OUR SCHOOL
Since opening our school has grown over the years into a two form entry primary school with a range of additional resources and rooms to support the children. We are very fortunate to still have a swimming pool, a performance studio and dedicated Computing Suite as well as on site wrap round child care facilities.
GOOD
OFSTED RATING:
"The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the previous inspection.
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There is a palpable sense of mutual respect and trust at the school.
An overwhelming majority of parents and pupils who responded to the online surveys would recommend the school.
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Pupils respond well to the extremely high standards [of behaviour] modelled by adults."
Read the latest report here:
Use this link to take you to the OFSTED dashboard for our school, which offers more than just the latest inspection report.
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This link will enable you to look at the Schools Performance Data relating to our school.
PUPIL PREMIUM
Pupil premium is additional money the school receives to help support children who are in receipt or have been in receipt of free school meals. The money is intended to help schools ensure that all children make the best progress possible.
Please find below our Pupil Premium strategy which shows, in detail, how much money the school receives, how we intend to spend and the impact it makes. Please be aware that the information is generalised.
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Pupil Premium strategy 2020-21
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NB Catch up funding refers to support in place to help children recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
GOVERNING BODY
At full strength, the governing body of Great Totham Primary School has 12 members, plus the head teacher. These governors include:
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Head teacher
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Parent governors x 2 (elected by the parent body)
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LA governor x 1 (appointed by the Local Authority)
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Staff governor x 1 (elected by the teaching staff)
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Partnership governor x 2 (appointed)
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Co-opted governor x 6 (appointed)
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The Role of the Governing Body
The governing body at Great Totham Primary School, like those at all schools across the country, has a general responsibility for seeing that the school is run effectively and promotes high standards of educational achievement for all its pupils. The governors’ role is to take a strategic view, and work in partnership with Sarah Vass (Headteacher) and her staff team. Their work includes determining priorities as identified in the School Improvement Plan and ensuring an appropriate budget is set. In addition governors help review policies by evaluating their impact, help make appointments to the staff team and evaluate the school's performance. This is through the analysis of data, understanding the school's curriculum and how the quality of teaching within the school is impacting upon learning.
Visit the Essex County Council Governor website for further information.
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Governors Meetings
The main governing body and working committees meet twice every term.
The working committees are as follows:
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Resources Committee – this committee covers financial, health & safety and staffing issues.
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Curriculum and Standards Committee – this committee covers issues related to the content of the curriculum and how it is delivered, how pupils are assessed and the standards that are achieved.
Governor attendance document 2019-2020
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Contacting Governors
Governors welcome feedback and comment from parents. You can do this:-
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In writing. through either our Governor post box or by letter ( sent to the School Office).
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Face to face – Governors are regularly at the school either helping in classes, discussing matters with the teaching staff and in the case of Parent Governors dropping or collecting their children at the beginning and end of the day.
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By email to admin@greattotham.essex.sch.uk
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Annual Governance Statement for 2019-2020
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Current Governors at Great Totham Primary School - click to find out more.
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ADMISSIONS
Starting school or moving from one school to the next is a major step in a child’s life. We work closely with all parents, schools and pre-school provisions to ensure that this transition is as smooth as possible.
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As a Foundation School the Governing Body are responsible for admissions and the current admission policy can be opened below. However we work in partnership with Essex and ‘in rounds’ admissions are processed by the Local Authority team.
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An ‘in round’ admission is for children starting school in either Year R, Year 3 or Year 7 the following September. Please note children currently in the school in Y2 DO NOT need to reapply, this is only for children who join our school in Year 3 due to changes in allowances for cohort size in KS2.
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For 'in round admissions' please make your application via The Essex County Council Admissions page (click here for link). .
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All other admissions are processed by the school office. If you have moved into the area or are interested in applying for a place for your child, please contact Mrs Bome for advice and an opportunity to come and view the school.
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Admission Policy 2020-2021 Admissions Policy 2021-2022
To check your local catchment area, click here.
