Information Page - with a link to the Friends Page

Newtown Breakfast and After School Club

The way in which the school is organised into classes varies according to numbers of children on roll and how these are distributed across age groups. At present we have two classes in each year group.

Organisation within the class

Each class is made up of children with varying abilities. Flexible grouping arrangements within the class enable the teacher to prepare learning programmes suitable for the needs of all the children.

Additional help is provided by Learning Assistants. Parents and students, working under the direction of the Class Teacher are welcome in the school, although we would ask that parents do not work in the same class as their own children.

Continuity between classes is ensured through our shared aims, joint planning of the curriculum, and the keeping of detailed records.

Teaching and Learning

Teaching & Learning Policy

Our aims as a school underpin our learning policy. We are committed to the concept of child-centred, integrated and cross-curricular learning.

The central concern of the school is the child.
The basis of all our activities is that each child will receive care and respect.
The school is a community that respects and cares for all its members. We pride ourselves on being a listening school.
We have high expectations for all our children. We aim to ensure that every pupil will meet with success.
We base our curriculum on the notion that all learning is a continuous process, which develops in stages throughout life.
We will try to build on children's interests as much as possible within the constraints of the National Curriculum. These are underpinned by direct concrete experiences and practical activities. We aim to develop self-confidence through activities that are challenging and structured. We believe that effective learning takes place when children are encouraged to become independent learners. Children are encouraged to organise their own resources, manage their time, be able to make choices as to the appropriate working methods.
Children will encounter a variety of teaching styles. These will range from teacher directed whole class lessons, a variety of collaborative group activities to individual work and work initiated and organised by the child. We aim to develop in children a sense of pride in their work.

We prefer to use constructive criticism to involve the child in self-assessment and to make children aware of the progress they are making.

We aim to make the school environment safe, warm, secure and stimulating for the children and all who work here. All parts of the school building as well as the school grounds constitute the learning environment. We believe that display is an important means of stimulating learning and celebrating the value we attach to children?s work. We recognise parents as the prime educators of their children. We aim to foster a close partnership with parents and encourage them to take an active role in the education of their children.

The Curriculum

Throughout the school, teachers work together to develop schemes of work which enable children to cover a wide curriculum, including those subjects identified in the National Curriculum.
The work planned for the children often integrates many of these subject areas. For example, a piece of science work may also involve the children in Mathematics, English and Technology. Computers and calculators, which are available throughout the school, are valuable tools to assist this integration.

Timetable

The School Day

8:50 a.m. Morning session begins

10:40 to 10:55 Morning Break

12.00 to 12.45 Juniors' Lunch *
12:00 to 12:55 Infants' Lunch**

1:50 to 2:00 Juniors' Afternoon Break
2:15 to 2:30 Infants' Afternoon Break

3:00 Afternoon session ends

* Junior children going home for lunch should not return to school before 12:40.

** Infant children going home for lunch should not return to school before 12.45.

Children in Years 1 and 2 receive 22.5 hours teaching per week.
Children in Years 3,4,5 and 6 receive 23.5 hours per week.

These figures are in line with Government recommendations.

The gates to both Infant and Junior playgrounds are opened at 8.40 am and closed promptly at 8.50 am. They remain closed throughout the day for security reasons. A parents waiting area is provided at the front of the school. We would ask all parents to ensure children arrive at school between 8.40 am and 8.50 am. Children who are late for whatever reason must report to the school office. If parents need to speak with the classteachers they need also to speak to the office staff.

Uniform

School Uniform

It is important that pupils take a pride in their appearance. They should be clean, tidy and appropriately dressed on all occasions.

We strongly encourage all children to wear school uniform. We feel this promotes a sense of belonging and pride in the school. School sweatshirts may be bought at the school office.

Trousers/Skirts: Plain Grey or Black
Shirt/Blouse/Polo shirt: White
Sweater: Red
N.B. From September 2001 red will be our sole colour for sweaters
Shoes: Plain Black

You can order items of school uniform from the school office using the Friends of Newtown school uniform order form. Please make cheques to Friends of Newtown School (please include your name and address on reverse of cheques)

Sweatshirts size 24-34 £8.50 each size 36 £9.50
Cardigans size 24-34 £11.50 each
Baseball Caps/Sun Hat £2.50 each
Book Bags £2.50 each

P.E Bags £2.00 each
Fleece Jackets Ages 5-12 £11 each size XSML and Small £15
Fleece Hat £3.50 each

The wearing of jewellery is discouraged for safety reasons - rings and large ear-rings, etc. can be a hazard in the playground, gymnasium or on the field. We do insist that children do not wear any jewellery during P.E. Older children may be able to remove them themselves but for the younger children we would suggest that on days when there is P.E. parents remove them before they come to school. Arrangements will be made in school to keep all removed jewellery in a safe place. In the case of newly pierced ears it may be possible for us to place a piece of tape over the earring.

