Welcome to Carlton Junior & Infant School 

                     

The pupils, parents, staff and Governors would like to welcome you to our school. At Carlton we provide a happy, secure and supportive learning environment where children develop independence and work hard to make the most of their talents and make each day count.

 

We believe that close relationships between home and school are vital to support children's learning. We encourage you as parents to form a partnership with the school and to be actively involved in your child's education. We can assure you that your child will be happy here and receive a good education. Carlton prides itself upon its team spirit and dedicated staff.

 

Carlton J & I School is situated in South Elmsall at the junction of Westfield Lane and Carlton Road. It is 8 miles from Pontefract and 12 miles from Wakefield and Doncaster. Our catchment area lies to the main railway line  and extends to Moorthorpe. The school, a maintained community primary is housed in a spacious semi - open plan building which was first opened in 1985 as a first school. With the addition of a four classroom block extension in 1995/6. The school reorganised in September 1996 in line with the Southern Area to open as a Junior and infant school with nursery for approximately 460 children aged between 3 and 11. A further classroom was added in 2000, linking the main school with the upper junior block. Future proposals for the school is to include a Chidren's Centre to be built on the site.

 

The main school building accommodates 14 classes with four shared areas, which permit a variety of learning activities. We also have a library, an art room, a quiet room for music and T.V. programmes, a large ICT Suite containing 32 'eco-friendly PC's linked to the internet. There is an attractive domed environmental area used for small group activities housing a indoor pond. Each classroom is equipped with inter-active white boards and access is available to a further 14 mobile laptops also linked the internet.

 

                                                         

 

Children working quietly in the environmental area.

 

Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception) accommodation is provided within a self contained purpose built unit. The Foundation Unit has now been linked to a year1 class to create a Early years Unit. The school is currently assisting the LEA in piloting the extension of the principles of effective early years provision and 'continuous provision' within the infant and lower junior classes.

 

Foundation Unit

 

                

 

   Children working in Lower Foundation            'Circle Time' in the Upper Foundation

 

Class size will vary, the younger children generally being in the smaller classes. Classes consist of mixed abilities with each year group organised into sets for English and Maths teachimg. The school site is divided into infant and junior playgrounds, complete with football pens, a climbing wall, small tyre park area, stage and car-track area. The grassed area attached to the infant playground is to be developed in the Autumn term into a environmental play area. Approximately one hundred metres from school on the other side of Westfield Lane is the schools large fenced playing field used for games and inter-school sports competitions.

               

        

                                        

 

Children using the climbing wall                                           Playing football in the pens 

 

The school's kitchen serves an excellent choice of healthy meals that include traditional dinners and jacket potatoes. Packed lunches are catered for but parents are encouraged to support the school meals service as much as possible. Chilled water is provided throughout school, the children are encouraged to fill their own water bottles regularly. Carlton also organise and run a popular Breakfast Club for the children, offering the children a great start to the day.

 

                                                             

 

     Children enjoy dinner time at Carlton.     

 

At Carlton we like to see and encourage parents in school. They can help by listening to children to read, work on the computers, cataloguing books and general classroom help. After extensive consultation with parents,children and staff, the school has drawn up a 'Home - School Agreement, all three parties are invited to sign when children start at Carlton Junior and Infant School or at the start of each school year (usually at Parent's Evening).Carlton has found that this agreement provides the foundation for the communication between home and school that will underpin our joint commitment to the progress, welfare and happiness of children at school. Most important each child is set their own individual targets for improvement in English and Mathematics. As part of the 'Investors in Pupils' initiative these are supplemented by individual and class targets covering behaviour, attendance and classroom management.

 

School Standards and Awards.

 

Shool Achievement Award - In 2001 and 2003 the school was awarded the School Achievement Award in recognition of its improved performance in statuatory test results.

 

                                                                            

 

Primary Quality Mark

In 2003 the school was awarded the Primary Quality Mark for its achievements in raising standards in the basic skills of Literacy and Numeracy. The school was reassessed and achieved the 'Quality Mark' for a second time in 2006. The Primary Quality Mark is valid for three years.

 

                                                                                   

 

Investors in People

In 2003 Carlton achieved 'Investors in People' recognition. The school was successfully reassessed for the award again in February 2006.

 

                                                                               

 

Investors in Pupils Award

The school is one of only a handful of schools within the Yorkshire to hold this award that has its roots embedded in the 'Investors in People Award'. The award covers five main areas of school life - Attendance/Punctuality, Behaviour, Classroom Management, Induction of New Pupils and Staff and Learning.

 

                                                                               

 

Healthy Schools Award

Awarded in 2005, the school was judged to have met the standards stating that it 'understands the importance of investing in health to assist the in the process of raising levels of pupil achievement and improving standards. It alsorecognizes the need to provide both a physical and social environment that is conductive to learning.'

The National Healthy Schools Standard. (DFEE 1999)

 

                                                                               

 

Sport England Active Mark

The school gained this award in recognition of its commitment to promoting the benefits of physical activity and school sport. This was awarded in 2006 and then again in 2007.

 

                                                                             

 

Study Support Award

This award was gained in 2007.

 

                                                                               

 

Extra Curricular Activities

Extra curricular activities, which take place out of school hours rely on the goodwill of staff and volunteer parent helpers, and therefore the programme may vary from time to time. Clubs usually available include the following - Drama, Cricket, Football, Netball,

Skipping, Gardening, Art & Craft, ICT, Volleyball and table Tennis. Lunchtime ICT Clubs also operate on a rota basis.

 

In Year 5 and 6 children are also selected to attend 'Booster' and 'Extension' classes in preparation for the end of Key Stage 2 Statutory Assessments. Parents are kept fully informed as to the content and nature of these classes.

 

Parent/School Links

Carlton always encourages parents involvement at every opportunity, therefore recognizing that the closer that relationship the greater will be the success of the children and the happiness of all. Our school is always open to parents. Parents are also encouraged into the class in the mornings to settle their children down and find out more about the activities of the day with staff always being available after school to discuss any issues of concern or interest. Parents are also welcome to come and help in school however large or small that voluntary commitment may be.

 

In 2006/07 the school undertook formal training of parents using the National Association of Professional Teaching Assistants training material, being one of only 25 schools in the LEA currently using this resource for its own staff. Over 60 parents have volunteered to become involved in this training with upwards of 90 parents expressing an interest in attending 'class based' workshops designed to inform parents about the work in the year. Throughout the year each year group runs 'Parent Art Workshops', with a whole day given over to family based Art and Craft activities.

 

                                             

 

Parent Art Workshop - Year4 children and parents having great fun.

 

Regular surveys of parents views are conducted each term, at parents evenings as well as others by individual class teachers. The school also has a 'Parent Forum' that meets each term to discuss issues raised jointly by the headteacher and parents themselves. Parents are always welcome to join this group.

 

Throughout the year 'Family Learning' programmes are run in conjunction with the LEA , in the past we have covered Literacy, Numeracy, ICT, Food and Early Learning and more recently Family Art and Webster Stratton Behaviour Management. These ten week programmes on offer depend on the availability of LEA tutors.