Academy prospectus - Dame Janet Primary Academy

Dame Janet Primary Academy
provides all pupils with an exciting and
enriching quality curriculum with the
key skills and meaningful experiences
needed to become lifelong learners.
Our whole school community works
together for the shared goal of pupil
achievement whilst upholding the
highest respect for one another in a
caring and safe environment.
Built on land provided
by the school’s
benefactress Dame
Janet Stancomb-Wills.
Dame Janet School
established.
Due to over-crowding
a new building was
constructed next door
to the original
building. The ‘infant
age’ children went to
the new building and
the ‘junior age’
children remained in
the original building.
Throughout this time
the school becomes
two schools - Dame
Janet Community
Infant School and
Dame Janet
Community Junior
School.
Woodland area gets a
makeover to create an
outdoor science and
nature classroom
Multi Use Games Area
built - a fantastic
floodlit resource
allowing a variety
of new sports to be
played, whatever the
time of day!
Two schools merge
into one all-through
primary and convert to
academy status. The
new academy becomes
part of the Kemnel
Academies Trust with
support from the
Attwood Trust.
Dame Janet Nursery
School established
extending our school
age range provision
to 3-11 years.
Dec - Upper School outdoor play
space investment to transform
the playground into a learning
space.
School security is
tightened, new fencing
and entry swipe
systems are put in
place to ensure the
safety of all our pupils.
Feb - Lower School outdoor play
space gets a huge makeover
Dame Janet Primary
Academy School
Values are born:
2014 - fundraising begins for £100,000
makeover of disused annexe building
to transform it into a multifunctional
school community hub.
Afterschool clubs
delivered to enrich our
curriculum further.
Senior Leadership Team
Exceed expectations
We have highly motivated and
results led Senior Leadership Team
who are driven to make Dame Janet
an Outstanding Academy and place
it firmly within the community as a
key asset. We are developing strong
links with the local community
including our families, local
businesses and community leaders
to ensure this is realised.
We are constantly seeking all
opportunities to progress all of our
pupils regardless of their ability level.
Through setting rigorous English
and Mathematics targets we aim to
exceed national expectations.
RIDES, GAMES
AND FARM ENTRY
JUST 50P PER
PERSON PER GO!
Extending learning opportunities
We ensure our children are both motivated to
succeed and stretched to the best of their ability
by regularly taking part in external events and
competitions between other Thanet Schools and
National organisations. This includes sporting
events such as Rugby Festivals, Mathematics
competitions and entering the Michael Rosen Bear
Hunt Live streamed Literacy Read.
Every experience is a learning experience
We believe that children learn through every interaction they have in a day, we include outside
learning every day within our curriculum and throughout playtimes. We have focused on
developing our outside spaces (educational playgrounds, mud kitchens, woodland area,
wildlife area, Multi-use games area) to make them as rich and stimulating as possible.
Specialist Support for all
We are privileged to have a full time Learning Support
Manager ( designated SENCO) and team, a Pastoral Inclusion
Support Manager and team and two Parent Support Officers
ensuring all children thrive whilst at Dame Janet. Emotional
Intelligence is at the heart of life at Dame Janet and provides
the fundamental layer of care that equips the children with
the skills to make them ready to learn. A Time Out facility is
available for those that might find an aspect of school
challenging and our support staff are always on hand to give
children time to talk if they need to.
We know that happy children are more able
learners and that by creating fun learning
opportunities in all that we do our children will
thrive. We seek every available opportunity to
create an atmosphere of Joy in our school.
Celebrating successes::
No matter how big or small, we recognise and celebrate
achievements. Each week in our award assemblies,
children are recognised for reading achievements;
being a good friend to someone; attendance and
punctuality. This is also where our ‘Star of the Week’
awards are given to children from each class. Our
weekly newsletter and news section on the website
also recognise individual successes and allow families
to see how their child is doing. These, along with our
‘Home Learner of the week’ displays, reinforce the
message that good work and behaviour is recognised
and celebrated at Dame Janet Primary Academy.
