Inclusion

We aim to enable all pupils to develop as fully as possible their abilities, interest and aptitudes.

Special Educational Needs

At Greens Norton Primary School we ensure equality of opportunity for all children including those who are identified as having Special Educational Needs. Teachers are always alert to the possibility of a child having emotional, behavioural or learning difficulties and early identification enables appropriate provision to be made for them. The school follows the national Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs and children will be supported at 'school action' or 'school action plus' level and some children will have their needs assessed to enable them to have a Statement of Educational Needs. Once particular needs are identified the school will plan strategies and programmes of work for individual children to follow as part of their Individual Education Plan (IEP). Parents are an integral part of the supporting process and are consulted and informed about the success of the pupil's progress towards targets on a regular basis. A copy of our policy for Special Educational Needs is available on request.

When special needs are identified then consultation takes place with parents as part of the procedure to obtain specialist advice. These procedures are described in detail in the schools Special Needs Policy Statement.

Further details regarding this provision can be found in the L.E.A.'s publication "Northamptonshire Schools; Information for Parents", copies of which are available from the school.

Gifted and Talented Pupils

At Greens Norton Primary School we believe that all children are particularly 'smart' in one or more ways and that children often have a preferred learning style. It is our aim to provide a curriculum which allows all pupils to have the opportunity to develop their special gifts and talents and to be able to access learning in ways that are appropriate for each individual. Children who show particular aptitudes in Mathematics, Science and Technology have opportunities to attend special sessions and 'master classes' led by specialist teachers from Sponne Secondary School as part of the school's Specialist Technology status outreach work.

Disability Access

The main building is accessible to wheelchair users and adaptations have been made to toilet facilities. There are ramps fitted to enable wheelchair access into the rear of the main building, the mobile classroom and the TASC mobile. We support the policy of integration of pupils with disabilities and believe that all children will develop a greater awareness much earlier of the needs of others if this is the case. Risk assessments are carried out before all educational visits and adaptations are made to programmes to enable all pupils to participate. As part of the Disability Discrimination Act (1995), as amended by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA) 2001, all schools are required to review the provision they make for disabled persons. We aim to improve our current provision and have identified some areas for development. A copy of our Disability Access Action Plan can be obtained from the school office or viewed on our website.

Medicines in School

If your child requires medicine during the school day please arrange to come to school to administer the medicine. In exceptional circumstances and when pupils are on educational visits, staff may be permitted to administer medicines but permission must be sought from the Headteacher and must be requested in writing by the parent. Children with asthma should keep their inhalers with them in classrooms but parents should inform the school in writing about the type and dosage required. Please ensure that we are provided with new inhalers when they expire. Similarly if children have allergies (e.g. nut allergy) the school should be informed and any medication (e.g. epi-pens) should be sent to school with clear instructions for use. Staff are required to have been trained to use this type of medication before being permitted to administer them. It is parents' responsibility to inform the school of any changes to medication of this sort.

Parents of children who have particular medical needs must inform the school so that all adults can be made aware of action required should the need arise.

We ask parents to provide us with daytime and emergency contact details. It is imperative that these are kept up to date and we are informed of any temporary contact numbers. We need to be able to contact a parent or guardian in the event of an accident.

The School Doctor

The school doctor is concerned with any aspect of a child's health which impacts on their education. The school nurse should be approached if there are any such concerns about any child in order to process a referral.

The School Nurse

The role of the School Health Nurse is one that is constantly changing to address both national and local policy. School health nurses are specialist practitioners in primary health care and each have a caseload of schools to manage.

School health nurses in Daventry and South Northants PCT are currently employed term time only. They can be contacted at their base (Towcester Health Centre – 01327 350182) or messages can be left in school.

School Health Nurses are involved in a variety of very different roles, some of these being Health Promotion activities, e.g. teaching, training staff in schools to give adrenaline to children with severe allergies, enuresis (bedwetting) management, counselling and making referrals to different agencies. They liaise with community pediatricians with regard to individual children's needs and are involved in reviewing children's health where necessary.

School Health Nurses are available for general advice and also can perform hearing and vision tests and growth measurements where needed. The broad aim of school nursing practice is "To improve the health of all school-age children and young people and thereby improve the health of the population."

Leave of Absence

If parents wish their children to accompany them on their annual holiday they should complete a leave of absence form, available from the school office. We would ask that parents avoid taking holidays during SATs weeks or at the beginning of any term. Replies will only be received where permission cannot be granted.

Leave of absence can be granted for other reasons in exceptional circumstances e.g. music exams.

School Discipline

We have introduced a Positive Behaviour Policy setting out our expectations regarding acceptable behaviour in school. The Policy is based on the three principles of Rules, Rewards and Consequences. Our rules are kept to a minimum and they emphasise respect for other children and all adults; respect for property; that we expect children to try to do their best at all times and that we speak to and treat others as we would like to be spoken to and treated ourselves.

If any child does not conform to these expectations, the matter is dealt with initially by staff and, if necessary, parents will be notified. Corporal punishment is not used in this school in accordance with a policy introduced by the Local Education Committee and as now required by the Education (No.2) Act 1986.

Code of Behaviour

Children should

  • be honest at all times
  • be polite and show consideration towards each other and to all adults at all times - bad language is never respectful
  • be prepared to take responsibility for their actions
  • be responsible for looking after their own belongings - watches, pens, pencil cases, calculators etc.- which they bring to school
  • keep toys in a bag in the cloakroom during lesson times
  • stay on the playground and not go on to the field or any of the other grass areas because the grass is too wet and muddy when the STOP sign is on display in the classroom window
  • only play on the playground or field and not on the fences, trees, flowerbeds.
  • keep out of the environmental area away from the pond, except when under supervision because it is best to play where it is safe
  • keep to the paths
  • walk and not run because we want you to be safe and not get hurt - you never know who or what is around the corner
  • play on the small play-ground and junior children on the large playground when we cannot use the field because it avoids too many children being on one playground at the same time

Children should not

  • play football on the playground when the field is out of use
  • play fighting games or piggy-back games, no swinging, tripping, kicking because it is too dangerous and someone will get hurt
  • use physical or verbal abuse or any form of bullying – you should think how you would feel if it happened to you

Anti-Bullying Policy

Our school has an anti-bullying policy and is accredited as having achieved the Foundation Level in the Northamptonshire Anti-Bullying Programme which dictates what pupils should do if they feel they are being bullied at school. This policy is regularly reviewed and new staff and pupils are made aware of it. We feel this is essential information for maintaining the security and safety of all our pupils. Bullying incidents are taken seriously and all incidents are investigated and recorded. We would ask that parents inform the school immediately if they suspect their child to be a victim or a perpetrator of bullying at school. Forms for reporting incidents are available from the school office.

Pupil and parental surveys are conducted regularly with actions taken to address any issues arising.

2011 Prospectus

A copy of the school prospectus can be downloaded here in pdf format.