Our History
Our School was first established in 1841 as a Church of England National School to convey the 3R's and scriptures to the poorer children in the area.

In 1976 it became a First School and now admits children of between 4 and 9 years of age. It is a Voluntary controlled school, which means the Church of England is represented on the Governing body and close links are maintained with St. Mary's Church.

The school is situated at the foot of Brent Knoll. The historic church on one side and the slopes of Brent Knoll on the other provides an excellent setting for a wide variety of curriculum studies around the school. The original school building, which is now a listed building contains the hall, whilst the Infant and Junior classes are housed in two separate buildings.

The school currently has 75 pupils on roll organised in 3 class groups. There are 3 teachers plus the Headteacher. At present the Headteacher teaches for part of the week only, to allow her time to deal with the management of the school, curriculum development and administration.

Availability of Information
This web page can give only a cursory picture of East Brent Church of England First School. More detailed information is available at the school should you require it. General policy statements by both the school and local authority, statistical material and schemes of work are available for viewing. If a copy is required a charge will be made to cover reprographic costs.

Cheddar Valley Community Learning Partnership
The school is a member of the Cheddar Valley Community Learning Partnership, which is committed to building the capacity of the Cheddar Valley Schools to improve standards and develop learning opportunities for staff, pupils and their families. This partnership receives some LEA funding. The partnership encourages the smooth transition of children between schools. All the schools work closely together on curriculum coverage and joint projects to raise standards across the partnership.

Starting School
Children starting school for the first time are invited to school on several occasions during the summer term to meet their new teacher and the other children. Evening meetings are held with parents to explain classroom routines and procedures and give parents an opportunity to discuss matters relating to their child.
The school enjoys close links with East Brent Pre-school group which meets at the school on Friday mornings throughout the year. This enables young children to become familiar with the buildings, other children and the staff. This is a great advantage and encourages the children to settle more quickly when admitted to school. The reception class teacher also liaises with other local pre-school providers and visits them in the summer term.
In September reception children are phased into school over a period of several weeks, for morning or afternoon sessions initially, staying to lunch then full time. We aim for all Reception children to be in full-time education by October half term at the latest.
Children who join the school at any other time are invited to visit the school, to spend time with their class and meet their teacher.

Admissions
East Brent Church of England First School accepts:

Children of 4+ years of age into the Reception year
Children of 5+ years of age into Year One
Children of 6+ years of age into Year Two
Children of 7+ years of age into Year Three
Children of 8+ years of age into Year Four

The L.E.A is the admission authority for this school and places are allocated in accordance with their published arrangements. A copy of these arrangements can be obtained by ringing Parentline on 0845 6045555. All calls are charged at local rates.

Our Aims
We aim to

• create a positive, happy, safe and stimulating environment which will allow each child to feel safe, confident and valued so that he/she will be able to develop intellectually, socially, physically, emotionally, spiritually, culturally and morally to the fullest possible degree
  
• establish a supportive family atmosphere in which the role and worth of every member of the school community, both adult and child, is valued and respected regardless of their origin, race, creed or colour
  
• develop in each child a sense of community and their role within it, helping them to develop a sense of self respect and sensitivity to others and to become responsible, independent individuals who will develop into well-rounded, thoughtful citizens of East Brent , Somerset, the U.K and the world.
  
• promote an understanding of the meaning, significance and values of the Christian faith, as well as an empathy for the religious , spiritual, cultural and moral values of others.
  
• promote self-discipline, good manners and a positive sense of moral responsibility
  
• establish positive partnerships between home, school, other local schools and the wider community
  
• provide a broad, balanced and well structured curriculum, which gives all children equality of opportunity and enables each child to attain his/her full potential
  
• promote an enjoyment of, and a commitment to learning, instilling in individuals a desire to contribute whatever skills, talents and abilities they may have and the willingness to make the effort needed to acquire new knowledge and skills so that pleasure in learning can be felt
  
• develop independent learners, encouraging children to take increasing responsibility for their own learning and stimulating them to have enquiring minds about the world in which they live, to ask questions and seek answers, to think logically and creatively, to develop a point of view and to understand and accept that others may see things differently

OFSTED
The School received a very positive OFSTED inspection in June 2006, a summary of which can be found on the documents page of this website. Considerable progress has been made on the key issues and an update on the OFSTED action plan is available form the school.

