ABOUT US
A foundation for all-round excellence, designed with mindfulness at its heart
The Dharma Primary School is the first primary school in the UK to be based on Buddhist principles. The school opened it doors in Brighton in September 1994. It was conceived by a group of parents who spent many happy times at the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery family camps in Hertfordshire. The pilot scheme for a primary school was established in the front room of a house in Sussex with four pupils.
Since then, the Dharma Primary School has gone from strength to strength and in June 1995 with an increase in pupils the school moved to its present location at The White House, in Patcham, Brighton, a 1930’s detached house set in its own grounds. Currently the school has more than 75 pupils on the roll from three to eleven years of age spread over five classes.
Ethos and Vision
We intend that our pupils leave our school with a good heart, sound ethical values and a sense of responsibility combined with the academic and social skills that enable them to make a successful transition into secondary education. We hope our pupils will then go on to act in ways that will help to create a more compassionate, intelligent and peaceful world.
Children are introduced to the benefit of stillness through regular meditation practice enabling them to develop a reflective understanding of themselves, their life and the world around them. We discuss key Buddhist teachings to help children understand cause and effect, cooperation and change;also known as karma, interdependence and impermanence.
Core Objectives
-To guide students to develop mindfulness, wisdom and compassion through the sharing of Buddhist teachings and practices.
-To provide a sound academic education, which is informed by the National Curriculum and enables children to learn and be challenged in ways that accord with their needs and potential.
-To foster self-esteem by teaching emotional literacy and problem solving skills and enabling children to learn from and transform conflict.
-To constantly strive to create a nurturing environment in which a love of learning is fostered, and positive, respectful relationships are developed among and between all tiers of the school: children, staff, parent community and trustees.
THE STAFF
In the safe, secure environment of a small community school, our committed, skilled staff are dedicated to helping children excel. Working together they provide a rounded academic education informed by the National Curriculum, but with the flexibility and creativity to respond to the children’s needs, talents and interests.
Almost all of our 27 teaching staff work part-time and share their classes. This is an approach that has evolved over the years and we believe brings renewed energy to the classroom and a diversity of skills and interests to a small school.
This year the staff will begin an ambitious piece of work revisiting the school’s ethos and curriculum with the intention of developing, refining and then publishing a Dharma Primary School curriculum. How do you teach maths mindfully? How do you bring the dharma into sport? How can literacy embrace the Noble truths? This is something we hope to develop and share with the wider educational community.
We asked our staff why they chose to come to the Dharma Primary School. Here are some of their replies:
“A desire to work with children in an atmosphere that means there is time for the individual.”
“The chance to be a part of something so special and unique.”
“A deep commitment to and love of teaching, coupled with the opportunity to take part in the creation of a unique curriculum truly underpinned by the Buddhist ethos of the school.”
THE CHILDREN
Most children join the school in reception but there are many who arrive later on, possibly from home-schooling environments or the mainstream system. The school is very experienced at smoothing these transitions, allowing the children to rapidly settle in and thrive.
A cherished characteristic of the school is the mixing that occurs between year groups and the close friendships that result – it is not uncommon to find a 4-year-old inviting a 10-year-old to their birthday party. This is encouraged by our vertical grouping system, with two year groups in each class, and by interclass projects such as reading buddies.
From the Dharma Primary School, children make successful transitions to secondary education with most moving on to local state secondary schools and a few to the independent sector. Secondary schools often comment on how confident, expressive and emotionally intelligent our children are.
Job Description
Job title: SEN INA(individual needs’ assistant)
Reports to: Class Teacher and SENCo (line manager).
Purpose: To contribute to the provision of a high quality of education and welfare within The Dharma Primary School by working in partnership with class teachers, to support a child with an EHCP.
Key responsibilities:
1.To offer one-to-one support for a child with Downs Syndrome, assisting inclass work and integrating her into the classroom routines.
2.Carry out playground break supervision observing and intervening appropriately to ensure the child is playing happily, safely and securely.
For instance, by:
?Being a positive role model in behaviour
?Reinforcing the teacher’s expectations and the school Buddhist ethos and boundaries
?Initiating interactions with other children if appropriate
?Having due regard for safeguarding: watching for signs and reporting any concerns to the class teacher/Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
3. Ensuring the physical classroom environment is such that the child is able to learn within a welcoming, clean, tidy, well-ordered and supportive learning environment.
For instance, by:
?Assisting in setting up relevant activities for the session and child
?Tidying at the end of the session
?Checking that the classroom is clean and safe for the child.
3.4. Work in partnership with the class teacher and SENCo to support them in teaching activities, adapting where necessary and implementing the IEP(individual education plan) and to follow the terms of the EHCP (educational health and care plan) such that the outcomes are achieved.
For instance, by:
- Discussing with the class teacher plans for the day
- Filing, photocopying and gathering resources to support those activities
- Assisting with record-keeping and observations of child.
- Attending and assisting with school trips within your employed hours
- Assisting the child you are supporting to settle into the classroom
- Communicating with parents with care and consideration and, if necessary, informing them of incidents, (for instance, of an accident)
- Withdrawing from the class for small group or individual sessions
5. Support the class teacher to carry out their responsibilities by working with the child individually, in a group, or as a whole class so that in partnership with the class teacher the child’s education and well-being is optimised.
6. Observe and intervene to support the child with their education and well-being.
For instance, by:
?Helping the child you are supporting to listen and concentrate
?Assisting with the emotional and learning needs of the child
7. Work as an integral part of the school staff team by keeping informed of school policies, procedures, plans and activities so you are able to work with a knowledge and wider awareness.
For instance, by:
?Reading relevant information (eg. School Newsletters, staff noticeboard, letters, minutesand memoranda etc.), the staff handbook
8. Take care of own continuing professional development by taking advantage of planned and incidental self-development opportunities in order to maintain and improve the contribution made to the education and well-being of the children within the context of the school’s Buddhist ethos. (including whole-school INSET)
For instance, by:
?Undertaking statutory training
?Asking for advice and support to resolve problems and to adhere to the school’s Buddhist ethos
?In liaison with the class teacher, using your own talents and strengths to contribute to the child’s education
9. Meeting with child’s parents as required to ensure the best learning and support strategies for the child.
For instance by:
?Writing a regular home/school diary to keep communication open and up to date.
- Involvement in the child’s report and progress assessments.
SEN 1:1 Individual Needs’ Assistant
Person Specification
Qualifications & training:Essential: A good standard of spoken English
Desirable: Childcare qualification (not essential). Relevant experience working with children with special needs, especially Downs syndrome.
Experience:
Essential: The ability to develop positive working relationships with pupils and colleagues, especially your INA colleague.
Desirable: Relevant experience of working with children with special needs (paid or voluntary)
Special skills and knowledge:
Essential:
Desirable: Knowledge and understanding of the needs of children with Downs syndrome
Key capabilities:
Essential: The ability and openness to be flexible in your working practice.
Ability to work within and apply all school policies e.g. behaviour management, Health & Safety, Equal Opportunities, Child Protection and Safeguarding
Ability to work effectively with colleagues, outside agencies and parents
Desirable:
Other requirements:
Essential: Willingness to fit into the ethos of the school and to develop further knowledge of Buddhism and practice especially in regards to mindfulness and working with children in the school.
Willingness to participate in training and developmental opportunities.
Ability and willingness to maintain confidentiality on all school matters.
Desirable: