Essex Primary School

Essex Primary School is a 4-form entry primary school in Manor Park, East London. Up to 120 children are admitted into each year group. There is also a 156 place Nursery so the school can cater for 996 children aged 3 to 11 years. In the main our children live in the local area. However, we do admit children from the wider community, providing places for children who are unable to attend their local school.

The school was built in 1977 for three forms of entry. In recent years it has undergone an extensive redesign and rebuild providing an excellent academic environment with specific facilities for the teaching of art, technology, music and ICT. The school also has four large playgrounds, which have recently been updated and improved to include grass and garden areas. We will soon open a brand new Resourced Provision in 2013, focussing on delivering a specific educational programme for children identified with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The Resource Provision will have a state of the art learning and teaching environment with high quality staff that are well trained to meet the exceptional needs of these children.

At Essex Primary children are nurtured as well as educated. Pupils feel justifiably proud of their school, which is shown by the way they receive newcomers and care for the school’s reputation. Our pupils give with a kind heart and raise money enthusiastically for others.

Our children are encouraged to share their learning with others, a practice modelled by an excellent team of teachers and support staff who are always ready to share their expertise.

At Essex Primary School, we value each member of our community as an individual.We challenge every one of us to achieve our full potential in a safe and caring environment.

We use the following strategies to ensure high quality education at Essex Primary:

• The delivery of positive, caring and clearly focused leadership from the senior leadership team.
• The whole staff team supported in working together to grow pupil confidence.
• The whole staff team having high expectations of pupil social, behavioural and academic performance.
• The offer of well planned, exciting and challenging teaching that develops lively, enquiring and open minds in our pupils.
• The creation of stimulating and attractive learning environments in which our pupils can take pride.
• The fostering of a calm, secure and purposeful working atmosphere that nurtures good self-esteem and positive self-image in all our pupils.
• The promotion of respect for other people and their property.
• The commitment to work in partnership with parents, governors and the local community to enrich opportunities for our pupils.

At Essex Primary School, we take the duty of care towards our pupils very seriously. We seek to provide a school environment where all children are safe, secure, valued, respected and listened to.All staff and visitors have an important role in safeguarding children and protecting them from abuse, and are made aware of their responsibilities whenever they enter the school.

Essex Primary School believes that schools can, and do, contribute to the prevention of abuse, victimisation, bullying, exploitation, radicalisation, extreme behaviours, discriminatory views and risk-taking behaviours.

At Essex Primary school we fully support Newham Council’s policy on Inclusive Education, which encourages all children to work together in the same type of school. Since 2013, our school has been pleased to offer a dedicated Resourced Provision for children identified to be at the lower end of the autistic spectrum.

We take pride in giving children identified as having special educational needs the opportunity to achieve to the best of their ability. This means our children have access to a varied curriculum that meets their individual needs.

When children have speech and language difficulties, learning difficulties, or sensory or physical difficulties, we may consider referring for external assessment and advice. The professionals we use include educational psychologists; occupational therapists; speech and language therapists; physiotherapists and specialist teachers for sensory impairments.

At our school, children of all ethnic groups and at all stages of learning English are included in mainstream classes. Teachers are supported by our dedicated Ethnic Minority Achievement (EMA) team.These are specialist teachers whose work ensures equal provision for all children, regardless of culture, colour, race, ethnic background and language skills.

At Essex Primary School we believe in the equality of all, irrespective of age, sex, race, religion, class or ability. We believe all children should have equal access to the curriculum, which should provide opportunities for learning, and which are available to all. We aim to provide quality education and create an environment that reflects the local and wider community. The whole ethos and practice of the school should promote tolerance, understanding and the well-being of all.