Pastoral Care
Should you be concerned about any aspect of your child's work, behaviour or school life, please contact the office as soon as possible so that an appointment can be made for a full discussion, outside normal teaching hours when the class teacher or Headteacher will be able to give you undivided attention. A brief mention to the secretary of the main cause for concern will help the teacher to be fully prepared, and all conversations will be treated in strict confidence.

Experience has taught us that it is better to discuss problems at an early stage, so please don't hesitate to contact us, however small the matter may seem. Please restrict conversations before school to small routine matters, as the class teachers are inevitably involved with other children.

Behaviour in School
We believe that the promotion of good behaviour, the development of self-respect and respect for others is a vital part of a child's education. It is one of the most important ways in which we help to ensure that all members of the school community feel happy, safe and valued and are able to benefit fully from the opportunities available to them - intellectually, emotionally, socially and morally. It is vital that every child is aware of what is expected of him or her ensuring that children are free to learn and teachers to teach in a calm, orderly atmosphere.
Each class has its own set of rules which have been decided upon with the children. They are displayed in the classroom and discussed regularly to ensure everyone understands the rule and the reason behind it.
The class rules reflect the school's code of conduct and are consistent with the following:

• We are kind & friendly.
• We look after ourselves and other people.
  
• Speak kindly.
• Move carefully.
• Everyone matters.
  
• We try our best at work & play.
• We are honest.
• I can take my turn..
  
• We look after our school and everything in it.
• Look listen, learn.

Throughout the school praise and encouragement are used to develop and reinforce good behaviour. The school uses a reward system that results in the children gaining silver and gold certificates. When dealing with inappropriate behaviour all adults use a consistent approach. Every effort is made to establish the cause of the behaviour and to explain to the child why their behaviour is unacceptable. If the behaviour continues the child may suffer a loss of privilege e.g. move place and the incident may be referred to the class or Head teacher. In the rare event of your child being involved in a serious incident or repeated inappropriate behaviour you will be invited into school to discuss your child's behaviour so we can work together to solve the problem.

Members of staff are always willing to discuss either your child's behaviour or general issues about behaviour in the school with you and we appreciate your support in reinforcing the school rules. If you would like more information please ask to see a copy of the school's Behaviour Policy.

Bullying
We recognise that many parents are concerned about bullying. By creating a caring community conducive to good behaviour we trust the occurrences of bullying will be rare. Nevertheless we believe it is important that our children are given opportunities to discuss bullying and the likely outcomes. Any evidence and reports of bullying are taken very seriously and our policy is to deal with incidents quickly, effectively and sensitively. Staff will involve not only the bully, but also the victim, the child's peers and the parents in the process in order to solve the immediate problem and provide appropriate support for all those involved.

Anti Racist Policy
The school has adopted the LEA policy for Anti racist education.

Child Protection Policy
This was revised in 2002 and has 2 purposes:

• to establish & maintain systems and procedures which enable the effective management of child protection issues and subsequent referrals.
  
• to help abuse by helping pupils acquire the relevant information skills and attitudes to resist abuse in their own lives.

ICT and the Acceptable Use of the Inter/Intranet
All classes have access to the Internet. Parents are asked to sign permission slips.

School Website
The school currently has a web site www.eastbrentfirstschool.co.uk It is also linked to the Cheddar Valley Schools Website.

Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Education
The school is currently adopting a new policy and scheme of work for Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs education under the umbrella of Personal, Social and Health Education.

Curriculum - Governors' Statement of Curricular Aims
In broad terms our aim is to provide a curriculum which:

• is suitable for the age, ability and aptitude of each child and ensures equality of opportunity.
  
