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St Bernadette's Vacancies Vacancies St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School, Hob Moor Road, Yardley, Birmingham B25 8QL, TEL: 0121 783 7232 Email: m.smallwood@stberns.bham.sch.uk Headteacher: Miss Finnegan Mainstream School – Specialist SEND Teacher Start Date: Negotiable MPR/UPS (A TLR may be available for the right candidate, depending on experience and responsibilities) 0.6 FTE, 0.8 FTE or full time The Governors of St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School wish to appoint a specialist SEND teacher, to join our well-established SEND resource provision within our mainstream school. We are seeking a passionate and skilled SEND Specialist Teacher. This position is offered at 0.6 to full time, with flexibility to suit the right candidate. This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a supportive, wellresourced environment with small class sizes and a high ratio of adults to pupils, enabling truly individualised teaching and learning. About the Role You will lead teaching and learning within our SEND resource provision, supporting pupils with a diverse range of needs. Working alongside a highly experienced team of support staff, therapists, and wider school colleagues, you’ll deliver tailored learning experiences that enable every child to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. You will also be supported by a dedicated, knowledgeable and committed SEND team of teachers and leaders who will work collaboratively with you to ensure the best provision for pupils. SEND Teacher What We Offer A well-established SEND resource provision embedded within a mainstream setting Low pupil numbers to ensure high-quality, personalised teaching Exceptionally high staff-to-pupil ratio supporting inclusive practice Extensive resources and specialist equipment to enhance learning Outstanding CPD and training opportunities , including SEND qualifications, therapeutic approaches, and leadership development Flexible working options (0.6–full time) A supportive, collaborative team committed to inclusive education About You We are looking for someone who: Is a qualified teacher (QTS essential) Has proven experience working with children with SEND Understands a range of needs such as ASD, communication difficulties, sensory needs, and SEMH Is creative, flexible, and child-centred in their approach Values teamwork, reflection, and professional growth Why Join Us? Our SEND resource provision plays a key role in our inclusive ethos. You’ll join a committed and dedicated staff team with a shared ambition to secure the best outcomes for every pupil. You will be supported by a highly skilled SEND team of teachers and leaders , who work collaboratively, share expertise, and champion inclusive practice across the school. Our school culture is built on consistently high expectations, leading to outstanding behaviour and a calm, purposeful learning environment. We believe every child can achieve, and we are relentless in our commitment to ensuring children with SEND thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. You will have the autonomy to shape classroom practice, backed by strong leadership and a community that values inclusive education. How to Apply We warmly welcome visits to the school. These can be arranged by contacting sendco@stberns.bham.sch.uk or calling the school office. Applications must be submitted using the CES application form . To learn more about our happy school and its ethos, please visit our school website: stberns.co.uk Applications to be forwarded to applications@stberns.bham.sch.uk Key Dates Closing date: 12pm on Wednesday 4th February 2026 We reserve the right to close the application process early should we receive sufficient suitable applications. Shortlisting and interview dates will be communicated following applications. St Bernadette’s is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. An enhance DBS check is required for all successful applicants. Successful applicants will need to provide evidence of their identity and Right to Work in the UK. SENCO - Model Recruitment Monitoring Information Form SEND Teacher - Job Description SEND Teacher - Person Specification SENCO - Disclosure Form SENCO - Application Form St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School, Hob Moor Road, Yardley, Birmingham B25 8QL, TEL: 0121 783 7232 Email: m.smallwood@stberns.bham.sch.uk Head Teacher: Miss Emma Finnegan Level 3 Teaching Assistant EYFS Specialist Teaching Assistant Full Time - TTO Email Address: m.smallwood@stberns.bham.sch.uk Telephone Number: 0121 783 7232 Job Start Date: As soon as possible, due to an increase in pupil numbers Salary range: £28,598 to £34,434 - Grade B Closing Date: 14 February 2026 This vacancy may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of applications received. Teaching Assistant – EYFS Specialist St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School is seeking to appoint an exceptional EYFS Teaching Assistant who is passionate about early childhood development and committed to giving every child the very best start to their learning journey. The successful candidate will work closely with the class teacher to support learning through play, deliver targeted interventions, observe and assess children’s progress, and contribute to a nurturing, language-rich learning environment in line with the EYFS framework. This role will be focused within our Nursery class, so experience and expertise in Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is essential. We are looking for someone who: · Has proven experience supporting children in school or an EYFS setting. · Demonstrates a secure understanding of the EYFS framework · Can support learning