E-mail: office.melthammoor@edukirklees.net

 

We hope that you find the information presented in our School Prospectus informative. If you have any further questions or wish to look around the school, please do not hesitate to contact us by telephone, e-mail or letter.

 

Meltham Moor Primary School is in a beautiful setting below the Pennines, on the edge of the village of Meltham, about 6 miles from the West Yorkshire town of Huddersfield. The village has a busy centre with a variety of shops and some light industry. The M62 and M1 motorways are within easy reach.

 

The school caters for approximately 220 children aged 3 to 11 (part-time Nursery to Year 6). Built in 1971, the school offers excellent facilities set in very attractive, extensive grounds. The building has been extended in recent years and has a very high quality, purpose-built Nursery with it’s own outdoor play provision which is shared with Reception children. Beyond the school to the rear are fields leading to moorland and the Pennines. This area is a haven for wildlife and rare birds. Inside there is a central Hall, 8 classrooms, a Music Room, shared library areas and a computer suite; all classes have computers which are networked and internet connected – children can access their own work using any computer in school. All classrooms are interactive with whiteboard technology which makes a significant impact on teaching and learning. Outside there are three playground areas, a large field with football pitch and a variety of environmental areas including planted woodland and ponds. A multi-purpose sports activity court was built in the playground in the Spring of 2006. The school also has a new Children’s Centre on site. The centre provides support for families with children 0 to 5 not only in Meltham but also Honley and Brockholes.

 

The teaching staff have a variety of experience and expertise and there is also a skilled and committed support team. The current Headteacher took up his post in January 2004 having been a Head for the previous 9 years at another primary school in Kirklees. The Governing Body of the school are very active in their roles and fully committed to maintaining the school’s strengths whilst striving for improvement. There is a hardworking Parents Association who organise a variety of enjoyable events which also raise valuable extra funds.

 

Before and After School provision is available on site; ‘Moor Fun’ is run by a management committee of parents and governors. This provision is open from 7.30am until 6pm. ‘Moor Fun’ is Ofsted accredited and provides good quality care and enjoyable activities for the children.

 

The school has made a number of notable achievements in recent years. School Achievement Awards for outstanding results were gained in each year they were available. A very successful Ofsted inspection was carried out in June 2007 (see details below, a summary is available from school) which graded the school ‘oustanding’ in every key aspect and added: ‘This outstanding school is a thriving learning community where all adults and pupils work exceptionally well together’. In October 2008, the school had a one day subject inspection which focused on Design and Technology and was judged to be good with outstanding features in this subject. Ofsted informed us in July 2010 that our Outstanding status had been maintained and that further inspection would be deferred. The school has achieved the Activemark Standard and Healthy School Standard Gold; it has a strong emphasis on Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE).  In 2010 the school achieved Sing Up Gold status and the Artsmark Silver award. Outstanding academic results have been achieved consistently, particularly in Mathematics and Science. The school website is regularly updated and further information can be found there at: www.melthammoor.org.uk .

 

 Vision, Value, Aims and Ethos

Our vision and aims are outlined in detail on the following page. In short, we believe we want the same things as parents – for children to be happy at school, achieving their best personally, socially and academically and developing their strengths and interests. The teaching and learning styles we employ, the quality of relationships we build and the values exemplified by us will strongly influence our children’s capacities, personal qualities and values. We are committed to encouraging and nurturing the growth of people with enquiring minds who can reason and make decisions, people who are independent yet caring and considerate, moral, skilful but respectful of themselves and others.

 

 

At Meltham Moor we will endeavour to ensure that every child can achieve their best personally, socially and academically.

 

We aim for the children in our care to:

We aim for our teaching and curriculum to:

We aim for our school to be a place where people:

 

Our aim is to create a fair and just school community, that promotes social inclusion, community cohesion and equality, respects diversity and challenges and acts upon discrimination and inequality including bullying.

 

Meltham Moor Primary School provides education for all, acknowledging that the society within which we live is enriched by diversity. Meltham Moor strives to ensure that the culture and ethos of the school reflects the diversity of ALL members of the school community, where everyone is equally valued and treats one another with respect and fairness. Students are provided with the opportunity to experience, understand and celebrate diversity.

 

 

Copies of all school policies can be obtained by request at the school office.