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
Please find below our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Report - this is where you will find information about the types of SEND we can provide for and how we might provide support. If you have any questions please direct them to our SENCo, Mrs Lawrence via email (mrs.lawrence@greattotham.essex.sch.uk) or by contacting her through the school office.
Complaints about SEND provision should be made by referring to the whole school policy, found on the policy page.
SEND Policy
SEND Information Report
STAFF STRUCTURE
Head teacher: Miss Vass
Deputy head teacher: Miss Cleghorn
SENCo: Mrs Lawrence
Family Support Worker: Mrs Wilson
Reception and KS1 phase leader: Miss Paul
Reception teachers: Miss Chapman and Miss Herron
Teaching Assistants: Mrs Larcombe, Mrs Jowitt and Mrs McMullan
Y1 teachers: Mrs Haley and Mrs McCarthy
Teaching Assistants: Mrs Peace, Mrs Munro
Y2 teachers: Miss Paul and Mrs Browne
Teaching Assistants: Mrs McTaggart, Mrs Reid
Y3 teachers: Mrs O'Reilly and Mr Quilter
Teaching assistants: Mrs Byford, Mrs Newman, Mrs Cox
Y4 teachers: Mr Kitchener and Miss Coulson
Teaching assistants: Mrs Meadows, Mrs Bredin
Upper KS2 (Y5 and 6) phase leader: Miss Campling
Y5 teachers: Mrs Glover and Miss Brewer
Teaching assistants: Mrs Hedgecock, Ms Ponting, Mrs Watson, Mrs Newman
Y6 teachers: Miss Campling, Mr Hunt, Mrs Craig
Teaching assistants: Mrs Lane, Mrs Robertson
Office staff: Mrs Bome, Ms Atkinson, Mrs Jarvis
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Kitchen staff: Mrs Granger, Mrs McBride
Site staff: Mr Parfitt, Miss Rayner
For our parents we provide:
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A welcoming and supportive environment The opportunity to build an effective partnership based upon trust & respect
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Clear, open & timely communication
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Opportunities for parents to be actively involved in the school community
For our staff we provide:
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A positive, supportive working environment that values them as individuals
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Opportunities to develop professionally
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High expectations in relation to teaching and learning
We contribute to our local community by:
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Working in partnership with other schools
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Working together to mutually support school & community activities
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Ensuring that our children develop an understanding of their role and responsibilities within society.
ACHIEVEMENT & ATTAINMENT
There are many different measures by which we assess and evaluate children's achievements and attainment. Within a school context a key measure is to consider how well prepared children are for the next steps in their learning.
We strive to ensure that all our children are ready both emotionally and academically to meet the challenges of a secondary school curriculum. A clear indicator of this is how well children attain at the end of each phase.
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End of Year R: Children are assessed against the Early Learning Goals.
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End of KS1: Children are teacher assessed with regard to their progress in the National Curriculum.
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End of KS2: Formal end of key stage assessments or SAT's.
Emergency Closure
Procedure (snow letter)
Read More Here:
POLICIES
Should you need a paper copy of any of the documents on our website, please just call the office to make your request.
Governor statement of behaviour principles
OFSTED Report
GTPS Parents Hand Book
Admissions Policy 2020-21
Vision & Aims
Teaching for Learning
Learning
Home School Agreement
Collective Worship
Gov Allowances
Complaints
Homework
Behaviour & Anti-Bullying
Computing
KS1 E-Safety Agreement
KS2 E-Safety Agreement
Supporting Medical Policy
Child Protection Policy
Keeping Children Safe in Education
SEND Information Report
SEND Policy
Single Equality Scheme
Charging & Remissions
DATA PROTECTION
To contact our Data Protection Officer (DPO), Mrs Mazzarella, please make enquiries via the school office.
Agreed GDPR Policy
Freedom of Info Policy
Privacy Notice - Workforce
Privacy Notice - Volunteer
Privacy Notice - Child / Parent
Public Scheme of Retention
Staff Scheme of Retention
TERM DATES
INSET days
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2nd September 2020
2nd November 2020
22nd and 23rd February 2021
7th June 2020
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Essex county council school term dates 2020-2021
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