• fulfills National Curriculum requirements.
  
• encourages the development of the whole child and meets their intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual, physical and moral needs.
  
• fosters a love of learning and gives a sense of enjoyment and fulfilment.
  
• provides a firm foundation for the future and prepares each child for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.

In particular we aim to:

• develop each child's ability to listen attentively and with understanding; communicate clearly in speech and writing in ways appropriate to different purposes and to read fluently with understanding and discrimination
  
• help each child learn how to acquire information from various sources and to record information and discoveries in a suitable way
  
• develop each child's mathematical skills and understanding and their ability to apply mathematical ideas accurately to everyday situations
  
• develop an interest in and understanding of science and technology and an appreciation of its increasing contribution to all aspects of life
  
• develop skills in Information and Communications Technology to support and enhance learning activities at home and at school
  
• develop an interest in the past and introduce historical concepts
  
• develop geographical skills and understanding through the study of places and the people who live in them
  
• provide opportunities for each child to express themselves through music, drama, art and craft activities
  
• provide opportunities for the each child to develop physical co-ordination and confidence in all sporting activities and to understand the value of co-operation, teamwork and competition
  
• promote an understanding of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle
  
• help each child to develop a respect for religious and moral values and tolerance towards their fellow human beings regardless of race, creed or colour
  
• develop each child's awareness of social, economic, environmental and political issues and help them to acquire a reasoned set of attitudes and values so they can become thoughtful and informed members of the community and society.
  

Content and Organisation of the Curriculum
The curriculum to which every child is entitled is laid down by Government statute in the National Curriculum. This provides a framework of development for every child as he/she moves through each phase of school education. Children will follow the National Curriculum which was revised in September 2000. The National Curriculum includes Religious Education, 4 core subjects- English, Maths, ICT and Science, and 6 foundation subjects - Art, History, Geography, Music, Physical Education, Design & Technology. A very welcome addition to the new National Curriculum is Personal, Social, Health Education & Citizenship which we believe to be a vital part of a child's education.. There is a Foundation Stage Curriculum which is followed in the Reception year. This builds on the work children have been doing in their Pre-school groups and leads onto their study of the National Curriculum, which they officially begin in the term after they are Five. Close liaison takes place between Hugh Sexey Middle School and East Brent Church of England First School to ensure the curriculum at Key Stage 2 is covered fully and staff meet regularly to agree standards of work within the Cheddar Valley against National criteria.

Throughout the school English, Maths, RE, PE and Music are usually taught as separate subjects and timetabled in each class to occupy the appropriate amount of teaching time. History, Geography, Science and Technology are often taught as part of a topic, but a careful check is kept to ensure that the correct balance is given to each subject. Information and Communication Technology is taught as a separate subject, but its use is encouraged and developed in all aspects of the curriculum.

From time to time children join with other local First Schools to embark on joint curriculum activities such as the Cheddar Valley Music Festival and joint sports days.

The development of Language skills: speaking, listening, writing and reading are fundamental to all the work we do.
Throughout the school, specific literacy teaching is based on the National Literacy Strategy.

Reading is taught through guided and shared reading sessions with the aid of a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books. We always try to convey to the children that all books are "reading books" and are a source of information, entertainment and pleasure.

Written work is for a variety of purposes including stories, poems, letters, leaflets, newspaper articles and other factual reports. Spelling, punctuation and general grammar are taught and handwriting receives regular practice.
Work in Mathematics follows the National Numeracy strategy, ensuring continuity and progression throughout the school. Much emphasis is placed on the development of Mental skills and the children are encouraged to use and apply their mathematical knowledge in practical and problem solving situations.

A practical "hands on " approach is used to teach Science. Children are given a wide range of experiences and are encouraged to think as scientists, observing, classifying, measuring, predicting, recording, communicating testing ideas and drawing conclusions.

