Pupil Support And Pastoral Care

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

Pupils who are in need of special help because of learning or behavioural difficulties are identified from their first year of entry and extra help arranged through a variety of teaching methods including teaching in smaller ability groups for Literacy and Numeracy, support assistants and specialist input. Further assessment and guidance can be sought from the County where applicable. Parents are consulted at each stage of the process.

The most important factor in SEN is that both the school and parents are working together in the best interests of the children. The Somerset Area Child Protection Committee lays down the procedures that need to be followed. Please contact the Headteacher or Special Needs Co-ordinator if you want to know more about the procedures.

Gifted and Talented children are identified through a variety of assessments. At all times, the needs of the children whatever their ability, are catered for through careful differentiation and task. Setting is used in Maths, which enables more able children to work with other pupils of a similar ability and to ensure that they are sufficiently challenged. The school also liaises closely with local secondary schools, where after-school sessions are organised for gifted and talented children throughout the school year.

PROMOTING POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR

The pupils are expected to come to our school ready to learn as much as they can in their four years with us. We believe in rewarding positive and caring attitudes as well as achievement in academic, creative and sporting areas.

The children have chosen our three GOLDEN RULES. These are:
1. Try your hardest in all you do and never give up.
2. Treat other people with respect as you would want to be treated yourself.
3. Move around the school quietly and sensibly.

Rewards

The school operates a House System which consists of four teams named after local hills: Penn (Blue) Babylon (Red) Summerhouse (Yellow) and Wyndham (Green). The children are allocated to a house whenever they join us and the children then try to gain house points for their various achievements each week at school. Any points they have gained contribute to their team's aim to win the House Cup which is presented at the end of each academic year.

Children build up their own personal tally of house points over the course of the year. On reaching 60 points a child will receive a Bronze Award Certificate and Badge, 90 points will gain a Silver Award Certificate and Badge and 120 points will gain a Gold Award Certificate and a medal.

A child can also gain a Teacher's Award within their class, if their teacher believes they have achieved a great deal within the week. Occasionally, a child will also gain a Headteacher's Award for something that deserves a greater recognition.

A final leaver's assembly at the end of the academic year will recognise the contribution of children in each year group with the award of book tokens and trophies to highlight outstanding academic or social development.

Discipline

We expect children to show high standards of self-discipline in their work, behaviour and attitude throughout the school. We also depend on the positive support of parents to help their children achieve these levels. Occasionally children let their standards slip. We strive to deal with these incidents in a firm, fair and consistent way with the behaviour, rather than the child, criticised. Where there are repeated or serious incidents we have introduced a five stage system to try to support and develop improved behaviour. In this case we will notify you so that we can work together to solve the problem.

Sanctions that are applied are varied and for the most part would consist of a loss of a privilege, loss of playtime or extra work being given. In extreme cases the school will require the pupil to serve an after school detention or exclude a pupil from class or from school for a period of time. However, this is rare and it is hoped that teachers and parents can prevent situations reaching this point through co-operation and good communication.

CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES

All schools must make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Where there are concerns regarding a child's welfare, the school will seek, in general, to discuss the concerns with parents or guardians wherever possible.

The designated Child Protection person in the school is the Headteacher.

COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

We hope that any complaints that parents may have, can be resolved by the school. Any serious complaints should normally be made to the Headteacher in the first instance, and it is hoped that in most cases complaints can be resolved at this level. However, if attempts to solve the problem fail, there is an agreed LEA Complaints Procedure that should be followed. The parent should submit his/her complaint in writing to the Clerk to the Governors at the school (who will acknowledge receipt of the complaint and inform the LEA that a complaint has been received). If the matter cannot be resolved by the Governing Body, the complaint can be referred in writing to the LEA who will arrange for an investigation to take place.

We hope that any complaints can be resolved through discussion with the parent and an appropriate member of staff. If you require any detailed information on the Complaints Procedure full details are available on request in the school office.

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA

Each new year group starting in September has a Planned Admissions Number (PAN). This is set annually after consultation between the Education Authority and the Governors of the school. The school can offer places up to this limit. The PAN's aim is to ensure that schools and the Education Service as a whole are run efficiently and that there is no waste of resources. This may mean that at some schools there are not enough places for all the children whose parents would like them to go there.

The LEA 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 "Somerset Direct" on 0845 6045555. All calls are charged at local rates.

Transition programme

Here at Grass Royal, we ensure that your child has a confident, meaningful and enjoyable transition when joining the school.  Several activities are planned and prepared jointly between our school and our two main feeder schools, Pen Mill Infants and Reckleford Primary School.  The activities are mapped out over the course of the year for children in Year 2 at the current feeder school.

Year 3 children from Grass Royal play a vital part in the transition process.  At their first session at Grass Royal, Year 2 children choose a Year 3 buddy; this child will support them throughout the year.  They will be provided with a 'Grass Royal Diary', in which they record all the wonderful activities they undertake at the school, together with photographs of their 'buddy'.

Making puppets, singing songs, working on computers and sports are just some of the many exciting activities that the Year 2 childre will undertake here at Grass Royal as part of their transition.

 

LOCAL EDUCATION AUTHORITY

Grass Royal Junior School comes under the auspices of:

Somerset County Council,
County Hall,
Taunton,
Somerset
TA1 4DY

Telephone: 01823 355455 / 0845 3459122
Fax: 01823 355332
Minicom users: 01823 355720
email: education@somerset.gov.uk

Director of Children and Young People: Mr David Taylor