Our vision here at Baynards is “Be the best you can!”

We also adhere to a set of values which are:

• Honest
• Respect
• Fair
• Courage
• Happy
• Successful
• Kind
• Sensible

The staff and Governors of Baynards Primary School are committed to providing the best education possible for every child in their care.

Our aim is to provide an exciting integrated co-ordinated curriculum which is rich, varied, challenging and makes strong links between subject areas. The school sets statutory targets for pupil’s attainment. We see each child as an individual and are committed to providing opportunities for each boy and girl to fulfil his or her full potential both socially and academically.

We aim to continue to make Baynards School a warm, friendly, caring happy place where all are made to feel welcome and valued;

• Where care for each other is fostered and valued and opportunities are equal for each individual regardless of gender, race, intellect or position in society;
• Where mutual respect and co-operation fosters positive and harmonious attitudes to work and relationships;
• Where the curriculum provides the full range of areas of learning and experience (aesthetic and creative, human and social, linguistic and literary, Mathematical, moral and spiritual, physical, scientific and technological) at the appropriate level for each learner;
• Where the enjoyment of working is promoted, recognised and rewarded;
• Where high expectations of self-discipline, self-reliance and responsibility are encouraged and nurtured;
• Where an awareness of the world beyond the school, including family, community, environment and national and international events is promoted in a caring and thoughtful manner;
• Where opportunities are provided for children to share their efforts and successes to a wide audience and to receive appropriate encouragement and praise;
• Where children who encounter difficulties are encouraged and supported and gifted children are extended;
• Where children whose behaviour is recognised as unacceptable are positively enabled to develop acceptable behavioural standards through firmness and consistency;
• Where the curriculum shows continuity and progression through structured planning and effective liaison throughout the school linked with on-going monitoring, evaluation and development;
• Where parents are made to feel welcome, informed, involved and valued.

To achieve these aims the Governors and staff of Baynards School make sure that the budget and delivery of the curriculum is administered effectively; that the recruitment, retention and development of staff is ensured; that all staff are given appropriate training, time, resources and recognition for the work they do; and that the views and ideas of all are sought and valued.

The happy team spirit which prevails throughout the school is evidence of the above aims being realised. It is the intention of the Governors and staff to continue with these aims and to carry them to the future generations of pupils, staff, governors and all who come into contact with Baynards School.

Headteacher: Mrs Nerys Maidment

Deputy Headteacher: Miss Leonie Docherty

Status and Character:
Community Primary Day School (Infant and Junior boys and girls aged 4-11 years)

Present number of pupils on roll: 80

Teaching Staff:
Mrs R van de Vyver / Mrs C. Slaven, Foundation, Year 1
Miss L Docherty, Year 1 and 2 Mrs N Maidment / Mrs Hodgkins, Year 3 and 4
Miss Z Guernari, Year 5 and 6

Office Manager: Mrs K Hockney

Office Staff: Mrs T Mason

Learning Support Assistants:
Mrs J Murton / Mrs T Challenor / Mrs D McGinty / Mrs C Wilding / Miss A Walkden / Mrs J Playle

SENCO: Mrs N Maidment

Chair of Governors: Mr Paul Wise

Governing Body:
Mr Paul Wise, Parent / Mrs S Lake, Community / Mrs N Maidment, Headteacher / Mrs J Eversley, Parent / Mr M Dale, County Council / Miss Z Guernari, Teacher / / Mr D Butler, Parent / Miss L Docherty, Deputy Head ex.offica

Cleaners: Mrs J Harrington / Mrs A Edwards

Cook: Mrs Pugh Assistant: Mrs J Eversley

Literacy

Language is the means through which we all communicate; therefore good literacy skills are essential. Teaching children to read and write is at the heart of our language teaching but we also recognise that literacy extends beyond just these skills, so speaking and listening and drama also play an important role within our work.