through play, exploration and structured activities · Has experience working as part of a school team You will also: · Be warm, patient and nurturing · Have excellent communication skills · Be proactive, adaptable and reflective in your practice · Be committed to inclusion and meeting the needs of all learners The successful candidate will join a school that: · Has a warm, inclusive and nurturing ethos where every child is known and valued · Benefits from a supportive, experienced and welcoming staff team who work collaboratively · Places high importance on early language, communication and personal development · Provides a well-resourced EYFS environment that supports learning through play and exploration · Values the role of Teaching Assistants as key contributors to children’s progress and wellbeing · Is committed to high-quality teaching, learning and continuous improvement · Actively supports professional development and the sharing of good practice · Maintains a strong commitment to safeguarding, pupil welfare and positive relationships If you are enthusiastic about making a difference in the early stages of a child’s learning journey, we would love to hear from you. For further details and an application form please visit www.stberns.co.uk in the vacancy section. Visits to the school are warmly welcomed and can be arranged by contacting our office staff on 0121 783 7232 or emailing m.smallwood@stberns.bham.sch.uk This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. An online search will be carried out as part of due diligence on all short-listed candidates. The successful candidate will be subject to all necessary pre-employment checks, including: Enhanced DBS Childcare Disqualification (where applicable) Qualifications (where applicable) Medical fitness Identity and right to work. EYFS TA r - Job Description Application Form - Support Staff Disclosure Form EYFS TA- Person Specification Recruitment Monitoring Form

Parents Inofrmation - Diary dates, Term Dates, Uniform Guide, Bedtime Stories Newsletters School Attendance - A Very Important Message for all Parents & Carers Bedtime Stories Diary Dates CALENDAR FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR September 2024 -July 2025 Autumn Term 2024 Monday 2nd September 2024 To Friday 25th October 2024 Half Term Monday 4th November 2024 To Friday 20th December 2024 Spring Term 2025 Monday 6th January 2025 To Friday 14th February 2025 Half Term Tuesday 25th February 2025 To Friday 11th April 2025 Summer Term 20 25 Tuesday 29th April 2025 To Friday 23rd May 2025 Half Term Monday 2nd June 2025 To Friday 18th July 2025 INSET DAYS Monday 23rd September 2024 Friday 25th October 2024 Monday 24th February 2025 Tuesday 6th May 2025 Monday 21st July 2025 Bank Holiday Monday 5th May 2025 Please note that these dates may be subject to change CALENDAR FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR September 2025 -July 2026 Autumn Term 2025 Monday 1st September 2025 To Friday 24th October 2025 Half Term Monday 3rd November 2025 To Friday 19th December 2025 Spring Term 2026 Monday 5th January 2026 To Friday 13th February 2026 Half Term Monday 23rd February 2026 To Friday 27h March 2026 Summer Term 20 26 Monday 13th April 2026 To Friday 22nd May 2026 Half Term Monday 1st June 2026 To Friday 17th July 2026 INSET DAYS Monday 1st September 2025 Wednesday 3rd December 2025 Monday 5th January 2026 Friday 22nd May 2026 Monday 20th July 2026 Bank Holiday Monday 4th May 2025 Please note that these dates may be subject to change Parent Meetings Nursery Nursery Welcome Meeting 2024 Reception Reception Welcome Meeting 2023 Reception RWI Meeting 2022 Year 1 Year 1 Welcome Meeting 2023 Year 2 Year 2 Welcome Meeting 2023 SATs Meeting 2025 Year 3 Year 3 Welcome Meeting 2024 Year 4 Year 4 Welcome Meeting 2024 Year 4 Maths Week Resources Year 5 Year 5 Welcome Meeting 2024 Year 6 year 6 FGM / CSE Meeting Year 6 Welcome Meeting 2025 Year 6 Confirmation Meeting 2024 Year 6 SATs Meeting 2025g Podcasts Wishlist If you would like to donate a book to our school, the links below contain items from our Top 20 lists and Book of the Month recommendations. Each book will be stamped with the name of the person who has donated it and will be placed on our class bookshelves. Nursery Year 3 Reception Year 4 Year 1 Year 5 Year 2 Year 6 Wishlist

St Bernadette's Results & Data Results & Data Results & Data: Welcome Statutory Test Results Academic Year 2024 – 2025 National figures in Blue EYFS Phonics Screening Checks Multiplication Check (End of Year 4 ) Key Stage 2 (End of Year 6) *Note: The figure for ‘Reaching Expected Standard’ includes those working ‘At’ and ‘Above’ Expected Standard (ie. at Greater Depth). Progress Note: This cohort did not take their KS1 SATs in 2021 due to the Covid pandemic, so progress figures cannot be calculated this year. School Performance Tables For further information on our school results see our page on the Government’s School and College Performance comparison website: School Data In accordance with government directives St. Bernadette’s will on an annual basis provide a public report about its priorities and provide data on progress and performance. Click the link below to go to the Gov.UK Schools Comparison site to view annual data for St. Bernadette's Find out more Results & Data: What's Happening

St. Bernadette's Catholic Primary School, Yardley, Birmingham St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School 1/10 Parent Pay Newsletter School opening hours Monday to Thursday 8.30am -3.15 pm Friday 8.30am- 2.00pm Total time 32.5 hours Pupil Absence Staff Email

