"In our school we are learning...to know...to do...to live and...to be"

At Denton School we aim to:

-Provide a happy and enriching learning environment in which everyone can learn, live and laugh together

In such a way that we:

-work in partnership with parents, the wider community and other places of learning

-demonstrate care for each other, the environment and the wider world

So that:

-the needs of each child are met

-our school continues to be an integral part of our community.

 

The Governing Body:

 

The Chair of Governors is:

 

            David Lidbetter,

            24 Bridge Meadow,

            Denton .

            Northampton .

            NN7 1DA.

 

The Governors meet at least twice a term as a full body and have committees on Finance, Personnel, Curriculum and Premises that meet as required. Working groups are established to address specific issues.

 

 School Characteristics

Denton is a co-educational community primary school for children aged 4+ to 11 years.

 

Denton Primary School is housed in modern, purpose built premises that offer the children an attractive and welcoming environment. The school has developed its outdoor facilities over a number of years. There is a play area for children in the Early Years, a large, attractively marked playground, grassed areas and access to the adjacent playing field. The children are actively encouraged to care for and participate in the development of their surroundings and have been very involved in the creation of a developing of an award winning Environmental Area.

 

The school is fortunate enough to boast a range of facilities that are not generally available at a school of this size. There is a central resource area, incorporating a library and computer suite. Leading off from this are four classrooms; each of these classrooms is carpeted and has its own art and craft areas. Cloakroom and toilet facilities are situated within the classrooms of the younger children. There are separate facilities for the older children. All the classrooms are attractive and organised in a manner that allows children to select resources and materials necessary to undertake a task. A link way from the central area provides access to the school hall which provides an excellent facility for Physical Education, Games and Drama.

 

 The Curriculum

We view the curriculum as the sum of the child's experiences at school. We work to provide a curriculum that provides for the intellectual, moral, spiritual and physical development of our children as a preparation for life

 

The National Curriculum for primary school consists of: English, Mathematics, Science, Information and Communication Technology, Art, Design and Technology, Geography, History, Music and Physical Education. Religious Education is taught following the county's agreed syllabus.   We consider that by providing Personnel, Health and Social Education is an essential part of contributing to our children's well-being. We are a pilot school for a Department for Education and Skills (DfES) project to enhance the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning. The school is committed to achieving the national standards for Healthy Schools Status.

 

The school received School Achievement Awards in 2002 and 2003 from the Department for Education and Skills for its curricular achievements in comparison with similar schools. We are proud to have had the achievements of the whole school community recognised in this manner.

 

Partnership with Parents

We believe that the education of your child is enhanced when the school, the parent and the child work together in partnership. We will provide opportunities for you to learn how your child is performing at school through termly Parents' Evenings and an Annual Assessment Profile which is issued in the summer. In addition we are always willing to make appointments to see parents to monitor progress between these meetings. We also hold Curriculum Workshops so that you can develop an understanding of the ways in which teaching and learning takes place in various curriculum areas. We would ask that you show your commitment to your child's education by attending these activities and supporting the Friends of Denton School.

 

We welcome the involvement of parents and friends of the school in a variety of school activities. If you would like to be involved in any way, please contact the Headteacher.

 

 Special Educational Needs

Many children have special needs and may need additional support during their school life. This support may be for their academic, physical or emotional development and may only be necessary for a short period of time. The teaching and support staff meets regularly to ensure that the necessary arrangements are made to meet the needs of the individual child. In certain circumstances we will enlist the support of our local education authority's specialist agencies. All special needs provision takes place in full consultation with the parents.

 

Our Special Needs Manager is Jane King and you are welcome to contact her if you have any concerns.

 

Residential Education

The school is committed to the principle of residential education during the primary years. Children will have an opportunity to participate in at least one of two residential experiences. During Year 5, the children will have the opportunity to visit North Wales . In Year 6, children experience another contrasting environment when we offer a visit to the Isle of Wight .

 

Extra-curricular activities

The school has an ongoing programme of extra-curricular and enrichment activities that cater for a variety of interests, both of pupils and staff. Details of these are to be found on the website.

 

 

Denton After-School Club is run in the school hall between 3.30 and 5.30pm.  For more info rmation, please contact 01604 890719.