At Baynards School our language teaching follows the basic format and objectives recommended by the literacy framework. Our approach to teaching literacy is based on:

• Dedicated literacy lessons every day of up to 60 minutes
• Appropriate differentiation to allow all children to succeed and make good progress in language work
• Direct teaching and interactive oral work with the whole class and with groups
• An emphasis on accurate grammar, spelling and punctuation
• Imaginative and varied approaches in order to motivate all the children

Maths

Children develop the skills, knowledge, attitudes, creativity, imagination and sense of pleasure that can be gained from mathematics. They learn to use and apply mathematics practically within the context of number, shape and space, measures and data handling. Real life tasks and investigations are the best way to make maths fun!

Science

Our science teaching includes many basic scientific skills, development of ideas and the encouragement of positive attitudes. We value science because it makes an increasingly important contribution to all aspects of life. Children are naturally curious about their environment and science makes a valuable contribution to their knowledge and understanding of the world. Where possible, learning is best through investigation and first hand experience, so our extensive school grounds can be fully used.

History

Children find out about a range of periods from their own recent past to exploring the lives and achievements of civilisations thousands of years ago. They learn about the past in a number of ways, including visits to historical sites, by handling artefacts, looking at pictures, photographs and written sources, by researching information on the internet and listening to visitors talking about the past.

Geography

In Geography the children find out about a variety of locations, from their immediate locality in and around the school and Tiptree, to other localities in this country and abroad. The children investigate the many features of the physical world and also consider the effect that humans have had on the environment. Practical activities and trips are used whenever possible to develop the children’s geographical skills.

Art

Children develop visual and tactile perception and a language through which they can communicate their understanding of different art forms. They experience a wide range of art, craft and design activities such as drawing, painting, fabric work and environmental studies in two and three dimensions. We also have our own kiln on site, so children have many opportunities to work with clay. Examples of works of art are used throughout the school to develop an appreciation of art, stimulate ideas and gain knowledge of techniques, to understand different periods, cultures and traditions.

Design and Technology

Design and technology is implemented in a cross curricular way with links to all other subject areas. The subject plays a vital role in the real world and therefore classroom work is related to real problems and solutions. Enjoyment and aesthetic appreciation is also promoted.

Music

The teaching of music is based upon the fact that it is a creative and social art to be enjoyed. Children have the opportunity to enjoy musical experiences through listening, singing, movement and dance and by playing tuned and un-tuned percussion. We give pupils the best opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills in this area of the curriculum. Pupils will have opportunities to learn the recorder and also are offered tuition in a range of instruments by the County Peripatetic Music Staff, depending upon ability and availability.

Physical Development, Health and Well Being

Children experience games, gymnastics, dance, athletics, outdoor activities and swimming. Through all these activities children become aware of the capabilities of their bodies, developing competence, agility and spatial awareness in practical tasks. They participate in team games and develop the skills essential to accomplishing competitive, co-operative and sporting behaviour in a variety of tournaments, often with great success. This area of the curriculum enables pupils to make informed choices on a range of issues such as healthy lifestyles and supports the development of social skills, self esteem and the well being of all individuals.

Dance and Drama

Dance and drama contributes towards the children’s personal, social and emotional development and to their growth as confident individuals. At Baynards we have a specialist dance and drama teacher who teaches children throughout the school. In dance the children learn to create, perform and appreciate dances and different dance styles. They work with other children expressively and perform confidently both in and outside of school. In drama the children use a variety of dramatic conventions with other children and adults throughout the curriculum.

Religious Education

We follow the Essex syllabus for religious education. The content of this syllabus will be taught through topics in Foundation and Key Stage 1. In Key Stage 2 lessons will follow more specific RE areas. The whole curriculum is broadly Christian based. Parents have a right to withdraw their child from all or part of the religious education or collective worship provided by the school and should discuss this with the Head teacher if they wish to take this course of action.

Foundation Stage

The children in Foundation Stage follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum which covers six areas of learning.

• Personal, social and emotional development
• Communication, language and literacy
• Problem solving, reasoning and numeracy
• Knowledge and understanding of the world
• Physical development
• Creative development

The children access the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum through a range of practical and play based activities which take place both inside the classroom and outside in our purpose built outside area. We provide the children with a safe, secure and stimulating environment in which they can develop as active and independent learners.

Our induction programme which includes school visits for the children, meetings for parents and sharing of information from pre-school, ensures the children have a happy and settled start to their school life.

