Gwaunfarren Primary School

Thank you for taking the time to find out about our school. We pride ourselves on being a friendly and open school that offers a high quality education for all our children. Parents and carers have a vital role in the education of their children and we actively encourage close cooperation between home and school. Together as teachers, governors, parents and children we aim to create a school community where everyone is happy, feels safe, is valued, shows respect, reaches their potential and has the skills to support them through their lives.

The school's curriculum follows statutory requirements and the requirements of the National Curriculum. It is balanced and broadly based, and promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of our pupils and of society and prepares our pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.

Pupils are expected to acquire skills in speaking and listening, literacy and numeracy skills. PSE reflects the school's aims and ethos. This includes an emphasis upon community cohesion. Religious education is also provided for all pupils. Appropriate programmes of activity for pupils who are above or below the compulsory school age are planned for and implemented within the school. A variety of differing teaching and learning methods and materials are used to meet pupils' different needs. ICT is taught discretely and also across the curriculum at every opportunity.

The Foundation Phase curriculum is planned as progressive framework which spans over four years (3-7) to meet the diverse needs of all children, including those who are at an earlier stage of development and those who are more able. Throughout their formative years, children’s learning develops more rapidly than at any other time. However, progress is not even and children go through periods of rapid development and times when they seem to regress. A curriculum for young children should be appropriate to their stage of learning rather than focusing solely on age related outcomes to be achieved. Children should move on to the next stages of their learning when they are developmentally ready and at their own pace.

The school has a Health and Safety Policy that outlines the security arrangements in the school. All parents and visitors must enter the school building via the main entrance. The main entrance is fitted with a touch key entry system. All other entrances are fitted with security doors. All visitors must use the main entrance and sign the visitors’ book. Children are not allowed to leave the premises during the school session times without prior arrangement.

Gwaunfarren Primary School fully recognises the contribution it makes to child protection. Four senior members of staff are trained to Level 3 Safeguarding (Recognition to Response) – updated January 2018. One governor was Level 3 trained in November 2017, in line with the new policy. All other staff, including support staff, office staff, kitchen staff, lunch time supervisors and breakfast club supervisors and several Governors have received Level 1 training (updated September 2017). There is always at least one Level 3 trained person on school premises. The Child protection Policy is reviewed annually or in light of any changes in the interim and ratified by the Governing Body.