Hamsey Green Prospectus

Together we learn for life

Introduction

Hamsey Green Primary School is a community primary school for pupils aged from two to eleven years. The Primary School came into being following the amalgamation of Hamsey Green Infant and Hamsey Green Junior schools on 1st September 2010. Acorns Nursery was established in September 2020.

We have two sites on the campus. The pupils are all based on a large, picturesque site. The other site houses the offices of Tandridge

Learning Trust and Acorns Nursery in a beautiful refurbished building. The Nursery provides high quality wraparound care and education for 2 to 4 year-olds.

Secure gates are located at the entrances to both sites.

Our grounds are extensive and attractive, offering a range of high-quality play equipment and opportunities for outdoor learning in our

‘forest school’. A pond within an environmental area is located on the primary school site. We continue to develop our grounds.

As well as our excellent outdoor facilities, we have well-equipped indoor facilities. Every classroom has an interactive whiteboard with PCs and laptops.

We have a lovely dedicated music room base which was officially opened by the The High Sheriff of Surrey in 2019. The room is equipped with a piano, keyboards, drums and percussion instruments.

Pupils also have recorders.

Our Year 5 and Year 6 pupils get the opportunity to swim at the Warlingham School & Sixth Form College pool which is on their site adjacent to the school.

In May 2017, Hamsey Green Primary School, alongside Bletchingley Village Primary School. Tatsfield Primary School, Warlingham School & Sixth Form College and Woodlea Primary School, established Tandridge Learning Trust - a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT). Hurst Green Infant School & Nursery joined the MAT in 2024. We have close links with all of the schools and are particularly pleased to share a campus with Warlingham School & Sixth Form College; we work closely together to ensure progression and continuity for our children throughout all phases of their education.

Pupils are proud and happy. They are polite and respectful towards others. - Ofsted 2020

Our Commitment

We commit:

 To provide a happy, secure, welcoming and stimulating environment where every child is equally valued.

 To work as a team to plan a challenging, broad-based and well-structured education, encompassing all curriculum aspects of the Early Years and Key Stages One and Two.

 To value and encourage the support of parents and carers, thereby creating a positive partnership between school and home, enabling children to give of their best.

 To develop an exciting and motivating approach to learning that encourages the development of personal responsibility which enables every child to succeed.

 To develop and foster children’s moral and social values, alongside a sense of self-worth.

 To promote and encourage healthy lifestyles for all members of our school community.

 To ensure that staff and governors keep abreast of educational developments and continue to implement new initiatives that will enhance the education of our children.

 To support and celebrate the professional development and achievements of staff and governors.

Our School Values

Our School Values are:

Ofsted

Hamsey Green Primary School was graded ‘Good’ in all areas by Ofsted in February 2020.

The school’s core values of aspiration, collaboration, optimism, resilience and nurturing underpin the culture of high expectations. - Ofsted 2020

Admissions

The school’s Admissions policy follows that laid down by the Local Authority (which adheres to the guidelines in the Education Act 2002). All Surrey schools operate an Equal Preference System and there is now a co-ordinated admissions procedure between all local authorities.

If you would like to put your child’s name down to start school in our Reception classes, please contact the school office (Office@HamseyTLT. co.uk), giving your child’s details. Information will be sent to you in the September of the year before your child is due to start school.

To apply for Reception places at Hamsey Green Primary School, parents need to complete a form from the local authority to whom they pay their Council Tax. These forms will be available from their websites. If you wish to apply for a place other than at the start of Reception, you will also need to submit an application form which is also available from your home local authority. Further information regarding admissions procedures is available at www.surreycc.gov.uk and www.croydon.gov.uk.

Once the Local Authority has confirmed a place in Reception, we invite our new intake to take part in our ‘Getting Ready for School’ programme, which includes a visit to the School.

Uniform

In winter, boys wear grey trousers, grey socks with black shoes. Girls wear grey skirts or pinafores, trousers / culottes with white socks or grey tights and black shoes. All pupils wear a white polo shirt with either the School branded jumper or cardigan.

