Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided

ST. JOSEPH’S

ROMAN CATHOLIC VOLUNTARY AIDED

PRIMARY SCHOOL

GATESHEAD

SCHOOL PROSPECTUS

June 2015

CONTENTS

WORDS OF WELCOME………………………………………………………………….4

IMPORTANT INFORMATION…………………………………………………….5

AIMS OF ST JOSEPH’S………………………………………………………………..6

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND COLLECTIVE WORSHIP…….8

ST. JOSEPH’S - THE PEOPLE……………………………………………………….9

St. Joseph’s - Teaching Staff

St. Joseph’s - Non-Teaching Staff

St. Joseph’s - Non-class based Staff

St Joseph’s – The Governing Body

ST. JOSEPH’S - THE PLACE………………………………………………………..11

THE SCHOOL YEAR……………………………………………………………………….12

THE SCHOOL DAY…………………………………………………………………………13

Breakfast Club

Arrival

Playtimes

Lunchtimes

School Lunches, Packed Lunches and money in school

After School Club

BREAKDOWN OF THE SCHOOL DAY………………………………………..15

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS………………………………………………...16

Disability Discrimination Act 1995

School Organisation

Pastoral Care

Illness and the administering of medicines in school

UNIFORM………………………………………………………………………………………….19

HOW WE DELIVE THE CURRICULUMAT ST. JOSEPH’S ….20

Sex Education

Special Educational Needs

ABSENCES FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR………………………………………..22

Leave of Absence

SCHOOL RESULTS…………………………………………………………………………24

ADMISSIONS POLICY - SEPTEMBER 2016/17………………………26

ADDITIONAL NOTES…………………………………………………………………..28

Definition of Catholic

Definition of Children in the care of a Local Authority

Definition of Sibling

Churches Together in England

Tie-breaker

Right of Appeal

Home Address

Waiting Lists

Application Information

WORDS OF WELCOME

Welcome to St Joseph’s RCVAPrimary School. As a CatholicPrimary School our mission is to help your child to develop their spiritual, moral, physical and intellectual abilities. We aim to lead by example, by loving one another, valuing people for who they are and treating each other with respect and tolerance.

OUR HEADTEACHER:Mr John Hattam

OUR CHAIR OF GOVERNORSMrs Marisa Jobling

THE SCHOOL COUNCILPupils elected each year

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

ST. JOSEPH’S ROMAN CATHOLIC VOLUNTARY AIDED PRIMARY

SCHOOL

T. 0191 490 1517

Email:

GROUP DIRECTOR LEARNING

& CHILDREN & DIRECTOR OF

CHILDREN’S SERVICES

Gateshead

NE8 1HH

CHAIR OF GOVERNORS

Father Adrian Dixon

C/o St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic

Voluntary Aided Primary School

HEADTEACHER

Mr John

NUMBER ON ROLL

177

THE AIMS OF ST. JOSEPH’S

The Governors have approved a "Mission Statement" which states the school's aimsfor every pupil in the school.

“Aiming high. Caring for others as Jesus does. Everyone welcome.”

1. Ethos

Our aim is to assist everyone who is involved with the school in their faithdevelopment by helping them to be aware of God's presence in their lives, todeepen their faith and enhance their personal and emotional development.

2. Worship

We aim to develop a ‘team’ approach to Christian development by encouragingeveryone to become involved in the faith life of the school; Family, School and Parish.

3. Curriculum

Our aim is to provide a balanced curriculum which:-

• Promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development ofpupils at the school and of society.
• Prepares pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adultlife.
• Involves children in all areas of learning and expertise.
• Uses appropriate current resources for Religious Education.

4. Religious Education Curriculum

We aim to help everyone to understand the religious/spiritual dimension of life:what it is to be a Christian; what it is to be a Catholic; what it is to be areligiously committed person in today's world.

5. Relationships within School Community

Our aim is to foster and promote goodinterpersonal relationships between children, all staff - teaching and non-teaching, and parents.

6. Relationships with Home, Parish and Linkswith other Environmental Groups

Our aim is to extend our school community to be an integral part of St. Joseph'sParish and the local community and to make everyone aware that we are all part of awider world community.

We respect and value the wide diversity of backgrounds from which our childrencome.

In line with our Mission Statement, we aim to achieve high standards through acarefully planned curriculum encompassing a wide variety of activities andexperiences. We work towards creating an active and stimulating environment inwhich each child can develop to his/her full potential and become an able, confident and caring adult.

