Our children at Mile Oak THINK BIG! 2022 OFSTED GOOD PROVIDER - GOOD IN ALL AREAS
“ My daughter loves going to Mile Oak. It is such a caring, supportive and friendly school and she has really thrived there, not just in terms of her education but also on a social, emotional and personal level as well. Even though we don’t live in Mile Oak we have always felt very much part of the school community.” PARENT OF CHILD IN YEAR 6
Welcome to Mile Oak Primary School As the Headteacher, it is an honour to lead a school where we care passionately for our children and the local community. At Mile Oak, we lead by example in thinking BIG and believe in the importance of upholding our school values, which we hold so dear. At our school, the children are at the heart of every decision we make. This ensures that each individual is valued and prepared for the next stage in their education. We unlock their potential through inspirational teaching in a well-resourced, ambitious environment.
The school’s extensive grounds offer an incredible range of quality opportunities for all children to experience. As a school, we are fully committed, without compromise, to celebrating diversity and inclusion. We believe that relationships are the key to children experiencing success and this is underpinned by the highest expectations of learning and behaviour. All staff share the collective responsibility of ensuring that every child thrives, succeeds and has their needs met.
We firmly believe that education must be a strong partnership between home and school. We are committed to our families being an active partner in Pupil wellbeing is embedded within our whole school their child’s education and truly value their interest, practices. We develop the whole child academically, socially and emotionally, so that they are able to achieve engagement and support. their full potential. Every child is nurtured to gain the At Mile Oak, we continually develop and improve while creativity, responsibility and skills necessary to take an working in supportive partnerships with other schools. active and fulfilling role in society. At Mile Oak, we place no limit on an individual’s potential and work tirelessly to provide unforgettable learning experiences. We passionately believe in providing all children with an outstanding holistic education. Our bespoke curriculum has been designed by staff to inspire and meet the needs of our children.
1
MILE OAK PRIMARY SCHOOL
If you would like to visit our school and experience the wonderful way we work, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to meeting you. Mr Lording Headteacher
Our Pledge We pledge that every child at Mile Oak will: • experience an enriched curriculum • enjoy their journey through our school • achieve and celebrate success • embrace a healthy lifestyle • be nurtured and celebrated as an individual • understand their responsibility as an engaged citizen
Our Curriculum We are incredibly proud of our curriculum design, our expert staff have created a meaningful curriculum, which meets the needs of our school community. As a school team, we are best placed to understand the needs of our children and therefore, pride ourselves on our ‘Mile Oak’ curriculum. This carefully designed curriculum centres on the development of oracy and demonstrates our commitment to first hand experiences right from the Early Years. This includes carefully planned educational visits in each year group. For example, visits to: • The Theatre • Art Galleries • Observatories
The Mile Oak Ten What makes us unique? • Our Children and Staff ‘Think BIG’ • Extensive Grounds • Strong Sense of Community • Extra-curricular Opportunities • Forest School
• Places of Worship • Museums • London
Children have multiple opportunities to both watch and take part in competitive sports along with a huge range of extra-curricular activities to supplement our curriculum. These ensure pupils are able to further develop individual interests and talents, and develop a lifelong love of learning.
Through our curriculum design we support our community to celebrate the diversity within our school and our local area, and to recognise the importance of In addition, we host regular visitors into school to provide making a positive contribution to the life of the school and the wider community. positive role models who share experiences and career aspirations. For instance: One of the aspects of our curriculum that our reception • Theatre Groups • Scientists parents were thrilled with was our phonics programme. • Magicians • Vets Our children learn to read quickly from absolute experts. • Wildlife Trust • Circus Performers We secure some of the highest early reading results in • Sports People • Musicians the whole city and are incredibly proud that our children develop a real love of reading from their first day in We build on children’s natural sense of curiosity and fun. reception. Through specially planned events, we are able to create In recognition of our broad, balanced and effective experiences which generate awe and wonder. Some curriculum, we are so proud of the awards we have highlights include: gained in science, art and sport. • Fairy trails • Pirate invasions • A giant visit • Flights to exotic lands • Ancient battles • Historical reenactments
• Science Bus • School Sports Awards • Tailored Curriculum • Commitment to Creativity • Excellent Parental Partnerships
MILE OAK PRIMARY SCHOOL
2
“ Mile Oak was my first and only choice for a primary school for my son. After visiting at the open day, no other school quite hit the mark. My son is in year 5 now and over the years he’s had some amazing teachers who have really spent the time getting to know him and who have made his school journey a wonderful adventure.... I’d recommend Mile Oak Primary to any prospective parents and their children...” PARENT OF CHILD IN YEAR 5
Outdoor Learning Environment Mile Oak Primary School is lucky to have extensive grounds, in which we have developed a number of different areas to enrich children’s experiences and provide them with learning opportunities beyond the classroom. With a dedicated and experienced outdoor learning team, we pride ourselves on our approach to raising children’s awareness of local and global environmental responsibilities as well as providing an alternative approach to curriculum delivery. Our qualified Forest School teachers run sessions for children and deliver training to staff, which includes ideas and techniques for making the best use of our grounds. In addition to our playgrounds and large secure field, the school has: • A central garden area with raised growing beds and a greenhouse. • A Forest School site with fire circle and camp areas. • An enclosed school orchard of heritage apples and plums. • A pond with raised dipping platform and wildlife area.
3
MILE OAK PRIMARY SCHOOL
• A paved ‘quiet retreat’ area with picnic benches, table tennis tables and a variety of ‘big games’ to play. • Our Science Bus where children can take part in lessons and quiet observations. Every year, we participate in many events including: • Regular ‘Walk to School’ and ‘Bikeability’ initiatives where we encourage children to walk, cycle or scoot to school. • Growing our own range of vegetables, which the children either cook and eat at school or take home to share with their families. • Taking part in city-wide initiatives including the ‘City of Meadows’ project to encourage nature and wildlife back into the area and even featuring on ITV Meridian News as part of the project coverage!
