Radnage is a small Church of England Voluntary Aided Infant School set in the picturesque village of Radnage in the Chiltern Hills.
We cater for children from 4 to 7 years arranged into 3 classes.		As a rural school great emphasis is put on encouraging the active involvement of all our community in school life. Parental help in the school is warmly welcomed including classroom activities and involvement in our thriving PTA.
Our school offers all the advantages derived from excellent staff ratios and the secure and happy atmosphere that a small rural school can provide. For the up to date school profile please go to: schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk/_profiles/_pdf/8253339.pdf

Meet the staff - portraits by Year 1

	As well as being our Headteacher, Mrs Ramm teaches Class 2.
Mrs Gibbons teaches in the reception class.
	Mrs Simpson teaches in Class 2. Mrs Simpson is also our Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator.
Mrs Martin is our Secretary.

MISSION STATEMENT

Our school, based on a Christian foundation, has a mission to encourage every child, regardless of gender, race, or creed, to progress academically, intellectually, morally, spiritually and socially to their individual potential. Our partnership extends beyond the children to include parents/carers, the Church and the community.

WE AIM TO :-

- make learning an effective and enjoyable experience

- encourage each child's independence yet promote their respect for, and co-operation with, others

- develop an awareness of the Christian faith and to promote tolerance and respect for other religions and cultures

- develop self-respect and confidence in all children and help them to take pride in their achievements and those of others

- show concern and care for others so that the children can eventually take their place in the community as responsible, caring adults

- promote an understanding of the environment preparing children for life in a rapidly changing world

- deliver a broad and balanced curriculum, taught by a professionally motivated staff, ensuring that each child has access to the National Curriculum, Religious Education and worship

- match the learning experiences and use of available resources to the ability of each individual child

- ensure that children are given opportunities to develop appropriate problem-solving skills and the ability to reason

The School does not have a school uniform. However, each child should be equipped with a pair of navy shorts, a red Tee shirt and a pair of plimsolls for use when doing PE. These are kept at School in a shoe-bag (draw-string bag) and sent home regularly for laundering.

A royal blue sweatshirt with the School name embroidered thereon is optional but encouraged (details available at School) and a white polo shirt for boys and girls. For summer-wear plain coloured shorts may be worn by boys or girls. Girls may also wear blue and white check or striped dresses. Sweatshirt cardigans (embroidered with the school name) are available for summer wear. Otherwise, the main guideline is that pupils are expected to wear sensible clothing, appropriate for School activities and weather conditions. All items of clothing should be clearly named.

No jewellery should be worn. If a child has pierced ears small sleeper ear-rings only are allowed, although for obvious reasons of safety it is preferred that even these are removed for the time the child is in School.

The School curriculum has been updated to meet all current National Curriculum requirements, the Foundation Curriculum for the Early Years, and the Curriculum 2000 for Key Stage 1. Each child is treated as an individual and the School aims to ensure continuity and progression is met by a curriculum that is as individual as is possible and practical. With this in mind, the curriculum is designed to support groups or individuals within the class. It is our aim to develop each child's potential in academic, physical, social and aesthetic experiences, developing lively enquiring minds and the ability to question and argue rationally, and to apply themselves to tasks. The curriculum aims to develop the acquisition of knowledge and skills relevant to adult life and a fast changing world. Very careful attention is paid to the teaching of reading and the basics of numeracy, but the children also work at written English, Technology including Information Technology, Religious Education, Music, Humanities, Art, Science, and Physical Education. A topic or thematic approach is used to develop scientific knowledge and may be used to encompass the Humanities, History, Geography and Religious Education. These are also subject-based, as appropriate.

The school curriculum includes the delivery of the new Primary Strategy.


THE FOUNDATION CURRICULUM

The new foundation curriculum came into force in September 2000. It contains early learning goals which set out what most children are expected to achieve by the end of the Reception year.

The curriculum is organised into six areas of learning, namely: communication, language and literacy; mathematical development; personal, social and emotional development; knowledge and understanding of the world; physical development; and creative development. The curriculum documentation also includes principles for early years education and features of good practice. An outdoor area is currently being developed as part of the building project to provide an additional learning environment.


