Meet the Teacher

Evening

Meet the Staff

Head Teacher

Mrs Joanne Jelves

Deputy Head Teachers

Miss Gray Mrs Gemma

Middleton

Senior Leadership Team

Mrs Ann

Gallagher

Office Team

Mrs Julie

LunnMiss

Georgie

Wollaston

Mrs Judith

Crook

Mrs Derry

Learning Mentor PE Teacher

Mr Lane

Meet the Staff

All children (Reception – Year 6) need:

Royal blue crew neck sweat shirt or cardigan (please note navy is not permitted)

• White or red polo t-shirt or white shirt

• Grey school trousers/skirt/pinafore dress. Skirts should be knee length

• Grey/white socks or grey tights with black flat sensible school shoes

(shoes are to be plain with no coloured logos )• All uniform items can be worn with or without the Ridgeway logo.

• Summer uniform includes a blue gingham dress or grey knee length

shorts

• Optional blue Ridgeway zip fleece and waterproof jacket• Appropriate outdoor clothing must be sent into school daily

• Trainers are not accepted as school shoes.

School Uniform

For PE all children (Reception – Year 6)

need:

Indoors

Plain white T-shirt

Plain black PE shorts black plimsolls

Outdoors

Plain black/ navy track-suit bottoms

Plain black/ navy fleece

Trainers

School Uniform• Earrings must be taken out on PE Days

- plasters will can only be used 6 weeks

after the piercing (it is expected that

pupils do this themselves).

• All PE kits should be plain with no

logos (except the school logo) or designs.

• If pupils do not have the correct PE kit

after they have been reminded on one

occasion and the parent has been

informed, they will not be able to

participate in PE lessons until the

correct kit is supplied.We kindly ask if PE kits remain in

school every day as sometimes PE

days change unavoidably.

Jewellery and Headwear

On health and safety grounds, we do not allow children to wear jewellery to school (except for a single set

of small stud and watches), both of which will need to be removed for PE. We do not allow headwear,

including fashion bows, to be worn during class time or inside school buildings, except for religious or

medical reasons.

Glasses worn as a fashion accessory and not to correct poor eyesight, are not permitted at any time.

All clothing should be clearly labelled with your child’s name.

Make up and Cosmetics

Make-up and cosmetics (including nail varnish) are not considered appropriate or consistent with our school

uniform. The school does not permit such products to be worn by any children, unless there is a specific

event for which the Headteacher has given permission.

Hairstyles

Hairstyles should be smart and suitable for school at all times. Extreme cuts and styles are not permitted

at any time. This includes ‘tram-lines’ and the use of hair-dyes. All long hair (both girls and boys) must

be tied back at all times.

School Uniform

Water Bottles

• Pupils in Years R– 6 should bring a water bottle to school each day

• Bottles should only be filled with water

• Pupils will get the opportunity to re-fill their bottles during the school day

Bags/Book Bags

• All pupils will require a school bag to take home reading books, planners and

letters

• Pupils will need a bag for their PE which should remain in school and will be

returned at the end of each half term to allow the PE kit to be washed. PE

Days will often change

• Bags should be small enough to fit into school lockers along with their coat

Water Bottles/Bags

Break Sales

• Pupils will be able to purchase a snack at break time –

pupils should brink the exact change where possible

Toast 20p

Milk 20p

Milkshake 40p

Fruit Drink 40P

Pupils should bring exact money in a named

purse/wallet/envelope

• In years 1 and 2 fruit is provided

• In all other year groups pupils are able to bring a piece

of fruit from home, to eat at break time, if they wish.

Break Time Sales

LunchIn KS1 the government provide universal free school meals. KS1

children can not bring a packed lunch.

In KS2 school meals can be purchased (£2.30) for pupils using

parent pay or they can bring a pack lunch.

Please speak to the office staff if you are unfamiliar with

Parent Pay or need to set up an account.

All menus for the half term are on the website – please check

the dates that are detailed below the menu.

