Love of Reading Our whole-school commitment to reading is evident in the environment we create. Each classroom features a dedicated reading area, and our newly renovated library offers an extensive collection of books for confident readers across Key Stages 1 and 2. The library uses an electronic borrowing system, allowing children and families to browse, reserve, and review books from home. We are also proud of our team of trained, DBS-checked reading volunteers who support children with one-to-one reading. If you’re interested in joining this team and making a difference, please speak to our staff—we’d love to welcome you.
Teaching Writing at Abbey: Talk for Writing
At Abbey, we use Talk for Writing, a powerful and proven approach developed by Pie Corbett. This method is rooted in the principle that children must be able to say what they want to write before putting pen to paper. If a child can’t articulate their ideas aloud, they’re likely to struggle when writing independently. Each Talk for Writing unit spans three to four weeks and follows a structured process: 1. Imitation – Children orally learn and internalise the key language structures of a model text. 2. Innovation – With support, they adapt the model, learning how to shape and structure their own writing through shared writing sessions. 3. Invention – Finally, pupils independently create their own pieces, applying what they've learned. To deepen their understanding, pupils apply their writing skills across the curriculum. This not only reinforces learning but helps children see writing as a purposeful tool in all areas of life.We also integrate Alan Peat’s Sentence Types and targeted grammar activities to ensure children develop the skills of punctuation, sentence structure, and syntax. Our staff follow a carefully mapped progression that aligns with the National Curriculum to introduce sentence types in a clear, age-appropriate sequence. Phonics at Abbey Our phonics teaching is systematic and highly effective. We follow the Department for Education’s Letters and Sounds programme alongside resources from Phonics Play to structure lessons, support planning, and ensure consistency across Early Years and Key Stage One. • Nursery (FS1): Children focus on Phase One, learning to distinguish between sounds in the environment, music, and speech. • Reception (FS2): Pupils move through Phases Two to Four, learning individual letter sounds, ‘tricky words’, digraphs, and trigraphs. More able children progress into Phase Five. • Year One: Most pupils work on Phase Five, exploring spelling patterns and high-frequency words, while others consolidate Phase Four. • Year Two: Children learn Phase Six, applying phonic knowledge to spelling and reading with fluency. To ensure all pupils stay on track, extra phonics sessions are provided throughout for any child needing further support. Reading at Abbey Our reading scheme is fully aligned with the phonics phases children are learning. In the Early Years, children are given books that match their current phonics knowledge, helping them practise decoding words and recognise ‘tricky words’. As fluency grows, children move onto book-banded texts appropriate for their reading level.
Mathematics
Mathematics at Abbey
Our maths lead, an NCETM-accredited Mastery Specialist, has guided the development of our maths teaching across the federation. Lessons follow a carefully structured sequence that includes: • Reviewing prior knowledge to build connections to new learning • Exploring concepts with visual and practical models • Teaching small, sequenced steps towards mastery • Embedding opportunities to reason, justify, and prove thinking Children use resources like bar models, Numicon, dienes, and arrays to help them visualise and internalise maths concepts. Times tables are introduced through structured visuals and patterns before focusing on speed and recall.
Our federated mathematics team has worked collaboratively to ensure a consistent and creative approach to teaching maths across our schools. Staff follow an agreed progression of mathematical methods, using hands-on and engaging strategies that make learning meaningful and accessible for all children. Central to our approach is the Mathematics Mastery philosophy. We believe that every child can succeed in maths when given the right support. Across the federation, children are encouraged to explain their thinking, reason logically, and articulate how they solve problems. This is embedded in every lesson, every day.
Power Maths: Mastery in Action
We have implemented the Power Maths scheme from Year 1 to Year 6. This approach deepens mathematical understanding by breaking down concepts into manageable steps, encouraging discussion, and using visual representations to secure learning. Power Maths supports our mastery model and helps all pupils develop a solid, lasting understanding of maths.
Practical Maths and Visual Tools
To support early number skills, we make extensive use of Numicon, a multi-sensory resource that builds children's number sense and confidence. Throughout the school, we use a wide range of practical tools—such as dienes, bar models, and part-part-whole models—to bring abstract concepts to life. We also draw on high-quality resources from the NCETM to support teaching and learning across all year groups.
