Prospectus

Thank you for your interest in Grovelands School.

Our school has been serving Hailsham community since 1934 and we moved to this present building in 1996. We are proud of our school, the grounds and the building, with its superb facilities and equipment.

We have three classes in every age group and these three classes form a caring and secure Year Group where children learn and play together with teachers and teaching assistants they know well. As a larger school we have excellent facilities and also a large, talented staff. They provide a variety of specialisms both within the curriculum and in the out-of-school-hours activities that we offer.

The most important element of any school is, however, the children and we provide a caring environment where they are challenged and experience success. Our OFSTED inspection reported that Grovelands is a good school with a number of outstanding features, including the personal development and well-being of pupils; the care, guidance and support they receive; and the leadership and management of the school.

The whole ethos of the school is based on encouraging the children to give of their best in every activity. Rewards, rather than punishments, are essential to achieving this and we work with parents to ensure behaviour of the highest standard.

As from October 1st 2010, Grovelands has joined with three local schools, two primary schools and one secondary school, to form the Hailsham Co-operative Learning Trust. This demonstrates our commitment to share good practice and to work co-operatively and effectively for the benefit of our families and young people.

This brochure will give you a lot of information about the school; a visit will tell you even more. If you would like to visit the school or require more information please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely
Julie Claxton
Headteacher

Grovelands is a three form entry Community Primary School for children from 4 to 11 years. There is an attached Nursery Unit for younger children.

The present building was opened in January 1996. This replaced the original Hailsham School, which was built in 1934 on a nearby site.

It is designed so that each year group has a self-contained unit of three classrooms, a science, cookery and art area and adjoining library and computer section.

There is a well-stocked main library, IT room, studio, music room, group teaching and conference rooms.

Two halls provide spacious accommodation for P.E., indoor games, dance and drama. The hall opens up into one large auditorium for concert performances.

There are five playgrounds to accommodate children of different age groups and attractive landscaped areas including an all-weather pitch that provide ample space for sports, recreational and educational activities.

We seek to provide a caring environment where children can be challenged and enjoy success.

Our school organisation and teaching methods all reflect this.

Early Years

Our Nursery Unit is called Grovelands Acorns and is built alongside our Reception Infants block. It caters for children from 2¾ years and is run as a private venture in partnership with the school. There are two sessions each day from Monday to Friday – 9.00am to 12.00am and 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Further details can be obtained from the Acorns Supervisor.

Each of the three Reception classes has a fully trained teaching assistant to support each teacher plus additional help from our Learning Support staff. Grovelands Acorns and the Reception Infants work to the school’s Foundation Stage Policy which has been drawn up in line with the School Curriculum Assessment Authority Guidelines. This covers Literacy, Mathematics, Knowledge and Understanding of the World, Creative Development, Physical Development and Personal and Social Development.

School Houses

Each class in a year group is in one of three houses – Ash, Beech or Oak. These are used for a variety of sports, social and administrative purposes.

Teaching Organisation

Children are normally taught with others of the same age group. The class teacher is responsible for the children’s learning and each class has the support of a teaching assistant every morning. A whole range of strategies is used, including whole class, group and individual teaching. Children may be put into ability groups for some subjects or work with another member of staff where we feel it would be of benefit to them. This includes our very talented children as well as those with learning difficulties. Children in Key Stage 2 may also be re-organised in ability groups for part of their English, Mathematics or Science work.

School Departments

To enable the children and staff to meet in smaller groups the school is divided up into three departments.

Lower School for Reception and Year 1.

Middle School for years 2 and 3. This provides continuity between Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

For their last three years in Years 4, 5 and 6 the children are in the Upper School.

The learning that goes on in the school is more than the ‘3 R’s’. We are as concerned with the children’s physical, moral and spiritual development as we are to provide them with the knowledge and skills they will need in later life.

The National Curriculum subjects of English, Mathematics and Science form the core of our work. These are taught in a structured way according to the children’s age and ability.

The other Foundation Subjects are:

• Art and Craft
• Design and Technology
• Geography
• History
• Information and Communication Technology
• Modern Foreign Languages
• Music
• Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)
• Physical Education (this includes games)

Special Educational Needs

We aim to provide a challenging learning environment for every child but some children require extra help at certain stages as they go through the school.

