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Pursuing Excellence
Through Partnership
Prospectus
Contents
Welcome 3
School Clubs and Services and Partnerships 4
Children’s Centre and Learning Support 6
Teaching and Learning 8
Transition from Nursery to School 13
Special Educational Needs Provision 14
Uniform 15
Useful Information 16
Our Promises 20
Getting in Touch 21
3
Our Aim
Peters Hill Primary School is committed to the
provision of a caring, safe, health, exciting and well
structured learning environment and the promotion
of high standards and achievement for all.
Peters Hill is a four form entry school, situated in
Amblecote. Our latest Ofsted report in January 2014
judged the school to be good, stating that “pupils
in key stage 1 and 2 achieve well because they are
taught well.”
We pride ourselves on supporting pupils both with
academic endeavour but also with developing a
range of important life skills such as resilience,
perseverance and teamwork.
Our staff receive regular high quality CPD, drawing
on the best and current national and international
educational research. We have high expectations
of staff and children at Peters Hill, we are a
learning community and enjoy celebrating our
achievements.
Our website is regularly updated and the most
up to date information can be found there.
www.petershillprimary.org
Thank you for taking the time to read our school
prospectus whether you are an existing pupil,
parent, staff member, friend of Peters Hill or a
prospective parent, I hope you find it useful.
If you are reading this as a prospective parent,
come and have a look at what we do and I look
forward to meeting you and showing you our school
and the exciting opportunities available to all who
learn here.
Mrs T Curnin
Acting Headteacher
Welcome to our school
4
School Clubs, Services
and Partnerships
We are a very large school with a Nursery, Before and After School Clubs and Children’s Centre.
Even though we are so large, we pride ourselves on the family feel that is created within each year group and the whole school.
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We offer a range of extra-curricular opportunities
for all ages. These change regularly and the current
clubs can be found on our website.
From gardening to Shakespeare, there’s something
for all interests.
We strongly believe that children receive the
best learning when school and families work
in partnership. Each year we offer parents the
opportunity to share an English and Maths lesson
with their child. We have 2 parents evenings each
year and an open night where parents can discuss
their child’s end of year report. There are also
opportunities for parents to enjoy performances,
sporting events and celebratory occasions
throughout the year.
In Reception and Year 1 parents have the
opportunity to share their child’s learning every
morning during learning agreement time. This is a
fantastic opportunity for pupils to show their family
how they learn in school and for parents to be
involved and actively support their child’s learning.
We achieved recognition and were awarded
the Leading Parent Partnership Award
demonstrating our on-going commitment to work
with parents at all stages of their child’s primary
education.
Partnerships with parents is not the only
partnership we think is important. We have
a strong link with the Birmingham Repertory
Theatre which provides our children with some
fantastic opportunities. We also work with
Shakespeare School Festival, (which saw one
of our pupils perform at No. 11 Downing Street),
Royal Horticultural Society, Shirelands Collegiate
Academy, Birmingham University, Warwick
University, RB Gym and Sports, Skoolbo and Apple
Distinguished educators. We work closely with our
secondary schools to ensure a smooth transition
as our pupils leave us.
Peters Hill Primary School has a fabulous purpose-built Children’s Centre located on site. Our Children’s Centre reach serves children and families not only from the Peters Hill area but also from Withymoor, Mount Pleasant and Thorns. We believe in delivering flexible services for our families.
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Children’s Centre and
Learning Support
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We have a variety of activities and services
available, these include ant-natal care, breast
feeding support and weaning advice, baby
group, baby massage, stay and play, dads group,
parenting programmes, one-to-one family support
and advice relating to routines, sleeping transition
and behaviour.
We can also signpost you to other agencies and
support you to access them including Job Centre
Plus, Citizens Advice, and Family Information
Service. We have a regular parents’ forum where
ideas and suggestions are discussed.
We welcome new parents/carers to these, so
if you want to find out more about Peters Hill
Children’s Centre, please call 01384 817723
In school, we have two full-time fantastic learning
mentors who provide a complementary service to
staff and families, addressing the needs of pupils
who require support in overcoming barriers to
learning in order to achieve their full potential.
Academic standards are very important to us. Every child should have excellent teaching in order for them to truly fulfil their own personal potential and targets, but we also want to work in partnerships with you to nurture the well-rounded adults of the future.
The Senior Leadership Team work closely with
staff to ensure day to day best practice and we
meet each teacher every term to talk about every
child in our school, about their progress and the
targets for the term ahead.
Our staff receive regular high quality CPD
that draws on the best national and
international research, we believe
our children deserve the best,
and all staff work to ensure
all pupils excel.
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Teaching
and Learning
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At our school, children study all subjects in
the national curriculum. Our modern foreign
language is Spanish which the children love and is
taught from Reception.
Reading is the cornerstone of all education and
we work hard to ensure our children are not only
making progress in their reading, but love reading.
Children in Reception and Key Stage 1 have three
short phonics lessons daily and our phonics
programme is designed by educational research
consultants, KRM. It is a programme that is
unique as it combines two approaches, real books
and phonics. Our school library is developing as a
focal point in the school.