  

Starting School

A child who is happy and confident in the early days at school will have a flying start in the educational process. We feel that the child should be familiar with the school environment and the adults who they will meet. Prospective parents will be given advanced notice of a series of school induction visits in the late summer term, which encourage this process.  At about the same time we hold an evening for the parents or carers of children to talk about the transition to school. In Term 1, we hold another evening to talk about the Foundation Curriculum in school.

 

We have close links with Denton Playgroup, which meets in the school and contact with other pre-school settings.

 

 Religious Education

The school follows the County's Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. Parents should be aware of the provision in the 1944 Education Act, allowing for exemption from Religious Education, which states: 'If parents of any pupil in attendance at any county school or any voluntary aided school request that he be wholly or partly excused from attendance at religious instruction in the school, then until the request is withdrawn, the pupil shall be excused such attendance accordingly.'

 

Health Education, including Sex and Relationships Education and Drug Education

We aim to develop an awareness of the need to care for our bodies and the importance of healthy personal habits and diet. We aim to provide an understanding of the way our bodies work and the ways in which we can promote good health. Some consideration is given to some of the causes of illness and disease. In studying physical development, units of work include aspects of Sex Education appropriate to the stage of development of the child. Parents may request that pupils are withdrawn from aspects of Sex Education that are additional to those contained in the Science National Curriculum.

We are also keen to educate the children to develop an early awareness that their own actions and lifestyle will have on their health. We do this by promoting healthy eating and an understanding that drugs can be both beneficial and harmful.

 

We are able to call upon the expertise of our School Nurse, Ronnie Owen, to support our work.

We would remind all visitors to our school that we are a no-smoking site.

 

School Times

 

Morning session                        9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

 

Afternoon Session                    1:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

 

Children should not be on the school premises more than fifteen minutes before the start of the school day.

 

There is a twenty-minute morning break.

 

 Term Dates

School Term dates for the school year are included on a separate sheet within your school folder. A file is available in the school foyer, which includes letters from the current term to which you may refer if you mislay your own.

 

 Uniform

The Governors strongly favour the wearing of school uniform. This is available from the National Schoolwear Centre in Abington Square , Northampton.

 

Medication

The governors and staff wish to ensure that pupils with medical needs receive proper care and support at school. The Headteacher will accept responsibility in principle for members of the school staff giving or supervising pupils taking prescribed medication during the school day, where those members of staff have volunteered to do so.   Click here to see our full Medication Policy.

 

School Activities Charging Policy

We have adopted a policy on charging for school activities that reflects the conditions set out in the Education Reform Act 1988. Broadly this states that education in schools is free. Charges may be made for certain activities that take place outside school hours. The school may ask for voluntary contributions to cover the cost of educational visits. If the total amount of contribution does not cover the cost of the visit, then the visit may not take place. Charges are also made for certain instrumental tuition delivered by peripatetic teaching staff.

 

School Attendance

The Governors are required to inform parents of figures relating to school attendance. Our latest figures relate to the academic year 2005/2006. During that period, for children of statutory school age, the level of attendance was 96.2%. This rate of attendance is well above the national average. There were no unauthorised absences.

 

We would remind parents that the school be informed of a child's absence from school either by personal contact or telephone, calling on the morning of the absence. If there is a delay, valuable office time is wasted pursuing the nature of the absence. It is necessary to complete a holiday form if parents wish to withdraw children to accompany them on their annual holiday.  Normally approval is given for up to 10 school days during the academic year.  No approval will be given during the period of the Key Stage 2 tests.

 

Transport

Children from Brafield are able to travel on a contracted coach. They are entitled to a free bus pass, which will be issued at the start of the Autumn Term.   Children are not permitted to travel to school by bicycle. Parents from Denton  are asked to give serious consideration to walking your children, from the point of view of both the health and environmental benefits.

 

 

Parents transporting their children to school by car are requested to reduce their speed when driving in the approach area to the school. The area in front of the school provides staff car parking and a coach lane.   We would ask that parents make alternative parking arrangements. Parents are also requested to accompany their child from their cars, using the pathway across the top of the school.

 

The times for the Brafield to Denton school coach are:

Elm Close - 8.44am

Post Office - 8.50am

 

Elm Close - 3.42pm

Red Lion - 3.50pm

 

 

Please click document 847 below to view our Foundation Stage Policy

 

Please click document 941 below to view our recent OfSTED report (June 2007)