St Bernadette's Governors Information School Governors Governor Portal Governors: About Us St Bernadette's Governing Body Our Governors are an amazing group of volunteers who serve the parish of Holy Family in Small Heath. They support our school in educating children in a happy, calm and safe environment where they feel surrounded by God’s love. Governors play an important role in the leadership and management of the school. They are involved in the recruitment of staff, formulating the school budget and ensuring the curriculum we offer to the children in school is engaging, challenging and appropriate. The Governors are regular visitors in school, offering support and challenge in equal measures and holding the Head and senior leadership team to account. The Governing Body's aim is to work closely with the Headteacher, the leadership team and the staff, in order to help the children at the school achieve their full potential. They meet as a Full Governing Body four times a year and in addition to this, will meet in smaller sub- committees to focus on finance, staffing, admissions or curriculum. Our Governing Body is made up of 7 Foundation Governors who are appointed by the diocese, two parent governors, appointed by the parents, a Staff Governor and a Local Authority Governor. All serve for a term of four years. If you would like to contact the Governing Body, please forward hard copies of mail to Mr John Lenihan c/o St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School, Hob Moor Road, Yardley Birmingham, B258QL. Emails to be sent to m.smallwood@stberns.bham.sch.uk and given the title 'For the attention of Mr John Lenihan'. The School Governors Mr John Lenihan Chair of Governors (FG) Curriculum Governor / Finance Governor / Mathematics Governor Mrs Quinlan Vice-Chair Parent Governor / Foundation Governor Mrs Gemma Wrench Chair of Finance / Curriculum Governor Mrs Maria Winters Foundation Governor / RE Governor / Chair of curriculum Fr Fretch Ballesteros Foundation Governor / R.E Governor Mrs Vas Panayiotou Parent Governor / Safeguarding Governor Mrs P Moran Foundation Governor Mr Carlos De la Cruz Foundation Governor / Finance Governor Mr Iqbal Local Authority Governor Mr Carroll Staff Governor / SEN Governor / Finance Governor Services 4 Schools Clerk to Governors Admissions Committee Pupil Discipline Committee School Hearings Committee Curriculum & Standards Committee Terms of Reference Resources Committee Governor Information Terms Of Reference Dismissal Appeal Terms of Reference Curriculum & Standards Terms of Reference School Hearings Terms of Reference Admissions Terms of Reference Pupil Discipline Presentations to Governors RE KS2 English.pdf KS1 English.pdf PE.pdf Maths.pdf School Financial Benchmarking Governors: List Any correspondence to the Governors should be addressed c/o St. Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School. Miss A Cowings Head Teacher I joined St Bernadette’s School in 2002 as Deputy Head and was appointed as Head Teacher in 2006. Since my appointment I have always been a member of the Governing Body and work closely with the dedicated team of volunteers to develop provision within school. As Head teacher it is my duty to deal with the day to day management of the school. As a member of the Governing Body we provide the strategic management. We set the general direction of the school and consider ways that it can best be developed. As a team, we monitor the school’s progress and set annual targets for the school’s performance. The team of governors act as a critical friend to the Head, whilst providing me with the necessary support required to lead the school. John Lenihan Chair of Governors I was appointed as a Governor in March 2019. I am currently a member of the Resources Committee. I previously served as a Governor at Corpus Christi School in Stechford. After spending 50 years in the Printing Industry and having grandchildren in the school I am now looking forward to supporting St. Bernadettes pupils and staff in the challenging world of education. Mr C. Dela Cruz Foundation Governor I have been a school governor for a number of years and have seen a lot of changes throughout the years. I have really enjoyed being on the school governing board, and doing my best to contribute in ensuring the school provides the very best facilities, support for the teaching & non-teachingstaff, and to ensure all pupils to have opportunity and encouragement toreach their full potentials. Kristin Quinlan Foundation Governor I've been a Foundation Governor at St Bernadette's since 2016. My day job is working as Head of Legal and Company Secretary at a water company, so I have experience of working in corporate governance and I hope that I bring some of my skills and experience from that role to my role on the Governing Body. For me, the role of the Governing Body is to support and provide healthy challenge to the leadership team at St Bernadette's for the benefit of the pupils, and I really enjoy playing my part in that. G Wrench Parent Governor I have been a parent governor at St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School since 2018. As part of my role, I am the link Governor for Literacy and also the Chair for the Resources Committee and a member of the Admissions Committee. I believe the children’s education, progress, personal welfare and development should be at the heart of all decision making at school. I am happy to be part of the Governing Body that will support the school in order to get the best outcomes for the children. T Moran Foundation Governor I was appointed as a Foundation Governor in February 2023. I was a teacher at St. Bernadette’s for thirty-three years, and I retired from St. Bernadette’s and teaching almost seven years ago. I hope that I can bring some of my skills and experience from my years of teaching to my role on the Governing Body. I look forward to supporting the pupils and staff of St. Bernadette’s