Lunch Time Sales

• Pupils in Rainbow Tots, Sunbeams Nursery & Reception will enter the building

through their cloakroom doors from their playground.

• All other pupils will enter school using either the bridge door on the Y1

playground or the blue door in the 2 storey block under the bridge.

• Pupils in Rainbow Tots, Sunbeams Nursery, Reception and Year1 will be released

from their classrooms to the adult collecting them at the end of the day.

• Pupils in Year 2 will be released from the bridge door onto the KS1 playground

to the adult collecting them at the end of the day.

• Pupils in Y3 & Y4 will be released from the door under the bridge.

• Pupils in Y5 will be released through the door at the end of the two storey block

by the staffroom. Pupils in Y6 will be released through the door at the end of

the two storey block by the dance studio.

Beginning and End of Day Procedures

Please inform the office staff as soon as possible if you change any of your contact details or

medical information

Messages from School

• Pupils will be given a paper copy of letters requiring written consent (including club letters)

to take home . All letters will be available to view on the school website and a text message

will be sent home to alert you to new letters added.

Messages from home

• Can be given to a member of the Senior Leadership Team on the door first thing in a

morning and they will pass the message on

• Ring the school office

• Write a note in the pupils planner (although this will only be checked weekly)

• Write a letter to the class teacher

• Make an appointment to see the class teacher via the office

• Quick messages can be given to the class teacher as they release pupils at the end of the

day.

Pleas ensure you check the website regularly as news items will be posted on the main page.

Communication

The end of the school day:

• Pupils will only be released to a familiar adult over the age of 16, if you wish your

child to be collected by somebody different please inform the school office at the

earliest opportunity so they can get the message to the Class Teacher by the end of the

day

• Pupils will only be able to walk home if we receive written permission

Mobile phones:

• Pupils mobiles phone in school are not permitted in school

• Y6 may bring their phone if they are walking home alone at the end of the school

day. Phones must be given to their Teacher upon arrival at school and will be returned

at the end of the school day.

Children only go out of the designated door – it is not possible for children to exit though

other year group doors.

Keeping Children Safe

What age? Legal minimum age

requirements for social media:

13 13 13

13(Parental

permission required if under 18)

16 13

• Youtube is amazing: children have access to a wide range of videos for

educational and entertainment.

• The problem? A large number of children want to be “Youtube celebrities” – this

is very true of children at Ridgeway.

• To become “Youtube celebrities” they want lots of people to view and comment on

their videos.

• This leads to children creating accounts and uploading videos that anyone can

watch and comment on.

• Ridgeway frequently teaches about online safety and has online safety

assemblies but parents must remain vigilant. Ask your children if they have

Youtube accounts, ask to see their settings – are their videos publicly viewable?

• Children will receive a sticker in their planner if they

have been green all week.

• Parents will be given information half-termly on their

child’s behaviour through the planners.

• Children who remain green will be rewarded

throughout the year.

• Behaviour Postcard to be sent home each week

celebrating someone who has been GREEN all week.

‘Stop and Think’ Card

(Warning)

Yellow Card

(-5min)

Good to be GreenRed Card (-1/ may

be other

consequences) 0min

• When a child is given a red card their parents will be informed

by the teacher (in person/ by phone).

• Consequences for a red card can vary depending on the

incident/s

• 10min loss of Golden Time

• Reflection time in the Hub (break/dinner)

• Loss of privileges e.g. football/representing the school

• Removal from their classroom

• Lunchtime Exclusion/s

• Full day/s Exclusion

• If your child starts to receive regular red cards then the decision

may be taken to refer them to the Deputy Head (Miss Gray) for

monitoring and a chart would be put in place as the first step.

Sanctions

• Friday Assembly will be a ‘SPECIAL MENTION ASSEMBLY’

• A child in each class who has impressed the Teacher or

Teaching Assistant over the last week will be chosen for a

‘special mention’.

