Oake, Bradford & Nynehead CE VC Primary School Parents' Forum 2013

1. Oake, Bradford & Nynehead CE VC Primary School Parents' Forum 2013 • Welcome to our Parents' Forum • We hope to cover the following this evening: • Overview of the school at present – strengths, areas for development • Plans for the future (bearing in mind the unpredictability of funding etc) • Revised Attendance Regulations

2. Oake, Bradford & Nynehead CE VC Primary School Parents' Forum 2013 • The School at Present • Much of what we are doing in school is affected by the current Government: • Drive to push academic standards, including… • Phonics Screening Test – Year 1 (2012) • Revised Foundation Stage Curriculum (2012) • Revised Ofsted Framework (2012 & again in 2012) • New Primary Curriculum for all subjects (2014, but impacts on 2013) • Performance related pay & changes to appraisal process (2013) • Locally: • Hugely reduced Local Authority budgets, leading to dismantling of LA school support and reduced funding for schools.

3. Oake, Bradford & Nynehead CE VC Primary School Parents' Forum 2013 • The response in Somerset • Attempts to maintain core services to schools • Clusters of schools (CLPs) working together • County-wide Primary Raising Achievement Plan

4. Oake, Bradford & Nynehead CE VC Primary School Parents' Forum 2013 • At Oake Bradford & Nynehead: • Now in our 4th year, the school has developed a strong reputation for being an open, welcoming, friendly and supportive family environment. • Parents engaged and contribute hugely to the school • Strong links to the local churches and wider community • Children's pastoral needs are paramount • Opportunities for our pupils to broaden their experience • Enthusiastic, passionate & dedicated staff • Proactive Governing Body working alongside staff

5. Oake, Bradford & Nynehead CE VC Primary School Parents' Forum 2013 After our Ofsted inspection in November 2011, we spent considerable time exploring how we can take the quality of our teaching (which was rated consistently as 'Good') up a notch to 'Outstanding'. Maths & Literacy focus, with emphasis on Maths. Results from July 2013 showed strengths in Literacy, with maths needing continued development.

6. Oake, Bradford & Nynehead CE VC Primary School Parents' Forum 2013 • Group Guided Teaching in Maths: • Continuous assessment feeds into meticulously planned sequences of lessons. • Majority of teaching is done in small groups – clear objectives for success. Children more able to reflect on progress and identify success. • All adults teaching intensively throughout the lesson. • Pupils develop skills to work independently, consolidating understanding, developing speed and accuracy in number bonds, applying concepts in context. • It's exhausting!

7. Oake, Bradford & Nynehead CE VC Primary School Parents' Forum 2013 • Group Guided Teaching in Maths: • Regular monitoring of the effectiveness of teaching (observations, progress data, work scrutiny) • All this is supported by: • Link governors & governing body • External advisors • Headteachers in our cluster and beyond • Staff across our cluster sharing good practice • As I say - it's exhausting!

8. Oake, Bradford & Nynehead CE VC Primary School Parents' Forum 2013 In doing all this, we do not want to lose sight of our stated ethos: "We aim to provide a happy, safe, caring environment in which the whole child can grow with confidence."

9. Oake, Bradford & Nynehead CE VC Primary School Parents' Forum 2013 • After Maths? • Writing • Reading • Outdoor & Creative learning • New Curriculum • There's always something…

10. Oake, Bradford & Nynehead CE VC Primary School Parents' Forum 2013 A quick chat about the school structure… Budgets are notoriously fickle things. We have a plan and we hope to have the cash… Possible Structure & Approximate Numbers Reception (17) & Preschool Year 1 (19) Year 2 (17) Year 3/4 (29) Year 5/6 (25) Total: 105 - 110

11. Oake, Bradford & Nynehead CE VC Primary School Parents' Forum 2013 Attendance Regulations Despite the fact that it is ludicrously expensive to go on holiday in the holidays, and cheap as chips in term time, schools are now being asked to police attendance issues. DfE Guidelines expect schools not to authorise holidays unless in exceptional circumstances In short, our policy will be to try to apply the guidance as fairly as possible, based on the information given on the application. School policy on penalty notices: to be used when there is a serious and genuine concern about the impact of absences from school.

12. Oake, Bradford & Nynehead CE VC Primary School Parents' Forum 2013 • Attendance Regulations • "Exceptional circumstances does not include • Cheap holiday cost • Getting personal paperwork, visa’s updated (this should be planned into holiday periods) • Visiting relatives (this should be planned into holiday periods) • Exceptional circumstances may include • Emergency service / forces  personnel with proof of enforced holiday period • Holiday industry employees with proof of this being the ONLY time period allowed by employer • One transcontinental leave request per Key Stage for a very significant extended family event, including seeing and elderly/ seriously ill relative

13. Oake, Bradford & Nynehead CE VC Primary School Parents' Forum 2013 Attendance Regulations In short, our policy will be to apply the guidance as fairly as possible, based on the information given on the application. Penalty Notices will be requested when there is a serious and genuine concern about the impact of unauthorised absences from school. The school will make every effort to resolve concerns about attendance with parents before a Penalty Notice is requested.