WELCOME TO
ATKINSON ROAD PRIMARY
a member of the Laidlaw Schools Trust
WE ARE
SO OUR DREAMS CAN COME TRUE
DETERMINED WE ARE
TO BE OUR BEST AND NEVER GIVE UP WE ALWAYS STRIVE FOR IN EVERYTHING WE DO EXTRAORDINARY
WE ARE
WE ENJOY CHALLENGES AND TAKING RISKS WE ARE SO HAVE GREAT FUN EXPLORING WE ARE
BRAVE CURIOUS
TO EACH OTHER AND THE WORLD AROUND US WE ARE LEARNERS AND CAN MOVE ON QUICKLY
FAST GOOD
TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATION
- Laidlaw Schools Trust Manifesto
A WELCOME MESSAGE
From the Head Teacher
Welcome to Atkinson Road
Primary Academy, a truly remarkable school nestled in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne. Our Academy stands out as an extraordinary hub of diversity, with pupils from over 40 different countries, each bringing their unique language and culture to our dynamic school.
ATKINSON ROAD PRIMARY ACADEMY
A MEMBER OF THE LAIDLAW SCHOOLS TRUST
We have a vibrant Early Years site here at Atkinson Road Primary, where our youngest learners from Nursery to Reception classes come together to learn, work and play.
We take immense pride in our warm and inclusive approach to welcoming new members into our school family. We prioritise the wellbeing of both our students and staff, ensuring that everyone feels valued and supported. Our dedicated team works tirelessly to foster a nurturing atmosphere where every individual is encouraged to thrive.
Our mission is to provide a safe and supportive environment where children feel happy, respected and empowered to learn. Through a tailored curriculum that emphasises language development, reading and writing, we aim to instil a love of learning and ready our students with the skills they need to succeed.
We celebrate diversity and promote teamwork, fostering a sense of belonging and encouraging each child to embrace their unique talents and abilities. Together with our dedicated governing body and the support of the Laidlaw Schools Trust, we are committed to providing an outstanding education for every child in our care.
I am eager to meet you all as we continue to strive for excellence in education. Together, we will build upon our successes and make Atkinson Road Primary an even more extraordinary place to learn and grow.
Lisa Macaulay, Head of Atkinson Road Primary Academy
AN EXCITING WORLD OF LEARNING
Everyone is welcome here at Atkinson Road Primary whatever their background, religion or culture. We celebrate being part of such a vibrant and diverse community and have developed a curriculum that reflects this.
NURSERY AT ATKINSON ROAD PRIMARY
We have a 2 and 3 year old provision.
You can apply for a nursery place by filling in an application form. You can get the form by:
Downloading it from our website atkinsonroad.laidlawschoolstrust. co.uk/564/how-to-apply-nursery
Calling the school to have one posted 0191 273 0452
Collect a copy from the school
104 FULL TIME PLACES
WE ADMIT CHILDREN THE TERM AFTER THEIR THIRD BIRTHDAY.
STARTING SCHOOL A PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS AND CARERS
We actively encourage parents to become involved in the education of their child and we aim to form good relationships with parents/carers.
We understand the importance of choosing and starting Primary School and we strongly believe in the importance of parents being partners in their child’s education. When you are offered a place you will have a chance to explore the school setting and meet our teachers, as well as being offered a home visit where you have the opportunity to speak to your child’s teacher in your home.
We organise family learning workshops, where free books are given out and activities provided around each story are shared. We also have half termly, themed events for families and children to play and learn together.
There are regular Parents’ Evenings throughout the year and we encourage parents to come in and meet with their child’s teacher at any time throughout the year.
Marvellous Me
At Atkinson Road Primary Academy, we use the school communication app. ‘Marvellous Me’ as one of our ways of communication between school and home.
What is Marvellous Me?
Marvellous Me makes it easy for teachers to tell parents about their child’s learning and achievements. It makes children and parents smile and enjoy great conversations about school. The app. ‘Marvellous Me Parent’ is freely downloadable from both the GooglePlay store and the Apple store. Once you have signed up, you can receive messages and notifications of ‘core value badges’ your child has earned and you can easily access learning tools with direct links to recommended websites and information. Find out more about Marvellous Me at: https://marvellousme.com/
ACHIEVEMENTS & SUCCESSES
We’re proud to celebrate an incredible run of awards that highlight our school’s commitment to excellence, inclusion and opportunity for all.
In 2024, we retained the SENDIA Inclusion Award and were awarded the UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Gold Award, the Wellbeing Award, the Healthy Schools Award, the Investing in Children Award and the prestigious Skills Builder Flagship status. We also became a recognised School of Sanctuary.