Design & Technology is taught throughout the curriculum and is used to support and enhance the children's learning. All classes have access to computers and children are able to use them to practise a specific skill, for word processing, as databases, for problem solving, to carry out research or communicate with others.

Opportunities for Creative activity are provided in Music, Art and Craft, Movement and Drama. Display's of children's work form an important part of the learning environment. Performances of music and drama are prepared throughout the year, either for other children in the school or parents and our annual Christmas productions are a high spot of the year. Children in Years 3 and 4 also take part in the joint Cheddar Valley Music Festival with other local First Schools.

Physical Education ensures the physical well being and development of the children. A broad and balanced skill building programme is provided from Reception to Year Four, including Gymnastics, Dance, Athletics and Games. Children in Years 3 and 4 are also offered swimming lessons. These are held at Cheddar Pool and parents are asked to make a voluntary contribution towards the cost. Additional sporting activities are provided through After- school clubs.

Sex Education At a Governors' meeting in Autumn 2003 it was decided that Sex Education would not be taught as a separate subject and the aspect of the Science National Curriculum which deals with the child's own sexuality will be covered at Hugh Sexey Middle School. However, there will be a policy of sensitively answering pupil's questions in a simple and straightforward way, which will be appropriate to the pupil's age and understanding. Animal and plant reproduction will be taught at a level appropriate to the age of the children.

Religious Education is in accordance with the provisions of the agreed syllabus, published by the education authority. It is designed to promote an understanding and respect for the religious beliefs of people in our own community and beyond. We aim to help children understand that there is a spiritual aspect to people's lives and encourage them to seek for purpose and meaning in day to day relationships.

Collective Worship We are very proud of our Church of England Foundation and as well as Religious Education we have some time each day which is Collective Worship. The pattern and purpose of our acts of worship reflect the Christian foundation and character of the school and will usually include a prayer, a spiritual song, short periods of quietness or stillness as well as appropriate stories or poems.

We celebrate the main festivals of the Christian calendar - Easter, Harvest and Christmas- and have close links with St Mary's Church. Father Martin (Rector) and other members of the church are regular visitors to school and for festivals and special occasions services may be held in the church.

On Friday we hold a "Celebration assembly" when children's achievements are praised and celebrated by the whole school. Parents and friends are invited to join us for Family Assemblies.

Under the provisions of the Education Reform Act 1988 all parents have the right to withdraw a child from the school's daily act of collective worship, or from Religious Education. Any parents wishing to do so should consult the Headteacher.

Teaching Methods
Teachers use a variety of styles and techniques in order to enhance their effectiveness. Schools T.V & radio programmes and visits to places outside the school are encouraged, to provide additional stimuli for classroom work.
Children may be asked to work alone or to collaborate as part of a group. They are encouraged to be responsive contributors and active learners. We have high expectations of our pupils and seek to achieve them by developing the children's self esteem through praise and encouragement.

Assessment
Assessment is a vital part of the teaching and learning process and forms part of the daily classroom routine. Staff are continuously assessing children's work so they can monitor progress, diagnose weaknesses, set targets and plan future learning.

Assessment books are used throughout the school enabling parents and children to share in this assessment process. Teachers identify particular activities as key assessment opportunities and the work is recorded in the Assessment book and the book is then taken home. The assessment activities are based on the topics your child has been studying in class and should give you an increased understanding of what your child is able to do and what the next steps need to be. Your child will use this book about twice a year throughout his/her time in this school, so that it will eventually form a continual record of progress.

As well as this on-going assessment, we also undertake the Foundation Stage Profile which is used for assessment during the reception year. and Statutory Assessment Tasks or Tests, at the end of Key Stage 1 -Year 2. Also optional SATS are held in Years 3 and 4.

These are statutory assessments, which provide us with a "snapshot" of your child's abilities and achievements at a particular moment in time. They provide us with a Baseline of statistical information on which we can base targets for future achievements and against which we can monitor achievement.

Parents are always informed of the outcomes of their child's achievements. When children transfer to another school, accurate information about their achievements in relation to the National Curriculum is passed to the receiving school.