in any way that I can. Fr Fretch Ballesteros Foundation Governor Vasiliki Panayiotou Parent Governor I would like to introduce myself as the new Parent Governor of St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School. My name is Vasiliki Panayiotou (please refer to me as Vas) and I joined the Board of Governor's on 20th December 2019. I am honoured and privileged to have been given this opportunity to represent the parents of the children that attend the school by Miss A Cowings. I will do my utmost for the best interests of all concerned, in connection with the school. Before I became a full time mother to our 2 girls I worked in telesales for a wholesale food distribution company for around 8 years and prior to that, I co-owned a business in floristry for around 20 years in Solihull. My eldest daughter, who is five, is in Year 1 at St Bernadette's and our youngest is 16 months old, going onto 6! I can't speak highly enough about St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School or all the staff in connection with the school. I remember when we visited the school during an open day and my first thoughts were about the impeccable behaviour of the children. Also, during the classroom visits we observed how the teachers interacted with the children and we saw the passion and commitment they have in everything they do. I turned to my husband and said, this is where I want our daughter to come and he agreed. We feel blessed that our children are and will be attending the best school Alex Carroll Staff Governor I have worked at St Bernadette's since 2001 and have been staff governor since 2020???? It is my privilege to be part of such a vibrant and hard working school community, both as a member of staff and governor. Cllr Zafar Iqbal Foundation Governor I was previously a Governor at St Bernadette’s, I have a long association with the school and was previously a Governor some years ago when my son attended. I am now an LEA appointed governor and as I live close by I have a genuine interest in supporting my local schools. Governors: List Governors: List

St. Bernadette's Policies & Admissions Policies Safeguarding Child Protection Policy 2025 .pdf Pobierz PDF • 865KB 2025 Behaviour Policy 2025 2026 .pdf Pobierz PDF • 337KB 2025 Complaints Procedure 2025 2026 .pdf Pobierz PDF • 344KB 2025 4. Charging and Remission 2025 2026 .pdf Pobierz PDF • 100KB 2025 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Policy 2025-26 .pdf Pobierz PDF • 366KB 2025 Admissions Policy 26-27 .pdf Pobierz PDF • 181KB 2026 Accessibility Plan 2025 2026 .pdf Pobierz PDF • 48KB 2025 Parent Code Of Coduct 2025 2026 .pdf Pobierz PDF • 78KB 2025 Computing Policy 2025 - 2026 .pdf Pobierz PDF • 122KB 2025 Online Safety Policy 2025 - 2026 .pdf Pobierz PDF • 126KB 2025 PE policy 2025-2026 .pdf Pobierz PDF • 495KB 2025 Mathematics Policy 2025 2026 .pdf Pobierz PDF • 103KB 2025 1. EYFS Calculation Policy .pdf Pobierz PDF • 1.45MB 2025 2. Year 1 Calculation Policy .pdf Pobierz PDF • 1.20MB 2025 3. Year 2 Calculation Policy .pdf Pobierz PDF • 1.60MB 2025 4. Year 3 Calculation Policy .pdf Pobierz PDF • 1.63MB 2025 5. Year 4 Calculation Policy .pdf Pobierz PDF • 6.25MB 2025 6. Year 5 Calculation Policy .pdf Pobierz PDF • 6.51MB 2025 7. Year 6 Calculation Policy .pdf Pobierz PDF • 7.31MB 2025 Geography policy 2025-2026 .pdf Pobierz PDF • 186KB 2025 History policy 2025-26 .pdf Pobierz PDF • 195KB 2025 Design Technology policy 2025-26 .pdf Pobierz PDF • 199KB 2025 English Policy 2025-26 with HWr Progression .pdf Pobierz PDF • 563KB 2025 Art policy 2025-2026 .pdf Pobierz PDF • 195KB 2025 Science Policy 2025-2026 .pdf Pobierz PDF • 209KB 2025 MFL Policy 2025- 2026 .pdf Pobierz PDF • 174KB 2025 Privacy notice (pupils) .pdf Pobierz PDF • 104KB 2025 Religious Education Policy 2025-2026 .pdf Pobierz PDF • 89KB 2025

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The Sacraments At St Bernadette’s School, the children have the opportunity to receive three of the sacraments: The Sacrament of Reconciliation in year 3 First Holy Communion in year 3 The Sacrament of Confirmation in year 6 The preparation for these sacraments takes place in school, with meetings held for parents and children in the early evening. The Sacramental Life of the School: About Us Reconciliation Reconciliation is one of the seven Sacraments of the Church. It is one of the two sacraments of healing, the other being the Sacrament of the Sick. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation we receive God’s forgiveness for our sins, his pardon and healing and reconciliation with the Church. Baptised Catholic children in Year 3 will usually receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time during Lent. This takes place in a special Reconciliation service at Holy Family Church. Preparation for this important sacrament takes place in school through the RE curriculum and during an after school meeting, where parents meet with Fr Fretch and children work with teachers and catechists. All You Need to Know About Reconcilliation The Sacramental Life of the School: Our Mission First Holy Communion The Holy Eucharist is described as “the source and summit of the Christian life.” This is because it is at the very centre of the practice of the Catholic faith. It is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation into the Church, which are necessary for people to become full members of the Church. The other two Sacraments of Initiation are the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. In receiving Holy Communion we are united with Christ in a physical way and we enter more fully in to the Body of Christ. The more we receive Christ the more Christ-like we become. At St Bernadette’s, Baptised Catholic children in Year 3 will make their First