Grovelands has trained and experienced staff who can assess difficulties and prepare a suitable programme to meet a child's needs. This is often done in consultation with outside agencies provided by East Sussex County Council.

We consider partnership and liaison with parents / carers essential if children with special needs are to make progress. We meet on a regular basis and always welcome parents / carers into school to discuss any issues.

There is a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) employed in the school supported by two learning support teaching assistants as well as individual needs assistants in class. A significant proportion of support is given in the lower school in order to identify difficulties and help children at an early stage. The full SEN policy is available from the school on request.

The IT Suite

The IT Suite is part of the range of computer facilities we have throughout the school, including supervised access to e-mail and the Internet.

Religious Education

This follows the East Sussex Scheme, which is in accordance with the Standing Committee for R.E. Guidelines. The syllabus is broadly Christian and recognises other spiritual beliefs. Attitudes common to most religious faiths are encouraged i.e. love, care, truthfulness and honesty.

Collective Worship is held every day. This is varied in form and content and conducted by different members of staff. In accordance with the 1944 Education Act, parents have the right to withdraw their children from religious activities.

Music, Art, Drama and Dance

There are many opportunities for children to develop their confidence and talent in all these areas. We give a lot of importance to these subjects in regular lessons and music in KS2 is taught by a specialist music teacher. Arts weeks, clubs and performances give children plenty of opportunity to develop their talents further.

Our links with the County Music Scheme enables children to learn an instrument if they wish. We currently offer violin, cello, keyboard, brass, clarinet and guitar as well as recorder. Any child who plays an instrument or sings in our choir performs regularly both within school and in a variety of outside activities.

Physical Activities

All children have regular weekly PE periods using a wide range of gymnastics equipment. The lessons themselves follow the Quality Curriculum Guidelines developed from the National Curriculum.

Games periods also encourage the development of skills and co-operation. The school operates a number of schemes to encourage children to improve their individual performance and gain awards. The recent addition of an all weather pitch has given us more opportunity to teach games throughout the year. The school runs a number of teams for both winter and summer sports that compete with other schools.

From Year 3 onwards children have regular swimming periods using the Hailsham Lagoon Swimming Pool.

We have strong sporting links with Hailsham Community College. As a result we take part in tournaments for a range of sports varying from swimming to touch rugby, from dance to basketball. Many of our staff and assistants have coaching qualifications that enable us to give specialist training in a variety of sports.

Modern Foreign Languages

Throughout the school children are encouraged to use different languages eg. when answering the register. For some time French has been taught more systematically in Y5 and Y6. We have introduced Spanish in Y3 and German in Y4. We aim to teach all children in KS2 about the culture and language of a foreign country.

Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)

The PSHE policy has been designed to encourage the children to develop both social and personal skills. These are taught through our topics on a planned half-termly basis throughout the school. The policy has been developed in line with the East Sussex PSE Curriculum Statement and the Schools Teaching and Learning Policy.

Sex Education

The Education Act of 1993 required the Governing Body to make and keep up-to-date, a separate written statement with regard to Sex Education.

At Grovelands Sex Education is taught as part of our PSHE Policy through topic work. Parents are informed in advance when topics will contain specific and sensitive issues and have the right to withdraw their children from this aspect. However, all information given will be age appropriate and emphasis is placed on the understanding of the biological, emotional, social and moral aspects of sex education.

Information about the Curriculum

An Open Evening is held for parents and carers three times a year in October, February and July. This gives an opportunity to see the children’s work and discuss progress and future targets with teachers. Information on the curriculum, homework and how parents can help at home is given regularly by each year group.

Copies of all school policies and curriculum guidelines are available for inspection by prior arrangement through the school office.

As children grow older they become keen to join in organised activities that there is not time for us to provide in the normal school day. We do everything we can to encourage this participation and run a number of clubs catering for a variety of interests. These are mostly connected with sports, music and the creative arts.

The clubs offered each term will vary according to the particular interests of the staff, children and the time of year. We also work in partnership with local coaches who run clubs for us. A charge is made for some clubs while others are free. The majority of these activities take place at lunchtimes or directly after school for which children have to obtain your permission.

Most children enjoy their schoolwork and like having something connected with this to do at home.

All children are expected to read regularly at home and our Home-School Reading Scheme is designed for this purpose. By the time they are in Year 2 they are also expected to learn spellings and tables at home ready for class tests.