In the Summer, boys may choose to wear grey shorts and girls may choose to wear white and green striped summer dresses. School prefects wear a white collared shirt with the school tie.

The Head and Deputy Pupils wear a green blazer with a tie.

PE kit consists of a light blue polo shirt and green shorts. All pupils wear trainers. Our Reception children come to school in their PE kits on the days they have P.E.

Key Stage 1 pupils are expected to bring a book bag to school and Key Stage 2 a sensible sized school bag.

Uniform can be ordered via Price & Buckland. Click here to go to their website or use www.price-buckland. co.uk.

School Organisation

There are two classes in each year group and teachers work as a team to plan teaching and learning. Within the class, the emphasis reflects child development and is centred upon a combination of class, group and individual teaching.

We are extremely fortunate that we have highly competent and experienced Teaching Assistants who add to our collective enthusiasm and curriculum expertise. This factor, as well as allowing for an enriched curriculum, helps us to achieve a high degree of personal attention.

The School Day

8:30am – 2:50pm Reception 8:30am – 3:00pm Years 1 – 6

All pupils are expected in by 8:30am for early morning work. Although the register is taken at 8.45am, the children start learning at 8.30am.

Staff are well trained. They are quick to support pupils who need additional help. Teachers read to pupils every day. Daily reading activities help pupils to revise and hone their skills. - Ofsted 2020

Our Approach to Behaviour

At Hamsey Green, a prime aim is to encourage the children to become nurturing, caring and responsible members of our school society and hence society in general. We focus on the positive aspects of helpfulness, hard work, kindness and good behaviour.

There are also celebrations and rewards in a weekly assembly.

Our policy on behaviour and discipline is shared annually with every family in school. We follow the ‘Good To Be Green’ Behaviour Management System and pupils use the ‘Kind Words, Kind Actions’ rule.

Pupils behave, work well and do their best at all times. They uphold the motto, ‘together we learn for life’. - Ofsted 2020

Our Partnership with Parents

Our policy is to involve and inform parents as fully as possible about what is happening in school and to invite them to share our aims for their child.

You are always welcome to discuss any matter with the class teacher, Middle Leader, Assistant Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher or Headteacher. Please do not wait for a formal visit if you have a problem, however slight. The teachers make themselves available after school, since before school they are usually very busy welcoming and settling the children. Individual parent consultation sessions are offered regularly. During the year there are curriculum evenings, workshops and events arranged to which you are warmly invited.

Each week, we publish news and information in our In a Nutshell newsletter which can be accessed via our Parent App and on the school website - click here to view.

We also maintain social media channels:

HamseyGreenPrimarySchool

HamseyPrimary

@HamseyPrimary

Parents are always welcome in our school and their support is appreciated by children and staff alike. There are many ways in which parents help us, for example:

• Assisting in the classroom, under the teacher’s supervision, with for instance, cookery, sewing and art activities

• Shared reading – listening to children read on a regular basis

• Telling the children about your particular interests, experiences or employment

• Helping to catalogue books for the library

Our parents’ association (of which all parents are automatically members) organises various events. Some are fund-raising, some are educational and others are just for fun. More information is available at www.HamseyTLT. co.uk under ‘Parents’ then ‘Friends of Hamsey Green’.

The partnership between home and school is of paramount importance and is a vital part of our school ethos. We know that the children can only benefit from such a relationship.

School Attendance

Good attendance is vital for good progress at school. Time off can seriously affect a child’s achievement, for example, if a child arrives at school 5 minutes late every day, over the school year they will have missed a total of 3½ days of school!

There is information about attendance on our school website - click here to access it. Also, Tandridge Learning Trust has issued a leaflet detailing the effect of absence on a child’s education. Click the image below to access the leaflet.

All family holidays should be taken during the school holidays. Children should only be removed from school during term time under exceptional circumstances. A list of holiday dates is issued at the start of each academic year and published on the school website. Click here to find term dates on our website.