Holy Communion during a Mass held at Holy Family Church in the Summer Term. Preparation for this important sacrament takes place throughout the RE curriculum and in the form of after school meetings where parents meet with Fr Fretch and the children are supported by Catechists. All You Need to Know About The Sacrament of The Eucharist The Sacramental Life of the School: Our Philosophy Confirmation Confirmation is one of the seven Sacraments of the Church. It is one of the three sacraments of initiation into the Church which are necessary for people to become full members of the Church. The other two Sacraments of initiation are the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist. Through Confirmation the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are received: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. These gifts can help a person to live as a follower of Christ. Through receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit it is hoped that the candidate will, through their thoughts, words and actions bear the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control and joy. It is a means by which the candidate publically professes their faith and shows their commitment to becoming a full member of the Church. Children at St Bernadette’s usually receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in Year 6, during the Autumn Term. Preparation for this important sacrament begins in Year 5 and is continued in Year 6 through the delivery of the RE curriculum. Children have the opportunity to work closely with Fr Fretch and Sr Maura during this time. They are encouraged to think carefully about their chosen saint’s name and opportunities are provided for them to find out more about their saint and reflect on their life. All You Need to Know About Confirmation The Sacramental Life of the School: Text

Reading at St Bernadette's Reading At Saint Bernadette’s, we recognise that being part of a child’s early reading journey is a privilege. We as staff understand that we are teaching and building a skill that our pupils will rely upon day after day throughout their lifetime. We encourage our children to view reading as a gift, a gateway to worlds that are different to theirs, a source of knowledge and empowerment. The Five Plagues From Nursery to Year 6, children study the 'Five Plagues' in whole class reading sessions. These five plagues represent five different challenges presented in literature: Archaic texts (stories written in older language) Non-linear time sequence (books which treat time in an unusual way) Complexity of the narrator (stories which are challenging because of the narration) Complexity of story (books with a challenging plot) Resistance texts (texts which are written to be deliberately difficult to understand) We believe a steady exposure to these different challenges will help to prepare our pupils as life-long readers. Reading tricky texts provides our students with a toolkit for future reading. Within these lessons, children will also explore a range of non-fiction texts; develop their understanding of new and challenging vocabulary; listen to their teacher's 'thoughts' as they read and improve their fluency. Non-Fiction Texts We believe that pairing non-fiction texts with fiction books helps to increase absorption rate of both texts. Children are more likely to remember the non-fiction because they are then applying it within the story they are reading, and they are more likely to understand the story because they then have the non-fiction background. Across the school, children are given the opportunity to explore a wide variety of non-fiction texts in conjunction with their plague text on topics such as: asthma, bullying, dementia, refugees, deaf awareness, and the holocaust. They also explore non-fiction texts and poems which link to the science, history and geography curricula. Reading Culture Reading for pleasure is of paramount importance and we work hard to ensure that all pupils develop a love of reading. We publish Book of the Month recommendations; have reading challenges within every year band; create links with authors, through visits and video calls; have timetabled story sessions throughout the school and build a reading community through constant book talk. Reading at Home It is vitally important that children are heard read every night at home. We recommend that parents work with their children for at least twenty minutes a day on their reading. Research states that children who are heard read at home for this length of time will hear 1,800,000 words per year and will, on average, fall in the 90th percentile. Reading at home may involve your child reading to you or you reading part of a story to them. This could involve sharing a book or reading a magazine or newspaper. Try to promote book talk as much as possible in the home. Accelerated Reader We use the Accelerated Reader system as our home-school reading system for Key Stage 2. Children will complete a 'Star Assessment' termly and are given a ZPD score. Books in our school library are organised by ZPD and pupils may choose their own books from the selection within this range. When they have finished a book, children take a quiz to see if they have thoroughly read and understood it. Passing these quizzes gives them points and they can get certificates based on their reading achievement. Accelerated Reader: Parents Guide Reading: About Us Phonics We begin this journey with RWInc phonics and the teaching of letter sounds. Staff teach children to use their knowledge of sounds to decode and blend words enabling children to access phonically matched reading books from the RWInc programme. We develop the children’s love of stories, poems and other genres through daily story sessions and book