Early Years Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception)
In the Early Years, mathematics is playful, purposeful and linked to topic themes. Through a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activities, children explore numbers in fun, engaging ways. Our goal is to ensure all children are on track to meet their Early Learning Goals for number and numerical patterns. In the summer term of Reception, we introduce a more structured approach—guided by the DfE’s Bold Beginnings report—to prepare pupils for the transition into Year 1 and formal learning. Key Stages 1 & 2: Developing Deeper Understanding
The National Curriculum at Abbey
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 communicate 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. 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 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.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.
A Creative Curriculum At Abbey, our Creative Curriculum offers a broad, balanced, and inspiring education that blends skills and knowledge across subjects such as Geography, History, Art and Design, and Design and Technology, while reinforcing core areas like English and Maths. Every subject is taught with clear purpose and progression, rooted in the National Curriculum. In History, for example, children explore the story of Britain from ancient times to the present day, gaining an understanding of how people’s lives have shaped our nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world. They learn about ancient civilisations, empires, and significant global developments, using key historical terms such as 'empire', 'civilisation', 'parliament', and 'peasantry' in context. Pupils examine historical concepts like continuity and change, cause and consequence, and significance. They also learn to ask thoughtful questions, analyse sources, evaluate evidence, and understand differing interpretations of the past. By placing their knowledge in local, national and global contexts, children build a well-rounded understanding of history across timescales and themes—cultural, political, religious, economic, military and social. Subjects including Geography, History, Music, Art and Design, Design and Technology, and Computing are delivered through themed topics or projects that ensure full National Curriculum coverage. Each year group plans these topics with subject-specific objectives in mind. Teachers use Knowledge Grids at the start of lessons to connect prior learning, introduce new content, and set up future learning, ensuring a smooth and structured journey from EYFS to Year 6. Each topic includes distinct and purposeful subject content, so pupils understand the relevance and focus of their learning. To spark curiosity and engagement, many topics begin with a ‘hook’—a memorable activity, visit, or visitor that introduces the theme. These engaging starts lead to real and purposeful outcomes such as exhibitions, theatre performances, school productions, enterprise projects, or community events where children showcase their learning to peers, parents, governors, and the wider community. Parents are kept informed through a termly Curriculum Information Leaflet, detailing the subjects covered, key skills being taught, and planned learning experiences. This information is also available on our school website and class pages, ensuring families remain involved and connected to their child’s learning. At Abbey, we are committed to providing a curriculum that is creative, relevant, and memorable—one that inspires our pupils and prepares them for the future.
Wellbeing; Spiritual, Moral, social and cultural learning; British Values
At Abbey, we believe that the golden thread running through all our learning is built on values, mutual respect, and emotional wellbeing. These foundations are woven into every aspect of school life through our half-termly wellbeing themes, British Values education, and Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural (SMSC) development. Children take part in weekly wellbeing lessons and half-termly assemblies that cover essential life skills—developing healthy relationships, managing emotions, looking after physical and mental health, and understanding how to respond to bullying. Our anti-bullying work follows the ‘Let’s Start STOP’ approach. The acronym S.T.O.P helps children recognise bullying: Several Times On Purpose, and empowers them to act: Start Telling Other People. Our wellbeing curriculum also supports children in building a positive self-image and learning how to manage their mental health. Techniques such as breathing exercises, mindfulness, and yoga are embedded into classroom routines to help children regulate emotions and develop healthy coping strategies. We actively promote British Values—democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of others—through our curriculum, school values, and enrichment opportunities. These are not just taught but lived out in daily school experiences. Pupils learn: • how democratic processes allow citizens to influence decisions • why living under the rule of law is essential for wellbeing and safety • the importance of a balanced power structure, including the independence of the judiciary • that freedom of belief is protected in law and should be respected • that differences in faiths or beliefs should be accepted, never discriminated against • and how to recognise and challenge all forms of discrimination At Abbey, we equip our children not just with knowledge, but with the character, empathy, and life skills they need to thrive as responsible and respectful members of society.
Teaching 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? • Each week we award a Kindness Cup in our praise assemblies to recognise children who show these qualities. • 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 Stonewall (LGBT), Anti-Bullying, Black History Month, Holocaust Memorial Day and International Women’s Day 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). Relationships education
• The topics covered range from lessons on hand washing, basic hygiene and dental hygiene, to puberty, sexual relationships and transition. • 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.
Health Education Each Year group across the school works in partnership with the School Nurse team to deliver lessons which promote health education.
