Welcome to Chalfont St Giles Infant School

Please feel free to browse our website. It is currently under construction and updates will be made.

History

There has been a school on the present site since 1815 although Sir Hugh Palliser (a friend of Captain Cook) first gave money for "20 local boys and 20 local girls" to be taught for 2 days each week in 1789. The school hall is a listed building and dates back to the mid-1800s, and is still known in the village as the Palliser Room. The school continues to be a focus for the community and many local organisations use the site out of school hours. The attractive playing field was purchased by Mr William Shackman, a wealthy American who lived in the village. He became a patron of the school in the 1950s and bequeathed the field to the school in his will.

Daily strategy

The school is generally organised in classes by age order, although there may be exceptions. At Rising Five, when children join the main school, they enter a class with children of a similar age. They then progress through the school on a chronological basis. Within this framework, children are streamed and work in small groups, based upon ability, special interest or friendship groups. More able children can progress at their own speed and less able children are given extra support. The children's work follows Curriculum 2000 guidelines, ensuring continuity and progression.

The School Day

The school bell rings at 8.55am. When the bell rings the children join their class lines, and come into school with their teacher. Any child arriving after this time will be recorded as a 'late arrival'. At the end of the day, the parents are invited into the classrooms to collect their children. No child is allowed to leave until the class teacher has seen their parent/carer. This is to ensure the safety of your child at all times.

Timetable

09.00 - 10.00 Literacy/Numeracy
10.00 - 10.45 Lesson time
10.45 - 11.00 Breaktime
11.00 - 12.10 Literacy/Numeracy
12.10 - 13.25 Lunchtime
13.25 - 14.40 Lesson time
14.40 - 14.55 Breaktime
14.55 - 15.15 Lesson time
15.15 End of school day

Collective Worship

Monday 10.30 - 10.45
Tuesday 10.15 - 10.45
Wednesday 13.25 - 13.40
Thursday 10.30 - 10.45
Friday 09.10 - 09.30

Teaching Hours

In line with DfES Guidelines all children in Years 1 and 2. receive 21 hours and 40 minutes each week.

Lunch

There are two sittings for lunch: the first is for the younger children in Reception/Year 1, and the second is for the Year 2 children. The children have their lunch in the Memorial Hall, cared for by midday supervisors. Children bring their own packed lunch. We recommend no sweets or chocolate are brought. We consider a healthy lunch box to include sandwiches, a drink in a flask, carton or bottle (no glass), some fruit and something sweet if required. We request that your child does not bring peanut butter sandwiches or nuts for his/her lunch due to the severe allergic reaction to nuts which some children experience.

Children attending the nursery and infant school are required to wear school uniform. The school colours are green, grey, and white.

The clothing guide is:

Girls
School logo green cardigan/sweatshirt (available from school)
Grey pinafore dress or skirt
White blouse with collar/polo shirt (no T-shirts)
White, grey or green socks or tights
Summer: dress with stripes or checks in green/white
Black/dark shoes (White option in summer)

Boys
School logo green jumper/sweatshirt (available from School)
Grey trousers/shorts
White shirt with collar/polo shirt (no T-shirts)
White, grey socks
Black/Dark shoes

P.E. Kit
Children must wear appropriate clothing for PE:

White T-shirt or school's design (available from school)
Green shorts (available from school)
Slip on plimsolls
Tracksuit for outdoor games (available from school)
PE bag marked with child's name (available from school)

Caps for summer are also available from school.

Book bags are also available from school.

All articles must be clearly and indelibly marked with your child's name

All parents are automatically members of the Parent Teacher Association. The PTA is very active and organises social and fund raising activities throughout the year. Each Autumn term there is a Parent Teachers Association Annual General Meeting, when the committee members are elected to serve for one year. All details of PTA events are posted on their Notice Board in the playground.

Community Links

The school has strong links with the local community. These links are constantly being developed and include visits from the school doctor, dentist, local policeman, church leaders, neighbourhood schools, various local community organisations and businesses. Several times a year the children entertain groups of elderly people from the village.

Professional Development

Staff training is high profile in the school. Training often takes place internally during INSET days, staff meetings and performance management meetings. It may also take place externally via county and independent training courses. The focus for training is based upon the School Improvement Plan and individual professional development interests.

Investor In People

The school has been recognised as an Investor in people once again for a further 3 years. The award recognises the high standards of staff training and development.

Charitable Trust Fund

The Charitable Trust Fund exists to manage donations made to the school by individuals, usually, but not exclusively parents. The school is always grateful to receive such donations which will be used to provide educational facilities or experiences that cannot be covered by Government funding.

Two schemes currently exist which can make giving to the school tax efficient both for the school and the individual.