 

Meltham Moor Primary School aims to provide all children with medical conditions or needs the same opportunities as others. We will endeavour to ensure as part of the ‘Every Child Matters Agenda’ that they can:

 

§      be healthy

§      stay safe

§      enjoy and achieve

§      make a positive contribution

§      achieve economic well-being

 

Our Nursery is in a purpose built, specialist facility for children of Nursery age. It is part of the school but self-contained in that it has it’s own outdoor play space. It is a high quality, stimulating environment, where children are gradually integrated into the school setting by experienced teaching and support staff. The Foundation Stage curriculum is taught with the priority being to build on each child’s experience, knowledge and skills as appropriate to their stage of development and maturity. Parents and children wishing to visit the Unit are welcome and should make an appointment through the school office.

 

Our Nursery aims to offer at least 3 terms of part-time education before the start of full-time schooling. The key age is 3 years old – children with 3rd birthdays between September and the end of December are offered a part-time place in the following January, those with birthdays between January and the end of March are offered places after Easter and those with birthdays between April and the end of August would join us in September – therefore the children are 3 years old when entering the unit. These are the dates that children become eligible for admission to Nursery but, depending on numbers, it may not always be possible to offer as much Nursery provision as indicated. After their part-time education, the children then become ‘Reception’ age and apply to join this or another school full-time. As other local schools do not offer Nursery provision, we do take children part-time in Nursery and they can then move to their local school – however, children in our catchment area are given priority.

 

The maximum number in the Nursery is 39 children. We will admit children in birth date order and stagger the admission of the children so that staff can make sure the children are settled into their new environment.  Staff make home visits at the beginning of the Autumn term, the Spring term and the Summer term prior to the children starting in the Nursery.

Our children are at the centre of everything we do, their well-being and development is of paramount importance. We have an active School Council which meets regularly and discusses issues put forward by the children or staff. The aim of the School Council is to ensure that the children have a voice and can express their thoughts, opinions and ideas about our school. The children were asked to tell us what they thought was important about our school to put in the prospectus:

 

Year 1 – The children; we play together and share; our uniform; all the work we do

Year 2 – Special mentions; teachers; learning; golden time (this is a special time when the children can choose from a variety of activities).

Year 3 – Different lessons; teachers listening; thinking; being polite; our classrooms.

Year 4 – We are a friendly school; we co-operate well and work together; the adults are caring and helpful; the school gives us a good education; special mentions assembly.

Year 5 – Good working atmosphere; know you’re welcome; friendship and friendly staff; good manners; after school activities; views and scenery; school dinners, discos; good books; fun learning.

Year 6 – Friendship; education for life; interest; right and wrong; fitness and sport.

As stated above, the school has consistently achieved good results with some outstanding performance. However, the results measure only a small part of what we do. We believe very strongly in a broad and balanced curriculum and particularly value environmental education, the arts and sport. PSHCE and thinking skills are important features and we aim to be creative in our approaches to teaching and learning, ensuring our curriculum remains relevant to the needs of our children. We fully support the rationale behind the DfES document ‘Excellence and Enjoyment’.

 

Some detail about the curriculum on offer:

 

> Nursery – 15 hours per week

> Reception - 21.25 hours per week

> Key Stage 1 – 21.45 hours per week

> Key Stage 2 – 23.30 hours per week

* It is very important that children at all times have appropriate footwear and kit for indoor  

 

Our school has no religious affiliation. Religious Education is based upon the Kirklees Agreed Syllabus; some of this may be extended within classes from the Collective Worship themes shared in assemblies. Other themes are more specific during weekly RE lessons. Parents may request that their children be excluded from acts of Collective Worship and Religious Education if their own religious belief or customs were to be infringed. Similarly there is no compulsion to take part in Christian or other religious festivals held at school.

 

Assemblies can take many forms including visiting speakers, singing, presentations, discussion, stories etc. They are often led by the Headteacher but may also be led by other members of staff and children. School issues and current affairs may be the focus but we have fortnightly themes which address spiritual, moral and cultural education. The themes are listed below and cover a wide range of input:

 

 

1.Positive Attitudes                       1. New Year                      1. Travel

2. Games and Rules                      2. Co-operation and             2. Growing and Changing

3. Working Together – Harvest       3. Perseverance                 3. Making up your own mind

4. Friendship                                4. Belonging                       4. Personal Standards

5. Perceptions, points of view                   5. Time                            5. Pride and Self Confidence

6. Christmas                                6. Easter                           6. Moving on

 