Educational Visits
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, providing children with first- hand experiences they might not otherwise have. Whether it's visiting the Severn Valley Railway, the beach, a farm, the Houses of Parliament, or participating in adventurous sports, Abbey offers a wide range of activities.
Additionally, children at Abbey have three opportunities to participate in residential experiences:
Year 2: A visit to the Frank Chapman Outdoor Education Centre in Bewdley, Worcestershire, where they engage in outdoor activities and stay for two nights. For many, this is their first time away from home, and they return with wonderful memories. Year 4: A trip to the Edgmond Hall Centre for Outdoor Learning, a converted Georgian farm in rural Shropshire, owned and run by Sandwell Council. Here, children stay for four nights. Year 6: An adventure at Plas Gwynant in Snowdonia, Wales, where they can enjoy activities such as canoeing, kayaking, climbing, and hill walking. For more details, visit our class page: https://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/topic/class-pages All children will have the opportunity to attend at least one residential, most two and occasionally three. However, we prioritise allocation based on previous (non) attendance to make sure who want to go, get the opportunity.
The parallel curriculum at ‘home’ is still designed to provide as many opportunities as we can, for example, using the forest school area to develop outdoor learning skills.
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, cricket or athletics, Yo-chi, Young engineers, Wheelchair basketball 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. All 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.
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 school 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 The 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. This diary can be synced to your smartphone, so you won't miss any school events!
We offer parents 'Schoolcomms', which provides email correspondence. School could provides bookings for events.
We also have ‘Parentpay’, an online and cashless payment system, and ‘Medical Tracker’, a notification tool which emails parents when their child needs 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.
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
Our website is a key gateway for information about our school. There are some examples below.
Abbey’s curriculum pages https://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/page/?title=Curriculum&pid=10
Abbey’s Phonics pages https://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/page/?title=Parent+guide+to+phonics+and+early+reading&pid=371
Abbey’s Class Pages https://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/topic/class-pages
Abbey’s SEN and Inclusion https://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/page/?title=SEN+%26amp%3B+Inclusion&pid=39
Abbey’s School council https://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/news-and-events/blogs/school-council
Commercial website that has many useful reference guides https://www.theschoolrun.com
Abbey’s Forest School https://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/news-and-events/blogs/forest-school Abbey’s Safeguarding information https://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/key-information/policies/safeguarding Abbey’s Keeping Safe Online https://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/page/?title=Keeping+Safe+Online&pid=376
Abbey’s Calendar https://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/news-and-events/calendar
Abbey’s School Meals https://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/parents/school-meals
Abbey Playden - Before and After School Clubs https://www.abbeyfederation.co.uk/abbey-playden
Times and uniform
Nursery morning: 8.30-11.30 Nursery afternoon: 12.20-3.20
Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 (Infants) 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) 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
£6.00 per session* £10.50 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.
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. We carry out ‘safe and well’ home visits on (generally) day 4 of absence. 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. Children will be asked every morning their meal choice for that day. 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: Year 6 parents, if you wish for your child to leave the site unaccompanied at the end of the school day - would would require email/written consent. This can be done via email to the school office. 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.
All other school uniform can also be purchased through your ParentPay account. After
Special educational needs and medical needs
At the Federation of Abbey Infant and Junior School, we welcome everybody into our community. The staff, governors, pupils and parents work together to make Abbey a happy, welcoming place where children and adults can achieve to their full potential and develop as confident individuals. This means that equality of opportunity must be a reality for all our children. We make this a reality through the attention we pay to the different groups of children within our school family, providing a learning environment that enables all pupils to make the greatest possible progress and achieve to their full potential in a caring, supportive and fully inclusive environment. Our special education needs and disabilities (SEND) provision allows pupils with barriers to their learning, the opportunity to follow a curriculum specifically tailored to develop life skills and to give pupils self-confidence through their learning, enabling them to maximise their potential and to work independently.
Applying for school places
If you would like your child to attend our school, please see full details of our admission arrangements below.
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council - Admissions page
Applying for a reception school place
Useful Telephone numbers for your local school admission team 1.docx
Applying for a school place for Reception or Junior (Y3) for the forthcoming academic year
Weblink to Sandwell Admissions - also information for mid-year transfer
Mid-year transfer between school - LA site containing information about how to move schools mid--year
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