Shefford Lower School
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Nursery Unit
New Children
Your child will be starting Nursery as soon as possible after they are 3 1/2 years old. Parents are expected to stay with their children for the first session, and for longer if necessary.
The teacher will explain the "joining routine" on the first morning, as well as making a special visit to your home to discuss confidential matters and to answer any queries/concerns you or your child may have.
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Nursery Timetable
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9.00
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Morning children arrive, register and discuss activities.
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9.15-10-15
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Activity session.
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10.15-10.30
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Tidy up / milk
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10.30-10.45
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Music / Outside play
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10.45-11.05
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Outside play
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11.05-11.30
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Toilets/Story
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Morning Children Collected.
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11.20
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P.M. Rising 5 children arrive
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11.20-11.55
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Pre-school work with Rising 5 children
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11.55-12.30
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Lunch
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12.30-12.55
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Complete work / Video / Outside play
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1.00
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Afternoon children arrive, register and discuss activities
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1.15-2.15
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Activity session
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2.15-2.30
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Tidy up / milk
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2.30-2.45
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Music / Outside play
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2.45-3.05
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Outside play
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3.05-3.30
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Toilets/Story
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Afternoon Children Collected.
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Your child will do some creative work each week but will also take part in games and play activities which are equally important, older children receive more direction.
When children are in their final term at Nursery i.e. Rising Five, they are offered extended sessions to include the lunch time period 9.00am - 12.55pm or 11.20am - 3.30pm. During this time the children receive more formal teaching working towards National Curriculum English and Maths. Children choose books to share at home and Nursery.
Children have the opportunity to take school dinners in their final rising five term, we do not encourage packed lunches.
Dinner money is payable on a weekly basis every Monday. Free meals are available (please ask the Headteacher if you feel you may qualify).
The Nursery curriculum is planned to incorporate the following areas of learning and experience.
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1
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Personal and Social Development
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2
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Language and Literacy
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3
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Mathematics
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4
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Knowledge and Understanding of the World
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5
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Physical Development
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6
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Creative Development
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All Nursery children are assessed once a term.
Admissions Policy for Children Living Within The Main School Catchment Area.
Admission to Shefford Lower School Nursery Unit, will be determined on the basis of:
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a)
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catchment area.
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b)
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age.
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If the number of places is not sufficient to meet the requests of all the parents in the catchment area then the following criteria will be applied.
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a)
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on medical grounds
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b)
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date of birth
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c)
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to brothers and sisters of pupils attending main school
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d)
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to brothers and sisters of pupils who have previously attended the main school
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e)
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date of registration on the waiting list, following their second birthday.
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Admissions Policy for Children Living Outside the Main School Catchment Area.
Parents of pupils living outside Shefford Lower School catchment area will be offered a place for their child as a vacancy arises AFTER children who live in the school catchment area.
If the number of places is not sufficient to meet the requests of all the parents then the following criteria will be applied.
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a)
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on medical grounds
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b)
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children who will be attending Shefford Lower School out of catchment
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c)
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date of birth
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d)
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to brothers and sisters of pupils attending main school
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e)
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to brothers and sisters of pupils who have previously attended the main school
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f)
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date of registration on the waiting list, following their second birthday.
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Shefford Lower School
Our School
The school's catchment area is the town of Shefford.
We are situated on a spacious open site shared with Robert Bloomfield Middle School with ample playing fields and hard play areas.
The school includes the first phase of a replacement school built in 1974 and until phase 2 is constructed classes are still housed in the old school building. Another feature is our own swimming pool.
We aim to ensure that our children travel carefully between buildings and use the Green Cross Code on internal roadways. Parents are requested to use the newly built access from Ampthill Road and escort their children to school.
There is a thriving PSA, registered as a charity.
We provide education for pupils of both sexes and mixed abilities from age 5 to 9 years. The estimated school roll for September 1997 is 198 pupils as follows:-
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Age group
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No. of pupils
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year 1 - 5+
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45
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year 2 - 6+
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46
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year 3 - 7+
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52
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year 4 - 8+
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55
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Organised into 7 teaching groups, with further reception group from January and Easter each year.
The length of the taught day for Key Stage 1 children is 4 hours 20 minutes and for Key Stage 2 children is 4 hours 45 minutes.
School Organisation
Most of our reception class children have been transferred from the Nursery Unit at the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday. This year all children are vertically (mixed age) grouped in Key Stage 2 and as closely as possible according to Key Stage 1.
Parental involvement is encouraged. Any parent wishing to support school activities is invited to contact the Head or class teacher.
At the age of nine years children transfer to Robert Bloomfield Middle School.
School Curriculum
The National Curriculum specifies four key stages in relation to the period of compulsory schooling (from 5 to 16 years). These are.
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Key Stage
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Age
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1
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5-7 years
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2
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7-11 years
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3
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11-14 years
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4
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14-16 years
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Predominantly we address Key Stage 1 and 2.
English
The approach to language teaching is cross-curricular. Writing is developed in a variety of ways and for a variety of purposes. The teaching of Spelling is based on 'Spelling Word' (published by Nash Pollock). The school promotes a partnership approach to Reading. The school places a strong emphasis on Speaking and Listening in all aspects of classroom activity.
Mathematics.
The school emphasises the use and application of mathematical knowledge. The development of mathematical language is achieved by the use of questioning, and the careful grouping to encourage them to talk and think about their work.
Science.
The teaching of science in the school is achieved largely through topic work. The content of which is selected to interest the child and to incorporate the National Curriculum requirements.
Humanities.
The teaching Geography and History is mainly achieved through topic work, discussions and class visits.
Information Technology.
All children have an opportunity to use computers. Machines are available in all classes.
Religious Education.
The religious education provided is in accordance with the County Agreed Syllabus. However parents may withdraw their children from religious education and / or group worship.
Sex Education.
No formal Sex Education is provided in the school, in our Health Education programme the appropriate vocabulary for the subject is used when it occurs, and questions are answered honestly.
Special Needs.
Children with special needs will usually be identified through assessment within the context of the classroom learning situation. Individual Education Plans will be prepared for identified needs.
Assessment
Children's progress is assessed according to the National Curriculum. This assessment is linked to planning future teaching. During year 2 we administer the National Standard Assessment and publish the results to the parents of those children.
School Discipline.
The rules of the school are simple and require each child to show care courtesy and consideration at all times.
Administration of Medicines.
School Staff do not administer short-term medication.
Ivel School Association.
We are a member of the Ivel Schools Association which is an association of 12 schools in Arlesey, Shefford, Stotfold and the villages in South East Bedfordshire.
School Hours.
The school day is as follows.
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Morning Session:
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starts
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9.00 am
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ends
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12.10 pm
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Morning Break
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10.40 - 11.00 am
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Afternoon Session:
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starts
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1.25 pm
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ends
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3.30 pm
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Key Stage 1
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ends
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3.35 pm
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Key Stage 2
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Afternoon Break
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2.45 - 3.00 pm
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Children are expected to arrive NO EARLIER than 10 minutes before their school session. A teacher is on duty from 8.50 am in the OLD BUILDING playground only.
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1.
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Any absence must be explained in a dated letter following a telephone call to the office on the day.
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2.
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Any planned absence must be requested, in writing.
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3.
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Holiday forms can be collected from the office and completed.
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4.
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Reasons for late attendance must be explained in a dated letter or by phone call to the school.
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School Uniform
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BOYS
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Grey trousers, grey or white shirt, red or grey trousers or red school sweater.
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GIRLS
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Grey skirt or pinafore dress, white blouse, red cardigan or red school sweater.
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