Classes
At St Mary's we have answered the need for local school places by having a yearly intake of 45 children. Birth rates differ yearly, therefore yearly intakes vary accordingly, and we provide care and nurture for each individual across the classes. With an intake of 45 the children can be taught in a year group as a class, or in a year group within a split class. Our staff work closely together, and we have worked with professionals and subject experts to design a curriculum to ensure our children have relevant, inspiring experiences, in a comprehensive way, with continuity, progression and thorough coverage of the National Curriculum, whilst stimulating our learners with local and individual interests.
We are very proud of our fantastic space completed in 2020 as part of a Basic Needs extension plan for local schools, including a purpose built modular unit for Early Years with their own outdoor area for continuous indoor and outdoor provision, plus the grassy areas and garden for Forest Schools type activities.
Year 1 benefited from a beautiful new room with outdoor area and our other classes benefit from large airy spaces for the children and staff.
We also have a reading and prayer space, and several meeting rooms for use with groups and meetings with parents and outside agencies. This supports hugely with our Early Help provision and individualised care.
Our hall was extended to develop a studio for music, dance, drama and clubs, also used for groups, opening up to a huge hall with a modern folding wall giving the option for one huge space or two good sized spaces.
Our grounds have also been developed with the multi use games area (MUGA - football, netball, basketball, tennis etc space), an outdoor gym and all weather running track. Recently we also added a trim trail and climbing wall!
We are also developing a Forest School outdoor area, with training taking place for staff to be qualified to lead Forest School, and the development of resources. Our teaching and learning adapts to the needs of our children, and outdoor learning plays a significant role in that.
We are very lucky to have such a fantastic space in which we learn that supports our aim to live life to the full.
Wellbeing is hugely important to our children's development all of the time, and we are well equipped to ensure we meet all learners needs.
The following link offers advice to parents for the children's and for their own wellbeing:
https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/childrens-mental-health/
Our Key Stage 1 classes (Y1, 1/2 and 2) also have the Step Into Quality Mark, achieved in order to maximise our classes and practice in order to provide for continuous provision areas, practical learning, develop communication with our families even further and review annually to continue to evolve as our community does.
