Our 2025-2026 C of E Primary School Heathlands Helping everyone shine their light School Guide for parents and families
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Shine your light before all men that they may see your works and then praise your Father in heaven” Matthew 5 v14-16 HELPING EVERYONE SHINE THEIR LIGHT
Contents Our Family Guide Our Vision and Values.......................................................................................................................2 Our School Guide..................................................................................................................................3 Welcome to Heathlands..................................................................................................................5 Our Staff......................................................................................................................................................6 Our Curriculum.......................................................................................................................................8 Safeguarding.........................................................................................................................................10 Working with Families & Code of Conduct.........................................................................11 Special Educational Needs & Disabilities...........................................................................12 Attendance & Punctuality.............................................................................................................13 School Life School Day...............................................................................................................................................16 Shining a light on achievements..............................................................................................17 School Lunches & Wrap Around Care..................................................................................18 School Clubs, School Trips & PE.................................................................................................19 Uniform and Lost Property...........................................................................................................20 Key Information Health and Medical Needs..........................................................................................................22 Pupil Premium......................................................................................................................................23 Assessment...........................................................................................................................................24 Communication.................................................................................................................................26 PTA and Staff Illness.........................................................................................................................27
Our School Guide To help families prepare for the year ahead, we’ve put together all the key information you’ll need in this booklet. We hope you find it helpful. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the school — our staff will be happy to help. admin@heathlands.essex.sch.uk New Church Road, West Bergholt, Essex, CO6 3JF 01206 240288 Heathlands Family Guide
At Heathlands, we nurture every child’s academic, spiritual, emotional, and social growth within a safe and inspiring environment. Supported by our dedicated staff, governors, and families, we encourage curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning, helping children understand the world and make a positive difference. WELCOME TO HEATHLANDS As a Church of England school, our strong pastoral care and Christian ethos guide everything we do. We live out our core values of Trust, Respect, Enjoyment, Courage, and Kindness (TRECK), alongside Visible Learning principles such as resilience, hard work, and continuous improvement. We celebrate each child’s uniqueness and strive to help everyone reach their full potential. Our vision — “Helping Everyone Shine Their Light,” inspired by Matthew 5:14–16 — reminds us that every individual has their own light to share. We warmly invite you to visit and experience our special school community for yourself so please do contact the school office to schedule a tour or arrange a visit. Mr. Darryl Crawley FCCT Headteacher
Senior Leadership Team Mr Darryl Crawley - Headteacher Mrs Melanie Cork – Deputy Headteacher & SENCo Mrs Harriet Brennen - Assistant Headteacher & Year 1 Mrs Emily Howells - Assistant Headteacher & Year 3 Mrs Jenny Lloyd – EYFS Phase Leader & EYFS Mrs Rachel Harden – KS1 Phase Leader & Year 2 Mr Ross Turver – LKS2 Phase Leader & Year 4 Mr Tom Hassard – UKS2 Phase Leader & Year 6 Teaching Team Mrs Felicity Fisher - EYFS Mrs Lizzy Patterson - EYFS Mrs Kelly Sutton - EYFS Mrs Kelly Lawrence – Year 1 Mrs Hannah Martin - Year 1 Mrs Katie Frances – Year 2 Miss Lucy Philpott – Year 2 Mrs Jaymini Nakum – Year 3 Miss Polly Wiggins – Year 3 Mrs Kelly Hodgson – Year 4 Mrs Tanya Gibson – Year 6 Miss Verity Smith - Year 5 Mrs Sally Sandford – Year 6 Mrs Carol Carter – French Teacher Mr Gareth Minter – P.E Teacher Mrs Sarah White – Music Teacher Mrs Rhiann Gidden – (Maternity) Miss Chanelle Hallpike – (Maternity) Higher Level Teaching Assistants Mrs Rebecca Hartley Miss Katy Heard Mrs Shell Skinner Learning Support Assistants Mrs Catherine Alston Mrs Kirsty Auty Miss Hollie Bint Mrs Zoe Bywater Miss Emily Campbell Mrs Mandy Clark Mrs Hayley Clarke Mrs Natalie Gibson Mrs Stephanie Humphrys Miss Terri Levi Mr Jack Marsh