READING

Since the ability to read is the most vital part of a child's education, considerable time and care is spent upon the teaching of reading. The School uses a variety of approaches and techniques tailored to individual requirements. The core reading schemes are One, Two, Three & Away, Ginn 360, The Oxford Reading Tree, and Ginn ?All Aboard?, but this is supported by a wide variety of other reading material. Children are encouraged to take their reading books home to read with their parents, and to share other books, including those from our well resourced library.

WRITTEN ENGLISH

Unless a child can express himself verbally in full sentences he is unlikely to make much progress in reading and writing. We therefore spend as much time as possible talking with the children and encouraging them to talk to us. They then learn how to form their letters, and are able to write sentences of their own which can be read independently of the child and are encouraged to express themselves on paper through experimental writing. This leads to writing stories, poems and factual accounts for themselves. Alongside this, attention is paid to spelling and handwriting. By the time a child is in Year 2, he is ready to start joined-up writing. During the last year all children are taught a cursive style in readiness for the Key Stage 2 curriculum.

SCHOOL LIBRARY

A School Library system is in operation. All children have the opportunity to take home a book from the main library each week and also a class library book.

MATHEMATICS ? NEW HEINEMANN MATHS SCHEME

This Maths scheme is used throughout the school and is well supported by other mathematical resources. Care is taken that the child's progress towards numeracy is logical and thorough. In most cases work is done with the help of apparatus of all kinds and in as meaningful a manner as possible. Mathematics is linked to real life situations wherever feasible and careful records are kept as to which concepts a child has mastered. The Primary Strategy provides opportunities for oral and mental work and children formally record appropriate activities.

TECHNOLOGY

Technology, including Information Technology, is integrated into the curriculum, and all children have the opportunity to use computers, and design and make items, including modelling, sewing and cookery.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

This is taught using the County Agreed Syllabus. Assemblies highlight aspects of moral values and the use of biblical stories illustrating a Christian way of life. Assemblies are normally taken by the Headteacher or Staff. The Priest in Charge or other members of the Clergy also take assembly once a week. Children in the Year 2 class receive one session per week with the Priest in Charge or other members of the Clergy. A Service is held in St. Mary's Church to celebrate Mothering Sunday/Spring and a Harvest Festival celebrated in the School Hall/Church. These are attended by parents and friends.

Parents have the right of withdrawal and the school would provide supervision for those who have been withdrawn.

MUSIC

All children have the opportunity to develop musical skills through singing and percussion work. The older children learn the recorder in preparation for future work at the junior school. At the present time, a piano accompanist visits the school regularly.




PHYSICAL EDUCATION

SPORT

Within the physical education curriculum, children have the opportunity to develop the skills needed for traditional team sports such as football, rounders, unihoc, and netball. After experiencing these opportunities for repeating movements the children participate in simple games situations, developing the ability to cope with success and failure in competitive and co-operative activities. Mrs E Ramm is the PE Co-ordinator and a specialist in this subject.

The children have both indoor and outdoor lessons incorporating movement and apparatus work. The School has outstanding facilities for these activities, providing a beautiful playing field and large surfaced playground adjoining it. A hall has recently been built giving excellent facilities for indoor physical educational activities. Extra curricular sports activities are provided by our School Sports Partner.

DANCING

Country Dancing and Maypole Dancing is a tradition of the School and dancing displays are given annually.

SEX EDUCATION

This is not taught as a separate entity but as part of the Personal, Social and Health Education Policy. The school encourages the acquisition of skills and attitudes which allow pupils to manage their relationships in a responsible and healthy way.

HOMEWORK

Children in the reception class initially take home games to develop a sight vocabulary for reading. They are also encouraged to look for small items for a sound table. All children in years 1 and 2 take home a list of spellings to be learnt for a test each week. They will include ?high frequency? and phonetically spelt words which are part of the Literacy aspect of the Primary Strategy. Children are expected to read regularly at home, reading core scheme books sent home by the school, but children should also be encouraged to share/read a wide variety of books both fiction and non-fiction. Children also receive homework activities related to the Numeracy aspect of the Primary Strategy, following up work done in class sessions. These activities include playing mathematical games which parents and children can share and also worksheets.