Sex Education

The schools approach to sex education is to respond to children’s questions in a straight forward manner as the need arises and to present a specific programme of sex education following a television series when the children reach the upper junior stage. Parents will be given the opportunity to view these programmes before they are shown to the children. This will be supported by talks on particular aspects such as menstruation, to be given by members of the Schools Medical Service.

Parents have the right to withdraw their children from all or part of the sex education offered.

Children with Special Educational Needs

Children with special learning needs, including specific learning difficulties (Dyslexia) are given extra help. A programme of extension work is provided for the more able while children with particular learning difficulties may be assisted individually or in small groups. Statemented children follow a programme according to their needs as specified in the statement. The school’s S.E.N. co-ordinator, class teacher and Headteacher monitor the progress of both statemented children and those in need of general learning support and review each child’s needs at pre-specified intervals. Parents, Educational Psychologists and other agencies are involved with these reviews where appropriate.

Baynards has a high degree of Learning Support Assistants input throughout the school which is co-ordinated by the S.E.N. Co-ordinator and class teachers. Parents are encouraged to be fully involved with their child’s programme of learning support. The school’s policy on Special Educational Needs is available at the school.

Arrangements to visit the school

By arrangement with the Headteacher

Length of Taught Week

- Foundation

Between 15.00 and 21.25 hours per week (teaching time) - depending on age, plus collective worship, registration breaks and lunch breaks

- Key Stage One - Infants

21.25 hours per week (teaching time) plus collective worship, registration breaks and lunch breaks

- Key Stage Two - Juniors

23.75 hours per week (teaching time) plus collective worship, registration breaks and lunch breaks

Starting School

Baynards School has an Essex Education Authority Approved Early Years Policy which means that we can officially provide high quality Foundation Education for our children in a well resourced specially designated area. Children are admitted into school as Foundation pupils at the beginning of the academic year in which their fifth birthday falls. Please contact the school office if you are unsure about when your child should start school.

Parents will receive correspondence from Essex County Council before their child is due to start school. An application form must be completed and forwarded to Essex County Council or completed on-line to ensure a place is allocated for their child at their preferred school.

In the summer term prior to entry into school your child will receive an invitation to attend a meeting with the child’s future class teacher, Headteacher and school nurse. We will be only too pleased to answer any questions you might have at this stage. Children who have their fifth birthday in the Autumn term will be invited to attend a number of induction sessions during these Summer term. These sessions are important as they will enable your child to become familiar with the school.

During the initial visit to the school we will provide you with further literature regarding starting school and a workbook for you and your child to complete together before starting school. The book is a checklist of all the skills that we would hope your child might have acquired before entering school. However, it is very much an idealised list and we are well aware that not all children develop all these skills all at the same time. Please do not feel anxious if your child has not mastered all of them.

Whatever your child may or may not be able to do on entering school we would, above all else, ask that you help to develop a positive attitude in your child towards coming to school. For example, being able to enjoy books is actually more advantageous than being able to read at the cost of everything else. We place great importance on the need for each child to actually feel happy at school.

Further information regarding the learning development at this early stage is available from the school; as is any further assistance should it be required.

Religious Affiliation

Baynards School is non-denominational in character.

Curriculum Complaints Procedure

Details of the curriculum and its organisation and schemes of work for all subjects including National Curriculum subjects and Religious Education are available for inspection on enquiry at the school office.

Essex County Council Education Department has a clearly defined procedure for the consideration of complaints about the school curriculum and related matters. It describes how anyone with a complaint can set about having the complaint dealt with and what then happens. Again the document laying out these arrangements may be obtained from the school office.

Charging and Remissions Policy

The school likes to support work in the classroom with a variety of visits and visiting speakers and practitioners. However it is necessary to ask for voluntary contributions from parents to fund such activities. There is no obligation to contribute and no pupil will be omitted because of lack of payment, but it will be necessary to cover a substantial proportion of the cost in order that the activity takes place.

Baynards Primary School, Townsend Road, Tiptree, Colchester, Essex CO5 0ND

Call on 01621 817261, fax on 01621 815197 or email admin@baynards.essex.sch.uk.