Our children use a range of technology in school.
Every year group has i-pads on a one i-pad to four
pupils ratio and staff have regular training from
an Apple Distinguished Educator to ensure the
children are getting maximum benefit from the
latest technology.
We have a computer suite for weekly lessons, a
Mac suite of eight computer for animation and
creative composing, a radio station and a TV
studio.
Teaching
and Learning
All children have log-ons to Skoolbo, and exciting
home-learning platform which supports the
National Curriculum.
We have provision in school for children to learn
the importance of caring and nurture by having a
range of school pets.
Children can learn in our forest school and we
have a fantastic adventure playground which
marked the 40th year of Peters Hill.
Our art academy enables children to the creative
and expressive and the school shop develops an
entrepreneurial attitude for our pupils.
Being Active
In both Key Stages, PE incorporates a variety
of activities, particularly Games, Dance and
Gymnastics. These activities
expand in Key Stage 2 to
include Athletics,
Outdoor and
Adventurous Activities (orienteering, residential
opportunities) and Swimming. The school are
active participants in inter-school competitions,
often with great success. Using our sports grant
we are able to support the development of PE
and sports skills weekly using the service of RB
Gym and Sports. Ryan Bradley, an international
gymnast and Commonwealth medallist supports
PE at Peters Hill weekly and his team provide an
excellent service for all pupils.
Health Education and Relationships
It has been agreed by the Governing Body to
include Sex and Relationships Education, to be
taught within a caring framework, as an aspect
of the school curriculum. Much of the work
will be taught through the Science and P.S.H.E.
curriculum, but in Years 5 & 6 it has been decided
to ensure that children are given the opportunity
to discuss growth and puberty.
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All children will also be encouraged to consider
healthy lifestyles. The School Nurse will be
involved in this work, as well as in delivering
a presentation on “Growing Up” to Years 5 &
6 in co-operation with the class teachers. The
materials used in this work will be discussed at a
presentation for parents led by the School Nurse.
Parents are then able to decide whether or not
they wish their child to take part in these lessons.
Encouraging Healthy Lifestyles
The school is a Health Promoting School.
We have water drinking fountains, a chilled
water dispenser which enables children to fill
up water bottles regularly. Our school meals
are wonderfully healthy and you are more than
welcome to come and try them. We offer regular
tasting sessions! If your child does bring
a packed lunch we encourage you to make
it as a healthy as possible.
Teaching
and Learning
12
RE
The aim of Religious Education at our school is to
enable pupils to:
• Develop a knowledge and understanding
of the nature of religion, religious beliefs,
practice and experience.
• Explore the way that religious beliefs and
experience shape life and conduct.
• Consider and engage with the Spiritual
Dimension of life.
• Realise that there are many different
religious beliefs held by people and to
respect their right to hold them.
As a parent you do have the right to withdraw your
children from Religious Education and Collective
Worship and this must be requested in writing or by
making an appointment with the Headteacher.
Teaching
and Learning
Other Subjects
We teach other subjects through Project Based
Learning (PBL) not to be confused with topic
learning. PBL is different as it is led by the
pupil’s enquiry and staff respond, planning and
negotiating to meet the questions of the pupils.
Teachers also use Kagan co-operative structures
in all lessons. This proves to increase pupil
engagement in lessons and equips them with a
range of important social skills.
Where possible we enrich our curriculum by
working in partnership with organisations
mentioned previously, but we also include a range
of visits for the children and invite visitors into
work with classes.
Last Christmas we took Year 1-6 to the
Birmingham Repertory Theatre to watch their
Christmas production on the same day, it was
amazing to see the theatre full with our children!
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There are many links between the nursery and the main school where the nursery children experience the school environment from an early stage.
Through experiencing activities such as using
the school halls for music and movement, stay
and play sessions in the Reception classes, being
involved in school events and general visits in
and around the school, the children become
familiar with the school environment which then
provides a seamless passage of transition when
they enter the Reception Year.
Our Reception team will conduct a home visit in
the first week in September to meet your child
in their home environment. This is an excellent
opportunity for families and staff to talk in an
informal and relaxed way about starting school.
Parents are also invited to a meeting in school
in the summer term to meet the EYFS team, find
out who the class teacher will be, understand
routines and expectations and ask questions.
Please see our website for more information on
induction and transition at our school.
We work really hard on this because we know
how important it is for the children and how
worrying it can be for you as parents.
Transition from
Nursery to School
14
Our aim is to ensure that we meet the needs of all individuals within our school.
Occasionally some children experience greater
difficulties than average for those in the same
age group. These children are then offered extra
support in their work and may sometimes be
identified as having Special Educational Needs.
We follow the SEN Criteria set by Local Authority.
The school implements the SEN Code of Practice
and children with difficulties are placed on the
school SEN register, which is confidential to
teachers and parents.
Their progress is closely monitored and reviewed
at regular intervals by the SEN Co-ordinator,
Senior Leadership Team, outside agencies (where
appropriate) and parents.