School Clubs
We are committed to providing
a wide array of extra-curricular
clubs for our children to enjoy
both at break times and after
school.
These clubs allow children to
share time with other age groups
making new friendships
outside of their class group.
Creative Curriculum
We strive to make every opportunity a
learning opportunity and create as many
creative ways to do this as possible. By
encouraging outside learning, going on
school trips, and utilising cookery, drama,
art, music and physical education to help
deliver our numeracy and literacy targets
we create happy and learning children.
Reward Days
Every term, we recognise those children that
have consistently worked hard and made
progress at school by inviting them to come
together for a Reward Day. Whether a trip
to the park, the local play centre, a disco or
sweetshop, the children’s efforts are
recognised and celebrated in these
special days.
Outstanding Grounds
Behaviour
House Teams
We are fortunate to have
extensive grounds in our
school including inspiring
outdoor learning spaces, a
floodlit multi-use games area
and even a woodland trail. We
invest heavily in our grounds
to ensure that learning goes
beyond the classroom at DJPA.
We pride ourselves on
encouraging our children to
take responsibility for their own
actions through giving them
consistent and clear boundaries
with an emphasis on positive
reinforcement for good
behaviour. Using our 'Green to
go' traffic light system, all
children are aware of the
rewards and consequences of
their behaviour.
Our house system creates a
sense of community and pride
across all years; four iconic
celebrities - Mo Farah, David
Attenborough, Stephen Hawkins
and J.K. Rowling represent our
houses and inspire our children
to do well through competing
in sports events, fulfilling the
school values and participating
in inter-house competitions.
Uniform
school and through
good standards of
behaviour;, excellent
attendance and
a sense of belonging
we instil a feeling
of PRIDE in all our
pupils."
Attendance
Every time children miss a
day's school, they lose out on
the opportunity to learn vital
information on their rapid
learning journey. We pride
ourselves on the fact that due
to rigorous attendance
monitoring and rewarding
punctuality and attendance
our attendance is above the
National average.
We expect a high standard of
personal appearance at all
times, our school uniform is
both smart and economical
and reflects the image that our
pupils the governors and the
Heads wish to portray. Our
pupils are proud to wear the
Dame Janet uniform and in
fact chose it following a fashion
show of uniform options!
"We are proud of our
Reach for the Stars
Children are graded termly on their attitude to daily school life,
progress against individual targets and behavior in class and on
the playground. Children that receive outstanding in all areas are
treated to a termly reward event. In the past treats have included
a disco, park trips, art activities, games, ITC activities and a sweet
treats shop!
Recognition
We recognise good efforts in our weekly
newsletter and in our celebration assemblies. As
well as rewarding achievements made in school
(no matter how small); we also encourage our
children to share good news from home such as
grading in judo or piano exams.
Headteacher awards
We have a variety of different headteacher awards and recognition schemes. These may
include a phone call or text home to communicate good work; certificates of achievement such
as ‘Star of the week’; Read Write Inc; good work certificate; and class certificates for
attendance and punctuality.
Golden Time
Children are rewarded at the end of the week by
gaining additional time for sport and chosen
activities as part of Golden Time.
Tracking against set targets
Children are monitored every six weeks against
reading, writing and maths next step targets that
are identified through regular marking and
feedback. Through this regular and thorough
feedback children are given the opportunity
develop and improve their learning.
Sports captains
Children that excel in sport or show good leadership skills are offered the opportunity of
becoming a sports captain. This vital role is utilised at playtimes where the sports captains act
as mentors for supervised sports activities.
School council representatives
Pupils are elected to represent their class, acting as the pupil voice. Activities they have been
involved in include Interviewing at the appointments of Senior Leaders, talking to Ofsted
about school progress and running class campaigns such as the “Knickers for Madagascar”
campaign where children have linked up with a school in Madagascar who informed us on a
visit to our school that whilst they had access to clothes, it is difficult to get knickers/pants for
the children. Council reps decided holding a ‘knicker raise’ would be a great way to help their
Madagascan peers!