We would like to emphasise that this policy is consistent with all Hampshire County Council and endorsed by the British Association of Advisers and Lecturers in Physical Education.

P.E. Clothing
A general kit should consist of shorts, plimsolls and T-shirt. These items should be kept in a P.E. bag. Our P.E kit is a white t-shirt and black shorts. A small sports logo is permissible. This kit fits in with our feeder school Brune Park and will therefore cut down on any expense.

All items of personal property should be marked clearly with your child's name.

The school cannot accept responsibility for money or property left unsupervised.

Special Needs and Behaviour

Special Educational Needs

Our Special Educational Needs Policy has been written in line with the Code of Practice issued by the DFEE (Department for Education and Employment). The aim of the policy is to ensure that each child will have full access to the National Curriculum. Any extra help will be offered to children according to their specific needs to enable them to reach their full potential. This will be provided for all children with learning difficulties.

In most cases, the class teacher will identify children needing extra help following consultation with parents. Programmes will be devised to meet their identified needs and parents will receive a copy of their child's Individual Education Plan. Occasionally more specialised help will be sought from our special needs staff or from outside agencies, depending upon the nature of the difficulty. Children will be set a programme to be followed in class, often with the aid of a Learning Assistant or in a number of limited cases, withdrawn to work with a Special Needs Teacher. A particular emphasis is placed on early identification intervention strategies.

All programmes are reviewed at least termly and the policy is monitored by staff and governors who report on its effectiveness at the Annual Governors' Meeting for Parents.

Behaviour Policy

At Newtown, we believe that every child should feel safe, happy and secure in school, both in the classroom and on the playground. We want each child to develop positive attitudes about themselves, others and towards their learning.

REWARDING POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR

Our policy is very much based on the positive and to achieve this we aim to give five times more positive rewards than negative ones.

We have developed 'Golden Rules' which we feel cover all aspects of behaviour in the classroom and out on the playground.

THE GOLDEN RULES

WE THINK OUR SCHOOL IS IMPORTANT TO US AND THAT EVERYONE IN IT MATTERS.

RULE 1: We will be kind and polite to everyone.

RULE 2: We will always play sensibly.
(We will not play roughly or hurt others)

RULE 3: We will keep ourselves safe in and out of school.
(We will walk, NOT run!)

RULE 4: We will respect our own, other people's and school property.
(We will not damage or take things that do not belong to us)

RULE 5: We will always be honest with each other.

SMILE AND BE HAPPY

We believe that it is vital that children should be rewarded for behaving appropriately.

GOLDEN TIME

All children who have kept our 'Golden Rules' are given a time during the week when they are allowed to choose from a number of activities on offer; we call this 'Golden Time' and which is a reward for behaving and working appropriately. During this reward time children can choose from a range of activities depending upon their Key Stage. These activities include playing indoor and outdoor games, arts and crafts, modelling, watching videos and enjoying music. We try to ensure that there are activities that will appeal to all the children and to vary the activities from time to time to maintain the children's interest and enjoyment of Golden Time.

Children in KS2 who have not kept to the 'Golden Rules' and have therefore had their name and/or sanctions recorded will miss the beginning of their 'Golden Time' on a Friday afternoon. During this missed time these children will be reminded of the 'Golden Rules' and why they are important to everyone at Newtown.

POSITIVE REWARDS

During each day we try to maintain our aim of giving out five times more positive rewards to any negative ones. These rewards take on many forms ranging from an expression of approval such as a smile or pat on the shoulder to class points, certificates, passports and to positive letters and phone calls home. Every child has the opportunity and potential to achieve all of these regularly. Often we try to vary the ways in which we reward children in order to highlight appropriate behaviour and to maintain children's interest; for example having a 'double points day' rarely fails to inspire children to earn more points than ever; 'star of the week', 'points raffles' and 'group prizes' all help to maintain a culture which celebrates achievement and appropriate behaviour.

