Welcome to John Ray Infant School

Welcome to John Ray Infant School. We pride ourselves in providing a happy and friendly atmosphere where children make new friends, develop in confidence and learn new skills in a secure and stimulating environment. We hope this website will answer some of your questions and provide useful information, helping to make your child’s introduction to our school a happy experience. Ronnie Hackett Headteacher

The Governors and staff at John Ray Infant School aim to:

• Create an environment where adults and children alike are all learners, where the atmosphere is active and stimulating and where all associated with the school find it a happy and rewarding place to be.
• Provide a wide and challenging curriculum for differing abilities and learning styles that encourages each child to reach their potential.
• To create a desire to learn, confidence to try, and an ability to achieve.
• Promote the image of a Healthy School where each chid is encouraged to develop self esteem, self discipline and show respect and consideration for others.
• Develop citizenship through our School Council and Personal, Social and Health Education.
• Provide equal opportunities for all our pupils.
• To develop a working partnership between parents and school for the benefit of the children

• We move quietly and carefully around the school.
• We are polite and respectful to others and their property.
• We always work hard and do our best.
• We remember to listen to others and take turns.
• We take our problems to adults in school
  

Class Organisation

The school has a three/four form entry.
There are nine/ten classes of single or mixed age groups, as numbers on roll dictate. The teacher for each class is responsible for the children’s work and progress, although the children may at times be working with other teachers in other teaching areas.

The Foundation Stage

The Foundation Stage is for children aged 3-5, and by the time children are in reception classes they are working towards the end of the Foundation Stage. The children will follow six broad areas of learning called the Early Learning Goals. These are taught through a cross-curricular approach.
The foundations for future learning are laid at this stage of the children’s development. The six areas follow: personal, social and emotional development; communication language and literacy; mathematical development; knowledge and understanding of the world; and physical and creative development.
Much of the work is experienced through practical activities and children will communicate their ideas both orally and on paper.

Key Stage 1 - Years 1 and 2

At Key Stage 1 all schools have to teach the National Curriculum subjects. These are: English, Mathematics, Science, ICT, Design & Technology, History, Geography (Humanities), Art & Design, Music, Physical Education. We also teach Religious Education as well as Personal, Social, Health Education and Citizenship.

ICT is taught in its own right as well as across all the other subjects. We often choose to teach these subjects through a topic or themed approach.

At the end of Key Stage 1, each National Curriculum subject has a target, which children should reach, in a particular level of skill, level and understanding.

School Worship and Religious Education

Religious education is taught through the QCA schemes of work, which includes Christianity among other faiths. A daily act of worship is held in school and parents are invited to join class assemblies from time to time. Parents who wish their children to be withdrawn from Religious Education and Harvest and Christmas celebrations should contact the Headteacher.

Sex Education

We aim to teach Sexual Relationships Education through our PSHE Curriculum. Children are encouraged to think about relationships and the emotional physical changes of growing up. Children’s questions are answered as they arise, as appropriate to their stage of development.

Physical Education and Sport

At Key Stage 1, pupils follow three main areas of activity: Games (including simple competitive team games), Gymnastic activity and Dance. We use the indoor and outdoor environments where appropriate. Our Adventure Playground supports the development of pupil co-operation and general confidence in physical activities.

The LEA’s policy states that children are legally entitled to a place at school at the beginning of the term after their fifth birthday.

At John Ray Infant School children are admitted at the beginning of the following two terms:

• Autumn Term: - Children whose 5th birthday falls between 1st Sept - 31st December will begin school in September on a full time basis.
• Autumn Term: - Children whose 5th birthday falls between 1st January - 30th April will begin school in September only on a part time basis. They will become full time after Christmas.
• Spring Term: - Children whose 5th birthday falls between 1st May - 31st August will begin school in January only on a part time basis. They will become full time after Easter.

Part-timers will be offered five morning or afternoon sessions of 2½ hours and the school will claim grant funding for five sessions.

Our Early Years provision will take account of the fact that our children with Spring and Summer birthdays will only be starting school one term early on a part time basis. However if the school feels that the child is not developmentally ready to start part time then a phased programme can be established.

Admissions Procedure

Each school has a published “number intended to admit” and we are obliged to accept children up to our physical capacity, which at present has been set at 110 pupils per year. Should our applications exceed the number of places available, first priority will be given to children in our catchment area, as defined by the local authority. Any remaining spaces will be allocated to out of area children using the following criteria:

1. Children with brothers/sisters already at the infant school
2. Children with brothers/sisters at the partner junior school
3. Children living in the Chapel Hill Catchment area
4. For remaining applications, priority will be determined by a straight-line distance from home to school, those living the closest being given the highest priority.
5. Exceptional medical reasons may override the above.

Application for Places

In the year prior to your child starting school all parents will need to:

• Fill in an application form from the school and return it to school by March 31st
• Out of catchment parents must apply to the school and apply to the L.E.A. (Planning and Admissions, Learning Services, P.O. Box 4261, Chelmsford CM1 1GS). by the closing date March 31st

The Local Authority will allocate places, after consultation with the Headteacher, as soon as possible after March 31st .

Children are expected to attend school wearing the school colours of red and grey dressed appropriately for the variety of indoor and outdoor activities, which they will pursue during the day.

Please ensure all items of clothing are clearly marked with their name.

• White shirt/ blouse
• Grey trousers /skirt/tunic
• Red jumper / John Ray sweatshirt/red cardigan
• White polo shirts in summer
• Red gingham dress in summer
• Black shoes or sandals
• Red shorts and John Ray T-shirt for P.E.
• Please provide a named PE bag for kit

It will be helpful to your child’s teacher if your child could:

• Take on and off their coat and shoes
• Dress themselves
• Use slip on or buckled shoes (Velcro is easy)
• Have easy fastenings on clothes