The school is also able to access many agencies in
order to support children with specific difficulties.
As parents you are involved with discussion
about your child, their next steps and future
support.
Special Educational
Needs Provision
15
Uniform
Smart uniform is very important at Peters Hill. The latest information can be found on our website.
Uniformity provide many of our families with an
outstanding service. Located a 2 minute walk
from the front gates, they can meet all of your
uniform requirements. They have a facebook
page “Uniformity Julie” for latest information.
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Useful
Information
In addition to this prospectus we also have information which changes on a yearly basis and is available on our website:
• Staff lists
• Timings of the school day – including attendance procedures
• Dates for the year ahead
• Uniform
• School rules – including rewards and sanctions
• Details to book places for Before and After School Clubs
• Governance information
• Map of the school
• National Curriculum Test Results
• Key school priorities
• Lunch menus and prices – including healthy food suggestions
• Complaints procedures and what to do if you have a problem
• Breakfast Club
• After School Club
• Class blogs
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Volunteering at the School
We love people to come and volunteer at our
school but not just to work with the children.
We have volunteers who do some gardening,
some who help in the office and some who help at
playtimes.
If you’d like to volunteer please let the office know
or email:[email protected] and we
will get your safeguarding check processed as
quickly as possible.
Communications to Pupils and Parents
Communication in a very big school can sometimes
prove very difficult but we try our very best.
There is a weekly newsletter, a very informative
website, twitter and notice boards around school.
School Trips
We try and give parents lots of notice of any school
educations visits. Unfortunately if we do not get
enough voluntary contributions we may have to
cancel the visit. We try wherever possible to invite
people and activities into school to reduce costs.
If you know of anyone who may be of interest to our
school either as a speaker or through their work
please let school know.
Useful
Information
18
The Year Group System
Sometimes it can be difficult to understand the Year group system, so I hope this table helps.
Year KeyStage Age
Nursery Early Years Foundation Stage Aged 3 before 1st September
Reception Aged 4 before 1st September
Year 1 Key Stage 1 Aged 5 before 1st September
Year 2 Aged 6 before 1st September
Year 3 Key Stage 2 Aged 7 before 1st September
Year 4 Aged 8 before 1st September
Year 5 Aged 9 before 1st September
Year 6 Aged 10 before 1st September
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Safety in School
All child-to-staff ratios are adhered to and all
staff, governors, contractors and visitors are DBS
checked. If you volunteer with us you will be asked
to complete a DBS form.
We often have different events happening at
our busy school and lots of people involved. It is
therefore extremely important that all visitors and
parents report to the school office unless otherwise
directed. Please do not be upset if a member of
staff asks who you are and your business within
our school, remember we are putting the safety if
your children first.
Fire drills are carried out regularly and risk
assessments are completed regularly and as and
when necessary. If you notice something that could
prove to be a Health and Safety issue please let
school know immediately. We are all responsible
for the safety of our children.
Visiting the School
We welcome visitors to our school at any time.
Please telephone the school office to make an
appointment and I or a member of the Senior
Leadership Team will only be too happy to show
you around our school.
Behaviour Policy
We make no excuses at Peters Hill that we expect
exemplary behaviour at all times.
We have simple school rules which are given to all
new children at our school and all families every
September. The parents at Peters Hill work with
us to ensure that if their child has done something
wrong that they learn from it, understand about
consequences and work towards a reward.
Manners are very important at our school and we
expect all adults to treat children with respect and
vice versa.
Useful
Information
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Equal Opportunity Statement
At Peters Hill Primary School we try to ensure that
everyone is treated fairly.
All children are given equal access to the school
and its curriculum and all at our school are
considered equal in the learning partnership.
When children have special needs we make
arrangements to inform parents and design specific
programmes to include them.
Racial Equality Statement
At Peters Hill Primary School pupils will be prepared
for life in an ethnically diverse society.
The school will work hard to promote racial equality
and harmony by preventing and challenging racism.
If anyone ever feels unjustly treated then the school
welcomes and values a response. It is in working
together that we will make our school better.
Our Promises
The following statements show just how committed the staff at Peters Hill are in ensuring your child grows and learns at Peters Hill in a safe and fair environment.
Safeguarding Children Statement
Peters Hill Primary School is committed to
safeguarding and promoting the well being of all
children and expects our staff and volunteers to
share this commitment.
The school therefore has to ensure that this
expectation becomes reality. In order to do this, a
wide range of measures are put in place.
Our Safeguarding Children Policy can be viewed in
full on our website or on request.
Ifyourequirefurtherinformation,schoolpoliciesareavailabletoviewontheschoolwebsite
www.petershillprimary.orgoronrequestattheschooloffice.
Getting in Touch
Peters Hill Primary School
Peters Hill RoadAmblecoteBrierley HillWest MidlandsDY5 2QH
Tel: 01384 816740Fax: 01384 816741
email: [email protected]
The contents of this prospectus were correct at the time of publication. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy at all times, it cannot be guaranteed that there will be no changes affecting arrangements.
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