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.
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.
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.
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.
Pupil premium statement 2021-2022
Pupil Premium strategy 2020-21
Pupil Premium strategy 2020-21 spring update
Catch-up funding strategy autumn 2020
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
We also associate members (often ex-governors with specialist skills) whose professional advice we draw upon on a needs basis. Associate governors do not have voting rights.
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.
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 2020-2021
Annual Governance Statement for 2019-2020
Current Governors at Great Totham Primary School - click to find out more.
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 - admin@greattotham.essex.sch.uk
Financial benchmarking
Schools financial benchmarking compare a school or trust's income and expenditure with similar establishments in England. You can view your school or academy trust's financial data, see how it compares with others and use the information to establish relationships with other schools or multi-academy trusts. Click here for link.
No school employees have a gross annual salary of £100,000 or 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.
As a Foundation School the Governing Body is responsible for admissions and the current admission policy can be opened below. However we work in partnership with Essex and ‘in round' admissions are processed by the Local Authority team.
An ‘in round’ admission is for children starting school in either Year R (Reception / EYFS), Year 3 or Year 7 the following September. For 'in round' admissions please make your application via The Essex County Council Admissions page (click here for link).
Please note: children already in Year 2 at the school DO NOT need to apply for a place for Year 3, only new entrants to the school.
All other admissions (for starting any time other than in September of Reception) 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 fill out the application form below and submit to the school office. You may wish to view the school before you make your application. Please contact Mrs Bome in the school office for more information.
Application form (NOT for September starts in the Reception year).
Admissions Policy 2022-2023 Admissions Policy 2023-2024
To check your local catchment area, click here.
For information regarding appeals, 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
Senior teachers: Miss Paul, Miss Campling
Reception teachers: Mrs Swann and Miss Herron
Teaching Assistants: Mrs Jowitt, Mrs McTaggart and Mrs Watson
Y1 teachers: Mrs Haley and Miss Boon
Teaching Assistants: Mrs Potter, Mrs McMullan, Mrs Larcombe
Y2 teachers: Miss Paul, Mrs McCarthy, Mrs Masterman
Teaching Assistants: Mrs Hankins, Mrs Munro
Y3 teachers: Miss Campling and Mr Kitchener
Teaching assistants: Mrs Cobb, Mrs Meadows
Y4 teachers: Miss Coulson and Mrs Brothers
Teaching assistants: Mrs Newman, Mrs Reid, Miss Farr, Mrs Cox
Y5 teachers: Mrs Craig and Mr Quilter
Teaching assistants: Mrs Hedgecock, Mrs Boyce, Mrs Williams
Y6 teachers: Miss Brewer, Mr Hunt
Teaching assistants: Mrs Robertson, Mrs Byford
Office staff: Mrs Bome, Mrs Knowles, Mrs Jarvis
Catering manager: Mrs McBride
Site staff: Miss Rayner, Mr Reynolds
VISION & AIMS
Great Totham Primary School provides an education that enables all children to learn within an inclusive environment that values them as individuals and prepares them for the next step in their learning journey. Our values and ethos for all children are summarised below:
For our children we provide:
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A positive ethos that supports them to develop intellectually, physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually.
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A stimulating and balanced curriculum that enables them to develop their independence & confidence.
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A safe and secure environment that enables them to take risks, rise to challenges and develop as effective lifelong learners.
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High expectations of their behaviour, attitudes to learning and achievement.
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Teaching of the highest standard.
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.
NB This data is out of date due to the impact of the Covid 19 Pandemic and SATs not being undertaken on government directive.
Emergency Closure
Procedure (snow letter)
Read More Here:
Attendance Policy
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.
OFSTED Report
Governor statement of behaviour principles
GTPS Parents Hand Book
Admissions Policy 2022-23
Behaviour
Anti-Bullying
Admissions Policy 2023-24
Vision & Aims
Teaching for Learning
Learning
Home School Agreement
Collective Worship
Uniform
Gov Allowances
Complaints
Homework
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
2021 -2022
Essex county council school term dates 2021-2022
INSET day 6th June 2022
2022-2023
Essex county council school term dates 2022-2023
INSET days
Thursday 1st September 2022
Friday 2nd September 2022
Monday 20th February 2023
Tuesday 21st February 2023
Monday 5th June 2023
2023-2024
Essex county council school term dates 2023-2024
INSET days
Monday 4th September 2023
Monday 30th October 2023
Monday 26th February 2024
Tuesday 27th February 2024
Monday 3rd June 2024