Bookworm Rewards
Children are recognised for their commitment and progress in reading books throughout the
term. Class teachers pick children that they feel have made the most commitment to reading
each term and give them a bag of bookworm treats to say well done!
Head Boy and Girl and School Prefects
We believe that children themselves are often the best role models for others. We operate a
school prefect system where children showing the most admirable skills are offered the
position of school prefect or head boy or girl. These children perform duties such as
monitoring the playground and generally helping to represent the school by setting a good
example to others.
Eco Committee members
We are working towards Green Flag status as an eco-school and have elected pupils from
each year group to help us on our way. They have completed an energy audit, and are
deciding the activities that will help us move towards being a more sustainable and
eco-friendly school.
8.00 Upper (U); 8.15 Lower (L)
Breakfast Club
For parents who need to leave their children early,
we offer a daily breakfast club where children relish
the opportunity to meet up with friends before the
school day starts.
Children are given a healthy breakfast and have the
opportunity to select from a wide range of activities
(colouring, reading in the book area, speed stacking
or watching the daily news on the big screen!)
8.40 (Upper); 8.50 (Lower)
Playground gates are open: children are welcomed through the playground gates and straight into their
classrooms, where they hang up their coats and have a quiet and settled start to the day. This gives the
children the opportunity to share items of interest with their teachers before the day starts and prepare
for their days learning.
8.50 (Upper) 9.00 (Lower)
Registration
We expect a high level of attendance and good
time-keeping from our children.
By being on time all our children are able to mentally
prepare for the day through our positive and
welcoming registration process.
9.00 (Upper) 9.10 (Lower)
Learning Block One
The morning is devoted to core subjects taught in learning blocks. This is when Maths and English are
focussed on most heavily as the children are fresh and ready to absorb these vital learning opportunities.
English
At Dame Janet Primary Academy we work hard to teach exciting and motivating writing lessons and
link the context of the learning to a class project as this stimulates, excites and gives children ownership
of their learning. This is also promoted through a
whole school approach of Talk 4 Writing.
Talk for Writing enables children to imitate the key
language they need for a particular topic orally
before they try reading and analysing it. Children
participate in fun activities that help them rehearse
the tune of the language they need, followed by
shared writing to show them how to craft their own
written pieces, children are helped to write in the
same style.
Accurate spelling, correct grammar and neat
handwriting are all important aspects of English,
and are incorporated into English lessons, or taught
as discrete subjects throughout the timetabled day.
10.15 (Upper) 10.25 (Lower)
Break
During the morning break children play together in
phased age play areas. The outdoor environments
offer a range of play opportunities from hard play
surfaces, fields, sensory gardens and extensive
areas housing educational play equipment.
10.30 (Upper) 10.35 (Lower)
Read Write Inc
Phonics is taught using Read Write Inc. This is a whole school programme which uses simple
lively mnemonics to teach children how to read and write letter-sound correspondences.
Children are assessed and taught in a group with children who have a similar phonic ability.
Children then apply this knowledge by reading well-written, engaging phonic stories that are
closely matched to their increasing skill. Children learn to blend sounds to read words.
Then begin by reading short ‘ditties’ to practise early reading and writing before being taught
more letter-sound correspondences and moving onto a series of levelled decodable texts; both
fiction and non-fiction which integrate writing and spelling activities plus handwriting practice.
11.00 (Upper) 11.10 (Lower)
Learning Block Two
Maths
We use a variety of teaching and learning styles in Mathematics. Our principal aim, based on the new National
Curriculum is to develop children’s fluency, reasoning and
problem solving.
During our daily lessons, we encourage children to ask,
as well as answer mathematical questions. We also ask
children to answer real life questions linked to their mathematical learning every day during the plenary or next step
marking. This is recorded in their workbooks. In all classes,
children have a wide range of mathematical abilities.