Our commitment to learning was reflected in the Primary Science Quality Mark, Artsmark Gold Award, Wellbeing award and Primary Geography Silver Quality Mark, along with the Early Years Quality Mark, Music Mark and Historic England Heritage School status.
We’re also proud of our global and environmental efforts, receiving the Eco-Schools Green Flag with Distinction, the International School Award – Intermediate and the Woodland Trust’s Green Tree School Award.
These achievements are a true reflection of the hard work of our pupils, staff and community.
AT ATKINSON ROAD PRIMARY LIFE
At Atkinson Road Primary, we offer a wide range of extra-curricular actvities. Some activities last the whole school year, others change termly. Our activities include sporting, musical and academic clubs where pupils can try something new or they can be part of a team.
This is carefully laid out in distinct areas, offering the children the possibility of a wide variety of experiences. The environment and resources are set-up to allow the children to self-select the activities that they would like to do and it allows them to develop their independence skills.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
NURSERY AND RECEPTION CLASS
The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum
EYFS sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children’s ‘school readiness’ and gives children the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life.
The EYFS seeks to provide:
• Quality and consistency, so that every child makes good progress and no child gets left behind
• A secure foundation through planning for the learning and development of each individual child and assessing and reviewing what they have learned regularly
• Partnership working between practitioners and with parents and/or carers
• Equality of opportunity and antidiscriminatory practice, ensuring that every child is included and supported
Three areas are particularly important for building a foundation for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, forming relationships and thriving.
These are the prime areas:
• Communication and language
• Physical development
• Personal, social and emotional development
Providers must also support children in four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied.
The specific areas are:
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the world
• Expressive arts and design
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
YEAR 1 TO YEAR 6
Our bespoke curriculum was designed to take full advantage of our locality and goes beyond the statutory aspects of the National Curriculum in order to address cultural capital needs. Alongside subject plans are carefully integrated activities designed to enhance retention and learning. These include a range of trips and practical experiences.
We want our children and their families to feel that they belong in all of the amazing local cultural institutions, including our theatres, galleries and museums and other venues in the North East, so that they can learn from and enjoy them. In addition to a raft of enrichment visits, we plan other activities and invite specialists in to enhance and deliver aspects of our curriculum, making it as memorable as possible. We also plan a range of parental engagement activities to include parents in their child’s learning journey.
Some say vocabulary is the greatest predeterminer of future success. Mindful of this and our context, we invest time in the explicit teaching of key vocabulary to support retention and learning. We employ a Speech Therapist to lead on this work with staff and have an International New Arrivals / EAL provision. We target essential vocabulary in all subject areas and believe that this has supported our greatly improved writing standards.
We also offer a broad range of afterschool clubs which enable our children to identify and develop their talents and skills, beyond the curriculum.
OUTDOOR LEARNING
FOREST SCHOOL
We believe all children have the right to outdoor education. This is both self-exploratory and organised learning, within and outside of school, regardless of ability, age, disability or finance. Our Forest School creates an immersive, fun and educational environment where children learn to love and respect the natural world while acquiring life skills.
Activities are designed to be suitable to children at different Key Stages and to focus on different curricular topics. They range from our youngest children being introduced to environments such as our school field and nature park, to a variety of outdoor classroom activities including:
• Woodland minibeast hunt
• Building a bug hotel
• Potato peeler whittling
• Flower crowns
• Building dens
• Woodland dragons
• Building a campfire
INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
School Uniform
Our uniform helps pupils to learn how to present themselves positively, gives them confidence to represent the school and promotes a strong sense of Atkinson Road identity. Our uniform is heavily subsidised and all new starters receive a free sweatshirt and book bag.
• White polo shirt
• School navy sweatshirt (with logo)
• Dark grey or black formal trousers (no fashion trousers)
• Dark grey or black formal skirts
• Blue, checked gingham dresses (optional and can be worn in the warmer weather)
• Flat black sturdy school shoes
• Year 6 have a special uniform with a maroon jumper and an Atkinson Road tie
PE Kits
PE kit is provided by the school free of charge and is regularly washed for all children. This includes polo tops, shorts, tracksuits and a PE bag.
Free School Meal
As a school we would like you to register with TogetherforChildren for a Free School Meal.
You can do this via this link: www. togetherforchildren.org.uk/families/ free-school-meals.
School requires a record of those entitied to a free school meal. The regulations change as pupils move up from Nursery to Reception, you should apply again as the entitlement is not transferrable.
If your child has any allergies or intolerances please let the school office and your child’s teachers know.