Mrs Charlotte Martin Miss Caroline Murray Mrs Natalie Nevin Miss Rachel O’Connor Miss Kelly Peach Mrs Julie Powell Mrs Ruth Riminton Miss Claire Roberts Miss Elizabeth Rose Miss Rebecca Smith Mrs Kealey Stone Miss Michelle Tatum Mr Karl Thomas Mrs Sue Walls School Office Mrs Jo Chipperfield - School Business Manager Mrs Jo Thorogood - Admin and Finance Mrs Laura Jezierski– Attendance, Admissions & Welfare The Kitchen Mrs Jeanette Santos - Catering Manager Mrs Helen Leach - Asst Catering Manager Mrs Kelly Johnston - Catering Asst Mid-Day Assistants Mrs Catherine Allston Miss Emily Campbell Mrs Hayley Clarke Mrs Sally Mansbridge Miss Debbie Osborne Miss Kelly Peach Mrs Kay Pullen Mrs Claire Rodie (relief) Miss Claire Roberts (Zone lead) Miss Rebecca Smith (Zone lead) Mrs Kealey Stone Miss Elizabeth Rose Mrs Sue Walls Site Team Mr Paul O’Nions - Site Manager Mr Martin Brown – Caretaker/ Lettings
At Heathlands, we offer a broad, balanced, and ambitious curriculum that enables every child to develop their individual talents and shine their light. Designed for equal access and opportunity, our curriculum builds knowledge, understanding, and skills across all subjects. Using SOLO taxonomy, learning challenges increase in complexity, helping children move from surface to deeper understanding. Big questions drive each theme, inspiring innovative, confident, inclusive, and caring learners who contribute to both local and global communities. Our curriculum nurtures enthusiasm for learning and develops aural, visual, verbal, mental, and physical skills, while promoting social, moral, cultural, and spiritual growth. Pupils regularly share their learning with others, celebrating progress and visibility within the community. We maintain high expectations for all, ensuring every child benefits fully from the opportunities our curriculum provides. At Heathlands, we help children build confidence through personal success and teamwork. We encourage them to be Teamwork Turtles — working and playing together, showing respect, and celebrating each other’s strengths. We believe everyone is a piece of the same jigsaw, and we’re stronger when we work together. Our Christian Core Values — Trust, Respect, Enjoyment, Courage, and Kindness — are at the heart of everything we do and guide every decision we make. Our Curriculum Innovative In an ever-changing world, our children acquire the knowledge to be adaptable and innovative. Confident Children are confident, lifelong learners with the knowledge and skills necessary for the next stages in education and life. Inclusive Children recognise they are unique individuals. Children celebrate differences and welcome everyone within our school community. Caring Children are kind with strong personal, social and emotional awareness; supporting their mental wellness and resilience. Global Children engage with our global community: increasing their understanding of diversity in cultures, values, beliefs and abilities. Local Children have a strong understanding of their local community and the interpersonal skills to shine their light.
Year 3 and 4 Reading 5 times per week Half termly spellings Times Tables Year 5 Reading 5 times per week Half termly spellings SPAG homework Year 6 Reading 5 times per week Half termly spellings Online maths and English homework set weekly EYFS Reading 5 times per week Optional Tapestry challenge linked to weekly theme Year 1 Reading 5 times per week Optional half termly Home Learning Challenges linked to theme Year 2 Reading 5 times per week Half termly spellings Teaching and Learning We know that great teaching and learning don’t just happen — they grow through reflection, teamwork, and a shared desire to keep improving. Our teachers use a range of strategies to make learning exciting and meaningful, helping children understand not just what they’re learning, but why it matters. We’re always refining how we teach to make sure every child gets the very best experience in every classroom. Feedback and Assessment Feedback helps children and teachers understand where they are and what’s next. It: Helps teachers plan lessons that meet each child’s needs, Helps children see their progress and next steps, and Celebrates success to keep everyone motivated and proud. Home Learning The most important thing you can do at home is read together. Just ten minutes a day makes a huge difference — it builds confidence, strengthens skills, and creates a lifelong love of reading.