talk. It is through book talk that we develop the children’s comprehension skills in their EYFS years before they move onto written comprehension tasks in KS1. Through the combination of learning to read with RWInc phonics and listening to and discussing a range of stories, above a level that can be independently read, we aim to foster a love and enjoyment of reading in our pupils. Comprehension At St Bernadette’s School we adopt a strategy based approach whereby pupils are exposed to a variety of texts, question types and are taught strategies (tips) to support them to fully comprehend challenging texts. While the children are reading RWInc books, they will have weekly comprehension lessons based on the RWInc book they are reading. In these lessons they will answer a range of questions including literal retrieval, inference and deduction, vocabulary and summarising. What is the two-week cycle? In week one pupils read the text and focus on identifying any links to the text, retrieving information from the text, clarifying new vocabulary as well as summarising the text. In week one pupils are also taught how to make sensible predictions based on prior knowledge. How do we ensure reading is an active process? Before reading the text, pupils are set a challenge so that they read the text with intent and are actively engaged throughout. What happens during the reading process? Strategies for following the text are modelled by the teacher -for example pupils may be encouraged to follow the text with their reading finger. A variety of approaches are used to read the text and these include the teacher reading the text aloud, pupils filling in word-gaps as the teacher reads as well as independent reading. At St Bernadette’s School we stop at key points in the text and encourage pupils to think aloud. During this process, they may consider how a character is feeling or they may even make a sensible prediction about what may happen next. After reading, pupils summarise the text . This is a key skill. Once pupils have been submerged in the text, we model how to be selective and retell the text in our own words –sequencing the events as they occurred. Did you know 1/5 of the 2018 paper tested vocabulary? After reading we return to the words pupils may have been puzzled by and clarify their meaning. We teach the pupils how to methodically skim and scan for key words or phrases and give them strategies to make this process efficient. We model how each question starter gives the reader a hint as to the response required. Pupils are encouraged to circle the key word in the question and other key words so they carry the information in their head. Pupils are exposed to all the question types. We ensure that pupils are presented with questions in different formats so they become increasingly familiar with the many question styles. Our role is not only to expose them to all the question types but to give them strategies to answer each question type, ensuring that they annotate the text first Once the pupils are familiar with the text it means that in week two they can dig deep and be text detectives (they realise the answers are not explicitly in the text) and infer information. This mind set means they grasp inference and are quite excited about the challenges ahead. In addition, pupils consider how the text is organised and discuss why the author has used certain language choices and their effect. Assessment to inform planning. During the two-week cycle, key objectives are assessed and should the need arise pupils will have a drill down lesson whereby they close the gap in a specific area to ensure the skill or strategy is secure before moving on. Reading Tips for Parents We ask that parents listen to their children read every night at home. With the younger children, this will help them to improve their word recognition, therefore building up their sight vocabulary and fluency. However, for those children who are fluent readers, parents should concentrate on developing their child’s understanding of the text. It may not be necessary to listen to fluent readers every night, but instead to question them about the text that they have read. Reading with children and helping them practice specific reading strategies can dramatically improve their ability to comprehend. We have included a number of questions that parents can use with their children to develop their comprehension skills. It is not expected that parents cover all of these questions every night, but rather that they concentrate on two or three questions each day. KS2 Parent Reading Leaflet: Click image to download The school follows the Read Write Inc Phonics, which teaches children to ‘learn to read’ so they can then ‘read to learn’. In the Spring term, children in our Nursery are introduced to letter sounds and throughout the Reception year and KS1, they are exposed to new sounds until they are confident identifying all 44 phonemes. Parents can support their children throughout the scheme by reading with their children every night and revising their speed sounds on a regular basis (link to speed sounds and pronunciation ). As children become more confident in recognising the sounds they will begin to blend the sounds to form real words and nonsense words. The link attached illustrates a range of real and nonsense words for each of the set 2 and set 3 sounds. These are useful charts which will encourage children to use their phonic knowledge to decode a variety of words. Phonics Set 2 Sounds Quick Read 'oy' Quick Read 'ow' Quick Read 'ou' Quick Read 'or' Quick Read 'igh' Quick Read 'ee' Quick Read 'ir' Quick Read 'oo' as in zoo Quick Read 'oo' as in look Quick Read 'ay' Quick Read 'air' Quick Read 'ar' Anchor 1 Set 3 Sounds Quick Read 'ur' Quick Read 'u-e' Quick Read 