Gilded Hollins School Prospectus
Gilded Hollins Community Primary School.
St Helens Road,
Leigh,
WN7 3PQ
Telephone: 01942 678903
e-mail: enquiries@admin.gildedhollins.wigan.sch.uk
Dear Parents,
We hope that the information in this booklet will give you an insight into the life of our school and help you make the most of the exciting opportunities that Gilded Hollins can offer.
OUR SCHOOL AIMS
CLASSIFICATION OF THE SCHOOL
Gilded Hollins is a one form entry, non-denominational Community Primary Day School for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. We have approximately 210 children on roll. The school is situated between Pennington and Lowton amongst extensive playing fields. On site we have two playgrounds, a school garden and picnic area.
There are numerous teaching areas within the school including:
1 Foundation Stage classroom with access to ‘Outdoor Play’
2 Key Stage One classrooms
4 Key Stage Two classrooms
2 Resource areas
1 Hall equipped for Gymnastics, Drama and Lunch
1 Library area
1 wellbeing area
30 portable laptops
90 iPads
Each classroom is equipped with an interactive whiteboard
ADMISSION OF PUPILS
The Governors of the School, in consultation with the Local Authority (L.A.) have set a maximum class size of 30.
Where applications for admission exceed the number of places available, the L.A. will apply the following set of criteria in order to decide which children to admit:
1) Children who have a statement of Special Educational Needs.
2) A child who has a brother or sister currently attending the School.
3) The geographical location of home and school.
OUR CURRICULUM
Every child who comes into the school is warmly welcomed and equally valued.
We aim to provide a broad and balanced curriculum that is fully differentiated to meet the needs of all our pupils and the requirements of the National Curriculum. Through this we seek to develop everyone in our care to the highest level of personal achievement, and work in partnership in order to bring out the very best in each child.
The school has no affiliation with any particular church, yet it is primarily Christian in the daily assemblies and religious activities. Parents have the right to withdraw their children from religious activities.
OUR STAFF
Headteacher
Mrs C Burns
Deputy Headteacher
Mrs C Malley
Early Years Foundation Stage Leader
Mr T Ecclestone
School Administration Officers
Mrs J Gumm (School Business Manager)
Mrs S Mair
Teaching Staff
Reception – Mr T Ecclestone
Year One – Mrs J Stopforth
Year Two – Miss L Martin
Year Three – Miss S Hope & Mrs N Byrne
Year Four – Mr C Rushton
Year Five – Mr R Taylor
Year Six – Mrs C Malley & Mrs M Merry
Teaching Assistants
Mrs J McGill, Mrs N Winstanley, Miss N Hilton, Mrs J Ward, Mrs C Charnley, Mrs A Aldred, Mrs I Prassas, Mrs M Hindley, Miss E Linton, Mrs T Holman
Pastoral Support
Miss Hampson
Caretakers
Mr P Molyneux, Mr A Mair
Welfare Assistants
Mrs S Sutton, Mrs S Bewley,
Mrs P Taylor
School Cook:
Kitchen staff:
Miss D Cook, Miss C Gibson
SCHOOL DAY
Doors open at 8.50 a.m.
School starts at 8.55 a.m.
Registration 9.00 a.m. - 9.05 a.m.
Break 10.50 a.m. - 11.05 a.m.
Lunch 12.15 p.m. - 1.15 p.m.
Registration 1.15 p.m. - 1.20 p.m.
A flexible break is taken in the afternoon
School ends at 3.25 p.m.
BREAKFAST CLUB
School runs a breakfast club (Breakfast Buddies) from 7.45am until 8.50am, priced £4 per day. A breakfast of toast, cereal and fruit juice is provided. Pupils may be booked in for specified blocks of time, or on a day by day basis if required.
AFTER SCHOOL CLUB
Our after school club runs daily until 5:30pm and is priced at £8 per session. Children will be provided with a drink and snack (e.g. pasta, beans on toast) and there a variety of activities for them to join in with. Parents are able to use tax free credits for after school club.