Safeguarding At Heathlands, the safety and wellbeing of every child is our top priority. Parents trust us to provide a secure, caring environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive — and we take that responsibility very seriously. We have strong procedures in place to protect the safety and welfare of all pupils and staff. Every child at Heathlands knows they are valued and that any worries or concerns will be listened to and acted upon by the adults who care for them. All staff and governors receive regular, upto-date safeguarding and child protection training, ensuring we maintain the highest standards of care and vigilance across our school community. Our School Designated Safeguarding Lead is: Mrs Cork (Deputy Headteacher) Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are: Mr Crawley (Headteacher) Mrs Howells (Assistant Headteacher) Mrs Brennen (Assistant Headteacher)
Working with Families The school believes it is essential that children and their families are supported through life’s challenges, such as relocation, family breakups, managing children’s behaviour and the occasional unexpected events that can affect wellbeing. Members of Senior Leadership Team are available if ever you need support or advice. Code of Conduct Be Kind Be Safe Be Respectful It is a core aim of our school that every member of the school community feels valued and respected, and that each person is treated fairly and well. We are an inclusive and caring community, whose Core Christian values (Trust, Respect, Enjoyment, Courage and Kindness) are built on mutual trust and respect for all.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) At Heathlands, we understand that some children may need extra help to reach their full potential. This support might be long-term or just for a short period to help with learning, behaviour, or emotional needs. Mrs Mel Cork is the school’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo). A SENDCo is an experienced teacher with qualifications in identifying and meeting the needs of children with additional needs. If you believe your child needs extra help you should first approach your child’s teacher who will liaise with Mrs Cork. Specialist support may include speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, counselling, or educational psychology. Parents are always involved in decisions about any extra help their child receives, and we will always ask for your consent before making referrals. We also recognise that children can present differently at home and school, so we work closely with families to ensure every child gets the right support. The Oak Room In Summer 2025 we opened a specialist provision space within school as a purposeful, dedicated space. SEND Code of Practice In September 2014, the government made changes to the law for children and young people with additional needs. SEN statements and Learning Difficulty Assessments were replaced with a single Education Health and Care (EHC) plan. The EHC plans put more emphasis on personal goals and describing the support your child will receive in school. They also introduced personal budgets to accompany these plans. Find out more about our SEND provision here:
Attendance and Punctuality At Heathlands, we expect all pupils to attend school regularly, aiming for at least 95% attendance. Good attendance is essential for learning — and for keeping every child safe. Parents and carers must report all absences by calling the school on 01206 240288 on the first and each subsequent day of absence. Please provide a clear reason and an expected return date — “unwell” alone is not sufficient. Unreported absences will be followed up by phone or home visit. If no reason is given, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised. Pupils with 5% or more unauthorised absences may be referred to the local authority, which could result in a fixed penalty notice or legal action. We will always work sensitively with families where absence relates to genuine medical issues. 100% Attendance 0 days absent 0missed lessons 99% Attendance 1 day absent 5missed lessons 97% Attendance 1 week absent 25missed lessons 94% Attendance 2 weeks absent 50missed lessons Perfect Best chance of academic success Best chance of academic success Risk of underachievement 92% Attendance 3 weeks absent 75missed lessons 90% Attendance 3.5 weeks absent 85missed lessons <50% Attendance 18+ weeks absent 475+ missed lessons Risk of underachievement Severe risk of underachievement Extreme risk of underachievement
Holidays During Term Time We know family time is important, but in line with government guidance, holidays during term time can’t be authorised unless there are exceptional circumstances. If you believe your situation is exceptional, please fill out a Leave of Absence Request Form (available on our website) and send it to the Headteacher before making any arrangements. Taking a holiday during term time without permission may result in a fine, in line with the National Framework for Penalty Notices (updated August 2024) — full details are on our website. Absence Due to Illness If your child is unwell, please let us know — we understand that children do get sick. We’ll authorise reasonable absences for medical reasons, but if time off becomes frequent or prolonged, we may ask for medical evidence (like a GP note or appointment card). If we don’t receive this after requesting it, further absences might be marked as unauthorised, and could lead to a fixed penalty notice. Punctuality Getting to school on time really helps children start the day calmly and confidently. Arriving late can make it harder for them to settle and means they miss out on valuable learning time. We ask all families to support good punctuality so every child gets the best possible start each day.
