OUR SCHOOL

In our school grounds we have a small outdoor swimming pool, a large football field, an environmental area where we have a bird hide, three ponds, lots and lots of trees such as Sloe, Wych Elm, Holly etc Last year a local organisation came, to the school to help us to clear the area to make it more attractive, we also have an adventure playground where we play. Our swimming pool has recently been refurbished but we can only use it during the summer months. We also have a tarmac area which we use as a netball court.

At Bridestowe we aim to:-

• make learning fun
• encourage excellence
• value individual contribution and achievement
• develop confident independent learners
• place high emphasis on literacy and numeracy
• provide a broad, balanced and enriched curriculum
• use assessment of children’s progress to plan appropriate activities to stimulate further learning
• encourage aesthetic, spiritual, moral and social development
• encourage an effective range of communication skills
• develop self discipline and a positive attitude to good behaviour
• promote a safe healthy lifestyle
• teach children to value and respect self and others
• be central to the local community
• work in partnership with parents

The school has two annual intakes September and January. Children who will be 5 between September 1st and February 28th will attend school full time from September. Children who will be 5 between 1st March and 31st August will attend school full time from January. We encourage new children to attend two afternoon sessions a week during the term before he/she starts full time. These visits help your child to settle more easily when they start full-time. They are able to get used to the new routines of school, meet and get to know the other children and develop their independence in the classroom and playground.

The Foundation Stage is for children aged 3-5 and covers the years they spend from the beginning of nursery or pre-school to the end of the reception class. The Foundation Stage curriculum gives access to a broad range of relevant, rich, diverse opportunities and experiences.  These will support your child’s learning to achieve the Early Learning Goals at the end of their reception year.

The early learning goals set out what most children are expected to achieve by the end of the foundation stage.  They help people who work with children aged 3-5 to focus on what children need to learn.  They are not a curriculum with lots of different subjects.  They are six broad areas of learning.

¬       Personal, social and emotional development.

¬       Communication, language and literacy.

¬       Mathematical development.

¬       Knowledge and understanding of the world.

¬       Physical development.

¬       Creative development.

These areas of learning are covered alongside year 1 and 2 National Curriculum subjects in the infant class.

Achievement in respect of the early learning goals is assessed throughout the reception year and reported to parents as the Foundation Stage Profile in the July of their first year at school.

The National Curriculum is divided into two Key Stages.  Key Stage 1, 5 – 7 years and Key Stage 2, 7 – 11 years.  At both Key Stages, pupils follow a carefully constructed subject based curriculum.