• Childrn may bring awards from home to share at this assembly

Special Mention Assemblies

Spellings/RML (Y1)• Children will be assessed at the start of the year and placed in differentiated groups

based on their reading ability

• Children will be reassess and regrouped at the end of every half term

• At the end of every unit the children will be sent home with the unit’s story book to

read at home, the children will be very familiar with this as they will have read this

3 times throughout the unit. The children read this book at home to develop reading

speed and expression

• Year 1 children will take a phonics check in June this will consist of the children

reading real words and alien words (nonsense words)

• The test will take place in a familiar environment within school and will be lead by

your child’s class teacher

• Weekly spellings will be sent home for children who are secure with all of their sounds.

These will be stuck in the children’s planners. The spellings will link with the sound

your child has been learning that week.

Weekly Spelling Tests:

• Children will be differentiated within spelling lessons based on their abilities.

• Children will receive weekly spellings based on the rule they are learning that

week. The words sent home will be unfamiliar words to challenge children to

use new and exciting vocabulary in their writing.

• Year 2 and 3 will receive 6 spellings, Year 4 and 5 will receive 8 spellings

and Year 6 will receive 10 spellings.

Spellings (Y2-6)

Half Termly Spelling Tests:

• Children will be tested at the end of every half term

on their year group’s common exception words.

• The common exception words can be found in the back

of the children’s planner. These will be completed

• half termly for parents to see their child’s progression

and the gaps in their child’s learning.

Spelling

Pen licence

• All children will begin the year using a pencil.

• Once pupils are joining their writing neatly following the Nelson handwriting

policy using the correct formation, size and joins, the Teacher will give the

pupils a pen licence (KS2). A stamp will be received in their book and they

will be given a sticker for their planner.

• Where a child’s handwriting deteriorates, Teachers will consider taking

away their pen licence until it is back up to the required standard.

• Teachers will use their discretion when needed.

Lunch Time Handwriting Club

If a child’s handwriting deteriorates on three occasions, the Teacher will send

them to handwriting club (Y2-6) which will take place on a Friday lunch time

12.30 – 1.20. During this time children will practise their handwriting. The

child will only attend once unless the Class Teacher feels the child is still not

trying their best.

Handwriting

• Children should be reading a minimum of 4

pages to count as one read.

• Only 1 read will be counted per day.

• Parents MUST sign each read in the reading

diary for it to count as a read.

• Children can achieve a maximum of 4 stamps

per week for reading.

• Reads will not count during the Christmas,

Easter and Summer holiday periods although

pupils will receive a reward sticker.

• Please ensure children’s planners are in school

EVERY day ready to be checked. If the

planner is not in school, there will not be

another opportunity for it to be checked again.

Reading Karate (YR &1)

100 Book Bingo Challenge

• There are 100 recommended books for each

phase (Y2, Y3/4, Y5/6).

• It is encouraged that the children will read all

of the 100 books by the end of both years.

• The 100 book challenge includes a range of

different authors and genres for the children.

• The range of books are diverse enough to

accommodate all readers i.e. reluctant

readers/boys.

Bingo CardsThe books are

divided into

groups of 50

across a year

group.

A group of

50 books will

be displayed

and kept in

each

classroom.

Just like a game of

bingo, each child

will have a bingo

card to keep in

their planners –

they will tick off

the books as they

read them.

Books will be

rotated half

way through

the year!

100 Book Bingo Challenge

Book Reviews

• Children must complete a

book review when they have

read their book.

• Encourage the other

children to read the book

reviews before choosing their

next book.

• Book reviews will be

accessible for the children.

Home Reading Books

Maths Space

Mission

Maths Space Mission

• Children will work through different planets (Earth, Mars,

Jupiter, Neptune, Saturn, Mercury).

• Each planet will have a challenge zone which will include

problem solving questions and place value questions.

• Children will have a timed weekly test (Timings are on the bottom of each

Times Table tests to keep parents informed).

• Children will be rewarded for their achievements by receiving a

stamp in their awards planner.