Special Educational Needs

At East Brent Church of England First School, we believe that children are individuals and learn at different rates. Some children need support throughout their school life, while others need an occasional boost. Whatever your child's needs we aim to support him or her to ensure he or she reaches his or her full potential.
Children with specific or general learning difficulties are identified as early as possible. An Individual Education Plan may be devised which highlights the specific needs and gives a structured plan for support. Once a child has been identified he/she will be monitored using the County's Assessment Procedure. Parents will be involved in the assessment process and will be kept informed at all times.

Support is usually provided by the class teacher or learning support assistant working under the guidance of the school's Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator. It may take the form of in-class support or, where necessary, children may be withdrawn for small group or one-to-one support. When appropriate the advice of the County Special Needs Team, Speech Therapist and Educational Psychologist is sought, always with the knowledge and consent of parents.

A similar scheme exists for Able children. A register of Able children is held by the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator and appropriate activities provided to extend and develop the children's skills, knowledge and understanding.

General Information

The School Day
Children are supervised in the playground from 8.50am and should not arrive before this time.
The School day starts at 9am. The lunchtime break is from 12.15pm until 1.15pm. There is a short break in the morning for everyone and in the afternoon for KS1. School finishes at 3.15pm.

The hours spent on teaching during a normal week are 21 hours 40 minutes for Key stage 0ne and 23 hours 30 minutes for Key Stage Two. The remaining time includes breaks, registration and the daily act of collective worship.
Break time: Children may bring fruit to eat at break time (no crisps, chocolates or sweets please). Toys, books and games may be brought but no liability is accepted for loss or damage. We believe it is an important part of a child's education to learn to take responsibility for their personal belongings.
Lunch time: At present all the children stay to lunch. They are supervised by Lunchtime assistants.
A free school meal in the form of a cold packed lunch is available for children whose parents receive Income support or Job seekers allowance - Income based please see Mrs Currie (School secretary) for more details. All other children are asked to bring a packed lunch and a drink in a suitable container.

Bringing and Collecting your Child
Access to the school is via the path next to the Church. We have no right of way along Rossholme's drive. At the end of the day, please wait for your child at the bottom of the playground, where their teacher will bring them to you. If you have to come by car please exercise extreme caution when parking and leaving nearby roads and avoid driveways.

Transport
A minibus is provided for those children under 8 years of age, who live more than two miles from the school, but within the catchment area. Parents who think their child might be eligible should speak to Mrs Currie for further information.

Health and Sickness in School

Illness: Please inform us if your child suffers from any medical condition that could interfere with the learning process and or be a danger to the child. If your child becomes ill during the day we will telephone you to collect him or her. When your child starts school you will be asked to provide a daytime telephone number where you may be contacted. This should be up-dated as necessary. Please do not send your child to school if there is any doubt about his/her state of health.

Giving Medicine: We prefer not to administer medicines. If medicine has to be brought to school it should be in a small dosage container, clearly labelled with the child's name and dosage. The medicine should be handed to the class teacher by the parent. Wherever possible parents are encouraged to come into school to administer the medicine themselves. The teachers will endeavour to follow instructions, of course, but the school accepts no responsibility either for remembering or giving the required dosage.
Asthma: We encourage children who suffer from asthma to bring their inhalers to school. If your child has been prescribed an inhaler, please notify the class teacher in writing and include any instructions for the use of the inhaler and any advice which might be helpful if you child suffers an attack in school. The inhaler should be clearly labelled with your child's name. It will then be kept in a place that is easily accessible, so your child can get it and use it as required.

Accidents:However closely the children are supervised accidents do occasionally happen. First aid is given as necessary and if a medical opinion or further treatment is considered advisable parents will be contacted immediately. We currently have 8 trained First Aiders on the staff.

Head lice: Unfortunately we do have outbreaks of head lice from time to time. Regular combing and checking appears to be the only way to prevent this. Please check your child's hair regularly and notify us immediately if anything untoward is discovered. In this way we hope to prevent recurrent re-infestation.