We recognise this fact and provide suitable learning
opportunities for all children. Our main school resource is
Numicon. This is a visual aid which helps children to understand mathematics. We use Teaching
Assistants, Learning Mentors and additional educational needs TA’s to support children, and to
ensure that work is matched to the needs of individuals. Maths is taught across all years every
day including the Early Years Foundation children attending our nursery.
12.00 – 1.00 (whole academy)
Lunch
Throughout the whole academy, lunches are staggered
between the hours of 12 and 1pm. School meals are cooked
fresh daily; as with our ‘Healthy School’ Status, our meals
offer a wide range of nutritionally balanced options (free to
all lower school pupils).
Staff members regularly eat with children to encourage
pupil/staff interaction in an informal atmosphere. Playtime
is again spent in zoned play areas where Sports Captains
are on hand to facilitate assisted games to encourage
team play.
1.00 (whole academy)
Afternoon registration
A quick catch up over registration to ensure all children are set for the afternoon learning environment.
Guided Reading
Reading is an important part of our curriculum, and ensuring that children have a passion for reading,
and a love of texts we teach lessons to secure children’s ability in being able to access them.
During Guided Reading, children work in small groups with others who demonstrate similar reading
behaviours and can all read similar levels of text. The book is easy enough for the children to read with
some fluency, but also offers reading challenges that are explored with the teacher who supports the
group.
Within the learning children will engage with activities such as questioning of the text, predicting what
my happen, and understanding the characters.
1.25 (whole academy)
Learning Block Three - Creative Curriculum
Afternoon sessions are run across the academy incorporating an
EOS approach focusing on project based learning.
Projects last for 12 weeks and encompass all core and
foundation subjects leading to a fully immersive and purposeful
learning experience culminating in a final presentation to an
audience to ensure learning is embedded.
Nationally, this approach has been shown to have huge benefits
for the children, as it is a more fun, exciting and challenging way
for them to learn. The varied activities engage children more
fully, and consequently they learn more effectively.
As subject areas are linked closely through the project
objectives, children make more sense of the relevance of what
they are learning - and how it relates to the ‘real world’. There
are more opportunities to write for real purpose and
consequently, writing standards improve.
Year
3
Project
example:
:
:
Why are rainforests under threat and what can we do?
English: Children learn how to structure letters by writing to the
rainforest agency or native villagers, identifying key project
vocabulary and share texts and stories to aid learning.
Maths: Maths techniques are utilised to calculate an area of
deforestation or measure trees to test the mean, mode and
median. Calculating data on animal species in a forest or calculate
the predicted population of rainforest animals.
Science: Measurement of rainwater, the effect of light and water on plant growth and pollution will all be
scientifically deduced so children further their project knowledge!
Information Communication Technology
(ICT): As well as self-directed researching
of information, children will use ICT skills to
present formal documents and prepare for
their final presentations.
ART: Artists famous for using rainforest imagery will be studied to
provide inspiration for children’s art pieces.
Design and Technology (DT): Construction is key here; children will begin to explore how
to construct the tallest tree, make banners for a deforestation march or build a canopy to
shelter form the sun.
History: Investigative skills and
chronological sequencing will be utilised to produce timelines and journals of native inhabitants
across the years.
Geography: All human and physical features will
be explored from looking at the effect of
deforestation on the ozone layer and climate
change to native habitats as a result of deforestation.
Music: Children will be exploring tribal sound and rhythm through an African drumming
session with a local musician.
Physical Education (PE): lessons will take a rhythmic
feel with tribal dancing being learnt.
Projects are supported by visits from and to external
organisations such as the ‘creepy crawly expert’ visit
and trips to animal parks. The project is concluded
with an eco-awareness march/exhibition at our local
shopping centre.
Other curriculum subjects taught throughout the week are as follows:
Religious Education: Using the Kent agreed syllabus, we cover a wide range of religions that reflect our
school and wider community and encourage diversity and inclusion.