At St. Joseph’s the atmosphere

you always

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND COLLECTIVE WORSHIP

In line with our School's Mission Statement, our aims in Religious Education areto:-

• Help pupils recognise and appreciate the spiritual and religious dimensionsof life.
• Lead pupils to a deeper knowledge and understanding of the Catholictradition and ways in which it seeks to express the significance of humanlife.
• Allow space for searching and questioning leading to an awareness of otherreligious faiths and traditions.
• Challenge pupils to examine their own lives; what it is to be a Christian;what it is to be a Catholic; what it is to be a religiously committed person intoday's world.
• Help pupils to deepen their personal faith commitment and respect that ofothers.

By the end of their Primary Education, we hope that the pupils will havedeveloped a set of values by which they may judge their actions and assist intheir own personal fulfilment.

Religious growth and development is not confinedsimply to the timetabled Religious Education, but isa basic aim of the whole school experience.

Whole School Collective Worship takes place onFridays, to which parents are invited.

The Governors are required to remind parents of their right to withdraw theirchildren from religious worship and religious education. However, parents arealso reminded of the aims of the school in R.E. and, therefore, they areexpected to be in sympathy with its aims and objectives.

ST. JOSEPH’S - THE PEOPLE

ST. JOSEPH’S - TEACHING STAFF(September 2015)

Mrs C Cuskern (Deputy Headteacher)

Reception Miss L Wright

Year 1Mrs J Thompson / Mrs S Wootten

Year 2 Mrs L Robinson (Assistant Headteacher)

Year 3 Mr A Murphy

Year 4 Miss L Waite

Year 5 Mrs D Robinson

Year 6 Miss R Higgins

Non Class Based TeacherMrs S Soan (part time)

ST. JOSEPH’S - NON-TEACHING STAFF

Mrs T FrancisHigher Level Teaching Assistant

Mrs S KennyHigher Level Teaching Assistant

Mrs J MillerHigher Level Teaching Assistant

Miss E StoutHigher Level Teaching Assistant

Mrs R AkbarTeaching Assistant (SEN)

Mrs M CaseyTeaching Assistant

Mrs J ChanTeaching Assistant

Miss L RidleyTeaching Assistant

ST. JOSEPH’S - NON CLASS BASED STAFF

Ms A CaseySchool Business Manager

Mrs J CoyneAdministrative Assistant

Mrs G JarvisCook

Mrs M BradfordKitchen Assistant

Miss K BainbridgeLunchtime Supervisor

Mrs J BurnsLunchtime Supervisor

Mrs D HaydenLunchtime Supervisor

Ms N FordLunchtime Supervisor

Mrs C RenforthLunchtime Supervisor

Mrs C WatsonLunchtime Supervisor

Mrs A ThompsonCleaner

Mr A ThompsonSite Manager

ST. JOSEPH’S - THE GOVERNING BODY

Governors' Meetings are held each term in school and parents can see minutes ifthey wish. Minutes of these Meetings are available in school.

Members of the Governing Body

Governors / Type of Governor
Fr M Brown / Foundation Governor
Mr J Johnson-Dale / Parent Governor
Mrs L Hall / Foundation (Parent)
Mrs M Jobling (Chair) / Foundation (Parent)
Miss A Miles / Foundation (Parent)
Mrs H O’Donnell / Foundation (Parent)
Mrs A Tickell / Foundation (Parent)
Mrs B Hirst / Foundation
Mr J Hattam / Head Teacher Governor
Mr G Brown (Vice) / LEA Representative
Mrs C Cuskern / Staff Governor

ST. JOSEPH’S - THE PLACE

St. Joseph's is a RomanCatholicVoluntaryAidedPrimary School providing for theeducation of children from the age of 4 years to 11 years. As a Voluntary Aidedschool, the school is an integral part of St. Joseph's Parish.

The school has no nursery provision at present;however, nursery education is available in the catchment area. Children are admitted into ourReception Class once a year in the September followingtheir fourth birthday.

The Foundation/ Key Stage 1 area consists of three classrooms, Reception and Year1 and Year 2.

The Key Stage 2 area consists of four separate classroom units, two on theground floor and two on the first floor.

We have a hall for P.E., Drama and Assemblies and a separate Dining Hall where meals are served each day. All meals are cooked on the premises.

We have an all weather football pitch and a large area of playground for bothKey Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 children. Interesting games are painted on thesurface of the playground as well as netball and roundersmarkings.

Reception Class have an Outdoor Learning Area adjacent to their classroom.

A Wildlife Area has been developed in the grounds of theschool.