Lunch and Snack
All pupils stay in school for lunch. Lunchtime is a very important time within the school day and provides many opportunities for our children to develop a wide range of skills, not only with a knife and fork, but also socially and emotionally. Children in Reception and Key Stage 1 children also receive a fruit or vegetable snack daily as well as milk and water throughout the day.
Digital Offer
At Atkinson Road, every student is equipped with their own iPad - opening up a world of personalised, interactive, and creative learning.
We believe that technology, when used well, transforms the way pupils learn. With iPads, students can access resources at their own pace, revisit topics to deepen their understanding and express their ideas in exciting, creative ways. From creating videos to collaborating on group projects, learning becomes more engaging and tailored to each individual.
This digital approach also supports vital skills for the future - like problem-solving, communication, teamwork and independent thinking. Students aren’t just using technology - they’re using it to become confident, capable learners ready for life beyond the classroom. At Atkinson Road, we’re not just keeping up with the digital world - we’re preparing our pupils to lead in it.
LAIDLAW SCHOOLS TRUST
OUR ACADEMIES
LST currently has eleven nursery, primary and secondary academies in Newcastle, Wearside and Durham. But education is about so much more than academic excellence, it matters that our pupils are taught character skills, given welfare support if needed and offered extraordinary experiences so that they leave their LST education as a well rounded, global citizen.
All Laidlaw Schools Trust Academies benefit from additional funding through the Laidlaw Foundation, meaning Atkinson Road pupils benefit from cultural capital focused experiences, namely through Laidlaw X.
Transiton to LST Academy
When the time comes for your child to leave Atkinson Road Primary, we will support you and them every step of the way. As an LST Academy, we can work seamlessly if you’re considering another LST secondary, by providing information, talks, school tours and meet the teacher sessions!
Innovation Festival
Generously funded by the Laidlaw Foundation, Laidlaw Schools Trust hosted an Innovation Festival to celebrate the way innovative technology can transform lives through education.
Primary students from all LST Academies had the opportunity to work with each other on projects at innovation stations, listen to talks by industry leaders and spend some time with Titan the 8ft robot!
Every year LST pupils get to take part in Extraordinary Events, above and beyond what regular schools are able to offer thanks to the financial support we receive from the Laidlaw Foundation.
JOIN LAIDLAW SCHOOLS TRUST
CHARACTER SKILLS
We learn essential character development skills in school.
WELFARE SUPPORT
Some of us get extra supprt along the way.
EXTRAORDINARY EXPERINCES
We demonstrate these skills through extraordinary experiences.
LEAVE LST A GLOBAL CITIZEN
A TYPICAL SCHOOL DAY
Days at Atkinson Road Primary are a mix of making good academic progress and working on Character Curriculum so that when our students move onto Year 7, they are well rounded, confident individuals.
08:00 08:45
Mid-Morning
11:30 - 12:15
12:30 - 13:25 15:15
15:15 - 16:15
Breakfast Club (free to all pupils)
Start of the School Day
15 Minute Break
Early Years Lunch Time
Main School Lunch Time (45 minutes - staggered)
School Finishes
After School Clubs
ADDITIONAL INFOR M ATION
Outings, Photographs and Permissions
We ask that you complete permission forms so that children can utilise the local area to support their work e.g. a visit to the shops. Whenever possible we will inform you ahead of time. In times when a more formal visit is planned, you will be asked to complete a formal permission form in order for your child to be allowed to go.
We take lots of photographs of the children working and learning which we use around the classroom and in school and for promotional purposes e.g. website, press. We require a permission slip to be completed at the start of the year and any changes to these permissions must be reported to the school.
Safeguarding
We aim to provide an environment in which all children feel happy, secure and valued and where they are encouraged to talk and are listened to. The protection of the children is given the highest priority.
If you wish for another person to collect your child, other than the named persons on the emergency contact form, you must pre-arrange with the teacher. We will require a detailed physical description and a personal password. Unfortunately for security reasons, we will be unable to let your child leave even with a close relative or friend without your prior consent. Should this occasion arise we will attempt to contact the emergency numbers.
Regular inspections of the Nursery, Primary and all equipment are made to ensure that they meet health and safety regulations. Any accidents that occur in the Nursery are recorded and parents will be informed.
AT NURSERY:
Online or call in for an application form atkinsonroad.laidlawschoolstrust.co.uk
AT RECEPTION:
Apply by January for your place at Atkinson Road
Primary Reception in September on this website newcastle.gov.uk/services/schools-learning-andchildcare/apply-school-place
Atkinson Road Primary Academy, Atkinson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 8XT
atkinsonroad.laidlawschoolstrust.co.uk 0191 273 0452
arpa.info@atkinsonroadacademy.com
Atkinson Road Primary Academy