Modern Foreign Languages: Following ‘Tout le Monde’, a gradual and focussed teaching programme
that makes learning French fun, children from years 3-6 have weekly French lessons.
Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA time): Class teachers are allocated time to prepare and
assess to enable them to provide feedback and progression reports for children ensuring learning is kept
on track. The children spend this time with specialist
teaching assistants participating in Physical Education,
Drama, Music and Computing lessons focused on
developing specialist skills.
Physical, Social, Health and Emotional Education and
Citizenship (PSHE): Through participating in class
discussions and assemblies, circle time and other focused
discussions; children are helped to develop their social and
emotional skills enabling them to become
well-rounded and emotionally intelligent individuals.
2.40 (whole academy)
Assemblies
Assemblies are held three times a week at both the lower
and upper school. Monday’s assembly is teacher led and
is based on PSHE themes. Wednesday’s are delivered by
classes to showcase projects and activities thus embedding the learning further and developing
presentation skills. Friday’s assemblies are a celebration across the school; rewards are given for attendance, punctuality and special work. We like to share our successes with the wider community and always
invite friends and family to Wednesday and Fridays assemblies.
3.00 (Lower) 3.10 (Upper)
Compulsory school day finishes
Children are collected directly from classes in the lower school and from phased playgrounds in
the upper school ensuring safety and allowing carers the unique opportunity to catch the class
teacher for a chat if needed.
3.00 (Lower) 3.10 (Upper)
After School Clubs
Another major strength of our school is our
commitment to providing a huge variety of
extracurricular activities, enabling your child to
develop a wide range of skills not normally
presented in the curriculum. As a result of
teachers and teaching assistants giving up their
time for free, children can choose from a wide
selection of after school clubs, including, football,
netball, dodgeball, photography, choir, art and
homework club to name but a few!
4.00 (Lower) - 4.10 (Upper)
Extended School
Following the success of our after school club
provision, we have committed to developing our
‘wrap around care’ from 8am - 6pm.
Children attending the extended school club
enjoy a club of their choice until 4.00 (L) - 4.10
(U) when they join their friends for a range of
exciting activities, including art and craft,
cooking and sport. Children are provided with
a light tea and benefit from spending time with
other children within the school. We see this
time as the children’s time, and whilst activities
are available, children are welcome to quietly
relax with a book or watch a film if they want
to. Extended school is charged competitively at
£7.50 per day.
You can follow us on
Twitter!
Excellent Communication
We have a wide range of materials to support the relationship between school and home. In addition to
a weekly newsletter, which provides you with up-to date events and activities, support leaflets in maths
and topic areas help parents get up to speed with current teaching methods; target leaflets give ideas
and tips on how to develop your child’s education in a fun way and regular consultation evenings with
staff ensure the flow of communication is a two-way process. Our website is regularly updated with all
the latest news and information and parents are regularly invited to celebration assemblies. The school
has a TWITTER account for sharing school life send regular text updates to carers.
Events Committee
We have a team of staff and parent volunteers who put
on a range of fundraising activities for our
children and their families. Previous events have included discos, summer and Christmas fairs,
Christmas parties and the year 6 leavers prom. As well
as giving children the opportunity to socialise
outside of school hours in a safe and caring environment, these events raise vital funds that are used to
enrich and enhance the school curriculum.
Volunteering in School
We have a large number of volunteers helping in
all areas of school life, supporting children with
reading, making displays or props for school plays,
attending school trips, being on the events
committee or standing as a governor. We really do
welcome any support that you can offer.
Home learning
Dame Janet Primary Academy encourages all of its pupils to develop good learning habits and
skills that will sustain them outside the school environment. Families are in a unique position to
provide important and valuable learning opportunities that perhaps a school is unable to offer.
Home Learning is also an important way of establishing a successful dialogue between
teachers and parents, as well as involving parents in the education of their children.
Research shows that daily reading has a positive impact on children’s learning and this is
expected. Children are also given weekly spellings to learn and times tables to practise.
