Tucked away in the quiet, sought-after village of Shelley, we are a popular, much-loved first school that sits at the heart of the community. The school welcomes over 180 pupils from Reception to Year 5 (4 years old to 10 years old) and holds an excellent reputation, with a strong record of academic achievement, pupil well-being and outstanding enrichment opportunities. At Shelley we understand just how important it is to be the right school for you: a school that reflects the superb area we live in and makes the most of all the opportunities it offers, a school that has excellent connections with the middle schools and colleges it feeds so that transitions are seamless and a school that cares about your child’s educational journey in its entirety, both academically and holistically. At Shelley First, we grow happy, successful learners with all the right roots!
We say at Shelley that ‘Together we Succeed’ and this ethos permeates every aspect of school life, beginning right at the start in our OFSTED outstanding Early Years Provision which provides a seamless and well-crafted transition from nursery to school for our youngest learners. With our passionate and experienced team of staff, our carefully constructed curriculum and our extensive and rich outdoor space, Shelley children go on to grow and flourish: there are plentiful opportunities for sport, outdoor learning, forest school and so much more. Shelley First builds leaders for tomorrow with opportunities to join the school council, the eco forum, become head boy or girl, a house captain, or take up positions of responsibility supporting the younger members of our nurturing school. Here at Shelley, our standards are high and pupils love to learn: attendance is well above the national average and we hold a range of awards from Investors in Pupils, Eco-Schools, gold Artsmark and Musicmark awards and silver School Games award. We enjoy strong support from families and the community and together, we create everlasting memories and the strongest of foundations for our children: it’s really true, here at Shelley First, that ‘Together, we succeed’.
Shelley First School is part of The Mast Academy Trust. The Mast is a community of schools that provide primary education through to the end of KS3 within secondary education. Formed in 2016, Shelley First was a founding member of the trust, who came together with others schools who shared the common belief that children should always be at the heart of decisions made in education. Over the years, The Mast Trust have evolved and developed to create a truly collaborative model, where all schools work together to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and families – academically, socially and emotionally. The Mast Academy Trust comprises a number of schools which include Birdsedge First School, Scholes Primary School, Grange Moor Primary School and Kirkburton and Scissett Middle Schools. Being part of The Mast Academy
Trust means that Shelley First School enjoys a wealth of experience and expertise, as well as unrivalled sporting opportunities and curriculum excellence that ensures Shelley children have a seamless transition on their middle school journey into KS3. For more information on The Mast, please visit https://themast.co.uk/
Vision
The Shelley First School vision is simple and lived in school. We aim to provide a happy, safe and inclusive environment in which every child can thrive and reach their potential. We aim to equip our children with all the right skills and knowledge so that they develop as caring, respectful, resilient individuals who embrace learning and are well equipped for their next stage in life.
Mission
At Shelley, we believe in care, fairness, respect, having no barriers to learning and celebrating all achievement. We do this together - staff, children and parents – and that’s why our motto is ‘Together We Succeed’: everyone in the community works together for the children, building our vision through our Shelley First Foundations.
YOU CAN!
SHARE EVERYONE MATTERS
Our School Values
OUR SHELLEY SONG
SENIOR LEADERSHIP
Mrs McLoughlin
Mrs Smith
Mrs Westerman
Our Team
CLASSROOM SUPPORT
Office:
TEACHERS SUPPORT
Mrs Boyd/ Mrs McLeod
Mrs Donaghy
Mrs Colwil/ Mrs Smith
Miss Jones
Miss Womersley
Mrs Owens/ Miss Westwell
Mr Pritchard
Miss Laws
Mrs Dyson
Mrs Henderson
Mrs Dempsey
Mrs Pinder
Mrs Haigh
Mrs Reynolds
Mrs Clarkson, Ms Wright
Lunchtime:
Mrs Jean Reynolds,
Mrs Moore, Mrs Smith,
Mrs Haigh, Miss Laws, Mrs Reynolds, Mrs
Pinder, Mrs Dempsey
Cleaning:
Miss Rudd, Mrs Brill
Mrs Julia Moorhouse
Mrs Liz McLoughlin
Mrs Abigail Seddon
Mrs Lisa Pugh
Mrs Tracy Pinnock
Our Local Governing Body
The local governing committee helps establish the school’s strategic direction by ensuring clarity of vision, values and objectives for the school, working with the Head Teacher on the school’s priorities and targets. They monitor the school’s educational performance and progress and engage with all stakeholders within school and within the wider community, so that here at Shelley First we hear the views of the children, the parents, the staff and the community. We ensure that within the Local Governing Committee we have a breadth of skills and experience, from head teachers themselves, to finance specialists, SEND specialists and much more. Their contributions, support and critical guidance, make Shelley First School a safe and trusted place for you to join.
