Welcome to Our School

Welcome to Thameside Primary School; opening doors and children's minds for over 100 years. Step inside and experience the warm, welcoming atmosphere of our school, which is tucked away close to the river Thames in the heart of Caversham. Explore this website to find out more about life, learning and fun at this thriving community school which puts children at the centre of its achievements.

'A caring ethos pervades all aspects of school life and pupils of all ages, ethnicity, gender and ability, work and play happily together.' OFSTED 2006

Our School

This page provides an overview of our school and key information for prospective parents and children. For more detailed information please download our information pack.

Aim and Objectives

Admissions and Catchment Area

Thameside Primary School is a co-educational day school, which caters for children between the ages of four and eleven years. A maximum of 60 pupils may be admitted each academic year. The maximum number of boys and girls on roll is designed to be 334.

In general terms the boundaries of the school's catchment area are as follows: The Mount, Hemdean Rise, Henley Road, Luscombe Close and the River Thames, it also includes some of the developments off Amersham Road i.e. Douglas Road, Talbot Close, Clonmel Road and Dickens Close.

Personal Development and Wellbeing

Expectations

At school we are concerned with the "whole" child and not only with academic achievement. After all, if children are not happy at school or at home, then it is likely that they will not do well at school work. For this reason, each class teacher will be concerned with how children are getting on with each other and how they get on with adults. If children show signs of unhappiness, misbehaviour, lack of interest, the class teacher will raise the matter informally with the parents and discuss any future action. The school has a well developed policy for monitoring the children's behaviour. This places heavy emphasis on praising children for their achievements in a variety of ways. As a consequence 'They behave well, are keen to learn, and feel safe and secure.' OFSTED 2006

The system is simple: the school motto is: THINK FOR YOURSELF

Child Protection

The school follows the agreed procedures agreed to protect children from harm. The school co-operates with professionals who work with children, we liaise with local Social Services, Child Guidance, Health Visitors and Child Protection agencies. The school has a Child Protection Policy which is available for parents on request.

Home/School Liaison

It is the school's policy that parents should always feel welcome to come into the school at the end of the day to discuss any aspect of their child's progress or behaviour with the child's teacher on an informal basis, but it would be helpful if prior notice could be given should a formal interview be required with the Headteacher.

Should any problems arise in school, then parents will be invited along to school for the matter to be discussed.

Road Safety

We are conscious of the safety of children coming to and from school. Please help us to encourage children to think about road safety in the following ways:

• Bring younger children to school on foot if possible. Use this as an opportunity to teach your child the Green Cross Code.
• If older children walk to school unaccompanied, please insist that they follow the Green Cross Code and also that they only cross Gosbrook Road with our lollipop lady if at all possible.
• If you have to use a car to transport your child to school, remember that Harley Road is a NO PARKING ZONE and parking outside the school could cause a child to lose their life.
• Bicycles: older children may apply for a Thameside cycling permit (younger children also if accompanied at all times by a parent).

Special Education Policy

Most children experience difficulties in some area of learning from time to time. This is usual and is attended to by class teachers. Some children, however, do have very specific learning difficulties. Thameside aims to devise a teaching programme for these children that results in achievable steps for each child.

Curriculum

We have a number of policy statements regarding the core curriculum subjects of English, Maths, Science and Information Communication Technology. Other foundation subjects include history, geography, art, music, DT (Design Technology), PE (Physical Education), RE (Religious Education), PSHME (Personal, Social, Health and Moral Education) and MFL (Modern Foreign Languages).

Extra Curricular Activities

Children have the opportunity to take part in extra-curricular activities. These take place either in the lunch hour or after school. An Extended Schools Manager co-ordinates after school and lunchtime activities.

Sport at Thameside

Thameside offers a wide range of sporting activities to pupils at different times throughout the year. These include football, netball, volleyball, athletics, orienteering, swimming, gymnastics, basketball, short tennis, rounders and climbing. Games on grass and athletics are provided for by the use of our school field.

School Arrangements

Class Organisation

The school is organised into ten classes containing 15 - 24 children per class.

School Day

Children may come into the playground from 8.45 a.m. A bell is rung at 8.50 a.m. and children are taken in by their teachers at 8.55 a.m.

Children have approximately 1 hour for lunch.

The school day finishes at 3.15 p.m.

Lunchtime Arrangements

We provide healthy school meals, however children are welcome to bring packed lunches. We have play-workers available each lunchtime to encourage and support children in organised games

The Parents' Association

Parental Involvement

The Headteacher and staff welcome any help which parents are willing to give during the school day. Help is appreciated with such activities as reading, cookery, sewing, craft, library, covering/mending books, taking down displays, or any other assistance parents are willing to offer.

Thameside School Association (TSA)

All parents are automatically members of the Thameside School Association and are invited to take part in all functions and attend committee meetings as observers and volunteers.

School Uniform

It is expected that all children will wear school uniform as it helps to give a child a sense of belonging to a community.

Modes of dress are based on the school colours of maroon and grey, and the uniform is available to purchase from the school office.

Thameside Staff

Please read on to see who works at our school.

Headteacher

Our Headteacher is Mrs J Moore, BSc (London), PGCE (Reading).
Our Deputy Headteacher is Mrs M Chaplain, B.Ed (Lancaster)

Teachers

Mrs P Bliss
Mrs F Clayton
Mr M Driscoll
Mrs R Driscoll
Mrs P Dunbar
Miss S Edmondson
Mrs C Emslie
Mrs L Lombos
Mrs F McKenna
Mrs H Shaw

Support Staff

Our school has a number of other staff:

Mrs A Elliott, Bursar
Mrs B Porteous, School Secretary
Mrs S Harrop, Administrative Officer
Mr J Hope, Extended Schools Manager
Miss E Master-Brown, GTP Trainee
Miss C McCarthy, GTP Trainee
Mr T Weathers, School Caretaker
Mrs R Searle, Cleaner
Mrs A Tuthill, Cleaner

Teaching Assistants

Our Teaching Assistants are:
Mrs J Butler
Mrs A Harwood
Mrs B Simmonds
Mrs S Harrop
Mrs A Watts
Mrs A Tuthill
Mrs B Sandford
Mrs D Hindley
Mrs J Stone
Mrs L Ferguson
Mrs W Higgs
Ms J Nurse

Lunchtime Staff

The lunchtime staff at Thameside are:
Mrs B Sandford
Mrs D Hood
Mrs A Tuthill
Mrs A Brown
Mrs L Ferguson

Visiting Support Staff

We have a number of other staff who visit our school from time to time:
Dr Karlman, School Doctor
Mrs R Mann, School Nurse
Mrs J Stevens, Educational Welfare Officer
Mrs B Eastwood, Educational Welfare Assistant
Mrs D Sander, Educational Psychologist
Mrs J Rodriges, Links Team
Mrs D Azami, Links Team
Mr C West, Youth Worker
Mr C Evans, Youth Worker
Mr E Pereira, Guitar
Mr P Brookes, Keyboard