SCHOOL LIFE
8:45 The School Day The School gates open Teachers and Senior Leaders are out the front of the school to welcome the children EYFS - enter via the gates in the staff carpark KS1 - enter via the gate next to the school hall KS2 - enter via the gates by the school Reception 10:30 Break time We have separate playgrounds for Reception & KS1, and KS2 11:50 Reception Lunch Time Children in Reception go straight to the hall for their lunch 12:00 KS1 Lunch Time Children go to the playground and are called in for lunch 3:15 End of school day Parents are asked to stand on the Heath out the front of the school. The children will be brought out to the front gates for you to collect What to do if you are late? Morning: Learning begins at 8:55 am. If your child arrives after this time they will be missing out on valuable learning time. You must be on time to school each day. If you are late, you must go to the school office where you will need to sign your child in. Afternoon If you are late to collect your child, you will need to pick them up from the school office and you must sign them out. If you know you are going to be late please inform the school as soon as possible. 12:15 KS2 Lunch Time Children go to the playground and are called in for lunch
Core Value Class Points Once class has achieved 50 they earn a class treat (not exact but about three a year) Celebration Certificates Awarded by adults in school to children Displayed in classroom - on the recognition board. Above and beyond the expectation. These are sent home at the end of each week. Recognition Board A space for the Celebration Certificates to be displayed. Visible Learning Stickers (EYFS) Stickers are awarded to children who demonstrate our Visible Learning expectations Headteacher Awards A small certificate/badge awarded by the Headteacher when they are sent to the HT with some fantastic work or going above and beyond with our Core Values/Code of Conduct Classwork Celebrations Parents come in between 3:30 and 4:30 to look through books with your children Three times a year - one per term. Shining a light on achievements
School Lunch Children can enjoy a fresh, healthy meal each day, with meat and vegetarian options, a salad bar, and a choice of desserts. Menus run on a two-week rotation, changing twice a year (winter and summer), and are shared with parents and available on our website. If your child has dietary needs (e.g. allergies, vegetarian, vegan, or religious requirements), please let us know — we’re happy to help. Meals cost £2.70 per day and must be paid in advance via the School Gateway App. If payment isn’t made, bookings may be cancelled and you’ll need to provide a packed lunch until any balance is cleared. Find out more about school lunches and to access the menus here: Wrap Around Care Hopscotch Contact: Gill Simshopscotchkidsclub1@outlook.com Our clubs provide a welcoming, safe, and fun environment for all Heathlands pupils before and after school. Children are cared for by qualified, experienced staff and can enjoy a variety of activities including crafts, sports, games, and outdoor play. We encourage independence, decisionmaking, and social skills through free choice and play. Breakfast Club Open 7:45–8:45am Children can enjoy a selection of cereals, toast, fruit, milk, juice, and water to start their day. After School Club Open 3:15–6:00pm A light snack is provided on arrival, followed by a more substantial option around 4:15pm (such as toast, wraps, or crumpets) with fruit, juice, or water.