In addition, teachers suggest tasks for the
children to undertake on a weekly basis.
These usually take the form of research;
finding answers to questions raised in class,
problem solving, or undertaking a practical
art and craft activity.
Parents are encouraged to become involved
in their children’s learning through the issuing of guidance, such as the Calculations
Booklet. To promote Home Learning every
student is provided with a Home/School
Diary that also serves as a Reading Record, which travels between home and school every day.
Other examples of Home Learning include encouraging children to attend a club, playing a board
game, going for a walk, visiting a place of interest or taking part in cooking. However, it should be
recognised that children need time to play, socialise and engage in child type activities.
Community Fun day
We host an annual fun day for the whole community. This allows us to come together with staff,
families and neighbours and thank our school community for
supporting us so generously. Activities include
inflatables, stalls, BBQ and even a city farm!
Open days
We regularly invite family members to join their child
in class, this has a two-fold benefit allowing children
to show off their skills whilst helping carers to
understand the teaching practices and methods so
they are able to continue the support at home.
We are lucky to have a purpose built Nursery at our School which offers
funded Pre-school provision staffed by a qualified teacher and nursery trained staff.
Places are offered to children, according to a set
criteria, for them to attend either five morning or
five afternoon sessions per week, dependent upon
places available.
We offer inspiring and
stimulating surroundings
in an environment where
children can flourish with
their peers or DJ Bear as
you can see in the
photos.
The Nursery uses the
Early Years Foundation
Stage Curriculum that is
the statutory
curriculum for all children from birth to 5 years, provided by the
Department for Children, Schools and Families.
The Curriculum is divided into three Prime Areas - Personal, Social and
Emotional Development; Physical Development; Communication and
Language and four Specific areas - Literacy; Mathematics;
Understanding the World; Expressive Arts and Design.
Each area provides expectations for a child’s development within
specific age brackets culminating in an early learning goal.
Staff use the curriculum to help trace each child’s
progress throughout their time in Nursery. Children work
towards being able to achieve these early learning goals by
the end of their reception year in school.
girls
• Purple academy
sweatshirt or cardigan
• White polo T shirt
• White socks or black tights
• Purple and white gingham
dress
• Dark grey skirt or pinafore
dress
• Optional academy
reversible jacket
• Black shoes
boys
•
•
•
•
•
Dark grey shorts or trousers
White polo T-shirt
Grey or black socks
Purple academy sweatshirt
Optional academy
reversible jacket
pe kit
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
T-shirt (colour of house team)
Shorts – dark blue or black
Tracksuit – dark blue or black
Pair of plimsolls (Indoor)
Pair of trainers (Outdoor)
Pair of socks if tights are worn
Hairband /clips to tie back
long hair
• PE kit should be in a draw
string bag
We expect a high standard of personal appearance at all times, our school uniform is both smart
and economical and reflects the image that our pupils the governors and the Headteachers wish to
portray. Our pupils are proud to wear the Dame Janet uniform and in fact chose it following a fashion
show of uniform options!
Items of uniform can be purchased at the school office. It is essential that every child has a full range of
clothing for PE and Games which should be stored in an appropriate bag.
All uniform and property must be named. Children are discouraged from bringing valuables to school. The
school does not accept any responsibility for loss or damage to personal property of pupils.
Hair
All children are required to tie hair back where it is long enough to do so. This is both for health and safety
reasons and to look smart and ready for school.
Jewellery
Jewellery is not allowed at any time (with the exception of one pair of small earring studs) for health and
safety reasons. We ask the children to either remove these objects during PE and games, or cover them
with a plaster, to prevent them from causing injury. Make up, nail varnish and temporary tattoos are not
permitted at any time.
Footwear
We want all children to grow into healthy adults. We believe that it is dangerous for children to wear shoes
that have platform soles or high heels so we do not allow children to wear such shoes in our school.
Children may wear sensible, dark-coloured school-type shoes or smart black trainers, provided they have a
separate pair for PE.