| School
Grounds
Aspin
Park Primary School sits in large grounds on the edge of the town of
Knaresborough. The children here are able to benefit from large grassed
areas, a wildlife area and a school garden where children are encouraged
to grow their own produce. The school is made up of two buildings, Abbey
and Fountains and there is a feeling of space for the children to move
easily around the school.
Well
being & care
Despite
having around 420 pupils in the school, making it one of the largest in
North Yorkshire, Aspin staff and pupils aim to generate a 'small school'
ethos with children of all ages mixing with each other at playtimes and
lunchtimes, and organised events such as Shared Play sessions. The staff
at the school ensures communication is excellent to ensure its smooth
running and to ensure the highest levels of care for all children. The
school's Assistant Head Teacher has specific responsibility for Pastoral
Care but all members of staff are very aware that a child's well-being is
paramount for their success in school. The school has a carefully thought
out approach to dealing with children's needs at both ends of the ability
spectrum and children are treated very much individually.
Physical
Activity
The
school has increased the basic amount of Physical Activity undertaken by
the pupils and now provides 2 hours per week. It is working to help
children towards the government's target of 5 hours per week, through not
just school-based activities but by signposting children to other
activities out of school. In school our children cover the usual areas of
PE such as Athletics, Games, Gymnastics, Dance and Swimming in Y3, but
through the efforts of the staff, parents and outside agencies we have
been able to offer a wider range of activities to a wider range of ages.
Such undertakings have included working with parents to run football
clubs, involvement with local organisations to run athletic activities for
our youngest children, and working alongside the local franchise of the
Brazilian Football Academy. In addition we have been able to provide more
support for those children with a natural talent in PE, providing expert
coaching in sports such as Gymnastics and basketball.
Academic
Standards
Year on
year the pupils at Aspin achieve very highly in all areas of the
curriculum. In recent years this has been seen in areas other than end of
year tests in Y2 and Y6 where children continue to do well. Data that the
school maintains proves children right from Reception to Y6 achieve very
well, with the school having a higher than average number of children on
the gifted and talented register. Children have been identified as gifted
in Reading, Writing, Maths, Science and other specific areas such as
Sport, Art and Music.
Curriculum
The
school has a well developed curriculum and staff at Aspin are always
looking for ways to make what we offer to pupils as diverse and as
interesting as is possible. Wherever we can the children's learning will
be enriched by visits and experiences beyond the school classroom inviting
visitors to come and join with us. To this end the school has engaged in
some very exciting experiences such as 'Space Week', 'Eco Week',
'Evacuation Days', 'Fairytale Days', 'Pirate Day' as part of Book Week,
not t mention visits from such figures as Boudicca and Florence
Nightingale!
The
school takes on board current initiatives in Primary Education, such as
Renewed Frameworks in Literacy an Numeracy , and the Primary Review, and
is always looking to strengthen its work, including the teaching of French
as a Primary Language, as well as branching into other areas which will
benefit the children's education.
Music
The
school has a rich tradition of producing some very talented musicians,
either through school or peripatetic teachers. Children from Y3 onwards
are able to access lessons from the local authority and take these at
school. These lessons include trumpet, saxophone, piano, guitar, violin
and drums. Music is taught as part of the curriculum, with additional
recorder groups, choir and orchestra developed to give children a wide
range of musical opportunities.
Extended
Services
The
school already provides the full core offer to parents in that we have
breakfast and after school clubs, a variety of after school activities,
community use of the building, parenting courses and a member of staff
trained in multi-agency working. However Aspin continues to try and
broaden what we can offer, such as holiday clubs, a more varied diet of
after-school activities, and more opportunities for parents to continue
their learning through the school or be signposted to it.
Independence
and Transition
Throughout
a child's time at the school the education and care provided are
underpinned by the fact we see ourselves as one part of the child's
learning journey. We provide outstanding learning opportunities for the
children both in and out of school and hope that as they grow with us that
independence levels and maturity develops, and to this end we have two
residential visits in Y5 and Y6 where children demonstrate high levels of
independence.
We also
recognise we are not the first educators. Nowadays as well as being at
home with parents, children invariably have been to one or more playgroup
or nursery and we work hard to build good relationships with our early
years partners, before during and after children enter Reception.
Conversely we also work hard to build those same relationships with the
secondary schools we feed to, which in the main is King James. In so
doing, children coming to us or leaving us are able to take their next
steps with care.
Parents
and the Wider Community
The
school is keen to work closely with parents and the wider community in as
many ways as benefits the school and its pupils as possible. Recently the
numbers of volunteers in school from both parents and the local volunteer
scheme has increased dramatically. Parents are consulted regularly on
issues which have a direct impact on them and their children, such as
Reception Admissions and Uniform and their views are respected and taken
into consideration before decisions are taken. Regular newsletters keep
the school community right up to date with what is happening, and the
school website offers further information.
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