If your child is unwell at school we will contact you to come and collect them, because although we do our best, we have no comfortable place for them to rest. It is, therefore, essential that we are kept up to date with the required minimum of two telephone numbers at which you, or a designated person can be contacted.

School Closure

Emergencies – should an emergency arise where we are unable to open the school, this will be announced as follows:

• School website (www.HamseyTLT.co.uk)

• School Facebook account (/ HamseyGreenPrimarySchool), School Instagram account (HamseyPrimary) and School X (formerly Twitter) account (@ HamseyPrimary)

• Radio Eagle 96.4 FM

• Text message and email message sent

School Lunch

Fresh meals are cooked at school and are excellent value. Strict nutritional guidelines are adhered to and particular dietary needs can be catered for. Do consider the benefits of a cooked and well-balanced meal for your child. Click here to view further information on our caterer’s website.

We see lunchtime as a social occasion and try to make it a well-mannered and pleasant experience. Children are encouraged to try new foods but they are never forced to eat anything that is not liked.

All pupils in Reception, Years 1 and 2 are entitled to a Universal Free School meal. For Years 3-6, Dinner Money is required to be paid in advance.

Parents are encouraged to pay online using the School Money website. Click here for the website. Login details will be issued to new parents when their children commence school. Free meals are provided if you are receiving Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance, or Child Tax Credit (depending on your earnings). Forms are available from the school office and applications and enquiries are always treated in the strictest confidence.

For those who bring a packed lunch to school, tables are provided in the dining hall and during warmer weather, outside. Healthy packed lunches are promoted and pupils are not permitted to have sweets or fizzy drinks. We are a ‘no nut’ school.

Pupil Premium

Pupil Premium provides extra money for schools to spend on additional resources and is currently worth up to £1,455 per child per year. This funding has been used to enrich the children’s learning and emotional wellbeing through:

• Increased supervision at lunchtime enabling organised play leader

• Increased access to emotional support

• Specialist groups for social skills and language

• Financial help with school trips and uniform

• Prioritised interventions

Once entitlement is confirmed then the school and pupils will continue to benefit for up to six years, even if parents cease to qualify. Full details can be found on the school’s website.

If you would like to discuss this, please feel free to contact the School Office. Your enquiry will be handled in complete confidence.

Charging Policy

No charge is made for any activity or equipment required to fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum.

The Governing Body may request voluntary contributions for optional extras such as visiting speakers, entertainers and transport and entry to activities. Pupils will not be treated differently, whether or not their parents have made a voluntary contribution. All such charges are based on the actual cost of providing the activity

divided by the number of pupils taking part.

The above is a summary of the school’s charging policy. The full document is available for inspection on request.

Concerns and Complaints

If you have any concerns or queries about an aspect of your child’s schooling then in the first instance please speak to the class teacher. We are confident that this will resolve your concern, but in case you feel you need to escalate the query, please refer to the next level, according to the diagram below.

Class Teacher

Middle Leader

Assistant Headteacher

Deputy Headteacher

Should the matter remain unresolved then please follow the procedure outlined in the Tandridge Learning Trust’s Complaints Policy. The Policy is available on the school website (click here to access it).

A brief guide for parents is available in the entrance areas of the school office. The Education Act 2002 requires the establishment of local arrangements for the consideration of complaints about the activities of Governing Bodies, and the Local Education Authority, in respect of the school curriculum and related matters.

Child Protection Policy

Staff working with children are legally bound to report any concerns about the children in their care to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). In this school the Headteacher has that responsibility. There are also Deputy DSL’s (DDSL).

Any member of staff who suspects that a child is at risk, reports the concern to the Headteacher/ DSL or DDSL who investigates their concerns. The DSL/DDSL will follow safeguarding guidance and offers support, advice or refers to the Surrey Safeguarding Team. This may result in immediately referring the matter to the local Children’s Services Team. The actions follow County Child Protection Procedures.

All members of the school staff are subject to investigation under the ‘Protection of Children – disclosure of criminal background of those with access to children’ legislation. In addition, any volunteer in school is asked to undergo checks by the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service).