We extend and enrich our curriculum by offering a variety of lunchtime and after school activities. These allow children to develop their interests and skills further. As the children move through school, more activities become available to them. What is provided can change from term to term but the following are generally offered:

 

Football         Netball           Computer Clubs        Art               Infant Choir    Junior Choir   

Recorders      Gardening      Science                   Drama         

Pastoral care is an integral part of the curriculum of our school and all staff are closely involved in providing a caring environment for all children. All staff will be involved in monitoring and maintaining this caring ethos. As stated in our vision and aims we believe personal and social development to be vitally important. We share our understanding of our 3 R’s as detailed below which describe our school approach:

 

At all times we shall aim to be:

 

Respectful – treating others with respect and decency, showing an awareness of their qualities

 

Reasonable – logical and sensible, ready to listen to others’ opinions and think and react logically

 

Responsible – to be responsible for our own actions, to take care of things and other people

 

We manage behaviour in a positive manner and have high expectations in this area. We expect children to listen and follow instructions. However, we also have experience and understanding when things do not go as planned. Where difficulties arise we involve parents at an early stage and aim to work together to address any issues – we believe this is the way to succeed.

 

Further detail regarding behaviour can be found in the school’s ‘Behaviour Policy’ and ‘Behaviour Matters’ a booklet published for parents.

 

We also have a Home/School Agreement which details the agreement made between home and school. When parents register children to attend Meltham Moor, this is taken as an acceptance of the terms stated within the agreement

 

The latter two documents are included with this prospectus. We also state our stance regarding bullying within the full Behaviour Policy and our Anti-Bullying Policy which are available from school.

 

 

Meltham Moor Primary School is committed to ensuring the welfare and safety of all children in school. All Kirklees schools, including Meltham Moor Primary School, follow the Kirklees Safeguarding Children Board procedures. The school will, in most circumstances, endeavour to discuss all concerns with parents about their children. However, there may be exceptional circumstances when the school will discuss concerns with Social Care and/or the Police without parental knowledge (in accordance with Child Protection procedures). The school will, of course, always aim to maintain a positive relationship with all parents. The school’s Safeguarding Policy is available on request.

 

Many children may have Special Educational Needs at different times in their lives. These may be short term or long term, learning, medical, physical, emotional or sensory. Our aim is to ensure that all children have their needs fully met to the best of our ability.

 

We have a designated Inclusion Leader, whose role it is to assist in ensuring that no child fails to meet their full potential and to co-ordinate the school and LEA provision of support of children who are deemed to have special needs.

 

The school has a Special Educational Needs Policy. We believe that all children, whatever their individual needs, are entitled to access the same curriculum and to have equal access to all the experiences and activities provided by the school. We employ a ‘whole school approach’ to Special Educational Needs and consider that all teachers and support staff at school are educators of children with special educational needs. In response to such needs we differentiate the curriculum within the class and allocate additional resources or support.

 

Resources are allocated according to the stage of assessment, needs and availability. The timetable and structure of the class groups allows for the teaching of children who require small group situations and additional support for their learning.

 

The school was last inspected in June 2007. The following were the headlines:

 

 

The school had a one day subject inspection in Design Technology in October 2008. The following were the main points:

 

 

In July 2010, Ofsted reported that the school had maintained it’s outstanding status and that future inspection would be deferred until September 2011 at the earliest.

The children are offered a wide variety of educational visits and visitors during their time at the school. These are exciting opportunities for stimulating, first-hand experiences. A residential visit is planned when the children are in Year 6. Our school follows Kirklees policy on charging for educational visits and full details are available at the school. Very simply, charges are not compulsory for visits taking place wholly or mainly in school time, but voluntary contributions may be requested.

 

We take great pride in belonging to Meltham Moor Primary School and therefore the children are required to wear our school uniform of maroon and grey/black. Our policy states that children will wear grey/black trousers or skirts and maroon sweatshirts/jumpers. In the summer girls may wear red/white print dresses.

 

We are able to provide items with the school’s logo on and white shirts and polo shirts may be worn under the school sweatshirt. Polo shirts, sweatshirts, cardigans and fleece jackets are available to order from the school office.

