Classroom Organisation
Hamp Community Junior School organizes its children into streamed classes and the number of children in each class is determined by the number of children at each ability level. Within each classroom a variety of teaching methods is used according to the requirements of the lesson or activity and the needs and learning styles of the children. Literacy and Numeracy are taught daily for one hour each. Science is taught for two hours per week and children spend one hour a week in our new ICT suite learning computer skills. Most other subjects are taught for one hour a week.

Most of our Support staff have undergone a high level of training and work in the classroom in partnership with the teachers. They are involved in the planning of various curriculum related activities and may support children individually or within small groups.

The children are able to go swimming for a ten week block during the year and they have two PE lessons a week. Both Swimming and PE are compulsory as they are part of the National Curriculum.
For hygiene reasons, a change of clothing is required. This should consist of a plain blue or white T-shirt or polo shirt, blue or black shorts, black plimsolls or trainers. In addition, in cold weather, a track suit or jogging bottoms and sweat shirt may be worn

Admissions
Children are admitted to the school in the September following their seventh birthday. Admission to Hamp Community Junior School is in accordance with County policy, details of which are available at the school. If the school is full for a particular year group, requests for admission have to go through the local education authority. Prospective parents are most welcome to visit the school, especially with their children and only need to telephone the School Secretary to make arrangements.

Due to unequal numbers in some Year groups, it is sometimes necessary to operate classes with two year groups in each class. Careful planning and organisation meets the needs of children academically and socially. Sometimes it is necessary to split a year group between two classes. This is done to enable class sizes to remain manageable and to ensure a realistic distribution of numbers of children in each class. This is done on an attainment basis.

We ensure that:

• A sufficient group of children are present in that class to allow a working group to operate.
  
• Co-operative planning between teachers being responsible for teaching that year group.
  
• Consistency is achieved by use of topics and similar assessments.
  

School Uniform
We strongly encourage the wearing of school uniform:

BOYS White polo shirt Grey or black trousers/shorts Navy blue sweatshirt/jumper Black shoes

GIRLS White polo shirt Grey tunic/skirt/ trousers Navy blue sweatshirt/jumper Black shoes Blue gingham dress (summer)

Sweatshirts and polo shirts, with the school logo embroidered on, are available through the school office.

Curriculum

Literacy:	As a school we fully endorse the Literacy Hour in our drive to raise standards. We aim to equip our children with skills that will continue to develop throughout their lives. We have a reading programme which encourages the children to take reading books home to share with their families. Handwriting lessons are structured so that children develop a neat, joined style. Children are given every opportunity to develop the skill of writing. Much emphasis is placed on developing literacy across the curriculum, in all subjects being taught.
Numeracy:	The school has implemented the Numeracy Hour. We feel it is vital that our pupils become skilled in all areas of mathematics. - Knowledge, skills and understanding - Number - Shape, space and measure - Handling data. We always try to give students a broader application and context for their maths. It is important for all pupils to make the best of mathematics in their life both in and outside school. They are given the opportunity to conduct investigations, solve problems and play games, all of which reinforce and extend their skills and encourage them to enjoy maths.
Science:	The school encourages a practical investigative approach to science. It is essential to give the children an opportunity to question and find out, record and develop their own ideas. Above all, we stress the enjoyment to be gained from these activities and their relevant to our everyday lives. It is important the pupils develop all areas of their scientific thinking: - Scientific enquiry - Life processes and living things - Material and their properties

Religious Education and PSE
At Hamp Community Junior School, Religious Education is provided to support our children in reflecting upon and developing and affirming their own beliefs, values and attitudes, through an exploration of shared human experiences and of the place and significance of religion in the contemporary world.

This will help our children to acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other principal religion represented in Great Britain.

Develop an understanding of the influence of beliefs, values and traditions on individuals, communities, societies and culture;

Develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues, with reference to the teachings of the principal religions represented in Great Britain.