Year 2 - Planet Jupiter

Dividing by 2s, 10s and 5s and

11 Times Table (11 questions in 1 minute)

Example of dividing by 2 test sheet:

Example of dividing by 2 problem solving test sheet:

Times Table Rock Star is an online Times Table resource. This will be

encouraged to use in Years 1 and 2 but will be compulsory for Years 3-6.

It is a fun and challenging resource to support children in learning their

Times Tables. It encourages children to have short bursts of practise.

Children will have the same log on as last year.

Times Table Rock Stars

Rock Slam

Rock Slams are one-to-one challenges for students only!

Students select someone they want to challenge from their Band,

year group or school and then set a time for the challengee to

beat. When the challengee logs in, they'll be able to play against

the challenger's 'ghost' in a head-to-head Rock Slam!

Homework• Will take place each Friday Lunch Time.

• Pupils will not be expected to stay any more than 20 min

• Pupils in Y3/4 are required to attend if they have not

practised on TTRS (Y3 will start after Christmas)

• Pupils in Y5/6 are required to attend if they have not

read at home at least 4 times a week

• Pupils in Y2 – 6 can be sent for H/W practise

• During this year, you may hear your child talk about working in a small

group called an ‘intervention group’.

• This a set time each week on a Monday and Friday morning where the class

teacher will deliver intervention to address gaps or misconceptions in learning

and stretch more able pupils.

• English and Maths intervention sessions are a very important part of our

school timetable as it gives the opportunity to provide further targeted support

to meet the needs of individual learners.

• The interventions may be carried out by Teachers or Teaching Assistants.

• The rest of the children will carry out enrichment activities with the Teaching

Assistants

Core Subject Interventions

Enrichment ActivitiesEvery year our children have the fantastic opportunity to work with ‘Highly Sprung’ who specialise in learning

through dance, drama, music and storytelling. Highly Sprung will help us to deliver three ‘Everybody Loves

Learning’ weeks this year. The children are introduced to these weeks through a problem occurring on the first

day, therefore we keep the story lines a surprise. Parents are always invited in our final day so children can

showcase their work.

To give you an idea of their content, previous ELL weeks have included ‘Hacked’ Where ‘Dr Technolander’ stole all of our technology and the children had to work hard to prove to

him why it was so important. And ‘Here Come the Aliens’ Where we watched a news report that told us

Aliens had landed in Burntwood and we had to teach them all about our planet and help them fix their

spaceship so they could get home.

ELL Week 1: 5th November 2019

ELL Week 2: 24th February 2010

ELL Week 3: 1st June 2020

Forest SchoolOur Forest School area gives children experiences that, over time

increases their self-belief, confidence, emotional well-being and problem

solving skills. The ‘wild’ yet controlled, safe environment ensures that

children taking part naturally learn to assess risk and are encouraged

to make sensible and informed decisions. This helps them to deal with

unfamiliar and unpredictable situations in real life contexts.

Our children use the forest school all year round and our cabin is a

fantastic outdoor classroom. Our Acorn award scheme encourages the

children to continue learning outdoors at home.

Clubs enable pupils to discover their interests and talents, experience new things and develop their skills. Not only this, clubs give pupils the opportunity to meet new friends, and to build their confidence, resilience and independence. Here at Ridgeway, we offer a range of different clubs throughout the year such as, ‘We are chocolatiers!’ ’We are product

designers!’ and ‘We are comic book makers!’

We would love all of our pupils to join at least one club over the course of the year.

Clubs

Letters will go home to pupils who show an interest in the club and pupils need to return the slip if they wish to join the club. The adult running the club will then text parents to inform

them whether their child has a place. Letters will also be accessible on the school website, under

letters, and an overview of the clubs will be displayed in the school foyer each half term. Clubs will run for a period of

six weeks. This year, clubs will be charged at £1 per session to enable

staff to purchase the resources needed to ensure our clubs are engaging and meaningful for the children. If your child has been allocated a place, they must bring in ₤6 (exact change) in an envelope and given to their class teacher before the first club session. The child’s name and club they wish to attend must be written on the front of the envelope as these will be

sent to the school office.