UNIFORM
High standards of dress help to maintain standards across school. We expect that uniform should be worn properly at all times within the school building and on school trips, unless we request otherwise or on “non-uniform” days.
Gilded Hollins’ uniform is as follows:
Boys
Shirt: Gold Polo Shirt (must have school crest)
Trousers: Pale Grey (long or short)
Sweatshirt: Dark Green (must have school crest)
Shoes: Black (no boots or training shoes)
Socks: Grey
Girls
Shirt: Gold Polo Shirt (must have school crest)
Skirt: Grey (Reception, Year One and Year Two children only will wear a tartan skirt)
Pinafore dress: Grey (Reception, Year One and Year Two children only will wear a tartan pinafore)
Sweatshirt: Dark Green (must have school crest)
Cardigan: Dark Green (must have school crest)
Trousers: Pale Grey (long or short)
Dress: Green Gingham Summer Dress
Socks: White or Grey
Tights: Grey
Shoes / Sandals: Black (no boots or training shoes)
SCHOOL BAGS
All school bags should be the messenger style book bag with a long strap for hanging. Rucksacks are not allowed as we cannot hang these safely.
P.E.
Indoor: Plain white T-shirt, plain black shorts, black plimsolls
Outdoor: Sweatshirt / hoodie, tracksuit bottoms, training shoes
(There is no requirement to provide outdoor P.E. kit for Reception class)
NB: Gilded Hollins crested fleeces and book bags will still be available.
Currently, the correct uniform is available from the following stockists:
A & H Rosenfield, Spinning Gate Market, Leigh
Impressions Uniform, High Street, Golborne.
Please ensure that ALL items of school clothing are clearly marked with your child’s name.
HAIRSTYLES
Children are expected to attend school with hairstyles that support the school uniform expectations. Any unusual haircuts or colours are not appropriate for school and should be reserved for the weekend and holiday.
JEWELLERY
Ear studs and watches may be worn. However, your child will be asked to remove any other form of jewellery until the end of the school day. Due to safety regulations children will not be permitted to take part in P.E. or swimming wearing earrings. If children are unable to remove earrings themselves please ensure they are taken out at home before coming to school. Earrings cannot be taped up for P.E. lessons
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Gilded Hollins is one of a small number in the Leigh, Lowton and Golborne Partnership to hold a Platinum Level School Games Award. All children take part in two hours of physical activity each week. Children from Year 2 to Year 4 attend swimming sessions at some time during the school year. In addition, there is a wide range of extra curricular activities linked to Physical Education including judo, fencing, disco and street dancing, High 5, football and rounders. School has also invested in a Daily Mile track used by all classes.
Children are expected to wear the correct clothing for physical education.
HOME/SCHOOL RELATIONSHIP
Parents and carers are a vital part of our school and we encourage their involvement in the life of Gilded Hollins. A close relationship with families means that we can offer an environment that is caring, supportive and based on mutual trust.
The school offers two formal ‘Parents’ Evenings’ each year and a formal written report is sent to parents at the end of the summer term. In addition, we offer an end of year ‘drop in’ session when appointments are not necessary.
However, at Gilded Hollins we operate an open door policy and parents are welcome to meet with their child’s class teacher at a mutually agreed time whenever they feel necessary. Parents may use these as an opportunity to discuss any concerns, their child’s progress, their strengths and targets for development.
HOMEWORK
Children are encouraged to work at home on English and Maths activities across the school. Other homework may be set where it is relevant to work undertaken in the classroom. It is an expectation that children are listened to reading at home for 15 minutes on a daily basis.
FRIENDS OF THE SCHOOL
Friends of Gilded Hollins meet regularly on an informal basis throughout the year. All parents and grandparents are welcome to attend these meetings. The Friends organise a variety of events to help raise additional funds to support and enhance the school curriculum.
HOME SCHOOL AGREEMENT – BEHAVIOUR
Our school rule is “Respect Everyone”. At all times children are expected to behave in a polite, orderly and sensible manner, respecting others, their property and the school. Sanctions are taken against children who cause deliberate injury or damage, or who persistently prevent other children from doing their work.