Gift Aid - Under this scheme, an individual can make a donation to the school, and will be treated by the Inland Revenue as being made net of tax. The school is able to reclaim an additional 22% from the revenue, and higher rate tax payers can reclaim the additional 18%.

There is no minimum donation or number of donations, therefore any amount donated to the school by a taxpayer is eligible. To participate in this scheme you should fill in a Gift Aid form, available from the school, or inform the school that you wish you donation to be made under the Gift Aid scheme.

Payroll giving - An increasing number of employees operate this scheme whereby an amount specified by the employee is paid directly to the nominated charity from their salary, before deduction of tax. This gives maximum benefit in tax relief to the school, without any administration for either the donor or the school. If your employer does operate this scheme, details for payment of donations can be obtained from the school office.

Newsletters

A school newsletter is forwarded to parents fortnightly. The governors issue newsletters during the year, giving details of the governing body and current school issues. Newsletters contain topical information relating to the school and the many activities that are taking place. The newsletter is also circulated fortnightly on the school website. The Parent Teacher Association also produces a newsletter giving details of their many fund raising activities.

Parental help

Parents who wish to help in school are very welcome. Parents may just wish to help out generally in a classroom or specialise in a particular subject area. The school has a Parental help Policy which acts as a guideline for parents helping in school. Parents are requested to sign a Parental Help Agreement before helping in the classroom, and will also need to complete a Criminal Bureau Disclosure Form before being permitted to work with the children. Parents may also receive training in listening to children read.

The School Curriculum

The curriculum is planned and developed by the Headteacher and staff. Curriculum 2000 is the focus of that planning, consisting of the three core subjects (English, mathematics and science) and seven foundation subjects (technology, history, geography, art, music, physical education and religious education). All are part of a broad and balanced Infant school education.

It is the school's aim to recognise each individual child's learning potential, by planning individual work programmes based on Curriculum 2000.

Curriculum 2000 is divided up into Attainment targets for each subject area, giving guidelines for the level where a child might be expected to be by a certain age. These are broad guidelines as every child is an individual and all work at a different pace. The guidelines are:

Level 1 - age 4-6 years
Level 2 - age 6-8 years
Level 3 - age 8-10 years
Level 4 - age 10-12 years

Each term or half-term the children study a particular topic, for example: "Material", "Growth", "Homes", "Transport", "Environment", "Movement". Each topic has been carefully selected and researched to ensure a balanced curriculum.

Through studying such a topic the children can enjoy a variety of experiences, including investigation and experimentation. Such topics can create a stimulating introduction to many learning experiences.

As part of the National Literacy Strategy, a 'Literacy Hour' is timetabled daily during the morning session. Literacy lessons involve the teaching of reading, writing and speaking and listening. The school regularly monitors the standards of literacy within the school, with the aim of raising standards.

English in Curriculum 2000 now puts more emphasis on debating skills, speaking and listening and role-play. A variety of media is used as a stimulus to learning, including audiotapes, drama, computers and outside speakers.
Reading is the key to all learning and great emphasis is placed on it. The children are encouraged to read for enjoyment and understanding, as well as for information. Reading books are sent home regularly with a child's reading booklet, which is completed by the teacher, parent and child. The school has a well-stocked library and each classroom has a variety of reading material including fiction, poetry, library books, dictionaries and encyclopaedias. The children take a library book home each week to enjoy with their parents. All children also participate in a guided reading session in the class, once a week.

Alongside the development of reading, the school has a structured approach to the learning of phonics. The sounds of single letters are learnt, as well as letter blends and digraphs, such as 'sh', 'oo', and 'cl'. Learning phonics gives children the confidence to tackle unknown words.

The children receive a series of key words, which need to be learnt for reading and spelling. These words are used regularly within reading and writing and, once learnt, they help children with their word recognition.

Speaking and listening are as important as reading. Children are encouraged to develop spoken language skills and to develop their ability to listen, respond, discuss and express ideas.

The school has a handwriting policy centred on a cursive script. Learning correct letter formation will begin in nursery and Reception classes.

There is now an increased emphasis on the understanding and correct use of grammar as it is an essential tool for developing children's writing abilities.

Page 1
• The School Curriculum
• Thematic Approach
• Literacy Strategy

Page 2
• Numeracy Strategy
• Science
• Enviromental Studies
• Design & Technology

Page 3
• Information Technology
• Humanities
• Art & Craft
• Physical Education

Page 4
• Music
• Religious Education
• Health Education
• Multicultural
• Sex Education
• Targets
• Homework

Page 5
• School Trips
• Policies
• Extra Curricular Activities
• Museum
• Behaviour Policy
• Absences
• Transfer

Page 6
• Home-School Agreement
• Special Needs
• Parent/Teacher Liason
• Curriculum Workshops
• School Reports
• Assessment
• Foundation Stage Profile
• Pastoral Care
• Open Door
School Travel Plan