Every week a class in both KS1 and KS2 is chosen as 'Class of the Week'. To achieve this award the class need to have worked together to have received many rewards and to have behaved appropriately as a class team (therefore receiving few sanctions). The results and rewards for the classes of the week are announced in Monday's Whole School Assembly and are a cup and a teddy bear. The children of these classes will also receive a CLASS REWARD (to be arranged by the class teacher), a CLASS CERTIFICATE and a personal mini-certificate to take home and share with their parents.

NEWTOWN BRONZE, SILVER AND GOLD AWARDS

From September 2006, children who have kept the school rules for the whole week (and have not had any recorded sanctions) will receive a Newtown Stamp in the back of their P.S.H.E. Passport. The children will be able to collect these in order to achieve their Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards for good behaviour.
We feel this is another way of rewarding and responding positively to the good (and often excellent) behaviour of the majority of the children at Newtown.

The reward system will work as follows:

10 stamps ~ children will receive their BRONZE AWARD
20 stamps ~ children will receive their SILVER AWARD
30 stamps ~ children will receive their GOLD AWARD

At present while we are trying this system for the first time the rewards will be in the form of Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates. As there are more than 30 weeks in the school year this system does allow for the odd 'slip-up' thus allowing children who have slipped-up to get back on track and continue to 'save-up' for their awards. We hope these new awards will reinforce and remind the children just how important and valued good behaviour is at Newtown.

Our aim is to celebrate achievement, effort and good behaviour and use it as a role model for other pupils.

SANCTIONS

For those children who break the 'Golden Rules' however there are clear procedures to be followed:

THE FOUNDATION STAGE

The foundation stage is the phase, two years before a child is in Year 1. The children at this level are very young and are gradually introduced to the 'Golden Rules' as they acclimatise to school life. As they begin to attend school on a full time basis they will also participate in 'Golden Time'.

Expectations for appropriate behaviour are made clear through verbal explanations. As the child matures and the academic year progresses the sanctions which apply to Key Stage 1 will be applicable to those children in Reception.

KEY STAGE 1

If a child breaks one of our 'Golden Rules' they will be given a verbal warning.
Their name will then be written on the board along with the number of the rule that they have broken.

If the child continues to misbehave then they will be given a second verbal warning and a cross will be put alongside their name.

If the behaviour persists then a second cross will be given and the loss of 5 minutes of their 'Golden Time' or playtime will occur. This will depend on both the child and the timing of the sanction, as often with younger children time immediacy may prove to be a more useful strategy than waiting until 'Golden Time' which takes place on Friday afternoon.

This will be followed by a third cross and 5 minutes lost from their playtime.

Four crosses would mean that the child would be moved to a different Key Stage for the rest of that session.

Five crosses would entail an immediate letter and phone call home.

Six crosses would mean the child would have to spend the rest of the day with either the deputy head or the head teacher.

Crosses are not continued the next day, which allows the child to have a fresh start.

KEY STAGE 2:

The sanctions for Key Stage 2 follow on from those used in Key Stage 1 but have been adapted to be more appropriate to the age range of the children.

If the child breaks one of the 'Golden Rules' they will be given a warning and their name will be written on the board alongside the number of the rule, which they have broken.

If the child continues to break the 'Golden Rules' a cross will be placed beside their name.

A second cross results in the child either losing 10 minutes detention to be carried out as follows:

Either:

For two crosses given out BEFORE MORNING BREAK (prior to 10.40 a.m.):
~ children will lose ten minutes of their morning playtime.

For two crosses given out AFTER MORNING BREAK (after 10.40 a.m.)
~ children will receive a short (ten minutes maximum) detention at the end of the school day.

Continued misbehaviour will result in three crosses and a 30 minute detention after school (see below).

Four crosses and the child will be moved to a different Key Stage for the rest of the session. If a child has been sent to another class they will lose part of their 'Golden Time' and during this time will complete the work they should have done in class.

Five crosses will result in a phone call or letter home to parents.

If the child continues to misbehave and reaches six crosses then they will be sent to either the head or deputy head-teacher for the rest of the school day.

A fresh start will be made each day.

During playtimes, some inappropriate behaviour may be sanctions by asking the child to stand for a short amount of time on a LINE painted on the playground. This will not only remind the child that they have behaved inappropriately and have broken one of the school rules but will also give them time to calm down. Repeated incidents of inappropriate behaviour, violent or incidents of bullying will be reported to the class teacher to take further as appropriate.