THE SCHOOL YEAR

School Terms 2015-16

Term Begins / Term Ends
Autumn / Tuesday 1st September 2015 / Wednesday 23rd December 2015
Spring / Thursday 7th January 2016 / Thursday 24th March 2016
Summer / Tuesday 12th April 2016 / Wednesday 20th July 2016

Half Term Holidays

Half Term Begins / Half Term Ends
Monday 26th October 2015 / Friday 30th October 2015
Monday 15th February 2016 / Friday 19th February 2016
Monday 30th May 2016 / Friday 3rd June 2016

Monday 1st September 2015SCHOOL CLOSEDINSET day

Friday 29th January 2016SCHOOL CLOSEDINSET day

Friday 29th April 2016SCHOOL CLOSEDINSET day

Monday 2nd May 2016 SCHOOL CLOSEDBank Holiday

Friday 24th June 2016SCHOOL CLOSEDOccasional Day

All dates given above are inclusive

THE SCHOOL DAY

BREAKFAST CLUB

We run a breakfast club each morning from 8.15 am. Children can come intoschool for breakfast (cereal, toast, fruit/fruit juice) supervised by teaching assistants – we charge a nominal £1.50 each day (children who are in receipt of Free School Meals can attend free of charge). We also run RM Maths from8:15 am. This is a computer based Maths Club for Year 5 and Year 6 and is freeof charge.

ARRIVAL

School begins at 8.50 am. Staff are in school before thistime. Parents are requested not to send their children to school too early in themornings. The bell rings and doors are open at 8.50 am and children can come into school fromthat time.

As with many schools, parking can be a problem. Parents are asked not to park inthe front car park as deliveries are being made throughout the day and it is verydangerous for children to be in this area. Children, therefore, have their ownentrance doors on the south side of the school.

All Foundation and Key Stage 1 children must be collectedat 3.05 pm. Parents sometimes allow their Key Stage 2children to walk home with friends.

PLAYTIMES

We ask parents not to allow their children to bring sweetsto school.

If children need a snack at playtime, fruitis permissible as we try to encourage thechildren to eat in a healthy manner. Fruitis provided free of charge for Reception,Year 1 and Year 2.

LUNCHTIMES

Midday staff supervise the children at lunchtimes. The school library is open atlunchtimes and books may be borrowed to take home. Key Stage 2 children areallowed to play on the all weather football pitch at lunchtimes provided theyhave a change of outdoor footwear. Some playground equipment is provided e.g. skipping ropes, quoits and hoops.

SCHOOL LUNCHES, PACKED LUNCHES AND MONEY IN

SCHOOL

Children in Reception Class, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to a free school lunch under the Universal Infant Free School Meal scheme introduced in September 2014.

For parents in Key Stage 2 payment for school lunches should be made on the first day of the week. Moneyshould be sent in an envelope or purse marked clearly with the child's name. School lunches are currently £2.00 per day.

Excellent school meals are cooked on the premises and served in the dining room. Packed lunches are eaten in the dining room at the same time as school lunches. We request that no sweets or chocolate bars are put into packed lunches in linewith our Healthy Eating Policy.

Special diets can be catered for on completion of documentation from the school office staff.

Additional funding is available to school for children who are entitled to Means Tested Free meals. Information can be found on our school website about this and applications should be made to the Benefits Department at Gateshead Civic Centre.

AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS

We also offer a wide range of extra curricula activitiese.g. :-

• Sports Club*
• Multiskills*
• First Aid
• Craft
• Karate*
• Basketball*
• Maths Mania
• Homework Club

* A nominal cost of £1.50 per week is charged for these clubs.

BREAKDOWN OF THE SCHOOL DAY

Key Stage 1 / Key Stage 2
Morning / 8:50 / 12:00 / 8:50 / 12:15
Afternoon / 12:45 / 3:05 / 1:00 / 3:05
Morning Break / 10:30 / 10:45 / 10:30 / 10:45
Afternoon Break / 2:15 / 2:30 / Not Applicable

Teaching of Religious Education comprises 10% of our timetable

Key Stage 1 / Key Stage 2
Overall teaching hours per week * / 23 hours and 5 minutes / 24 hours and 20 minutes
Recommended minimum teaching time per week ** / 21 hours / 23 hours 30 minutes

* Excluding registration

** Secretary of State for Education

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Any parent considering sending their children toSt Joseph’s School may telephone the HeadTeacher at any time during school hours and iswelcome to make arrangements to visit theschool with their children. The Head Teacherwill give them a copy of the School Brochure andmake them aware of the Admissions Policy.

During the Summer Term, prior to joining the Reception Class, new entrants areinvited to spend a session in school. This helps the children to becomefamiliar with their teachers, classroom and school.