Clubs School Trips PE We offer a wide range of free and paid clubs each term, most of which run after school. These include sports, arts, music, and more — giving children the chance to try new things and have fun with friends. Places are allocated fairly among those who complete the online sign-up forms (available on our website) by the stated deadline, so as many children as possible can join at least one club. A separate form is needed for each club. On club days, children should wear their school uniform and bring their PE kit or suitable clothing for their activity. For lunchtime dance clubs, children may wear their PE kit to school. Occasionally, clubs may need to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. We’ll always notify parents as soon as possible via ParentMail or text. If we can’t reach you, your child will be safely supervised in school until they’re collected. We offer every child a wide range of educational trips each year. Children visit museums, art galleries and theatre performances, as well as going to see events and exhibitions linked to the subjects they are studying. In Year 6 the children have the opportunity to go on a five-day residential to Bawdsey Manor. Children will have PE twice a week. Generally, they will have one indoor and one outdoor session. Each term has a different PE focus, including: Gymnastics Dance Sport – including multi-skills, athletics, cricket, football, tag rugby, and rounders Swimming - Key Stage 2 children have ten lessons every other year (across two weeks)
Uniform PE and Sports Kit Lost Property At Heathlands, we encourage all children to wear school uniform and ask parents to support this policy. Children should come to school in their PE kit on PE days and normal uniform on all other days. Full details of both can be found below. We understand that uniform costs can add up, so items don’t need to have the school logo, but should be in school colours. Please note that other logos are not permitted. Red polo-shirt (sports style) Plain red tracksuit jacket or plain red sweatshirt (this could be a school sweatshirt) Plain black shorts or joggers Plain black socks Black trainers We ask that you label everything with fabric pens or that you stick/sew in fabric labels. The school has lots of unclaimed and unnamed lost property each term. Lost property is stored in a box in the front Reception. Red sweatshirt, jumper or cardigan White polo t-shirt, cotton shirt and blouses Grey traditional A-line or pleated skirts Grey tailored school trousers or shorts Red and white gingham or striped dress in the summer A grey pinafore dress White, black, grey, or red socks or tights Black sturdy flat shoes with laces or straps (no heels) or black school trainers (with no large logos)
KEY INFORMATION
Health &Medical Needs Reporting Sickness If your child is unwell, please contact the School Office on 01206 240288 as soon as possible; these include:- Head lice: Treat before returning and inform the office. Ringworm: Treat, cover, and your child may return. Chickenpox: Keep at home until all spots have scabbed over. Sickness/diarrhoea: Keep at home for 48 hours after the last episode. If your child becomes unwell in school, we’ll call you immediately. Please ensure your contact details are always up to date. Medicines in School If your child needs prescribed medicine during school hours, please complete a consent form at the office. We can only administer prescribed medication — parents may visit school to give over-the-counter medicines if needed. Asthma and Allergies Please inform the office of any asthma or allergies and provide prescribed medication (e.g. inhaler, antihistamine, or epi-pen). Children keep inhalers with them during school, and all medication is taken on trips. Serious Accidents or Injuries If an accident is serious, we’ll call an ambulance first, then contact you. A staff member will stay with your child. For less urgent cases, we’ll ask you to collect your child. You’ll be notified by email of any medical treatment given in school.
Pupil Premium What is Pupil Premiumand Early Years Pupil Premium? The Pupil Premium (and Early Years Pupil Premium) provides extra funding to help schools support children’s learning and wellbeing. Your child may be entitled if you receive any of the following benefits: Income Support Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance Income-related Employment and Support Allowance Child Tax Credit (not Working Tax Credit, and with an annual income below £16,190) Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after eligibility ends) The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit Your child may also qualify if they are looked after, previously looked after, or have been in local authority care (including adoption). Letting the school office know could mean your child is eligible for this funding, which helps us provide additional learning support, enrichment opportunities, and resources to benefit all pupils.