The school has a Home School Agreement consent form that has been developed and implemented with all local schools. Together, these local schools form the LOGOS (Lowton and Golborne Schools) cluster.
SCHOOL POLICY ON CHARGING FOR ACTIVITIES
Parents are sometimes asked to make a voluntary contribution towards the cost of certain activities. These may include visits from speakers or theatre groups, or out of school visits to places of interest. Although the contribution is voluntary, the school is unable to offer this enrichment to the curriculum without parental support. Please see our Charging and Remissions Policy for further details.
REMISSIONS
When the parents of a pupil are in receipt of certain benefits that qualify their child for the Pupil Premium, the Governing Body will remit two thirds the cost of board and lodging for any residential activity that it organises for pupils if the activity is deemed to take place within school hours, or where it forms part of a syllabus for a prescribed public examination or the National Curriculum.
CONSIDERATION OF COMPLAINTS
Any complaint should initially be addressed to the Headteacher. In the event of the problem remaining unresolved, the problem should be put fully into writing and addressed to the Clerk of Governors. The matter will then be dealt with by the School Governors in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Education Act. A copy of the Complaints Procedure is available from the school website or school office.
SCHOOL ABSENCE, PUNCTUALITY and HOLIDAYS
Parents should ensure that children arrive at school on time, ready to begin their lessons. If problems arise, do feel free to come into school and talk to us. It is extremely important that school is made aware of any absences, retrospectively if necessary.
Unauthorised absences are recorded. The school is proud of its record on attendance and, with parental support, we aim to maintain these standards.
Since the law states that parents do not have the right to take their child out of school for holidays during term time, any such absence will be recorded as unauthorised.
SICKNESS
In case of illness or medical treatment, please inform the school office by phone or verbal message on the first day of absence.
MEDICINES
If your child needs to take prescribed medicine an ‘Authorisation Form’ must be completed. These may be obtained from the school office. The medicine must be brought to school by the parent or responsible adult and handed to the office. Please contact Mrs Mair in the school office, should your child have any medical requirements about which school has not previously been made aware. For further details please refer to the Medicines Policy, available under the ‘Information for Parents’ tab on the school website.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
As a result of Health and Safety legislation, we would remind parents that the school cannot accept legal responsibility for children who arrive at school before 8.45 a.m. or who are still on the premises at 3.35 p.m., unless they are taking part in an organised activity under the direction of a member of staff. Our Breakfast Club opens at 7.45am. Children attending the club should be escorted to the admission door by a responsible adult.
Gilded Hollins has two playground Timber Trails. Children are not permitted to use these before and after school.
DOGS
Dogs are not permitted on the school grounds at any time. Parents / Carers who walk to school with their dogs are asked to wait with their pets outside the school gates.
NON-SMOKING SITE
As part of our duty of care to everyone at Gilded Hollins, smoking is not permitted anywhere on the school grounds. Anyone smoking will be asked to extinguish their cigarette or leave the premises. This policy also applies to e-cigarettes, as recommended by the local authority.
BULLYING AND REPORTING RACIST INCIDENTS POLICY
The Governors have developed guidelines which combine a whole school approach to any problems should they arise, together with a variety of strategies for overcoming them. Copies of all our safeguarding policies are available on the school website.
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITY
Children with Special Educational Needs and Disability work within the class and may be withdrawn appropriately for both individual and small group work. Resources relevant to particular problems are used to support teaching. The school has well established links with a range of external agencies including the LA Educational Psychology Service, Education Welfare Service and Behaviour Support Team.
AND FINALLY…
We do hope that you have found this prospectus to have been both interesting and informative. We trust that it has given you an insight into our school and helped you make an informed decision.
We believe that Gilded Hollins provides a relaxed and happy atmosphere in which your children can experience learning and enjoy success in all areas of school life.
Everyone connected with Gilded Hollins works hard to ensure that all children acquire a high level of self-esteem and knowledge of themselves.
We look forward to a happy and trusting partnership between your home and our school.
Our door is always open. Please call in to speak to us if we can be of any assistance.