Our children will also have their spiritual, moral, cultural and social development by:

• Developing awareness of the fundamental questions of life raised by human experiences, and of how religious teachings can relate to them;
  
• By responding to such questions with reference to the teachings and practices of religions, and to their own understanding and experiences;
  
• By reflecting on their own beliefs, values and experiences, in the light of their study;
  
• By developing a positive attitude towards other people, respecting their right to hold different beliefs from their own, and towards living in a society of diverse religions.
  

These aims play an important role in promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our children.
The wishes of parents who object to their children participating in Religious Education lessons will be respected and alternative arrangements will be made.

Assemblies
Assemblies take place daily, and are an important part of school life, allowing the children and staff to meet together to share stories of a spiritual, moral or cultural nature. This is also a time when children are made aware of what is happening in school, special events, clubs etc.

On Friday afternoon a special celebration assembly is held when housepoint totals are announced, Citizenship stars awarded and good work shared.

Good attendance is rewarded half-termly and cups celebrating achievement, improvement in behaviour and leading by example are presented to children termly.

There is an annual leaver's assembly presented by Year 6 and usually a Christmas production. An annual prize is presented to two children at the end of the summer term to pupils who have made an impact on the school.

Parents are welcome to attend all of these special assemblies.

Parents have the right to withdraw their children from daily acts of worship.

Special Educational Needs
About 40% of pupils at Hamp Junior School have some form of special needs. We have children who are having difficulties learning to read and write, some of whom may be dyslexic. Other children have a general learning difficulty which means they would find it hard to understand lessons without extra help. Some children have physical disabilities, and they may need physiotherapy programmes or extra help in PE. Others may have behavioural, social or emotional difficulties.

All children are tested for their abilities in English and maths when they come to our school and if we suspect that they may have a specific learning difficulty our Special Needs Coordinator (SENCO) will assess them further and recommend the best way to meet each child's needs. It may be that their needs can be met in class, for instance by providing them with extra word lists to help with writing, or a pencil grip if their handwriting is poor. Since September 2004 we have had a Teaching Assistant in every class by helping a small group, or they may take children out to give them individual support with their work.

We review every child with special needs at least twice a year and parents can discuss their progress with class teachers and/or our SENCO at Parents' Evenings.

Gifted and Talented
Provision is made for children, in our context, who are identified as gifted (academically) or talented (PE, The Arts) in our context.

This may include differentiated activities in class or extra-curricular activities organised within the Excellence Cluster.

Children performing within the top 3% of the county may also be offered places on a summer school.

Nurture Group
Our Nurture Group has thrived in the school for five years now. The ethos of the Group has enveloped the whole school and we think of ourselves now as a Nurturing School. Traditionally a Nurture Group is a small group of about twelve children, led by a trained teacher and assistant who focus on the social, emotional and behavioural development of the children as well as their academic development. This, we have recognised, is also happening throughout the school in many ways. How?

• A warm and welcoming environment ~ (our Head describes it as being wrapped in a warm, soft blanket)
  
• The social, emotional and behavioural needs of each individual are valued and met alongside their academic needs
  
• Teaching of the National Curriculum are at levels appropriate and meaningful for the child
  
• There is a creative approach to teaching that makes learning FUN
  
• There are high expectations of the pupils to maintain good discipline and aim high (Steel wrapped in cotton wool)
  
• There is a strong emphasis on pastoral care and parents are welcomed in
  
• Adults work together in a supportive way to provide good role models for the children and we encourage showing respect and valuing each other
  
• There is a strong emphasis on developing language and communication skills
  
• We provide an alternative play base to support anyone who needs our support and daily have about forty children who use this facility
  
• We train children as Peer Mediators to help other children who need support in solving friendship problems
  We feel strongly that
  
• we have seen an improvement in the behaviour and attitudes of all the children towards all people
  
• The professional development and expertise of all the staff has grown in understanding and providing for the social and emotional development of the children.
  