Medical checks: From time to time certain year groups receive hearing, dental and vision checks from the appropriate county personnel, You will, of course, be notified before any checks occur.

Attendance/Absence/Holidays
We hope it goes without saying that good attendance is essential if a child is to make the most of their educational opportunities. If your child is going to be absent because of illness or treatment please telephone Mrs Currie in the school office by 9am to explain the circumstances.

If the absence is going to be for a family holiday, please ask for a "holiday form" from the school office. These holidays should not normally exceed two weeks in one academic year.
Please note the Headteacher is not empowered to give permission for children to be absent from school except for reasons of sickness, medical or dental treatment or an urgent family crisis. Absences for parties, outings or shopping trips are not permitted under county regulations.

Extra-Curricular Activities
As a school we are not only concerned with the academic development of the child, but with the child as a whole person. What ever your child's talents we aim to give them the opportunity to discover, explore and develop them. With that in mind we have a variety of extra-curricular activities, which are provided on a voluntary basis by members of staff and friends of the school. At present we have the following:

• Music Club - for Years 1 to 4, providing opportunities for singing and percussion playing and for performing in school and the local Highbridge Festival of the Arts.
  
• Sports Club - run by Miss Claridge This club gives boys and girls in Years 3 and 4 the opportunity to experience and develop skills in hockey, cricket, football and other team games.
  
• Country Dancing - this is available for Years 2, 3 & 4.
  
• Art & Crafts Club for Years 2, 3 & 4.
  

Clubs may vary from time to time and details are published each term.
As well as these school based activities Year 4 have the chance to go on a residential trip. This gives them the opportunity to experience a range of outdoor activities such as orienteering as well as enabling them to develop valuable personal and social skills.

Somerset Music
Throughout the school children are encouraged to sing with confidence and play simple instruments. Additional instrumental tuition is available through the Somerset Music Scheme. At present children are learning violin and recorder. A termly charge is made for this tuition. Further details available from Mrs Hector or Mrs Currie.

School Uniform
This uniform is not compulsory, but children are encouraged to wear uniform at school and on school occasions. We find most parents prefer to dress their children as follows:

Girls
White/maroon blouse or polo shirt
Grey skirt or Pinafore
Pink or Wine coloured checked dress
Wine coloured Jumper/cardigan or School sweatshirt*
Shoes or sandals (no trainers please)

Boys
White/maroon shirt or polo shirt
Grey/black trousers or shorts
Wine coloured Jumper or School sweatshirt*
Shoes (no trainers please)

Boys and Girls
All children should have a PE bag containing:
T. Shirt
Shorts
Gym shoes

* These items are available from the school office.

Jewellery such as bracelets, necklaces and watches should not be worn for PE and ear studs are the only type of earring allowed.

All clothing should be clearly marked with your child's name.

Parental help at home and school
At East Brent Church of England First School we consider education to be a partnership between home and school and therefore hope to establish close links with all parents so that together we may work to achieve the very best for every child.

Home School Agreement
When your child first starts school you will be asked to sign a Home School agreement, which outlines the ways in which we can work together. A copy of the Home School agreement can be found at the back of this prospectus.

Homework
We hope that whatever your child's age you will be able to support them with some work at home. The tasks set are designed to consolidate skills learnt in school, extend school learning, encourage independence and involve you in your child's education.

Throughout the school reading forms an important part of the homework programme. The children are allocated a zip bag in which to bring home their current book to read to you. A small notebook is included in which we hope you will record the reading done at home. The children will also bring home a book of their own choice to share with you once a week. Please take time to read and discuss these books with your child.

From Year 1 children are given a regular list of spellings to learn at home and they may also be asked to follow up some other aspects of schoolwork on an occasional basis. For example, practising telling the time, handling money or collecting information.