The Early Years & Nursery The Early Years department at Mile Oak is a very special place. We know the undisputed impact of great teaching on children’s progress and outcomes and are so very proud to be able to offer your child this in abundance. From early reading experts and forest school specialists to speech and language teachers and PE coaches, our nurturing and experienced Reception Team come with a wealth of expertise and an unfaltering commitment to make a difference every day.
“Carpet times are good because we listen to music. My favourite is the house in the garden because it has toys in it.” PUPIL IN RECEPTION
playing field for each and every learner. Through a rich array of carefully planned enrichment experiences such as theatre trips, circus workshops, aviation museum excursions and conservation projects, reception children at Mile Oak find awe and wonder in the world.
Reception children love learning here. We sing, discover and have fun every day. Our impressive outside environment and beautiful grounds are an extension of the classroom where children can ride bikes, balance, Starting school is a momentous occasion and we are run, build and explore nature. Reception children at Mile here to support children and families alike as they embark on this exciting journey. Becoming a member of Oak are given an extremely strong start in Reading, our school community begins long before the first day of Writing and Maths and they are immersed in talk-filled term. A comprehensive transition programme of: nursery classrooms where collaboration, exploration, purposeful play and rich language experiences are plentiful. visits, stay and play session, story times and parent consultations ensures the all-important first day is a time of excitement, exploration and happiness. We value This provision is truly making a difference and through our newest venture of welcoming a local nursery into parents and carers as first educators and, through the early years, strong, positive and supportive relationships the Mile Oak community, the important building blocks of learning can begin even sooner. Our nursery is to be with our families are established. Over your child’s first an extension of our learning community and a place year, we will welcome you to: workshops, curriculum events, performances, school tours, celebrations, parent where, through nurturing and responsive interactions and expert provision, children thrive. Through our entire networking and more! Early Years department, we foster individuality, strive We go far beyond the delivery of The Early Years for progress for all and build confident independent Foundation Stage statutory curriculum; our unique learners that are not afraid to be challenged – we welcome you to join us. teaching and learning provision is designed with our children at its core and driven by the desire to level the
MILE OAK PRIMARY SCHOOL
4
Inclusion & Equality At Mile Oak Primary School, our vision and values promote inclusion and equality for all pupils, staff, parents and carers. We embrace the aim of working together with others to improve children’s educational and wellbeing outcomes. Ambition
Respect
We ensure that all children have equal access to a rich, broad, balanced and relevant curriculum leading them to have the desire, determination and energy to achieve success.
We foster positive attitudes and relationships, and a shared sense of belonging, encouraging children to embrace difference and consider the feelings, wishes and rights of others.
Pride
Courage
We have the highest expectations of all our children and expect them to always try their best and celebrate the achievements of themselves and others.
We provide all children with the tools to demonstrate resilience when making brave choices in life.
As a school, we promote the individuality of all our children, irrespective of ethnicity, attainment, age, disability, gender or background. We value all children and are committed to our whole school vision of “Think Big”. The mission statement of our school supports our commitment to valuing the individuality of children and providing them with every opportunity to achieve the highest of standards. We do this by respecting and taking account of pupils’ varied life experiences and needs.
Parental engagement is encouraged and welcomed, as we believe working in partnership with our families promotes and supports consistency in school and at home for all children and particularly for our most vulnerable.
We pride ourselves on our positive, nurturing environment, where emotional wellbeing is supported and children are encouraged to thrive.
We all have equal rights but we have different needs and we recognise that to provide for these we need to ensure equality of opportunity for all pupils. We build on our similarities and seek enrichment from our differences and so promote understanding and learning between and towards others to create a cohesive community.
We passionately believe in creating an inclusive school experience for all children. We are committed to meeting the needs of all pupils, ensuring that they make progress from their own individual starting points.
5
MILE OAK PRIMARY SCHOOL
We tackle discrimination through the positive promotion of equality, by always challenging bullying and stereotypes and by creating an environment which celebrates diversity.
Pastoral There are times when we all need extra support. Maybe it is time to share how we are feeling. Maybe we have so many thoughts racing around that we are unable to focus on our learning and need time to quieten our mind. At Mile Oak School, there is a dedicated pastoral team and a wealth of resources to support your child. We offer a chance to talk through: art therapy, Lego therapy, counselling, the great outdoors and much more. Our beautiful grounds and garden give children opportunities to be able to learn holistically in a nurturing environment. The social and emotional wellbeing of our children is paramount and we know that happy children make successful learners. Our approach to behaviour is therapeutic. The children learn how to recognise their emotions and use strategies to help them self-regulate. The Zones of Regulation is taught as part of our extensive PSHE curriculum which provides all children with valuable opportunities to learn and develop socially and emotionally. We are also here to support you. Our Family Champion, whose role is to provide impartial support, advice and information to the families within our school community, offers a friendly space in a time of need.
“I love maths, because we do really fun things, especially times table rock stars, it’s just really exciting. I also like geography because, when I looked at the Mile Oak map yesterday, I found my road.” PUPIL IN YEAR 2
Mile Oak Primary School Graham Avenue, Portslade, BN41 2WN T 01273 077114 E office@mileoak.brighton-hove.sch.uk Please take a look at our comprehensive website for further information: www.mileoakschool.co.uk Follow us on:
Designed & Produced by FSE Design Tel: 01933 303520 www.fsedesign.co.uk