Barton Junior School

Prospectus
 

General Information

Admission Arrangements
We hope that you will want to send your child to Barton Junior. Before you make your decision, please make an appointment to come and visit the school to ask any questions you might have. Parents with children who have Additional or Special Education Needs are invited to meet Mrs Pallant our SENCO to discuss how the school can best meet the needs of the child.
 
Transition
The transition from Year 2 to Year 3 is viewed as extremely important by the school. We ensure that all children in Year 2 have the opportunity to visit Barton during the school year and meet the Year 3 teachers in the summer term. We hold a number of joint events with Shatterlocks Infant School and so the children know the school building and staff before they start in September.
 
School Hours
Morning Session - 8.50am – 12.15pm
Afternoon Session – 1.15pm – 3.10pm
Children are allowed onto the school site from 8.40am unless they come to Breakfast Club. Breakfast Club is open from 8.00am and costs £1.50 per day. Please be ready to pick your child up at the end of the school day or make suitable arrangements for them to get home.
 
Children are expected to attend school regularly and on time. The school has a statutory requirement to report authorised and non-authorised absences to the Local Authority. If you child is ill or will not be at school for any other reason, please notify the school office by 9.10am.
 
School Uniform
The school uniform consists of a  blue Barton jumper, white shirt, black skirt/trousers and a school tie. Each year group has a different colour:

• Year 3 – Turquoise
• Year 4 – Purple
• Year 5 – Blue
• Year 6 – Red

Children are also required to wear smart black shoes. (Trainers are not allowed)
For PE all children need a white t-shirt, black shorts and plimsolls.
 
Jewellery
Children are not permitted to wear jewellery to school except for one pair of stud or sleeper earrings; these must be removed by the child for PE.
 
Lunchtime Arrangements
The school offers a high quality selection of hot meals to all children for £2.00 per day. The children are able to choose from a main, vegetarian, jacket potato or pasta option. This is followed by a pudding, fruit or cheese.The school has been recognised as a Healthy School and this means that all school provided lunches are high quality and meet the nutritional needs of our children.

Teaching
We have excellent teachers at Barton who ensure that all children fulfil their potential. We follow a creative curriculum making links between subjects and the wider world wherever possible. Lessons are differentiated to meet the needs of all children in the class and are taught using different groupings and pairings. Lessons are supported by visits to local places of interest and visitors to school as well as visits further away out of Kent.

The National Curriculum
The freedom we have been given through the National Curriculum for Primary Schools has helped us change the way subjects are taught. Subjects are taught through topics rather than as separate subjects.

Understanding the Arts
Working as artists and designers children are encouraged to develop their own voice and to actively collaborate in order to communicate with different audiences through a variety of media and contexts.
The children will participate in a range of range of art forms including art and design, drama, music and dance.
The school uses its close links with Astor College for the Arts to give children access to a wide range of specialised art focused activities. We also hold an annual Multi-Cultural Arts Week where the children take part in a number of art and dance activities designed to help the children consider the diverse world they live in. This includes using art specialist and dance groups to hold workshops for the children.

Understanding English, Communication and Languages
The English curriculum is comprised of writing, reading, speaking and listening. The children are supported in their English development though directed phonics work and guidance in class from teachers and study support managers. The children are expected to write in various styles both fiction and non-fiction based and these skills are used across the curriculum.
Handwriting is developed across the school through daily practice and by Year 5 children will be using handwriting pens after gaining their pen licenses.
Reading is viewed as central to the school curriculum as it is a skill used across all areas of the curriculum. Our reading scheme is called Renaissance, children read daily in class and are supported through directed guided reading with a teacher, at the end of each book the children answer question on an on-line quiz. Children are encouraged to discuss why writers choose certain vocabulary and how writers make their books interesting for the reader. This scheme has allowed the children to become more independent selecting their own reading material at a level appropriate to their individual needs. Their progress is closely monitored through reading records and parents are asked to participate in this process too.
This area of the curriculum is widened by the teaching of Modern Foreign Languages. At Barton we teach the children French though taught lessons, interactive CD Roms and specialist French teachers. Children develop skills in speaking, listening as well as literacy and are expected to show a cultural awareness of life in French speaking countries.
 
Historical, Geographical and Social Understanding
This area of learning encourages children to investigate the world around them, from the local to the global. They learn about the impact of their actions on the planet and understand the importance of developing a future that is sustainable. Through exploring cultures, beliefs, values, human rights and responsibilities, children develop a deeper understanding of themselves and others, and a sense of belonging. They see how societies are organised and shaped by people's values and actions, and how communities can live and work together.

