The Learning Environment
The School aims to provide
a safe, happy, caring, well-ordered environment in which learning
can take place and where each child is valued as an individual.
The staff are caring people who treat children with respect
both in the way that they speak to them and by the interest
that is shown for their welfare. Each individual is valued
equally and is encouraged to do his or her best at all times.
We try our best to make the school buildings and grounds attractive
and stimulating places. It is our aim, too, to present a well
organised and tidy environment to children, so that resources
and work materials are readily accessible. We are always conscious
of the need to maintain high standards of safety in our school
and regularly conduct health and safety reviews.
Children At Work
We offer children a rich
variety of learning experiences, which will help them to grow
and develop as well balanced and confident people.
A great deal of time
is spent on the basic skills; listening, talking, reading,
writing and mathematics. We encourage children to enjoy these
activities and to grow in competence in the skills on which
so much depends.
We aim to foster in children
a thirst for inquiry, a love for truth and beauty, a desire
to express themselves creatively and an eagerness to explore
and extend their physical potential. Work is planned to stimulate
children's curiosity about the world and to help them to begin
to understand its environment, its history and its peoples.
Healthy attitudes are important at St Joseph's. We encourage
respect for every person whatever his or her ability, race
or creed, for property and for our environment. Children are
expected to be courteous, co-operative, helpful and fair;
to be industrious and to take a pride in well produced work.
We expect children to
take responsibility for their actions and as they progress
through the school to grow towards independence both in their
thinking and in their ability to organise themselves and their
learning.
Teachers at Work
We aim…
- to provide a broad
and balanced curriculum based in a Catholic and Christian
setting where we are led by the Spirit of Christ
- to make prayer and
worship and liturgy real educational experiences and to
contribute successfully to the development of faith of each
individual within the school community
- to provide activities
which will develop the whole child and which are selected
on the basis of children's ability, aptitude or choice,
offering equal opportunities for all
- to use a variety of
well proven teaching methods both informal and formal, sometimes
teaching as a whole class, sometimes in groups and sometimes
individually
- to make the fullest
use of first hand, practical experiences and to allow children
time to dwell on areas of learning in order to achieve work
of quality
- for thorough, structured
teaching with continuity of learning from year to year
- to praise good work
and effort frequently
- to participate in,
and encourage interaction between the home, the parish and
the school.
The School At Work
We believe that the school
and the community cannot lead separate lives. Our aim is to
bring the life of the school into the community and the life
of the community into the school. We work closely with Governors
to develop the school and to foster a sense of partnership
with parents. We believe that we have a sense of duty to help
parents to understand the aims of the school. Developing links
with playgroups, Secondary and other primary schools, the
Health Service, the police and the church are all important
aspects of the school's role.