Mr Chris Hill
Miss Hannah Barker
Mrs Jen Colwill
Mr Jason Field
Mr Ken Weed
Admissions
We have adopted the MAST Academy Trust Admission Policy and so children are accepted at Shelley First School in the following order of priorities:-
1. Children in public care (looked after children) or a child who was previously looked after.
2. Children who live in the school’s Priority Admission Area (PAA) who have a brother or sister attending from the same address at the date of admission (the sibling rule).
3. Children who live in the school’s PAA.
4. Children who live outside the school’s PAA who have a brother or sister attending from the same address at the date of admission (the younger sibling rule).
5. Children who live outside the school’s PAA
We will additionally admit children with Education Health Care Plans (EHCP) where the school is named on the plan.
The published admission number (PAN) for Shelley First School is 30. There is one class per age group and classes are not mixed.
Children who are not from area but whom attend Shelley First School are recognised in the middle school admission criteria
Starting School
We love having visitors in school and would be proud to show you round if you are considering Shelley First for your child. Visits can be arranged by phoning our friendly office team – we welcome you as early as you would like to start looking but equally, we welcome visits from children and parents who are perhaps wanting to change school settings or looking to try somewhere else.
We hold stay and play sessions for all new Reception starters in the Summer Term before they begin and happily include any parents and children who are still considering Shelley First and who haven’t yet made their minds up. Parents are welcome to join in with the sessions, to experience what life at school is like and staff are always on hand to chat and answer questions. The children enjoy experiencing our extensive inside and outside space in our Early Years setting
We also hold an open evening for prospective new parents early in the Autumn Term of the year you need to apply for your Reception place. Here, you meet staff, visit school and hear from some of the pupils themselves!
At Shelley, we understand that starting school can be daunting, for both your little ones and you yourselves, and in line with our motto, we love to work with you to make sure that
‘Together, we succeed’ and your child’s start at school is the best it could possibly be.
Reading in School
At Shelley First School, children start their reading journey with us on day one. We use the highly accredited ReadWriteInc (RWI) scheme throughout school, for as long as your child needs it
Our phonics pass rates are well above the national average and something we’re exceptionally proud of.
Children throughout school read every day. We celebrate reading at every opportunity and take advantage of our wonderful reading spaces, reading volunteers and reading role models. Children at Shelley First School do well in Reading.
At Shelley First School, we love this quote by Dr Seuss. Good readers have more life chances and at Shelley First we’re committed to giving your child the very best of starts!
The School Day
School doors open between 8.45 – 8.55am and the day finishes at 3.30pm. Lunch is 12-1. The length of the school week is 32.5 hours.
Dropping off and picking up
The school gates at the front and back of school open just before 8.45 to allow children and parents to wait in the playground for the school doors to open. Children are asked to line up in their classes before entry to school and await their teacher, who will collect them and take them into the building. Parents and carers are able to exit to the front and back of school, before gates are then closed at 9am. The gates open again at 3.15 for pick up, where we request parents wait in the designated playground areas for their children to be released at 3.30pm. If any parent requires entrance to school outside these times, for late drop off, or medical appointments, then they are requested to come to the front gates on School Terrace and ring the intercom, to be admitted to school.