• It has helped towards improved attendance and reduced temporary exclusions
  
• children are making better progress in a 'value added' sense

The children who belong to the Group register with their own classes and go from Assembly to spend the morning in the Nurture Group, returning to their own classes for the afternoon. We have 'refreshments' at about 10 o'clock, usually toast and a hot or cold drink and we consider this a very important part of our day when we sit together like a family sharing food and feelings. We often invite parents and visitors to join us at this time.

Georgina Edwards (Nurture Group Teacher) & Julie Selway (Nurture Group Assistant)

A picture of the nurture hut (left)

School Meals
A school meals service provides a choice of hot and cold meals. Children choose from a menu for the following half term. For parents on Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance these meals are provided free. The Administration Officer must see proof of your claim. We also provide facilities for your child to have a packed lunch.

Annual Holidays
"The law does not say that parents have an automatic right to take their child out of school for holidays during term time. However in exceptional circumstances schools may authorise, in advance, a request for one period of leave of up to ten days in an academic year. The request for leave must come from a parent/carer with whom the child normally resides, must be for the purpose of a sole annual holiday and must demonstrate exceptional reason why the leave cannot take place during the school holidays." Somerset Local Authority

Absence
We carefully monitor all absences from school. The Department for Education and Employment in its Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations 1985 makes it clear that only the school can authorise absence. Parents are therefore asked to notify us of any absence by their child. An Absence Form can be obtained from Reception or by letter to the child's teacher.
The school is required by law to tell you about the number of pupils absent during any given academic year. The figures for 2004-2005 are as follows:

Number of pupils on roll 256
Number of pupil sessions 74223
Authorised Absences 3630
At least 1 Authorised Absence 237
Unauthorised Absences 1141
At least 1 Unauthorised Absence 124

Pastoral Care
Pastoral care is a high priority at our school. A child who is happy and secure has the foundations for learning to take place. We consider ourselves to be 'a nurturing school'

Equal Opportunities
We are committed to equality of opportunity for all members of our community, pupils and staff, regardless of gender, race or disability.

Homework
Homework is formally organised within the school and we encourage the following:

• Children are encouraged to read regularly both at home and in school
  
• Children are encouraged to learn spellings and multiplication tables
  
• Children are encouraged to complete any work that their teachers may from time to time ask them to take home.

We ask for your support in all of the above points. Should you wish to discuss this further, then please contact the school?

Sex Education and PHSE
Sex education is delivered as part of our curriculum focussing on Health, Personal and Social Education and Science.
Staff respond with sensitivity and will appropriately address children's enquiries.
The school nurse leads group discussions and work in Year 5 and Year 6 on puberty, growing up emotionally and the physical changes that happen during this time. Emphasis is placed on developing self-worth and positive attitudes towards others. Parents can withdraw their children from these discussions if they so wish.

After-School Clubs
There are several after-school and lunchtime clubs, dependent upon the time of year. They include:

Football
Cricket
Netball
Rounders
Lunch-time and after-school ICT drop-in sessions
Drama
Problem solving
Homework club
Disco
Trips

Educational trips
Educational trips are arranged for all year groups at different times throughout the year. These trips enhance and support the curriculum and are an essential learning experience for children.
As such trips are part of the curriculum, all children must be included. There is no funding for such outings and therefore parents/carers are asked to make a voluntary contribution towards such trips. Whilst we are always sympathetic to genuine cases of hardship, if several children do not much the recommended contribution, then the trip has to be cancelled for all children.

Wrap-Around Child Care Breakfast Club/After-School Club
A Breakfast Club is available for children from Hamp Juniors and Hamp Infants Schools. Infant children are delivered to school at 8.30 am.

Children (and staff) can choose from toast with a variety of spreads and/or a choice of cereals. Hot and cold drinks are available.

The cost is a modest 35p per day and once an application form is completed children can attend on a daily or ad-hoc basis.

After-school care/activities are available from 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm Monday to Friday during term time. There is a full programme of activities, including gardening, cookery, art and crafts and a light snack is provided. The cost for after-school care is £2.50 per hour and it can be booked in advance or on the day it is required. Children are welcome for the whole week or on an ad hoc basis.

Details from School Reception.

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