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General Information |
The School Day
8.45-8.50 School gates open
9.00 School day starts
9.15 - 9.35 Assembly (Mon & Weds)
10.35 Reception & KS1 snack time
10.45-11.00 Break
12.00 Lunchtime
1.00 Start of afternoon session
2.25-2.40 Reception & KS1 break
2.45-3.05 Assembly (Tues & Fri-whole school, Thurs-YR,1,2 only)
3.15 End of school day
We do not have a before-school supervision time; children arriving at school are expected to go straight to their classroom when the gates are opened between 8.45 and 8.50am. We are legally responsible for children on site for ten minutes before and after the school day. At the end of school, children not collected within this time will be taken to wait in the school office.
At the start of the year we ask you to complete a form identifying who will normally collect your child(ren) from school. If for any reason you are unable to collect your child at the usual time, or if a different adult is coming to collect them, please let us know as soon as possible. We will always let your child know of any change to their normal arrangements.
School Staff 2009-2010
Headteacher
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Reception/Year 1 |
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Reception/Year 1 |
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Year 1/2 |
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Year 2 |
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Year 3/4
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Year 3/4 |
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Year 4/5 |
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Year 5/6 |
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Year 5/6 |
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Teaching
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Lunchtime Supervisors
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Catering Assistants |
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Administrative Assistants
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| Site Manager |
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Cleaners |
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School Organisation
The organisation within the school depends on pupil numbers in each year group. In September 2009 we have 251 pupils aged 4 - 11 years old, organised into 9 classes. As a Primary School we cover three phases -
Early Years Foundation Stage (Reception) - 4-5 year olds.
Key stage one (Years 1 & 2) - 5-7 year olds
Key stage two (Years 3, 4, 5 & 6) - 7-11 year olds.
For 2009-2010 there are two mixed Reception and Year 1 classes, a mixed Year 1/2 class, one Year 2 class, two mixed Year 3/4 classes, one mixed Year 4/5 class and two mixed Year 5/6 classes.
Visitors
Visits by existing or prospective parents are welcomed. All visitors to the school are required to report to the school office in order to sign the visitors' book. Any visitors remaining on the premises, including parent helpers, will be required to wear a visitors' badge.
Travelling to School
It is Over Primary School's policy to actively encourage walking and cycling to school in order to improve health, confidence, social responsibility and independence, while reducing pollution and traffic congestion and benefiting the environment. Parents, carers and pupils can learn about the benefits of walking or cycling to and from school while being aware of the dangers that exist. The safety and well being of the children is our priority. All Year six pupils have the opportunity to undertake Safer Cycling training in the Summer Term before they move to the Village College.
Children may only travel to school by bicycle if they wear a cycle helmet.
There is a covered cycle store on the front playground, for the storage of bicycles during the school day.
Car Parking
During the school day the car park is for staff and visitors only. If children are brought to school by car, please park on the road, avoiding the zig-zag lines.
Under no circumstances must parents drive into the car park, neither to turn round, nor to collect or drop off children. This is extremely hazardous, especially at the beginning and end of the day.
School Security
The front and side gates are opened between 8.45 and 8.50am and locked at 9.05am. The school site remains secure throughout the day until the gates are unlocked at 3.00pm.
Health & Safety
In the interests of health and safety the Governors request that no-one visiting the school, including parents collecting or delivering children, bring dogs onto the site, including the car park. Also, in the interest of safety, cycling, scooters, skateboards and roller skates are all prohibited in the school grounds.
Parents/Carers must take full responsibility
for all children in their care in the periods before and after the school day - closely supervising them at all times.
The school operates a 'Smoke Free' policy in the school buildings and school grounds.
Admissions
The school year is from 1st September to 31st August. Children are entitled to start school in the academic year in which they become five years of age but legally they do not have to start school until the term following their fifth birthday.
In order of priority, school places are offered to:
In cases of equal merit, priority will go first to children who are looked after (i.e. in public care) and then to children living nearest the school according to the shortest available travel route.
In the Summer Term there will be various opportunities for parents and new pupils to visit the school and meet the staff. These include a series of weekly 'Getting ready for School' sessions in the second half of the term.
The intake of new children into Reception is staggered over the first weeks of the
autumn term, with all children attending part time initially. This gradually builds up to full time during the first half of term according to age and readiness. The Reception class teachers will be happy to discuss the needs of any particular child with parents.
Childcare Arrangements
Before and after school childcare is available locally at The Oaks Before and After School Club, based at the Methodist Church and from various childminders in Over and the surrounding villages. Details can be found at the end of the Prospectus.
Equal Opportunities
Equality of opportunity at Over School means that all children, taking account of gender, age, ability, disability, ethnic origin, faith, culture, social circumstance and sexual orientation have full access to all the curricular, pastoral and social opportunities offered by the school. It also means that all members of the school community, including staff, parents and governors, enjoy equal access to all opportunities. We aim to provide equality for all; to foster respect for, and understanding of, the differences between individuals and communities; and to celebrate the individuality of each person and the diversity of the school community. The policy underpins the school's aims and ethos and provides a framework for ensuring that all procedures and practices are inclusive and equitable.
The school will take steps to:
Inclusion
Our school aims to be an inclusive school. We hope to make all our children welcome and feel happy to look forward to their school day.
If your child has a disability he or she will be treated no less favourably than other applicants for admission. We make reasonable adjustments to ensure that pupils with disabilities are not placed at a substantial disadvantage. Our accessibility plan describes the arrangements we have already made and the further proposals planned, to improve physical access to the school, access to the curriculum and access to written information.