Where possible, we encourage families to walk to school. If you need to bring your child to school by car, please note that we would still expect a parent to escort their child into school, before returning to their car. There is some parking on the Shelley Park Estate (although we ask that parents do not park in the turning circle outside the staff car park) or on Far Bank at the front of school, with access up School Terrace. We ask that parents do not park in the staff car park or the front visitors car park unless they have prior permission, as it is important that emergency vehicles can access the car parks at all times. We also ask that parents do not bring their cars up School Terrace as this is a private road with no provision for parking or turning.
The path behind school provides a route from Park Drive, Park Avenue, Cleveland Way and the Shelley Park Estate. A car park to accommodate school vehicles is located at the back of school but it is important that parents and children enter and exit the school via the path and gate at the side of the The Cabin pre-school and not through the staff car park.
SCHOOLUNIFORM
Embroidered School Logo Royal Blue Jumper or Cardigan
White or Gold Polo Shirt
Grey or Black Trousers/Skirts/Pinafore Dress
Smart Black School Shoes
School Book bag (to fit in each child’s drawer)
P.E.KIT
Indoor Kit: Navy or Black shorts and a plain white t-shirt
Outdoor Kit: Plain white t-shirt, plain navy or black long sleeve top, jogging bottoms and suitable sports footwear.
Please note children require suitable sport footwear for P.E. - Pumps are not suitable as they are not supportive and can often come undone.
UNIFORMSHOPONLINE
Our logo uniform items are available to purchase online at Term Time Wear or you can visit their shop in Huddersfield.
If youfind yourselfin a position whereyouwould benefit froma freeschool uniform, Uniform Exchange, a Huddersfieldbased local charitycan help. Click thelink hereto makean application - anyonecan accessthis service. If youfind youhave uniform itemsthat youno longerrequireor haveoutgrown youcan donate themto Uniform Exchange.
CURRICULUM
At Shelley First School we believe that meeting the needs of each individual learner and helping each student to realise their potential is central to effective learning and teaching. Learning and teaching is at the heart of the educational process at SFS and the quality of the interaction between student and teacher is of fundamental importance in raising standards of achievement. The high expectations we have of students and the achievements we strive to enable them to attain are at the heart of the work of all the staff at Shelley First School. We pride ourselves on our broad and balanced curriculum and celebrate all curriculum areas. From World Book Day, to maths competitions, Creative Week celebrating and refining our art and DT skills to Summer Serenade where we bring music to life and celebrate our talents, from Science Week to inter school sports’ competitions…we embrace it all, knowing our offer to be rich and purposeful.
Here at Shelley First School, we are extremely lucky with our extensive outside space. From the school allotment, our vast forest school area, our remembrance garden, our three playgrounds to our fields, we endeavour to make the most of all of our space. Children who attend Shelley First flourish outdoors. We learn outdoors, we nurture outdoors, we develop our resilience and problem solving through forest school outdoors and we are sporty! Children at Shelley First School attend more sporting events and opportunities than any other school in the area. We nurture active children and as a result, children thrive.
FOREST SCHOOL
What is Forest School?
Forest School is an exciting opportunity for Shelley First School pupils to experience nature, take risks and learn outdoors developing perseverance, independence and responsibility. We use our amazing outdoor space as an extension of the classroom. Forest school sessions underpin the curriculum and children are taught skills from a wide variety of subjects in the outdoors. For example, learning about different plants in key stage 1 science or recreating a stoneage settlement using historical knowledge, D&T skills and speaking and listening in Key stage 2. Elements of Maths and English are also taught via the outdoors as practical application and hands on experience embeds pupils knowledge and understanding.
Where is our Forest School?
Our school has a designated Forest School area which has trees, shrubs, a pond, living willow sculptures, an allotment, an outdoor classroom and a fire pit. It is a very special place in school and a lovely place to explore.
We hold a huge array of after school clubs, which change every term. These include cheerleading club, gymnastics club, football and multiskills, STEM club, musical theatre club, art and crafts club….the list goes on.
There’s so much going on at Shelley. We believe in our children learning all about responsibility. We have school leadership positions, an extremely active school council and an Eco-Committee. We hold our Eco-Schools Award and we’re proud of all that we do!
