Our Year 4 Tag Rugby Team after success in the Semi-Final, with Mr. Jabri, their coach
Our pond
Our school
Here at Toddington St George Lower we aim to provide a secure and caring environment within which the children can grow in confidence and independence. Each child will benefit from enjoyable and challenging learning experiences which will enable him/her to develop academically, socially, physically and spiritually. A socially acceptable code of behaviour, which has regard to the needs and feelings of others, is encouraged at all times.
We aim to:
Develop the self esteem and confidence of all children
Realise the potential and talent of all children with a fun, friendly and challenging environment
Foster a love and excitement for learning
Equip children with the skills to live happy and successful lives and contribute positively to the community
Value every child as an individual
Equip children with the skills needed to flourish in a fast changing world
Celebrate childhood
Foster effective communication between all members of the school community
Value all members of the school community
Develop the emotional and spiritual well being of all children and adults
The staff at Toddington St George Lower School hope that you will feel able to come into school at any time to discuss problems or help with activities. We value the close relationships built up between parents and the school for the benefit of the children.
Mission Statement
Supportive
Teamwork
Growing with the child
Encouraging
Opportunities
Raising standards
Generating a passion for learning
Enhancing the environment
Mrs J. Spencer Headteacher
At present we have 330 children in school including 60 children in Reception and 28 children who attend Nursery. We have two classes in each year group with 61 children in Year 1 and 60 in Year 2. In Key Stage 2 there are 60 children in Year 3 and 61 in Year 4.
THE CURRICULUM
The 1988 Education Reform Act introduced the National Curriculum which all our children follow.
The Act identifies 4 Key Stages of compulsory schooling.
Children in Year 1 and 2 are working at Key Stage 1, children in Years 3 and 4 are beginning Key Stage 2 which will be continued at Middle School.
The National Curriculum Core Subjects are English, Maths and Science. The foundation subjects are Technology, Geography, History, Music, Art and P.E.
Each subject has a number of Attainment targets. Each Attainment target has 10 levels of achievement. The following levels are taught at each Key Stage.
Key Stage 1 Level 1 - 3
Key Stage 2 Level 2 - 6
Children move onto the next level when they are ready to do so, whatever their age.
R.E.
We believe that children learn most effectively when they are being appropriately challenged and are able to enjoy their work. Emphasis is placed on matching the work to the individual’s ability.
ENGLISH
High priority is given to speaking, listening, reading and writing skills throughout the school. The Ginn 360 Reading Scheme provides a core which is supplemented by a wide variety of colour-coded books, both fiction and non-fiction. Children are encouraged always to seek meaning in the text and to understand through a range of approaches how language works. Reading and writing are closely linked, with attention being paid to the development of legible handwriting and a sound understanding of basic spelling patterns.
Children are encouraged to write for a variety of purposes and differing audiences.
They will listen to a wide range of stories and gain experience of poetry and drama.
The school is fortunate to have a well stocked library which is used during the school day, and also as a lending library for home reading.
MATHEMATICS
Emphasis is placed upon developing each child’s ability to calculate mentally, with mathematical understanding being further extended through the study of shape, measuring, data handling and written computation.
SCIENCE
We follow the National Curriculum Programmes of Study, thus ensuring that each child has a wide range of experience, based on practical first hand activities.
We aim to promote a Scientific approach to problem solving, encouraging children to pose and answer their own questions and to communicate and record their findings in a variety of ways.
TECHNOLOGY
Children are encouraged to develop an understanding of the importance of planning as well as finishing products. Skills required for different materials are introduced, as needed.
HISTORY
The use of artefacts and introduction of historical vocabulary are important elements of our teaching.
GEOGRAPHY
Special emphasis is placed upon map work and the use of atlases, and children are informed of the environmental issues affecting the world.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Computers are in use throughout the school and in the IT suite and are used as well established tools to enhance learning across the whole curriculum. Children are encouraged to develop an understanding of the importance and applications of I.T. in the world around them. To safeguard computer systems within the school we do not allow pupils or staff to introduce software from home.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
All strands of PE (games, dance, swimming etc.) are taught in 6 week blocks. Children are encouraged to improve personal performance as well as work as part of a team.
THE ARTS
It is the policy of this school to provide a wide range of artistic experience to pupils of all ages. In addition to normal instruction in the arts the children will have opportunities to see live dramatic productions, listen to performances from musical ensembles, hear poetry readings and participate in a range of traditional seasonal activities.
ART
Children are given increasing experience of different techniques whilst being encouraged to develop basic sketching skills.
MUSIC
Music of all kinds is listened to and frequently commented on. Children learn to sing songs and compose simple rhythms.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
The Bedfordshire locally agreed syllabus and the two locally suggested Attainment targets Religious and Human Experience underpin the school’s policy.
Parents have the right to withdraw their children from these lessons.
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION
Toddington St George Lower was originally founded as a Church of England school, but now has Voluntary Controlled (V.C.) status. This means that whilst the religious character of the school remains Church of England, the educational provision and daily management issues are now the responsibility of the Governing Body and LEA.
COLLECTIVE WORSHIP
The 1988 Education Reform Act states that a daily act of collective worship must take place. Assembly is structured in such a way as to include a hymn and a prayer/quiet time to allow opportunity for reflection.
Assembly themes are chosen to make a link between the children’s lives and spiritual truths.
The children are offered clear guidance on social and moral issues. Parents have the right to withdraw children from Collective Worship. In such instances their reasons for withdrawal should be submitted to the Headteacher in writing, from which time the child/children will be supervised in the library for a period of quiet contemplation.
Ministers from local Anglican, Methodist and Baptist churches lead an assembly on a regular basis.
We close the week with a celebration of the children’s achievements. Parents of children taking part are invited to attend class assemblies two or three times each year.
CROSS CURRICULAR THEMES
The government has identified 5 major cross-curricular themes:-
1. Economic Awareness 2. Health Education 3. Environmental Education 4. Education for Citizenship 5. Careers Education and Guidance
These themes recur throughout the curriculum, and form the basis of many of our assemblies. They are further supported through educational visits and the annual use of the Life Education Bus.
ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING PROCEDURES
Continuous assessment is carried out by the teachers, and this is standardised within the school through the use of agreed assessment activities. National Standard Assessment Tasks (SAT’s) are undertaken by children in Year 2, and national end of year tests are used at the end of Years 3 and 4.
A Consultation Evening will be held each Autumn Term, to give parents the opportunity to discuss their child’s progress with the teacher.
An Open Evening will be held each Spring Term.
Full written reports are sent home at the end of the Summer Term and a second consultation evening follows.
Homework
We would encourage all children to read at home on a daily basis. Home/School commentary can be carried on between the parent and the teacher through the child’s reading records.
Occasionally children may be asked to complete a piece of unfinished work at home, or collect information for use in lessons.
Children will also be asked to take home spellings or tables to learn, and complete mathematical games and activities to reinforce classroom work.
Year 4 children have expressed an interest in continuing with Hedgehog Club which was started a couple of years ago. They will be able to plant and cultivate a range of plants in pots and hanging baskets, do some weeding, pruning and general tidying up, which will enhance different parts of the school.
If your child is interested in joining 'Hedgehog Club' and doing some gardening around school, the club restarts on Tuesday 24th April 2007, 3.20 - 4.00. The club will continue until half term. The children will need to bring a change of clothes, as the work will probably be messy. There will be ten places and will be on a first come basis.
Our school