Parental help in school
We are always grateful for the voluntary help which some parents are able to give in schooll either on a regular or occasional basis. If you feel you are able to offer your services in any way please don't hesitate to speak to one of the teachers. You will need to need to undergo a disclosure procedure.

Parents' Evenings
Parent Consultation Evenings are organised in the Autumn & Spring terms to give parents the opportunity to discuss their child's progress with teaching staff. There will be other less formal opportunities for your children to show you their work. Other meetings to discuss curricular matters are held as appropriate.

An annual written report for each pupil is sent to parents in the summer term. This includes results of Standard Assessment Tasks in National Curriculum subjects for those children finishing Key Stage 1 (Year 2) and those in Year 4 moving to the Middle School.

Parent Teacher Association
The PTA exists to create a greater understanding of the work of the school, forge links between school and home and raise vital funds to support and enhance the educational provision within the school. Through the PTA's financial support the school has recently bought an Inter-active whiteboard, overhead projector, a P.C & printer and resources for the Numeracy Hour. The PTA also subsidises the residential trip to Great Wood. The additional facilities provided by the PTA have a direct impact on your child's education, enabling us to offer a greater range of opportunities and high quality learning experiences.
All parents are automatically members of the PTA and it is hoped that all parents will actively support the Association in whatever way possible. Everyone is welcome at the meetings. A wide variety of events are organised throughout the year and every effort is made to appeal to all tastes and ages. If you are interested in being involved in this important aspect of school life either leave your name with your child's teacher or with the school secretary and a member of the committee will contact you.

Moving On - Your Child's Next School
East Brent Church of England First School is a member of the Cheddar Valley Group of Schools. At 9 most of our children transfer to Hugh Sexey Middle School at Blackford and then to The Kings of Wessex Community School. We work closely with the Middle school to ensure a smooth transfer process and continuity between the schools. Hugh Sexey Middle School is the designated school for children living in the catchment area or registered at East Brent Church of England First School before September 2000. In the autumn before your child is due to move to a Middle School, the Local Education Authority will send parents particulars of all the schools available so parents can make an informed choice. The L.E.A is the admission authority for the Middle school and places are allocated in accordance with their published arrangements. Parents with any queries should telephone Parentline on 0845 6045555.

Charging Policy
The school recognises the valuable contribution that the wide range of additional activities including clubs, trips and residential experience can make towards pupils' personal and sociall education. The governing body aims to promote and provide such activities as part of a broad balanced curriculum for the pupils of the school and as additional optional activities.

The school has a detailed charging and remission policy which is based on current legislation. Copies are available from the school, but the main points are summarised below.

School visits/residential trips These will be proposed as and when appropriate to work taking place in school. As the school does not have sufficient funds to pay for such visits, it will be necessary to ask parents to make a voluntary payment to cover the costs. Parents will be informed in advance of the need for voluntary contributions. There will be no LEGAL obligation to pay, but if insufficient funds are raised, it may not be possible for the proposed activity to take place.

Parents in receipt of Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance or in some cases Child Tax Credit will not be asked for a voluntary contribution. Please contact the Headteacher in confidence.

Club Activities
Government legislation allows schools to charge for activities taking place outside normal school hours i.e. lunchtime or after school. At present we only charge for clubs where a definite cost is incurred for example the hire of a sports coach or ground. No charge is made for clubs organised by teachers on school premises.

How to make a complaint
We hope that the school can resolve any complaints that parents may have. Therefore any complaints, in the first instance, should normally be made to the Class teacher and thereafter the Headteacher, and it is hoped that in most cases complaints will be dealt with at this informal level.
If the complaint is still not resolved then the parent should submit his/her complaint in writing to the Clerk of the Governors who will acknowledge the receipt of the complaint and inform the Local Education Authority. If the Governing body can not resolve the matter it can be referred in writing to the Local Education Authority which will arrange for an investigation to take place.
If you require any further information about the procedure full details are available from the school office.
If you ever require help or advice from our County Education Department you can contact staff at County Hall Taunton 01823 355451