The school has a policy for supporting children with special educational needs which is reviewed every year. This policy is available in the school office. Our aim is for all children to have access to all aspects of school life, as far as is reasonable and practicable.
We aim to prevent disabled pupils in our school being placed at a substantial disadvantage. We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that people with a disability are not treated differently without lawful justification. We will make reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils and we will know we have succeeded when disabled pupils are participating fully in school life.
In order for effective partnership working between home and school to take place, we anticipate that parents will want to:
School Dress
School uniform for primary age children is not compulsory, but we do encourage it as far as possible. Please choose from the following:
Skirts/pinafores/trousers/shorts - grey, black or navy (no jeans).
Shirts/blouses/polo shirts - white or jade (no sleeveless tops).
Jumpers/cardigans/sweatshirts - navy, jade or grey.
Summer dresses - yellow, blue or green and white, checks or stripes.
Footwear- 'sensible' shoes - (no high heels or backless shoes). Trainers or trainer-style shoes - dark colours.
Jewellery should not be worn to school and children with pierced ears should wear studs.
P.E. Kit
All children must have a change of clothing for P.E.
Indoors - Black, navy or white shorts; plain white T-shirt/polo shirt; plimsolls or trainers.
Outdoors - As for indoor P.E. plus jogging bottoms and a jumper/sweatshirt for very cold weather. If football boots are appropriate for some aspects of games, children will be told by the class teacher. Girls wearing tights for school will need a pair of socks to change into for P.E.
In accordance with Local Authority Health and Safety guidance, earrings may not be worn during P.E. lessons. As we are not allowed to take out or put in children's earrings, it is advisable for you to send your child to school without earrings on P.E. days. Studs in newly pierced ears must be covered with protective tape.
We recommend P.E. kit is brought in a named drawstring bag as cloakroom space is limited and sports bags are not easy to store.
Swimming- In the Summer Term - one piece swimming costume/trunks, towel and plastic bag (armbands if your child normally uses these).
Art - To protect clothing when your child is painting or modelling, an adult's shirt with elastic in the cuffs, worn back to front, makes an ideal art smock.
Polo shirts, sweatshirts and waterproof fleeces, with or without the school logo are all available through the PTA. Order forms are available in the school office.
Lost Property
Lost property is stored in a unit at the front of the main hall. From time to time this will be laid out after school and what remains will be disposed of. Mislaid valuables are kept in the school office.
Naming all personal property, especially items of clothing, significantly increases the likelihood of things being returned to their rightful owner!
Order forms for name labels are available at the school office.
School Meals
School dinners are cooked in our own kitchen which is run by Cambridge Catering Service. There is a varied selection of healthy main courses and desserts each day. The menus, which follow a 3 week cycle, are sent home at the beginning of each half-term so that you can help your child make an appropriate selection. Meals must be paid for in advance - £2.00 a day, £10.00 a week.
The kitchen staff are very flexible and dinners may be taken on different days each week as long as we know in advance.
Please send dinner money to school on Mondays - in a sealed envelope, with your child's name, class and the meal requirements for the week.
Parents are most welcome to have dinner with their children on any day of the week. Pay and order on Monday - as for children's meals. Please arrive at school at the beginning of the lunch break - 12.00pm and take your child in to the first sitting. When you have both finished eating we ask you to say your goodbyes and leave your child to enjoy the rest of the lunch break with their friends.
School meals must be ordered by 10.00am each day. If your child has an appointment which means s/he will arrive at school after 10.00am, please let as know in advance so that a meal can be ordered.
Free school meals are available for families in receipt of Income Support, an income -based Job Seeker's Allowance or other eligible benefits. Please ask for details at the school office. For both you and your child this will be dealt with sensitively and confidentially.
Children may bring packed lunches to school. These are eaten in the school hall under the supervision of our lunchtime supervisors. Lunch boxes should be clearly named to avoid confusion. Please be aware that we do not have refrigerated storage for packed lunches.
A drink is essential but in the interests of safety, please do not send these in glass bottles. Water is available in the dinner hall. It is very helpful for younger children to have fruit peeled and cut into manageable pieces.
Our School Food Policy which complies with the Government's food-based standards, does not allow sweets, chocolate and fizzy drinks at break or lunchtime, so please do not include these in packed lunches. A chocolate biscuit (e.g. Kit-Kat) is acceptable as a dessert.
Breaktime Snacks
Children may bring a snack of fresh or dried fruit, vegetables, plain biscuits or cheese for break time. This should not be inside packed lunch boxes as children do not have access to these before lunch time.
Milk
Semi-skimmed milk can be bought at school for morning breaktime - 20p a day for 1/3pt. This must be paid for termly in advance, at the school office. (Separate cheque or cash in a named envelope.) Milk will be distributed to classes before KS1 snack time.
National School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme
Each child in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 is entitled to receive a FREE piece of fruit or vegetable each school day.
Snack Time
Foundation and Key Stage 1 classes have snack time before morning break. The aim of this is to encourage more children to eat their fruit and drink their milk, leaving them free to use breaktime for playing.
Water
We are aware of the positive effects of regularly drinking water, on health and well-being. Children may bring water to school in a sports bottle which may be kept in the classroom for easy access during lessons, subject to the following rules -
Secondary Transfer
Children normally transfer to secondary school in the September following their eleventh birthday. A booklet setting out transfer arrangements will be sent to you during your child's final year at primary school. Most children from Over Primary School transfer to Swavesey Village College. Staff from the village college visit us to talk to staff and meet with the children prior to transfer. Children in Year 6 transferring to the village college take part in various transition activities in school and at the village college, towards the end of the Summer Term. These include:
Information about Swavesey Village College can be found on their website at:
www.swaveseyvc.cambs.sch.uk