Children are given short individual targets to raise their performance in English and Mathematics and these may form the basis for extra work at home. Towards the top of the school more formal homework is set to prepare the children for their secondary education. Other assignments may be set from time to time and parents may make arrangements with their child's class teacher for work to be set in a particular area.

In all cases we rely on parents to supervise and help their children as necessary and inform us of any problems they encounter.

We encourage a sense of self-respect, self-confidence and self-reliance. We aim to develop an awareness of, and sensitivity to the needs of others.

The school has a discipline policy based on rewarding good behaviour and encouraging children to always do their best. There are a number of ways we achieve this.

Every class teacher runs a system of rewards through team points, stickers, behaviour charts etc.

Each week Good Work Assemblies are held where selected children show and talk about their achievements. At the same assemblies children from each class are given Head Teacher Awards for showing a caring attitude or some other aspect of good behaviour.

The school operates a School’s Council and the older children act as play leaders and playground mediators. All year 6 children have the opportunity to act as monitor, helping younger children at lunch times, showing visitors round the school and preparing for assemblies and other school events.

We encourage respect for our school environment and through our thriving Environment Club raise awareness of wider conservation issues. In partnership with Wealden District Council the children organise collections of paper and cans for recycling on a weekly basis. We have recently had Solar Panels fitted to the roof of the main school building. A display panel inside the school shows how much power has been generated so far and also how much carbon dioxide has been saved.

Over the years we have helped a variety of charities. These are often suggested by the children who organise sales, competitions and other events to help local and national charities.

We have a set of school rules. If at any stage we have concerns about your child we will get in touch with you and you are welcome to contact the school to talk to the class teacher, the headteacher or the deputy headteacher about matters that concern you.

Our School Rules

1. We listen and follow instructions from members of staff.
2. We work hard and don’t waste our time.
3. We don’t hurt anyone with words or actions.
4. We speak politely to all the children and adults at Grovelands School.
5. We play where it is safe and where an adult can see us.
6. We walk sensibly about the school.
7. We look after our school and everything in it – we don’t waste or damage things.

Click here for the dedicated school uniform page on the website.

Liaison with Playgroups

We have good links with all the local pre-school providers and our Early Years Co-ordinator visits them during the Summer Term to talk to their teachers and the children coming to us in September.

Links with Secondary Schools

Most children transfer to Hailsham Community College but liaison meetings with local Secondary Schools take place on a regular basis. Information about these schools and preference forms are sent to parents when their children are in Year 6. In the Summer Term an induction programme is organised to make the children’s transfer as smooth as possible.

Newsletters

Regular newsletters contain information about what is going on in the school and individual Year Groups send home letters relating to specific activities. Copies of these are available from the Secretary’s Office and the school website. There is also a texting service to parents.

Open Evenings and Reports

Open Evenings enable parents and teachers to discuss children’s progress and are held every term, although each is slightly different in format.

In the Autumn Term this centres on the curriculum that will be covered in the coming year.

In the Spring Term an appointment system enables a more detailed discussion to take place.

In the Summer Term every child receives a written report prior to the Open Evening. This provides a review of your child’s progress, a chance to see their work for the year and an opportunity to meet their new teacher.

Oaks After School Club

Oaks After School Club is situated next to the school and is open until 6.00pm every day. It provides a range of activities and fully qualified staff. The school is able to signpost to childminders in the vicinity.

This is the name of our PTA. All parents are automatically members of FrOG who regularly publish newsletters, hold meetings and organise activities and events to support the school.

We have a large number of parents who come into school to help in a variety of ways. If you are interested in assisting us in any of our activities we would be pleased to welcome you.

Your child’s teacher can usually sort out most educational problems. Appointments can be made for any reasonable time suitable for parent and school.

The Deputy Headteacher has overall responsibility for pupil welfare and supervises the Learning Support programme. Both she and the Headteacher are available every day by appointment.

In line with section 23 of the Education Reform Act 1988, East Sussex County Council has adopted a complaints procedure in respect of certain duties or exercise of certain powers by Children’s Services (LA) or by the Governing Body.

A document setting out the arrangements made by the LA for the consideration of complaints about the curriculum and collective worship is available from the school secretary.

Please select a page to view. A downloadable pdf version will be made available soon.