SPECIAL CURRICULUM PROVISION

The School provides assistance for those pupils with specific learning needs. These children are identified at an early stage and, where appropriate, are given specific help. The Area Support Teacher visits the School on a regular basis and gives individual assistance. Suitable programmes of work are developed for these children, followed and monitored by the class teacher, with individual help also given from a Learning Support Assistant.

Our school recognises the definition of special educational needs in the Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs (DfES 2001). Provision for each child will match their special educational need. Ongoing school assessment may indicate evidence of individual special educational need and provision will be made for this need in a School Action Plan. If a child then continues to make little or no progress in specific areas over a long period, a School Action Plus Plan would be implemented.

Parents are involved and informed at all stages. Mrs A Simpson is the nominated SEN Co-ordinator and the Headteacher has overall responsibility for SEN. The School's Special Educational Needs Policy is available on request. Gifted, Able and Talented children are also identified and their needs addressed

Parents of prospective pupils can visit the school by first making an appointment with the Headteacher.

Reception class children will be invited to spend three afternoons in school during the term preceding entry. These are usually three Monday afternoons during the second half of the term before entry.

The School, which is a Church of England Voluntary Aided School, comes under the Buckinghamshire County Council. It is situated in a beautiful rural village in the Chiltern Hills and caters for children from 4+ to seven years of age. At present the School has three classes, one for Reception Year children (4-5 year olds), one for Year 1 children (5-6), and one for Year 2 children (6-7).

Starting time for part-time pupils: Part-time children (ie those born between 1st January and 31st August) attend from 9am to 12 o?clock.


A COMMUNITY SCHOOL

As a Community School great emphasis is put on encouraging the active involvement of the village in school life. Parental help in the school is warmly welcomed, including working in the classrooms and participation in a thriving PTA. All parents of present pupils are automatically members of the PTA and are encouraged to participate on sub-committees to manage various events throughout the year. Events include an annual summer fete, and social gatherings such as a quiz night, dinner dance, etc.

No-Smoking School Policy: Smoking is not allowed on the school premises ? buildings and play areas. The No-Smoking Policy applies to all visitors to the school. No-Smoking signs are displayed to reinforce our No-Smoking Policy. A copy of this policy is placed on the school notice board.


WELFARE

All children bring packed lunches and are supervised by lunchtime supervisors and teachers, including the Headteacher.

If medication prescribed by a doctor is required by a child, parents must sign a form for administration of medicine stating the required dosage. Inhalers for asthma are stored in a safe and central place accessible to all staff. Children's medication should be clearly marked with the child's name and include the dispensing leaflet.

Parents are asked to keep us fully updated on all telephone numbers, both home and work day time numbers, so they can be contacted should the need arise.


PASTORAL CARE

The class teacher is responsible for the care and welfare of the children in that class. The child will meet other teachers and adults throughout the week. Frequent discussion takes place so the class teachers are kept informed of children's behaviour and general welfare.

At our school, the health, safety and well-being of every child are our paramount concern. We listen to our pupils and take seriously what they tell us. Our aim is that children will enjoy their time as pupils in this school. We want to work in partnership with you to help your child to achieve their full potential and make a positive contribution. On rare occasions our concern about a child may mean that we have to consult other agencies even before we contact you. The procedures, which we follow, have been laid down by the Buckinghamshire Area Child Protection Committee, and the school has adopted a Child Protection Policy in line with this for the safety of all. If you want to know more about our procedures or the policy, please speak to the Headteacher or your child?s class teacher.


DISCIPLINE AND BEHAVIOUR

Great emphasis is laid on the use of courtesy and consideration by all members of the School. School rules are kept to a minimum and the children are expected to behave in a manner that is both sensible and kind at all times. If any child indulges in behaviour that gives rise to real concern, the parents are consulted and a joint plan of action is formulated. All parents are issued with a copy of the school?s Behaviour Policy.