Welcome to Harborne Primary School

About our school We are a popular, high achieving, community primary school. Our provision was judged as ‘Outstanding’ across the board by OFSTED in December Our results are in line with the top 20% of the best performing primary schools nationally We celebrate our rich and diverse school community We are constantly striving to improve our provision and build on our previous best We aim to work in close partnership with our parents and community Visit our website to find out more at:

Why choose Harborne? Excellent academic achievement and progress for all Experienced and capable staff Emphasis on effective learning across a wide curriculum Commitment to educational visits and enrichment activities Excellent behaviour and good relationships National Support School and will be a Schools Direct school from September 2016 working with the University of Birmingham From September 2016 we are hoping to offer a choice of sites (we are unlikely to be able to guarantee a specific site for all applicants)

Things we think are important… Developing self confidence and self esteem Developing good relationships with others Developing good attitudes to learning Developing appropriate behaviour and self control Developing a sense of community Developing awareness of the importance of looking after our bodies and healthy eating

Behaviour We employ positive behaviour management strategies We use stickers and tick charts as rewards We use a ‘zone board’ to re-enforce agreed school rules

Parents in school We recognise the vital role you as parents play in the education of your child We ask you to sign our ‘home: school agreement’ Teachers are available at the end of the school day for informal contact You are welcome to make an appointment to discuss any concerns with your child’s teacher, the Phase leader or the head teacher Every parent is a member of the ‘Friends of Harborne’ School Parents’ Group and we look forward to your involvement in our many social and fund raising events.

Criteria for allocating places (L.A. not school!) 1) EHC or statement of special educational need that names this school. 2) Looked after child or previously looked after. 3) Sibling qualification 4) Distance The local authority measures from the address point of your home to the school using a computerised mapping system called Cartology. Do not try and work this out yourselves by road! They can tell you your distance from any school. For this purpose “home” is the child’s main place of residence. The child needs to be resident there when their name is added to the list. The LA can make background checks-they can withdraw a place if allocation is based on an address that is found not to be the child’s “home”- even after the child has started school. We routinely request proof of address and birth certificates for all pupils before admitting them. Many of the places that are withdrawn are as a result of a member of the public contacting admissions with concerns

Numbers for Harborne Primary 90 places per year (extending to 150) Last year 341 applicants Criteria 1 SEN- 0-3 children each year Criteria 2 LAC- 0-2 children each year Criteria 3 Siblings children a year ( / / /90) Criteria 4 Distance- the rest of the 90 places. Last child admitted m m m m m REMEMBER… It is not about how far away you live it is about how many children in that particular year are “in front of you” on the list in the year you apply

Offer of place at a specific site We are taking guidance from the local authority. They allocate 150 places for this school and the school leadership will decide which site you are offered. We plan to ask for parents for their preferred site but obviously cannot guarantee they will get it We will not separate siblings We will not operate an internal waiting list (to transfer from one site to another after a child has started school except in exceptional circumstances) The aim of the expansion is to provide local school places for local children. We aim to encourage families to be able to walk or cycle to school. We want the two sites to feel “similar” in their make-up

Starting School in Birmingham schools- September 2016 October – SHOULD receive information from the Local Authority by post about how to start school in reception in September 2016 if child on roll at a Nursery. 4th December 2015 closing date to apply for your chosen school on line at: or return your completed form to Admissions and Appeals 15 th January 2016 – this is the final date for acceptance of applications or changes of preferences/addresses. 18 th /19th April 2016 – an will be sent to on line applicants or if you applied by post a letter will be sent to let you know the reception place you are being offered. This will be sent by first class post to your home address. 3 rd May 2016– last date by which you must complete and return your reply slip from the bottom of your offer letter to indicate whether or not you are accepting the place offered. Please do not wait until final date!! Failure to do this will mean you are at risk of losing the offer made. 17 th May 2016– you must complete any appeal form by this date. All appeals will be heard in June/July

Induction at Harborne Primary Children will come into school in groups of about fifteen Children will attend school for mornings only for up to two weeks Children will stay through dinner time before going home at 1.30pm in the third week Your child’s teacher will arrange a time to visit you and your child in your home

Timetable for Reception Inductions at Harborne Primary School 2016 March Open day at new Lo rdswood site 150 places allocated 18 th April –then as they become available. Stay and play- sessions in May and June Induction- usually during last week in June September- Staggered start mornings only at first Reading Meeting for parents Friday 23rd-start full-time? Home visit-afternoons between 6 th and 22nd September

Preparing your child for school When starting school it is helpful if your child can: Dress and undress themselves independently Use the toilet independently Talk in full sentences, join in with simple songs and rhymes Recognise their own belongings Use a knife and fork independently Listen to others and take turns Be confident to be left with another adult for short periods of time Hold a pencil correctly to draw pictures and colour Use scissors

Early Years Curriculum This Curriculum is divided into 7 Areas of Learning. Prime areas are “Personal and Social”, “Physical” and “Communication and Language” Much of the learning is achieved through self initiated learning and exploratory play A careful record is kept of children’s progress across these 7 areas. All children are different and learn and develop in different ways and at different rates

Visit our school website School prospectus Weekly newsletters Absence Request form A range of school policies Updates on expansion/new build Photo gallery of school events

Thank you for Attending Please feel free to stay and ask any further questions Make sure your forms are submitted by 4th December 2015 If/when you are offered a place be prompt and frank in accepting/declining and in providing us with information about your child Remember only “Admissions and Appeals” can advise you about waiting lists for Reception at any particular school until school term starts in September 2016.