'tious' Quick Read 'tion' Quick Read 'ow' Quick Read 'oi' Quick Read 'o-e' Quick Read 'cious' Quick Read 'ea' Quick Read 'ear' Quick Read 'er' Quick Read 'ew' Quick Read 'i-e' Quick Read 'ire' Quick Read 'oa' Quick Read 'aw' Quick Read 'ai' Quick Read 'ure' Quick Read 'are' Quick Read 'a-e' Children are encouraged to progress through the scheme at a rapid rate. They will not necessarily need to cover every book in the scheme, and may be capable of accelerating through the scheme if they demonstrate a sound knowledge of words. In every year band, children are set according to ability and assessments are conducted every 6-8 weeks. As a result of these assessments, children may move up or down into a new setting group. An example of the assessment is here . The national phonic test is administered to pupils in Year 1 in June. On average, pupils need to be able to read 32 of the 40 words in order to pass the test. If they are able to read all set 1,2,3 sounds, they are likely to pass the test. If they score below 32, they will need to repeat the test in Year 2. School Library

Online Safety guides for parents & pupils. Online Safety Day gallery Online Safety Computing Acceptable Use Policy Online Safety Policy 2022-23 About: About Us Online Safety Guides Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link

EYFS Click the image above for the EYFS Handbook 25/26 Our Learning Nursery Long Term Plan 25-26 Reception Long Term Plan 25-26 EYFS Policy 25-26 Nursery Autumn 1 Knowledge Organiser Autumn 2 Knowledge Organiser Pre-Phonics Document 25/26 Reception Maths Knowledge Organiser - Autumn 1 Literacy Knowledge Organiser - Autumn 1 Literacy Knowledge Organiser - Spring 1 Literacy Knowledge Organiser - Summer 1 Maths Knowledge Organiser - Autumn 2 Literacy Knowledge Organiser - Autumn 2 Literacy Knowledge Organiser - Spring 2 Literacy Knowledge Organiser - Summer 2 Understanding the World Overview Autum 1 Understanding the World Overview Spring 1 Understanding the World Overview Autumn 2 Understanding the World Overview Spring 2 Early Years Foundation Stage Welcome to St. Bernadette’s Early Years Foundation Stage! Our teaching team in Nursery consists of Mrs Rainey (Red Group), Miss Barron (Yellow Group), Mrs. Buchanan (Blue Group), Mrs Nield (Green Group). The teaching team in Reception consists of Mrs. Canning, Mrs. Lennon and Mrs. McCartan (REL), Miss Coley and Miss O’Neill (RLC), Miss Belcher & Mrs. Colclough (RCB). . Our school is a beacon of hope and a place that offers children in the EYFS an education rich in wonder and memorable experiences. We want our children to succeed in our ever-changing world; we hope our education gives our children the best chance to become happy and well-rounded individuals, reaching their full potential and fostering our school motto, ‘Love to Learn, Learn to Love ’. At St Bernadette’s School, we are committed to the Catholic faith, recognising and valuing every individual as special and unique, created in the image and likeness of God. We welcome and celebrate differences and our curriculum is designed to recognise children’s diverse range of experiences and prior learning from their previous settings and their home environment. We know the crucial role that early years education has to play in providing firm foundations upon which the rest of a child’s education is successfully based. Our EYFS curriculum is driven by our four fundamental EYFS curriculum drivers: Learn to Love, Love to Learn We want children’s curiosity and creativity to be nurtured so their love for learning is ignited. Through developing learning behaviours, such as: playing and exploring, active learning and creating and thinking critically, we want children to be autonomous with their own learning and resilient. We want them to plan, implement and review this process and do it with integrity and become successful, lifelong learners. Communication Communication and language skills are the cornerstone of learning. We want our children to be able to speak clearly and process speech sounds, express their ideas and to understand and interact with others. We want them to develop an enriched vocabulary and a love for reading. Communication is the vehicle for learning, making friends and succeeding in life. Community We want our children to develop a sense of pride in themselves and respect and tolerance for others in their immediate and school community, as well as the world that is beyond their local environment. They need opportunities to experience the richness of our diverse community and show they care about its management and sustainability. We want to cultivate partnerships with families and engagement in their child’s lifelong learning journey. We want children to develop a sense of citizenship in line with British Values. We follow the Values and Virtues from the Archdiocese of Birmingham's Catholic Schools’ Pupil Profile; we see them in action in our lives and in the lives of others and we work on how to encapsulate these values in our lives. Possibilities We are passionate about broadening the horizons of our children, providing rich learning opportunities and experiences to develop imagination, curiosity, creativity and ingenuity. Our children cannot aspire to things that they have never encountered; we want to expand their knowledge of the world in which we live. Play Based Learning Outdoor Learning Reading Reading Tips Nursery Ryhmes Maths Pencil grip Outdoor Learning “The best kept classroom and the richest cupboard are roofed only by the sky” Margaret McMillan (1925) The outdoors provides young children with one of the best possible environments in which to learn. Why is learning outdoor important: Physical development is the pre-requisite for the children’s growth. It enhances the development of gross and