Intake to the Reception Class is staggered so that the transition between home/nursery/school is gradual. We encourage all children to stay at school for lunchfrom the day they are admitted.

DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT 1995

At St Joseph’s GatesheadPrimary School we are fully committed to providing afully accessible environment which values and includes all pupils, staff, parentsand visitors regardless of their education, physical, social and cultural needs. We are further committed to challenging attitudes about disability andaccessibility and to developing a culture of awareness, tolerance and inclusion.

We plan to increase accessibility provision for all pupils, staff, parents andvisitors to St Joseph’s GatesheadPrimary School through our accessibility planwhich can be obtained from the Head Teacher. We have disabled toilet facilities andwheelchair access ramps at the school. A disabled parking area is located at the front of the school.

SCHOOL ORGANISATION

Classes are arranged in chronologicalyear groups and each child is in a yeargroup with his/her peers according toage. Currently we have no mixed agegroups. We have 7 classes: - 1 Foundation Stage (Reception), 2 Key Stage 1 (infants) and 4 Key Stage 2(juniors).

Year / Number of Children
(June 2015)
Reception / 29
Year 1 / 30
Year 2 / 30
Year 3 / 27
Year 4 / 30
Year 5 / 28
Year 6 / 27

PASTORAL CARE

The Head Teacher has overall responsibility for the social and personaldevelopment of all of the children. Class teachers have responsibility for thepastoral care of their children assisted by the Teaching Assistants.

The relationship between the class teacher and the child is very important and,therefore, if a child is poorly during the day, it will be the class teacher to whom heor she turns. In the case of an accident, we make every effort to contact thechild's parents, but if this is not possible, an injured child will be taken to hospitalby a member of staff and a Teaching Assistant.

It is essential that emergency phonenumbers are made available on which parents can becontacted when required urgently. Theschool should be informed of any changes.

Parents are asked to contact the Head Teacher about any problem concerning their child.

The school has close links with the Educational Welfare Officer, Schools'

Psychological Services and Medical Services.

ILLNESS AND THE ADMINISTERING OF MEDICINES IN

SCHOOL

We request that parents do not send their children to school if they are unwell.

Medicines will only be administered to a child during the school day under special circumstances and must be approved by the Headteacher. The medicine must be labelled clearly with the child’s name, be in its original container and the dosage must be clearly stated. Please refer to our school website for full details of our ‘Managing Medicines’ Policy.

If a child is asthmatic and needs to bring an inhaler to school for use during the day, he/sheneeds to know how to use it properly. Children will be allowed to keep their blue inhaler in class but it must be clearly marked with the child’s name.

Parents sending any medicines to school need to fill out the appropriatedocumentation available at the school office.

UNIFORM

We expect children to come to school clean, tidy and respectably dressed. Weask children to wear a school uniform which is practical and smart. The agreeduniform is –

Boys / Girls
Yellow polo shirt / Yellow polo shirt
Royal Blue sweatshirt / Royal Blue sweatshirt or cardigan
Grey or black trousers / Grey pinafore or skirt or grey or black trousers

Girls may wear blue and white chequered dresses during the summerterm.

Black school shoes should be worn as part of our school uniform. Trainers are to be worn only for sporting activities.

Items of school uniform can be ordered online from tesco.com/ues. Alternatively the school can ordersweatshirts, cardigans, polo shirts and fleece jackets bearing the school logo andname. A sample of various sizes is available in school for children to ‘try on’ forsize.

Children are required to have a white t-shirt, a pair of black shorts and a pair of sandshoes for P.E. Children, in Key Stage 2, who wish to play on the school field will also require an extra pair of trainers. These items should be clearly marked and keptin a bag in school at all times. No watches or jewellery can be worn during anyP.E. activities.

Earrings or other jewellery are not allowed. Children should not come to school wearing makeup or nail polish.

For safety, hair should be neatly and securely tied back. We would like you to help us to actively discourage children from having patterns shaved into their hair as this can be distracting for other children and is not in keeping with the image we wish to present at St. Joseph’s.

HOW WE DELIVER THECURRICULUM AT ST. JOSEPH’S

At St.Joseph’s we believe that all learning should take place in a caring environmentin which parents and the community have an important role to play.

Our aim is to involve children, regardless of age, sex or ethnic origin.

The curriculum emphasises activity and experience whilst incorporating thestatutory guidelines of the National Curriculum. It enables the development ofappropriate skills and strategies for learning and it encourages children todevelop the social skills necessary for forming positive relationships.

Children are taught in single age classes organised into 3 key stages; Early Years, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. At St Joseph’s we follow the National Curriculum for England, a copy of which can be found at