The school operates the Kirklees Local Education Authority’s Admissions Policy which is as follows:

 

Children are admitted to our Nursery part-time at the next admission date following their 3^rd birthday. This means that:

 

A child with a 3^rd birthday between 1^st September and 31^st December will be offered a place the following January. (The deadline for applications for January starters is 1^st October)

A child with a 3^rd birthday between 1^st January and 31^st March will be offered a place the following April. (The deadline for applications for April starters is 1^st January)

A child with a 3^rd birthday between 1^st April and 31^st August will be offered a place the following September. (The deadline for applications for September starters is 1^st January)

 

These are the dates that children become eligible for admission to Nursery but, depending on numbers, it may not always be possible to offer as much Nursery provision as indicated. Places will only be offered when they are available and if there are more applications than places available the Headteacher will use the following criteria to prioritise admissions (based on Local Authority recommendations):

 

 

Children are admitted to our Reception Class full-time in the September before they become 5 years of age before the end of the following August. Children must be registered for school by the 15^th of January of the year they start school:

 

Children starting school in September 2011 must be registered by January 15^th 2011.

Children starting school in September 2012 must be registered by January 15^th 2012.

 

Our Published Admissions Number (PAN) is 30 for Key Stages 1 and 2. The Kirklees admissions policy is:

 

Places for all Key Stages will be allocated according to the following priorities:

 

Community and voluntary controlled schools will admit children Statements of Special Educational Needs where the school is named on the Statement.

 

Notes:

a)     Children in priority 1 above may also be admitted above the Published Admission Number (PAN).

b)     If we cannot agree to requests for admission in priorities 2 to 5 above without exceeding the PAN, we will give priority up to the PAN to children living nearest the school.

c)      Distance is measured in a straight line from a child’s home address to the school. Measurements are calculated using seven-figure grid references for each address taken from Ordnance Survey ADDRESS-POINT® data. This grid reference relates to a point that falls within the permanent building structure corresponding to the address. The boundary of the building structure for the address is derived from Ordnance Survey Land-Line data. For smaller, residential properties the grid reference denotes a point near the centre of the building. For larger properties, like schools with, for example, multiple buildings and large grounds, the grid reference relates to a point inside the main addressable building structure. The distance calculated is accurate to within 0.1 metres.

d)     ‘Live’ means the child’s permanent home at the date when applications close, or if a significant house move is involved, the latest reasonable date before the final allocation of places. We anticipate the allocation process for children transferring to junior or middle school will take place on 22 February 2010 and the allocation process for the Reception year group will take place on 8 March 2010.

e)     For children transferring from first schools, we will give preference in priorities 2 to 5 above (up to the PAN) to children attending a first school in the middle school PAA.

f)       A Priority Admission Area (PAA) means a geographical area determined by Kirklees in consultation with the governing body of the school. It is called this because children living there normally have priority for admission over children who live elsewhere. It is also referred to as the catchment area.

g)     Children with Statements of Special Educational Needs are admitted to mainstream schools, special units and special schools separately from the general admission policies.

 

If you have any queries regarding admissions please contact the school or Mrs Margaret Hamby at School Admissions, Kirklees, Tel 01484 225008

Mr Mike Whitfield – Headteacher

 

Miss Juan Galloway – Assistant Headteacher

 

 

Mrs Katie Hewson (commences maternity leave in September 2011)

Miss Holly Charlston (covering Mrs Hewson’s maternity leave)

Mrs Catherine Hawley

Mrs Maxine Whiteside (Nursery Nurse)

 

 

Miss Louise Wheeler

Miss Juan Galloway

 

 

Miss Katherine Manuel

Mrs Carol McAndrew

Mrs Angela Chubb

Mr John Oakley

 

Mrs Suzanne Roberts

 

 

Mrs Faye Quarmby (ICT)     Mrs Sue Farrell (Music)        Mrs Val Strother

Mrs Jackie Hellewell              Mrs Michaela Bottomley      Mrs Michelle Charlesworth

Mr Steven Harrison             Mrs Sara Robertson            Mrs Alison Linton               

Mr Alan Hirst                      Mrs Janet Shaw                 Mrs Mary-Kate Green        

 

 

Mrs Nicola Mason

 

 

Mrs Jane Morelli

 

 

Mr Melvin Gledhill

 

 

Ms Roberta Romano

Mrs Christine Slawson

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs Lynda Woodward

 

 

Ms Roberta Romano            Mrs Christine Slawson

Mrs Anita Whitehead           Mrs Tina Fruttauro             

Mrs Alison Linton      

 

 

Mrs Helen Chapman            Mrs Christine Dandridge