Assessment Who is checkingmy child’s progress? In Early Years, progress is monitored through observations, work, and discussions with you and your child. From Year 1 onwards, teachers assess progress each term by reviewing work and, when needed, using short assessment tasks. Statutory Assessment Reception Baseline All Reception children complete the Reception Baseline Assessment within their first six weeks at school. It’s a short, practical assessment covering language, communication, literacy, and maths. The RBA isn’t used to label children or share scores. Instead, it helps teachers understand pupils’ starting points and plan learning. The results are only used nationally to measure school progress from Reception to Year 6.
Year 1 Phonics Screening At the end of Year 1, children complete a short phonics screening check with their teacher. They read a mix of real and ‘nonsense’ words to show how well they can use phonics to read. Results help teachers and the government understand reading progress nationally. Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check In Year 4, pupils take the Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) to see how fluently they can recall their times tables. This helps teachers identify anyone who may need extra support with maths. Year 6 SATs At the end of Year 6, children complete their Key Stage 2 SATs, which include reading, maths, spelling, grammar, and punctuation tests. Writing is assessed by teachers against national standards. SATs usually take place in mid-May and help track children’s progress through primary school. At the end of Reception, teachers complete the EYFS Profile to check each child’s progress against the Early Learning Goals (ELGs). These cover seven areas of learning: Communication and Language Physical Development Personal, Social and Emotional Development Literacy Mathematics Understanding the World Expressive Arts and Design Teachers assess children through observations and daily interactions, building a full picture of their learning and development. For each goal, children are judged as being at the expected level or emerging.
Communication between home and school We value professional, respectful, and positive communication between families and school. We aim to respond to queries promptly and clearly. If we need time to gather information, we’ll let you know. Aggressive or disrespectful behaviour towards staff will not be tolerated. For any concerns or questions, please contact your child’s class teacher first, as they know your child best. You can: Speak to them at the end of the school day or arrange an appointment. Send a message on Class Dojo (checked later in the day). Email via the school admin address (see the Contact Us page). School Reports Your child will receive three school reports per year: each at the end of a term. The reports will be a summary of your child’s engagement with learning and attainment, with the end of year report containing more personal comments. Pupil Progress Evening Pupil Progress Evenings are held termly and are a chance to discuss your child’s progress with the class teacher. It is worth noting these dates in your diary. If you need to speak to a teacher beforehand, then you can contact the office to make an appointment at a mutually agreeable time. School Website The best place to find important information is on our school website. Class Dojo We want to keep you as up to date as possible with our news at Heathlands, and we believe the best way to do this is through Class Dojo. We will use both the whole school feed and class feeds for short updates. School Comms/School Gateway For anything official this will be sent from School Comms and School Gateway - this includes communication and payments. Fortnightly Newsletters Newsletters are sent out every two weeks and are accessible on our website. Parent Forums &Workshops We hold regular parent forums and workshops. Details will be available in our newsletters
From the PTA We’re always looking for enthusiastic parents and carers to help run events and support our school community. If you’d like to get involved, please contact the school office or email:- heathlandspta@heathlands.essex.sch.uk What We Do: The PTA organises fun, fundraising events and activities that bring families together and raise money for our children’s education. We also seek grants and funding to support the school. All parents, carers, grandparents, and staff are automatically members of the PTA — and every bit of help makes a difference! No matter how much time you can spare, every bit of help makes such a difference in planning and running the events that raise vital funds for our school. Staff Illness Teacher Absence and PPA Time Sometimes, if a teacher is absent, their class will be covered by another member of school staff. You may also notice that your child’s teacher isn’t in class every day. This is because all teachers are entitled to PPA time — Planning, Preparation and Assessment — which allows them to plan lessons, assess learning, and take part in professional development. Early Career Teachers (ECTs) and teachers with leadership responsibilities receive additional release time. During these sessions, classes are taught by a PPA cover teacher or a specialist teacher (e.g. French or sports). All specialist and PPA teachers report back to your child’s class teacher, so please speak to them if you have any questions. Parents WhatsApp Groups Most year groups have a parent WhatsApp Group as they are a great way of sharing information. Please be aware that the school does not run these groups. We offer our online community guidelines on appropriate conduct within these groups.
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