Health

and Safety

We place the highest importance on the Health and Safety of all children in our care. Children are trained in hygienic habits and safety consciousness around the school.

Parents are reminded to provide protection for their children from strong sunlight and school events are arranged so that children do not have to sit for long in the sunshine.

As previously mentioned, we are a nut free school due to allergies so we ask parents to ensure that packed lunches do not contain any nuts, e.g. Nutella spread. The Governors are responsible for Health and Safety at the school.

Regular inspections of the school are carried out and a record of these inspections is kept on file. Emergency drills involving all pupils and staff are held at least termly and all fire-fighting equipment is regularly inspected.

A copy of the full Health and Safety Policy is available for inspection at the school.

Pupils feel safe. They play well together and say there are lots of things for them to do. For instance, they enjoy using the playground equipment which helps them to keep fit and invent games. Playground ‘PALS’ are always on hand to help’. - Ofsted 2020

Curriculum

During their first year of school, children are working on the Early Years Foundation Stage, guided by:

Four principles of EYFS

• A unique child. Every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.

• Positive relationships. Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.

• Enabling environments.

• Learning and development.

There are seven areas of learning, which are then broken down into seventeen areas which are assessed against achieving a GLD (Good Level of Development). The seven areas of learning are:

• Communication & Language

• Physical Development

• Personal, Social and Emotional development

• Literacy

• Mathematics

• Understanding the World

• Expressive Arts & Design

Seventeen areas of learning are assessed against to achieve a GLD (Good Level of Development).

We follow the National Curriculum Programmes of Study for Key Stage 1 (age 5 - 7) and Key Stage 2 (age 7 -11). These comprise the ‘core’ subjects – English, Mathematics, Science, Computing - and ‘foundation’ subjects – History, Geography, Music, Physical Education, Art & Design, and Design Technology. Religious Education and PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) are also taught. Spanish is taught in years 3-6.

We ensure that every child has equal access to all aspects of the curriculum.

Senior leaders and staff have restructured the curriculum. They have put planning in place to ensure that pupils learn the most important knowledge in the right order in most subjects. - Ofsted 2020

Assessment

The aim of assessment is to improve learning opportunities for our pupils. At Hamsey Green, we have a whole school approach and see assessment as an integral part of the learning process for the development of each individual child. Assessment is made using written, oral and practical evidence as well as our professional judgement as teachers. This is used to plan future work and to identify strengths and areas for development. All children are formally assessed at strategic times in the school year.

National baseline assessments are carried out when your child enters Reception, ongoing assessment through the year closely monitors their progress in seven areas of learning. This information is then used to form judgements at the end of the year, measuring children’s attainment against the Early Learning Goals.

In Year 1, the Phonics Screening Check is administered (one specified week in June). In Year 2 we administer ongoing tasks and tests. In Year 4, over a couple of weeks in June, pupils take a National online speed Multiplication Times Tables Check. In Year 6, SATs take place one week in May during the Summer Term, dates specified by the Government. Results of all these are reported to parents and the Local Authority.

We hold parent’s consultation meetings in midAutumn and the Spring Term and reports on children’s achievements are sent to parents in the Summer Term.

Mental Health & Wellbeing

We place a high importance on the mental health and wellbeing of all our pupils and staff. Tandridge Learning Trust schools have access to The Bridge, which is a new, purpose-built wellbeing and mental health hub based on the Warlingham School & Sixth Form College site, right next door to our school.

The Bridge offers timely and accessible wellbeing intervention to pupils, including a counselling programme as well as specialist provision for individual and group interventions, which our school can apply for. The Bridge accesses external services including Learning Space, Barnado’s and Surrey Mindworks.

Teachers use their subject knowledge to carefully check what pupils have understood. They use this information to plan and provide pupils with appropriate challenge and support. This helps pupils to secure their understanding and do well in their work. -

Ofsted 2020

Special Educational Needs and Disability

At Hamsey Green we aim to promote the allround development of each child and to provide the facilities necessary to enable each child to acquire the skills which will lead to his/her success. All pupils are given the opportunity to take part in every aspect of school life. Our team, the Headteacher, the Special Needs Co-ordinator (SENDCO), teachers, teaching assistants and specialist staff work together with parents to achieve this aim. A member of the Governing Body monitors Special Needs and reports regularly to Governors.

