Our School

• A letter from the Headteacher - August 2009
• 2009/10 Term Dates
• The Enchanted Forest welcomes you to South Norwood Primary School
• Facts and Figures
• School Profile
• SNAPS: South Norwood Association of Parents and Staff

The Enchanted Forest

Deeper into the Enchanted Forest

Wildlife in the Enchanted Forest

 

August 2009

 

 

Dear Reader

 

You are visiting the website of South Norwood Primary School at a very exciting time for the school. Over the last couple of years, a vast number of improvements have taken place, including:

 

§  new ‘Lobster Library’ for both class and family use;

§  installation of ‘Fitness Trail’;

§  new Drama and Music Room;

§  development of Outdoor Learning Sensory Area;

§  interactive whiteboards installed in all classrooms;

§  new reading resources for all classes;

§  complete revision of our Foundation Stage Curriculum;

§  effective literacy and numeracy sessions to support children who are working below Age-Related Expectation;

§  extension literacy and numeracy sessions for children working above age-related expectation;

§  new tracking and monitoring systems;

§  exciting early-morning and after-school activities;

§  a wide range of lunchtime activities for children to enjoy, including the introduction of sports coaches;

§  drama sessions and the ‘Hands On’ programme to enhance emotional wellbeing;

§  workshops for parents to support the learning of phonics and maths;

§  complete redecoration of the Infant and Junior buildings;

§  new lighting throughout the school.

  

Following our very positive Ofsted Inspection in June 2008, when the school was judged to be ‘satisfactory’ overall, with 70% of its judgements to be ‘good’, we are now going from strength to strength. A Local Authority visit considered that we were well on our way to being a ‘good’ school (in Ofsted speak).

 

This follows an Ofsted Inspection in March 2007, when the school was placed into a ‘Notice To Improve’ category due to low achievement and attainment of our children and consistently inadequate teaching over a number of years.

 

In July of this year, our KS2 SATs results were a clear indication of the progress that the children are making and the impact of the new initiatives throughout the school. The results are looking much healthier and this clearly reinforces the upward trend of our children’s attainment:

 

Subject                                  Level 4+                                           Level 5

                             National Age-Related Expectation (ARE)              Above ARE

Reading                                   76%                                                  29%

Writing                                    63%                                                  22%

ENGLISH                                 71%                                                  27%

MATHS                                     69%                                                  22%

SCIENCE                                  73%                                                  31%

 

As the Headteacher since September 2006, I could fill pages with the improvements that have been made and our intentions for the future, short, medium and long-term. What I would urge you to do, is to come and visit the school, when I would be delighted to show you around and share the school’s vision in full.

 

In July of this year, the Local Authority asked us to take in an extra 30 children for Reception for September. Our Foundation Stage results have improved dramatically and we are part of Croydon’s Transition Project, sharing our good practice with other schools throughout the borough. To be asked to accommodate additional children is a huge compliment as it reflects the Local Authority’s confidence in our improvements.

 

As you visit the different sections of this website, the ethos of the school will be reinforced through the words, images and dedication of all at the school. The commitment to the development of every child at the school underpins all that we do. We intend that every child ‘SHINES’ and achieves their optimum potential in a safe, secure and stimulating environment. Please come and see this for yourself.

 

Kind regards

Mrs Della Williams
Headteacher

 

Facts and Figures

• South Norwood Primary School is a two-form entry primary school. This means that there are two classes in each year group.
• There are three entrances to the school: the main entrance in Crowther Road and two additional entrances in Gresham Road and Birchanger Road.
• The school was originally built as separate Infant and Junior Schools and there is still an Infant building and a Junior Building.
• As at 1st September 2008, there are 360 children on roll at the school, from ages 4 to 11.
• The school has two groups specially designated for children who have a statement of educational need for ASD (autistic spectrum disorder). The six children in the Infant Group are taught primarily within their group setting, whilst the six children in the Junior Group are taught within their class setting and withdrawn for social and communication support as appropriate.
• 22% of our children are on the Special Needs register and receive additional support appropriate to their level of need within the school.
• 27% of our children have EAL (English as an Additional Language), although most are fluent speakers of English.
• We employ three staff to work specifically to support our EAL children and our BME (black and minority ethnic) children.
• In 2007, the school received a £9,000 Awards for All Lottery funding grant. This was used to install a Fitness Trail, refurbish the Library and to set up a Steel Pan band.
• Also in 2007, South Norwood Primary was awarded the Activemark. This recognises that all of our children receive at least two hours of curriculum PE each week.
• In 2008, we were awarded the Artsmark Award for our commitment to developing The Arts as part of our children’s development.

 

Download a copy of the School Profile (PDF)

 

AUTUMN TERM 2009 INSET Days: Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th September 2009 School Opens                   Monday 7th September 2009 School Closes                   Friday 23rd October 2009   Autumn  Half-term: Monday 26th – Friday 30th October 2009   INSET Day: Monday 2nd November 2009 School Opens                   Tuesday 3rd November 2009 School Closes                   Friday 18th December 2009     SPRING TERM 2010 INSET Day: Monday 4th January 2010 School Opens                   Tuesday 5th January 2010 School Closes                   Friday 12th February 2010   Spring Half-term: Monday 15th – Friday 19th February 2010   INSET Day: Monday 22nd February 2010 School Opens                    Tuesday 23rd February 2010 School Closes                   Thursday 1st April 2010     SUMMER TERM 2010 School Opens                   Monday 19th April 2010 School Closes                   Friday 28th May 2010   Summer Half-Term: Monday 31st May – Friday 4th June 2010   School Opens                   Monday 7th June 2010 School Closes                   Friday 23rd July 2010     (INSET) TEACHER TRAINING DAYS Thursday 3rd September 2009 Friday 4th September 2009 Monday 2nd November 2009 Monday 4th January 2010                                                         Monday 22nd February 2010                                                                                                                                                 SCHOOL CLOSED FOR USE AS A POLLING STATION Thursday 6th May 2010   Please also note that Monday 3rd May 2010 is a Bank Holiday.

 

At South Norwood Primary, we have a very active parents and staff association known as SNAPS: South Norwood Association of Parents and Staff. All parents/carers at the school are members and over the last couple of years, fund-raising has increased significantly, supporting the school in a variety of ways. Events held include: Quiz Night; Summer Carnival; Christmas Fair; Car Wash; Jewellery Evening; Poster Competition; Discos and many more… Please visit the SNAPS blog at: http://southnorwoodpsa.blogspot.com/  for more information.