AFTER SCHOOL DETENTION

Any child who has reached three crosses will receive an automatic after school detention; which will last for 30 minutes. If a parent can be contacted by phone and arrangements can be made to collect the child then the detention will take place on the same day.

If a parent cannot be contacted, then a letter will be sent, with the child, to allow 24 hours notice for the parents to make any necessary changes to their routines or timetable.

Detention is the legal right of the school and it is implicit within our Behaviour Policy.

EXCLUSION

Exclusion is used only in the very rare instances where a child is making no progress, has reached six crosses on five occasions (within a half term), has been violent towards another pupil or member of staff, or has used foul and abusive language towards any member of staff.

Similarly children will be debarred from school during lunchtimes for persistent bad behaviour, violence towards others or for the use of foul and abusive language towards any member of staff.

Our overall aim in operating any of these procedures is to produce a happy, safe and secure environment for all children. We want them to be valued as an individual and for the child to take responsibility in managing their own behaviour.

Teachers have the right to teach and children the right to learn. Parents who do not accept any part of this Behaviour Policy should not apply for a place at Newtown Primary School.

Policy implemented September 2000
Revised 1st September 2006

Dinner Money

School Dinners

The new school lunch menu will be sent out to schools during March and will come into effect from Monday 21 April 2008, at which time the meal price will increase to £1.90.

Our school kitchen supplies healthy, nutritious meals each day following guidelines layed down by HC3S, copies of menu's are always available from the school office. Meals should be ordered and paid for on a Monday morning for the coming week. Currently each meal is charged at £1.90 per day (£9.50) for a complete week.
Please send all payments to your child's teacher in a sealed envelope clearly marked with your child's name and the days for which you are ordering and paying, stating the total amount of money enclosed. Payment can be made in cash or by cheque - made payable to 'Hampshire County Council'. Also available from the school office are "Money Pockets" these pre-printed envelopes are ready to use and cost £1 for 25.

Go to http://www.myschoollunch.co.uk/hampshire for the school dinners website which has lots of information for children, parents and teachers. Within the site you will find details about looking after yourself and how school caterers are promoting healthy eating to children. To find out more, explore the many pages available. Don't forget to take a look at the educational games in the funfair, where you learn as you play.

Newtown Breakfast and After School Club

Newtown Breakfast and After School Club

We are committed to providing an excellent service for every child and parent. We belive all children deserve a happy positive caring environment in which to spend their free time.

We aim to provide:

A welcoming and accessible club for all children, which parents are confident about using.

An environment in which the children's personal and social development can flourish.

A safe, caring and enjoyable environment.

We are registered with Ofsted to have up to 30 children aged 4-11 years old, Our Ofsted registration number is 110351.

The staff are:

Manager - Gary Nicholls

Co-ordinator - Becky Bates

Deputy Co-ordinator - Jane Presswell

Play-workers - Rosemary Harrop, Jay Johnson, Christine Butler, Tracy Richardson and Petrina Hensman

Admin - Chris Mackman

Food Shopping - Merrilyn Brown

Breakfast Club is open from 7:45 am to 8:45 am.

After School Club is open from 3:00 pm to 5:15 pm

Both clubs are available 5 days a week during term time.

Breakfast Club - each session costs £3.00 which covers your child being cared for by qualified staff, a selection of cereal, yoghurt, fruit, toast and a relaxed start to the day.

After School Club - Each session costs £5.50 which covers your child being cared for by qualified staff, all activity costs, a biscuit and drink when your child arrives at the club, fruit available throughout the session, and tea at 4:30 pm.

We provide a variety of healthy food for your child's tea

Savoury sandwiches

Wraps (the children choose their own filling)

Salad and other raw vegtables and fruit

cheese and crakers

and other nibbles .

We are limited on the number of children we can look after. If we have our full complement we operate a waiting list to fill vacancies.

Friends of newtown

Below is a link to the Friends of Newtown Page. This has information and forth coming events! Back to top

Friends Page

Information Page - with a link to the Friends Page

School Organisation

Teaching and Learning

Timetable

Uniform

Special Needs and Behaviour

Dinner Money

Newtown Breakfast and After School Club

Friends of newtown

School Organisation

Teaching and Learning

Timetable

Uniform

Special Needs and Behaviour

Dinner Money

Newtown Breakfast and After School Club

Friends of newtown