fine motor skills, develops co-ordination, balance and body awareness. It develops a life-long good habit of daily exercise, encouraging them to be active and healthy. It provides the opportunity for assessed ‘risky’ freedom, where children can play and socialise freely and use their own imagination an initiative. All the areas of learning can be achieved outside while the children’s long-term social, emotional and mental health are being enhanced. Learning outside the classroom gives children contact with the natural world and offers them experiences that are unique to outdoors, such as direct contact with the weather and the seasons. Playing and learning outside also helps children to understand and respect nature, the environment and the interdependence of humans, animals, plants, and lifecycles. Outdoor play also supports children’s problem-solving skills and nurtures their creativity, as well as providing rich opportunities for their developing imagination, inventiveness and resourcefulness. The outdoor environment offers space and therefore is particularly important to those children who learn best through active movement. Very young children learn predominately through their sensory and physical experiences which supports brain development and the creation of neural networks. For many children, playing outdoors at their early years setting may be the only opportunity they have to play safely and freely while they learn to assess risk and develop the skills to manage new situations. At our school we have two well equipped outdoor areas, as well as a garden where the children can explore, learning and play. In addition to this, the children will have the chance to visit the EcoPark where they can experience, hands-on, pond dipping, mini-beast hunts, explore the seasons and build dens to name a few. Outdoor Play Based Learning Play underpins the Early Years Foundation Stage at St. Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School. When children play, they are learning at the highest level and through play, children develop language skills, their emotions and creativity, social and intellectual skills. Play takes place indoors and outdoors and it is in these different environments that children explore and discover their immediate world, practise new ideas and skills, take risks, show imagination and solve problems on their own or with others. We provide high quality planned and unplanned experiences for children’s play and our teaching team support children’s learning so that it is both enjoyable and challenging. Play Reading At St. Bernadette’s Catholic School we foster a love of reading from the onset, sharing stories, poems and rhymes to develop vocabulary and comprehension. We have selected a number of high, quality texts to support a love of reading. Nursery Reading and Rhyme Spine Reception Reading and Rhyme Spine Nursery Rhymes in EYFS We also follow Pie Corbett’s ‘Talk for Writing’, this is a multi-sensory approach, introducing a simple way to inspire young children's language development through storytelling. Our children learn language through memorable, meaningful repetition. The ‘Talk for Writing’ approach enables children to internalise the language of story so that they can imitate it, innovate on it and create their own effective stories independently, allowing their language development and creativity to flourishes. We have a secure, systematic, synthetic phonics programme taught from the beginning of Reception, with phase 1 listening and attention activities being the focus in our Nursery. Our children have many opportunities to read and reread books that match their phonics stage. We also have a robust assessment system in place to quickly pick up children falling behind and thus we are able to give these children targeted support. Check out our Reading area on our school website for more information. EYFS Mathematics There's more to mathematics than just counting! Children learn about maths through play and their daily experiences and the more meaningful to them and hands on it is, the better. Our Nursey and Reception (both indoors and out) is full of mathematical opportunities and has exciting things for children to explore, sort, compare, count, calculate and describe. This supports them to be creative, critical thinkers, problem solvers and to have a go and to be resilient. EYFS Mathematics Overview Click here to visit our Mathematics area of our school website for more information. Please refer to our Maths Knowledge Organisers above. Literacy We believe that literacy and communication are key life skills. We will help children to develop the skills and knowledge that will enable them to communicate effectively and creatively in both spoken and written language. We want the children to enjoy and appreciate a rich variety of literature. Literacy skills permeate the curriculum and are vital in ensuring progress across all subjects. We aim to develop pupils’ abilities within our core programme of reading, writing, speaking and listening. The children have opportunities to use and improve their skills in other subject areas. We are committed to engaging our children with stories and rhymes from a very young age. Early language development is established through daily stories and rhymes. Children will experience quality reading, story, rhyme, talk and play on a daily basis. This is carefully planned within directed teacher led sessions and in our continuous provision. Please refer to our Literacy Knowledge Organisers above.

Celebrating our Faith Throughout the academic year, we celebrate our faith with a number of special events. This academic year we have celebrated the following. Nie ma jeszcze żadnych opublikowanych postów w tym języku Po opublikowaniu postów zobaczysz je tutaj.