Mathematical Understanding 
Mathematics introduces children to concepts, skills and thinking strategies that are essential in everyday life and support learning across the curriculum. It helps children make sense of the numbers, patterns and shapes they see in the world around them.
Children are grouped according to their needs and are taught by means of differentiated lessons and activities. The teachers encourage independence through problem solving and reasoning. The curriculum covers written, mental and oral work and children cover all aspects of the curriculum including number work, shape, space, weight, capacity, data and measures.
The maths curriculum is designed to foster curiosity in children and to help them develop the numerical skills they need to function in society. 
 
Understanding Physical Development, Health and Wellbeing
Through this area of the curriculum, children are encouraged to live to healthy and active lifestyles. They participate in a range of sporting activities throughout the year designed to develop skills. This is extended by extra-curricular clubs and competitions in the local area.
Children are taught about the importance of nutrition and how to keep the body healthy. The school delivers drug and alcohol education, along with sex and relationship education, targetted specifically for different year groups. This is supported by Mrs King our pastoral manager and external agencies.

Scientific and Technological Understanding
This area of learning helps children to find new ways of looking at the world and to engage with changing explanations about how the world works. They learn the possibilities of science, design and technology, inspiring them to become the scientists, engineers, designers and innovators of the future.
Through the scientific curriculum, children learn about electricity, sound, plants, forces, light, materials, micro-organisms and the human body. The children learn through taught lessons and by investigation based lessons.
The other aspect of this area of learning is design and technology. The children are set projects to design and build to a specific brief.
 
Religious Education
Through the RE curriculum at Barton, children are taught about the major religions of the world. They study the various places of worship and how religion affects different people. They are taught to be tolerant of others and that diversity makes society much richer.
The school has close links with the local church and all children have access to a daily act of collective worship.

Sex and Relationships Education
The school has a Sex Education Policy in line with statutory requirements. The aims include encouraging pupils to behave responsibly and to respect themselves and others.
The schemes of work cover puberty and the difficulties which may occur as children grow older. All schemes are designed to be age appropriate and any parents who have any concerns or questions should contact the Head of School.

Transfer to Secondary School
The formation of the Dover Federation for the Arts means that children at Barton Junior School have the opportunity to experience life at Astor College before they join Year 7. This is achieved through joint activities and by using their facilities for Science, PE and the Arts.
In Year 6, children will be able to take the selective tests (11+) for places at the grammar schools. Throughout Year 5, children will undertake assessments and tests to help us give parents an accurate reflection of their suitability for the test.
During the summer term of Year 6, children will spend a day at their new secondary school and will meet with their form tutor.

Policies and Procedures
The school has a comprehensive set of policies covering all aspects of school life, which are reviewed and updated regularly. These are available for you to look at via the main office or the policies section of this web site.

SATs results 2012                                    

                                                                    Level 4        Level 5

To view our latest Ofsted report see link below

  http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/118392                   

PUPIL PREMIUM STATEMENT 2011/2012

In the financial year 2011/2012, we were allocated a total of £30,744. This was received in regular instalments and was in addition to the main school budget. We support the following with our Pupil Premium. The balance comes from school funds.

Curriculum Support: £1,454.80

Intervention and booster sessions were held. Teachers were paid for these additional sessions.

We employ graduate study support managers as well as teaching assistants to enhance and support learning in the classroom and use staff specialism across the Trust for more targeted learning. We have also released staff to research best practice in other schools/colleges in similar circumstances.

Social, Emotional and Behavioural Support/ Families and Communities: £28,833

We offer a breakfast club and after school club and targeted pupils receive free breakfasts where appropriate. We use a system of rewards for good attendance and behaviour as well as alternative curriculum programmes.

We employ a full time Parent and Student Support Officer who liaises closely with a variety of support services and outside agencies to support pupils experiencing difficulties in mainstream lessons due to a variety of factors. This enables them to learn in a safe a stimulating environment and have access to a range of support which they may individually require.

We pay for the services of a School Counsellor and other outside agencies to work with particularly troubled pupils.

Enrichment Beyond the Curriculum: £5,916

We run three minibuses across the Multi Academy Trust which enables students to take part in events and initiatives away from the School and reduce the need for financial contribution towards these events.

We take part in an annual residential trip to Belchamps to facilitate learning and experience outside the classroom environment and to encourage social skills. We also celebrate achievements with trophies and awards at our annual speech day.

Plans for the coming year:

We will continue to use a dedicated school counsellor where necessary.

We will continue to run specialised programmes such as ‘Classpett’ and ‘Accelerated Reader’ to further enhance reading and writing. We will also continue to use ‘My Maths’ software to further enhance maths.

The Dover Federation for the Arts Board of Directors

Please follow the link below to find details of the Board of Directors:

http://www.thedoverfederationforthearts.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35&Itemid=16