Every year group has a range of different children with varying needs. Within this context ‘Special Needs’ may be defined as:

• A child having significantly greater difficulties in learning than the majority of the same age.

• A child having communication, social or emotional difficulties which manifest themselves in a variety of ways.

Surrey County Council provides a range of agencies for support and advice for parents and staff. Children atn Hamsey Green with ‘Special Needs’ are monitored according to

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive valuable support. Knowledgeable staff make sure that individual targets are well planned. They are adept at making sure resources support learning in the curriculum. Pupils with SEND do well in their work.. - Ofsted 2020

Surrey County Council procedures and the Code of Practice. Full details of these procedures, the school’s Special Needs Policy and a range of other useful information and resources are available on our website. Please click here to access the relevant page.

More Able and Talented Pupils

We identify children who we feel are particularly able and talented in any particular aspect of the curriculum. Opportunities are provided both within and outside the classroom to develop and extend their skills.

Religious Education

An understanding of and a respect for traditions and beliefs, and an awareness and tolerance of all faiths and cultures is our aim for Religious Education. We also endeavour to develop spiritual, moral, social and cultural aspects of the children’s personalities. Within the classroom the children follow a programme of study from Surrey Education which focuses on families, feelings and caring, and the religions of Christianity and other religions.

Assemblies are held during which the children are encouraged to be aware of themselves and how they can care about other people and our world. Time for

reflection and spirituality are incorporated into assemblies. An awareness of, and sensitivity to, other faiths within school is encouraged and multi-cultural aspects of education are promoted and expanded in this way. Speakers are also invited to come in to talk to the children.

Parents may withdraw their children from assembly or from Religious Education should they wish them not to take part.

The Extended Day

We run a Breakfast Club and an After School Club. The Breakfast Club operates between 7:30am and 8:30am and the After School Club runs until 6:00pm daily. Further details can be obtained from the school website; click here to access it.

We also have a wide range of extra-curricular clubs of various types which are run by staff and external providers e.g. art, drama, dancing, cross country, gardening, gymnastics, tennis and football. These may vary termly – up-to-date information is provided in school and on the website.

Pupils appreciate the range of clubs and after-school activities available to them. Additionally, they look forward to special trips, such as visits to the theatre. - Ofsted 2020

Acorns Nursery

Acorns Nursery opened on the lower site of Hamsey Green Primary School in September 2020, providing expert care, socialisation and early education, with whole day or morning and afternoon sessions available. The nursery caters for two-year olds as well as those who are three or four years of age. Full wrap around care, breakfast and an afterschool club can be provided at an additional cost should this be required. Lunchtime sessions can be booked at an additional cost with lunch provided by the parent/carer.

We accept a range of funding options including FEET and 2-year old entitlement funding (15 free hours for 2 year olds), Universal Funding (15 free hours for 3 & 4 year olds) and Extended Funding (30 free hours for 3 & 4 year olds). All additional hours over and above the 15 and 30 hour 9am3pm term time only provision are chargeable, but parents could be eligible for Tax Free Childcare and Employee Childcare Vouchers.

Open term time only, Monday to Friday, the nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and provides stimulating educational activities as well as social development opportunities. The Early Years teaching team at Hamsey Green Primary School work closely with the nursery to provide a seamless transition into primary education enabling all children to flourish and succeed.

Please click here for more information about Acorns Nursery on our website.

Children in early years enjoy a range of exciting activities that develop their language, literacy and mathematical skills well. Staff plan and provide interesting learning activities that motivate children to learn about the world around them. - Ofsted 2020

Address: Tithepit Shaw Lane, Warlingham, Surrey,CR6 9AQ

Telephone: 01883 622000

Email: Office@HamseyTLT.co.uk

Website: www.HamseyTLT.co.uk