This document is a prospectus for Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School that provides information about the school's vision and values. It emphasizes that the school aims to create a happy, safe, and caring environment where children are developed holistically. It highlights the school's commitment to child safety and protection.

1.
Holy Trinity
Church of England (Voluntary Controlled)
Primary School
Prospectus 2012‐13
www.holytrinityhalstead.com

2. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 2
Prospectus 2012‐13
Welcome
Welcome to the latest Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School Prospectus…
At Holy Trinity we are absolutely committed to creating a school where children are
developed as rounded individuals. We try to make sure that the Holy Trinity experience is:
• Happy
• Safe
• Caring
• Exciting
• full of a wide variety of inspiring opportunities
Vision Statement
“At Holy Trinity Primary School we want to ensure that children have a clear voice. We
want our children to develop skills that enable them to make informed choices, now and
in the future. Children should have the drive and ambition to reach their potential and
we aim to provide an environment where they can do this and feel safe and valued.”
It is our aim, whenever possible, to celebrate the great achievements of all our children.
We aim to provide a relevant and inspiring education for the children in our care and
attempt to ensure our school environment is one where every child feels valued.
Mission Statement – (developed by staff, governors and children)
“As a Church school we want to live in the way Jesus showed us. To be kind, giving,
generous and helpful. We want to be involved in our work and help build an interesting
and happy school. We want to feel safe and comfortable and grow to do our best in our
work and play.“
The school day starts with a daily assembly ‐ assemblies have themes, dealing with
everyday issues as well as spiritually and morally guiding our children in the Christian faith.
Parents/Carers can, if they wish, withdrawal their children from the daily act of collective
worship. However as a committed Church of England School we politely request that you
discuss concerns you may have with Mr Jon Smith, our Headteacher, before you make this
decision.
A member of the Halstead Anglican Clergy visits the school every week to lead a worship
assembly. On occasions this invitation is extended to other denominations and faith
groups. Friday sees our weekly ‘Celebration Assembly’ which is open to parents, friends
and families.

3. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 3
Prospectus 2012‐13
Our children always come first
Welcome from the Headteacher…
Our aim at Holy Trinity Primary School is to offer all our children a full and balanced
education in a friendly atmosphere of co‐operation.
Our governing body, school staff and local community have one priority; to ensure that
life at Holy Trinity prepares the children in our care socially, spiritually and academically
for later life. Our children lie at the very heart of all our work.
We offer a welcoming environment, a close‐knit community atmosphere where
everyone’s contributions are valued. In many ways we are like a family where our children
take great pride in our school and care deeply for the welfare of their fellow pupils.
I would like to encourage you to visit us at Holy Trinity, and offers with help in the
classroom, visits, trips and extra curricular activities are always welcomed by our staff and
children.
The local community plays a vital role in school life at Holy Trinity, the school lies at the
heart of our community and our friends and parents are rightly proud of their school and
support it consistently. The PTFA of Holy Trinity work tirelessly to support our school,
raising funds and organising events within the community, it has gone from strength to
strength in the last few years and is representative of our team spirit and commitment to
our children.
If you have any worries or concerns please do not hesitate to come and see me, I will
always try to see visitors on a drop in basis, but on occasions an appointment may be
necessary.
At Holy Trinity we have a special ethos that we cherish and use to guide our everyday
work…our children always come first.
Jon Smith (Headteacher)

4. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 4
Prospectus 2012‐13
Working together…
The Prospectus has been created to provide a brief introduction to our school and give
parents, especially those who would like to know more about our school, an insight into
our school organisation, ethos and vision.
Our aim at Holy Trinity is to offer all our children a full and balanced education in a
friendly atmosphere, which nevertheless encourages good work and ethics. We are a
small school that offers big opportunities. In many ways we are like a family, older
children are encouraged to consider and care for the younger ones. Visitors often
comment on the happy and relaxed atmosphere with which they are greeted as they
come through the front door.
Partnership with families
It is our intention that parents and staff should work together as a partnership for the
benefit of the children. Visits to the school are encouraged, and offers of help in the
classrooms are welcomed. If you are at any time concerned about anything to do with
your child in the school, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We try, whenever possible to operate an open door policy at our school. However, there
will be times when teachers are unavailable. In such instances we ask you to make an
appointment ‐ we will always do our very best to accommodate you promptly at a
convenient time.
“Parents are overwhelmingly positive about how much this school has improved and how
greatly their children enjoy attending.”
OFSTED 2008
Safeguarding
School safety is one our main priorities. The main gates remain secure throughout the
school day and the school is secured by a key‐pad entry system. Should you have any
concerns regarding school safety please do not hesitate to contact the main reception as
we take very seriously our commitment to providing a safe school environment.
Recent capital projects to secure our school site include the completion of perimeter
security fencing and pedestrian rails protecting exposed footpaths.

5. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 5
Prospectus 2012‐13
Keeping everyone safe
In 2011 OFSTED said that children at our school felt very safe; OSFTED graded this element
of our work as ‘outstanding’ and this is something we have worked very hard to achieve.
Child Protection
Our staff are well trained in the principles of Child Protection and every member of our
teaching staff has a workplace first aid qualification. The safety and protection of children
lies at the very heart of our work.
If you are concerned about your child, in any way, we encourage you to come into school
and discuss your worries with us ‐ a problem shared is often a problem halved. In addition,
we can invariably offer some form of help; we actually employ a fully trained school
counselor who can work with individuals or families to ensure positive outcomes.
If we have a concern about a child, in most circumstances, we will make first contact with
their parents. However, on occasions, we may feel compelled to make contact with
agencies such as Social Services, Emergency Services and Police Child Protection teams.
It must be noted however that this policy is not an attempt by the school to hide
information from parents or carers, but simply in line with Essex Local Education
Authority.
“The school’s sharp emphasis on promoting the pupils’ well‐being is shown by the way
they feel exceptionally safe in school.”
OFSTED 2011
We believe that the education of children is a partnership between home and school.
Parents are encouraged to be involved in the education of their children and kept
informed about life at school and it’s activities through our weekly school newsletter and
termly curriculum newsletters.
Regular parent consultation meetings are held throughout the school year, to monitor
progress and sustain good home school links. These meetings give teachers and parents
the opportunity to discuss your child’s learning progress and identify targets for future
learning.
Parent consultation meetings will also give you the opportunity to discuss any concerns,
worries or problems you may have about school life.

6. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 6
Prospectus 2012‐13
If you are worried…
If you are worried or concerned, please don’t delay…
If you have any immediate concerns we would always encourage you to approach the
school as soon as possible. The procedures below will help you decide how to proceed:
• Have an informal discussion with the teacher, although we try to always
operate an ‘open door’ policy, please make an appointment if the teacher is
not able to see you immediately.
• Contact the school via letter or telephone if you have difficulty catching our
teachers at the beginning or end of the day.
• If you are still concerned and feel little progress has been made make an
appointment to see the Headteacher or, in his absence, our Deputy
Headteacher.
If the problem is urgent...
For urgent issues that you feel require our immediate attention, please do not hesitate to
call us at anytime. We want to help, and take very seriously our responsibilities to your
children and family.
Complaints Procedures
There is a procedure, for a parent to register a complaint. The procedure has three stages:
1. Informal Complaint:
We suggest that you take your compliant to the school where you can discuss your
concerns with the Headteacher.
2. Formal Complaint:
Address your concern/complaint, in writing preferably, to the Chair of the Governing
Body.
3. Formal Complaint:
If you are not satisfied with the extent to which the Governing Body address your concern,
you are able to approach Essex Local Education Authority.
It is hoped that any concerns will be resolved quickly at stage 1. The Headteacher is always
happy to meet parents and talk about the school organisation and the arrangements we
make for our curriculum which are outlined in this prospectus.

7. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 7
Prospectus 2012‐13
School and home, working together
Supporting School
At Holy Trinity Primary School we see education as a partnership. At school we encourage
parents to communicate concerns and worries to us so, in keeping with our commitment
to a partnership, we pledge to approach parents with any concerns we may have.
As a symbol of commitment to a learning partnership, we ask all our families to sign a
Home/School agreement.
The Home/School agreement is a joint commitment, a pledge to work in partnership in
order to provide an effective education for our children.
Freedom of Information
All relevant documents of interest to parents: School and County Policy Documents,
National Curriculum files, inspection copies of Governors’ Minutes and Agenda, Charging
& Remissions Policy and Complaints Procedure are available in the School Office and can
be consulted on the premises by prior appointment.
School Meals
School meals are available everyday, cooked on the premises by our catering staff. The
dinners are priced at £2.00 each and can be ordered through the main school office. The
menu is published in advance so parents/carers and children can plan ahead.
Payment Information
To avoid confusion and assist both teachers and administration staff we have special
Dinner Money & General School Money envelopes available for purchase from the school
office (these are suitable for visit money, swimming money etc.).
School Charging Policy
Activities such as swimming, visiting musicians and theatre groups, cooking, etc. all help to
develop and enrich the school curriculum. With the exception of board and lodging,
payment for all these activities is voluntary and no child may be excluded. However, if
voluntary contributions are not sufficient to cover the cost of the event and the school is
unable to fund the difference, the activity may need to be cancelled.

8. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 8
Prospectus 2012‐13
Secondary School Transfer
Transfer to Secondary Schools, at the end of Key Stage Two (Year 6) is the responsibility of
the parents/carers of our pupils.
However, at Holy Trinity we try to offer advice and support to parents whenever possible.
The local catchment area Secondary School for pupils from Holy Trinity is the Ramsey
Sports College and Secondary School. Primary/Secondary school liaison begins early in
Year 6.
Governors
Our Governing Body plays a full and active role in school life. If you have a question for the
Governors or would like to make contact with the Chair of Governors, Mrs Esme Pickford,
please telephone/write to:
Mrs Esme Pickford
c/o Holy Trinity C of E Primary School
Beridge Road
Halstead
Essex
CO91JH
Tel: 01787 472096
A complete, and up to date, list of our Governors can be found on our school website,
www.holytrinityhalstead.com/governors
Parent Governors
Parent Governors play a very important role in school life. They are almost always parents
of children attending Holy Trinity Primary School and therefore have a good
understanding of life at school. Further details on the Governing Body are included in the
Appendices.
In addition they also understand the worries and concerns parents sometimes experience.
We always encourage parents, especially those new to Holy Trinity Primary School, to talk
to one of our parent governors, just to make contact, or to pass on any concerns you may
have.

9. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 9
Prospectus 2012‐13
Things your children will need in school
School Uniform
At Holy Trinity Primary School we operate a firm, but fair school uniform policy. We
understand that, from time to time individual items of uniform may get lost or ‘be in the
wash’ but we also see school uniform as a integral part of our school identity. The Basic
uniform consists of:
Blue School Sweatshirt
White polo shirt
Grey/Black trousers / Grey/Black skirts (girls)
Shoes or dark footwear (no colourful laces or logo’s, stripes etc.)
The school actively encourages the wearing of a uniform and it is hoped that parents will
continue to support this policy.
To support this Policy the Governors and the PTFA work together to supply to parents, at
cost, the following items (including school crest embroidery):
 Sweatshirts
 Cardigans
 White polo shirts
 Fleeces and
 Lightweight raincoats
 PE T Shirts
 Royal blue PE Shorts
All these items can be ordered, on a termly basis, from the PTFA.
Frank Smith & Sons (Halstead High Street) also sells our complete range of our school
uniform, from stock.
Other items such as school baseball caps, P.E. bags, swimming bags and book bags may be
purchased via the school office.
To minimise losses of property, PLEASE ENSURE THAT ALL ITEMS OF CLOTHING ARE
CLEARLY NAMED.

10. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 10
Prospectus 2012‐13
General Expectations
Jewellery: The only acceptable form of jewellery are stud earrings. All earrings must be
removed for PE.
Make Up: We do not expect children to come to school wearing any form of make up, this
includes: nail varnish, false nails, temporary tattoos, hair extensions etc. If you are in any
doubt please ask your child’s class teacher for clarification.
PE Clothing and Equipment
For PE and Games lessons, we ask children to bring, unless instructed otherwise by a
teacher, a tee shirt, shorts and plimsolls. Slip‐on plimsolls are much easier for young
children to manage.
Yellow PE T shirts are available from the PTFA. It is likely that your child will take part in
some form of physical activity every day. Outdoor PE is an expectation, especially for
children in Key Stage 2 ‐ so warm tops will be required for late Autumn and Spring term.
Tracksuits, again embroidered with the school crest, can be purchased from the School
Office; these are optional and not a formal part of our uniform policy.

11. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 11
Prospectus 2012‐13
Every child matters to us…
Our Nation’s aim is for every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to
have the support they need in order to thrive in our world.
“Pupils are proud of their school and are held in high regard within the local community.
They take responsibility for their own safety and encourage each other to act with care.”
OFSTED 2011
Organisations involved with providing services to children ‐ from hospitals and schools, to
police and voluntary groups ‐ will be teaming up in new ways, sharing information and
working together, to protect children and young people from harm and help them achieve
what they want in life. Children and young people will have far more say about issues that
affect them as individuals and collectively.
At Holy Trinity our school council has influence and a clear say in the direction of our
school ‐ pupil voice is very important to us and has succeeded in giving our children a real
sense of pride in their school.
“Pupils’ enjoyment of learning and school is outstanding.”
OFSTED 2008
It is crucial for all pupils to feel happy, safe, secure and welcome in school. At Holy Trinity
Primary School we pride ourselves in extending a warm welcome to all pupils, parents and
visitors and above all providing a high standard of care for all our pupils.
Illness in school time
Children can become ill during school hours ‐ in most cases we will try to contact parents,
then emergency contacts. In serious cases and incidents where we feel children could
require immediate medical attention we contact emergency services. Details regarding
medicines in school are outlined in our ‘Medical Care and Medicines’ Policy.
Headlice
Thousands of school days are lost and millions of pounds are spent due to headlice.
Headlice are a fact of school life but we can minimize the disruption they cause by
monitoring children’s hair and, if they have lice, treating them. For further information
please see www.headlice.org

12. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 12
Prospectus 2012‐13
Good behaviour, traditional values
The Holy Trinity Code is a simple set of behaviour guidelines that have been devised by
our children. The Code was created by the School Council at Holy Trinity, a group of
twelve representatives, democratically elected by their peers.
The School Councillors meet on at least a monthly basis with Mr Smith, our Headteacher.
They discuss a range of matters at these meetings and especially those that are of
immediate interest to the children.
The Holy Trinity Code (see below) can be found throughout the school, in every single
teaching room around the school and in most communal areas and corridors…
The Holy Trinity Code:
Be Polite
Be Truthful
Listen Carefully
Work Hard
Respect Others
Respect Property
Respect our Rules
The Holy Trinity Code (above) and Consequences have been promoted and communicated
to parents and carers since they became part of the school, Behaviour Policy in September
2005.

13. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 13
Prospectus 2012‐13
All behaviour has a consequence
Alongside the Code are the Consequences, we teach all our children that every action,
decision and choice we take has a consequence.
The Consequences are followed very carefully by our staff to ensure that children
understand the impact of their behaviour and choices…
Consequences
Stage 1: Lose your fun time
Stage 2: Class Exclusion
Stage 3: Key Stage Manager
Stage 4: Headteacher
Which can involve…
Parents > Reports > Exclusion
Within the Behaviour Policy there is the contingency for the ‘fast tracking’ of specific
behaviour or incidents – this is simply because there are certain issues that must be
tackled, due to the serious nature of the behaviour, by the Headteacher or a Senior
Manager.
Fast Track Consequences
Swearing
Refusal
Violence
Racism
Bullying
FAST TRACK
STAGE 4 – HEADTEACHER

14. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 14
Prospectus 2012‐13
Absence
It is very important that your child attends school so that their progress in learning can be
achieved. It is our school policy that if your child is unable to attend school, parents or
carers should:
• Contact School immediately
• Indicate the nature of the illness
• Request help if needed
• When your child returns, please include a note explaining the absence.
Late Arrivals
Children can enter their classrooms at 8.40am for early morning activities. The register is
take at exactly 8.55am and closes at 9.05am. Any children arriving after 9.05am will
receive a late mark in the registers.
Late Pick Up
If you are going to be late picking up your children please try your best to let us know in
advance. If children are not picked up by 3.30pm office staff will call parents, then
emergency contacts. If we cannot make contact with one of your named contacts after an
hour we consider further steps such as contacting emergency services and external
agencies to request a home/personal welfare check.
Attendance
If the school becomes concerned about a child’s attendance we can support families and
children in a variety of ways including working with the local Education Welfare Officer.

15. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 15
Prospectus 2012‐13
Holidays
PARENTS PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
As from October 1st 2004 new legislation states that Penalty Notices can be issued by
Local Education Authorities if children are removed from school for holiday purposes
without the approval of the school.
Guidance on request for leave of absence for holidays is very clear:
• No parent can demand as a right, time off for holidays during term time.
• Requests for leave of absence must be obtained from schools in advance.
• Every request for leave of absence must be judged on its own merits.
• No more than 10 school days per year can be granted as holiday, except in
extreme or exceptional circumstances.
• Applications for leave of absence for holidays must be made via a ‘Holiday Request
Form’ ‐ these are available from School Reception.
If you decide to apply for leave of absence for a holiday the following aspects will be
considered:
• The child’s attendance history
• The child’s stage of education
• The time of year (SATS or exams)
• The nature of the trip
• Parental circumstances
If you decide to remove your child for a holiday without authorisation the absence will be
classed as unauthorised. This could lead to the parent/s and/or carer/s incurring a fixed
penalty fine and intervention by the Education Welfare Services.
I would urge all families to please think carefully about holidays; if you remove your
children from school, for two weeks very year, for the duration of their primary school
career, they will miss approximately a whole term (14 weeks) of school.

16. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 16
Prospectus 2012‐13
Admission Arrangements
Prospective parents are always encouraged to come and visit our school. Appointments
can be made via the school Reception.
The admission arrangements are in accordance with the guidance issued by Essex Local
Education Authority, entitled ‘Primary Education in Essex.’ This document sets out Parents
rights and responsibilities regarding school admission in Essex. The following passage
identifies the subtle, but significant change in admission arrangements:
“As required by law all infant and primary schools provide for the full‐time admission of all
children offered a place in the Reception year group from the September following their
fourth birthday...the law does not require a child to start school until the start of the term
following their fifth birthday.”
For more information read “Primary Education in Essex 2012/13.”
Applications for Places
Catchment area admissions will be administered by Essex County Council. Out of
catchment admissions require the completion of applications and approval by the
appropriate Area Pupil Services Team. If a school place has been secured through false
information provided, the power exists to withdraw the place offered.
Admissions Procedure
Each school has a published Number Intended to Admit, known as NIA. The NIA is
identified in the guidance issued by Essex Local Education Authority, entitled ‘Primary
Education in Essex’. In 2012‐13 Holy Trinity Primary School can admit 60 children – this is a
temporary increase (usually 30) in order to accommodate the population growth in the
Halstead Holy Trinity admission area.
Priority for admissions to the school up to the NIA is settled on the following criteria:
A brother or sister attending the school at the time of application and determination;
The straight line distance between home and school.
In the case of Community and Voluntary Controlled schools medical reasons may be
considered if supported by medical evidence, irrespective of the previous criteria.

17. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 17
Prospectus 2012‐13
Application issues
If your child has been refused a place at your chosen school you have the right to appeal.
An independent appeal panel hears these appeals. If you choose to appeal against your
refusal, there will be a period of time for you to make the appeal. After that period you
may still appeal but your chances of success may be jeopardised by the restricted number
of school places.
If you are at all unsure about applying for a school place, please feel free to contact a
member of the school Administration staff.
Tips on completing your applications
1. Use all your choices. If you leave choices blank, you may be allocated a school you
really do not want;
2. Visit plenty of schools. Listen to the thoughts of others, but don’t be blinkered by
the opinions of others. What may be right for their children, may not be right for
yours;
3. Apply as soon as you can. We suggest that you get your application done early,
avoid the late rush.
4. Take your children with you when you visit. It’s vital that your children get the
opportunity to see the schools you visit; you may be shocked at their level of
perception!
5. When you visit a school talk to the children and people that you meet, children in
particular can offer a good insight into life in school and they will invariably be
really honest in their appraisal!
Visiting Holy Trinity
At Holy Trinity it is our policy to invite senior pupils to show new and prospective parents
around the school – our children are our greatest ambassadors and know so much about
our school. They also empathise with your children and know what they will want to
know.
To visit Holy Trinity call our office to make an appointment.

18. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 18
Prospectus 2012‐13
Teaching and learning
Our school has nine classrooms, a number of resource and smaller teaching rooms. A
library, and roaming ICT facilities, namely over 100 laptops on trolleys, where pupils and
teachers have access to computers with a range of software, the internet and a whole
host of interactive learning tools.
The main school Reception and all other exits and entrances are controlled by a secure
keypad entry system. This ensures our school is safe and secure.
All visitors are asked to report to the main Reception where they will be greeted by our
administration and office staff.
Our Headteacher, Mr Smith, is also based in the main Reception area near the Key Stage
Two classrooms. Our dedicated and committed teaching staff all have specific areas of
responsibility in addition to their everyday teaching commitments.
Teaching Staff:
Staff Responsibilities
Mr Jon Smith Headteacher, Child Protection, PE, Behaviour, Finance
Mrs Jakki Sibley Classteacher, Deputy Head, Curriculum, Mathematics
Miss Liz McCullough Classteacher, Advanced Skills Teacher
Mrs Jean Barlow Classteacher, Special Education Needs
Mrs Hannah Rayner Classteacher, RE, Music
Ms Alison Purkiss Classteacher, KS1 Leader, Science, Arts
Miss Hannah Pegram Classteacher
Miss Sarah Presland Classteacher, Gifted and Talented
Mrs Laura King Classteacher (Part‐time) Geography, History
Mrs Lyndie Gladen Classteacher (Part‐time)
Mr Karl Handy Classteacher, ICT and Website Manager
Mrs Ann‐Marie Stringer Classteacher (Part‐time)
Miss Nicola Carter Classteacher, English
Up to the minute information regarding staff and their roles can be found on our website:
www.holytrinityhalstead.com

19. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 19
Prospectus 2012‐13
Support every step of the way
At Holy Trinity Primary School we are very fortunate to have a team of highly skilled and
dedicated Teaching Assistants who make a huge difference to the life and education of
our children.
Teaching Assistants:
Mrs S Acres Mrs A Ancient Mrs L Butterley
Mrs J Cotton Mrs S Day Mrs D Hackett
Mrs L Hood Mrs K Keen Mrs N Kenny
Miss J Love Mrs D Raven Mrs J Ridgwell
Mrs O Shreeve Mrs D Stokes Mrs S Thomson
Mrs S Weavers Mrs T Willis Mr M Wiskin
Mrs A Wrigley‐Brooks
The School is supported by a host of support staff who deal with school administration,
the school premises and pupil welfare.
Support Staff:
Staff Responsibilities
Mrs Carolyn Betchley Finance, Personnel, Premises
Mr Phil Randall Site Management, Lettings, Health and Safety
Mrs Chris Aves Office, Pupil Administration
Mrs Helen Riley Office Manager, Pupil Administration
Mrs Jaqueline Cotton Finance Assistant and Data Input
Mrs Gill Smith Cleaning
Mrs Carol Crisp Catering Manager
Mr Mike Widdick Catering Manager
Mrs Sue Philips Cleaning, Catering
Mrs Sandra Houston Catering

20. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 20
Prospectus 2012‐13
Including everyone
Our primary concern as a school is the welfare and education of the children in our care.
At Holy Trinity Primary School we do far more than just educate a child academically; we
take great care to guide and model the future of the ‘whole child’. Every decision we make
is guided by the interests and needs of our children.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
At Holy Trinity Primary School our aim is to give every child a broad, balanced and relevant
curriculum. Sometimes children do encounter difficulties and challenges at school and our
Special Educational Needs provisions and policy at Holy Trinity Primary School are
designed to help children through these periods in their life. Our class teachers will sustain
a good level of communication with parents and carers and discuss child's particular needs
on a regular basis.
Expertise
On occasions it may be necessary for our staff to call upon further support from Essex
Local Education Authority.
The LEA have access to a range of specialists including expertise in the following areas:
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Educational Psychology
• Behavioural Support
• Physical Impairment
It is our aim to ensure that Holy Trinity Primary School is a fully inclusive school where all
children, whatever their needs and talents, feel included.
Gifted and Talented
Children with particular talents, in all aspects of school life, will always be encouraged and
catered for at Holy Trinity Primary School. Miss Sarah Presland, our Gifted and Talented
Children Co‐ordinator, monitors the progress of our Gifted and Talented children,
supports classteachers and manages opportunities for their development in and outside
school hours.

21. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 21
Prospectus 2012‐13
Special Needs
SEN ‐ What can I expect?
Information:
Our class teachers will review children's progress with parents on a regular basis. As a
school we operate an ‘open door’ policy where, whenever possible, your concerns can be
addressed immediately.
Structure:
Children with Special Educational Needs will have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) ‐ a
programme that addresses children’s specific learning needs. These are reviewed at least
once every school term.
Guidance:
All cases of children with Special Educational Needs are managed at Holy Trinity Primary
School by our SENCO—Mrs Jean Barlow a specialist in Special Educational Needs issues.
Inclusion:
Our staff are dedicated to providing a sympathetic and nurturing environment for all
children in an inclusive manner. As an inclusive school we firmly believe that all our
children can make a full and positive contribution to school life.
Support:
Our team of teaching assistants play a vital role in all our work. Teachers and Teaching
Assistants work with both groups and individuals in order to provide support both in and
outside lessons.
If we cannot provide the support from within the school we can often make arrangements
with external agencies to provide support. As with any issue that is causing you concern or
worry, please come and talk to us, we are here to help.

22. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 22
Prospectus 2012‐13
Curriculum
In 2005 Holy Trinity Primary School undertook a year long review of the school curriculum
as a response to the National ‘Excellence and Enjoyment’ initiative. This initiative
encouraged primary schools to ‘personalise’ their curriculum to meet the needs of their
community, learners and local circumstances.
Our response to create a ‘skill based’ curriculum founded upon the principles of the Early
Years Foundation Stage (EYFS); learning is organised into 6 Areas of Learning, these are:
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Communication, Language and Literacy
• Mathematical development
• Knowledge and understanding of the World
• Physical Development
• Creative Development
These areas of learning knit together to form a curriculum that as well as meeting the
National Curriculum requirements, is tailored to the meet the needs of our children.
Cross curricular learning ‘makes sense’ to children; it enables them to make valuable links
and connections between their learning rather than learning in ‘isolation.’
Examples of sculpture ready for animation –
produced by children for our ‘Wallace and
Gromit’ learning theme. This work led to
scripts for animation, writing stories in the
style of ‘Wallace and Gromit’ then complete
animation sequences.

23. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 23
Prospectus 2012‐13
The Wider Curriculum
School Library
Our school library is open three evenings a week (times and dates are publicised in our
newsletter and subject to change).
All pupils can become members of our library and families with pre‐school age children
can join our library and borrow any resources. We have a library loyalty card ‐ regular
visitors can get their passport stamped and the cash the passport in for prizes and free
gifts.
Sex Education
The governing body of Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School agreed on 14th May
2003 that the school should continue to provide sex education for its pupils. A policy for
Sex Education was drawn up following consultation with parents, staff and governors.
Throughout the school children will learn about relationships, families and basic health
awareness, but in the later stages of Key Stage Two it becomes very important for children
to learn some of the more formal aspects of Sexual Health Education.
In Year 6 children take part in a major programme of Sexual Health Education. Parents will
be notified before this programme begins.
Details of the programme can be found in the approved School Sex Education Policy. Prior
to the implementation of the sessions parents have the opportunity to view plans for the
programme.
Parents have the right to withdraw their children from all or part of the sex education
programme, but not from the National Curriculum elements of study.
Religious Education
We are a Church of England School and proud of our status. RE is not within the National
Curriculum, but is a compulsory subject. We follow the Essex agreed ‘RE Matters for Every
Child’ RE Syllabus – this is broadly Christian in content, but does visit aspects of other
major world religions. This document is available on our website.

24. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 24
Prospectus 2012‐13
Early learning = lifelong learning
The Foundation Stage is the first stage of the National Curriculum focusing on the distinct
needs of children aged 3 to the end of the reception year in primary school. The
Foundation Stage is delivered in a range of settings. At Holy Trinity Primary School we take
children at the final year of the Foundation Stage.
Foundation Stage learning has six learning areas. These are:
• personal, social, emotional development;
• communication, language and literacy;
• mathematical development;
• knowledge and understanding of the world;
• physical development; and
• creative development.
Each learning area has early learning goals. The goals set out the skills, understanding,
knowledge and attitudes that, it is hoped, children will reach or exceed by the end of the
Foundation Stage. Children will be at different stages of progress towards these goals
depending on their age and stage of development. All children are individuals and not all
will fit into this typical pattern of progress. Our teachers understand this and take this into
account when planning activities and experiences.
Learning Through Play
This period of life and learning is really important both in its own right but also in
preparing children for later learning. From the age of three to five, children grow, develop
and learn rapidly.
Most children go through the same stages but each child is different. They choose their
friends and develop their own preferred ways of learning. Children aged three, four and
five are constantly encountering new experiences which they try to understand. As they
do so they explore the world around them, ask questions, extend their skills, develop their
confidence and build on what they already know.
Well planned play is central to learning in the Foundation Stage, making learning both
challenging and fun. The indoor and outdoor 'classrooms' are organised to give children
plenty of space to move. The role of the adult is crucial in supporting children's learning
through planned play and extending and developing children's spontaneous play.
In the Foundation Stage children practise skills, build up ideas and concepts, think
creatively and imaginatively and communicate with others as they investigate and solve
problems.

25. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 25
Prospectus 2012‐13
Making a positive contribution
Holy Trinity Primary School has a special link with the charity ChildLine. We are one of the
schools that work alongside ChildLine on the CHIPS initiative…Childline in Partnership with
Schools.
Our Year 6 children apply, in writing to become a Peer Supporter, the applicants are then
interviewed and the selected pupils receive two days of training from ChildLine in Peer
Support and Mentoring. Miss Sarah Presland and Mrs Nikki Kenny are both qualified Peer
Mentor Trainers and they spend time supporting and mentoring our team of Peer
Mentors.
The Peer Mentors help by:
• Listening to other children who come to them with a problem;
• Looking out around the school for anyone who looks lonely or worried;
• Talking to children who have fallen out with a friend or group of friends.
Play Leaders
In 2006 Holy Trinity first received the Sports Activemark Award from the Department for
Education and Skills. This award recognises excellence in School Sport and PE. Play Leaders
work on the Playground at break and lunchtimes. Their role is to:
• Organise and supervise games and play equipment for pupils;
• Settle minor disputes on the playground that arise from games;
• Learn how to referee and supervise different sports and games;
• Identify new games and equipment that children would enjoy.
Like the Peer Mentors our Play Leaders go through a tough application and training
process before they are made Play Leaders.
High Expectations
As a school we have very high expectations of our Peer Mentors and Play Leaders – this is
why the selection process is very rigorous. We demand the highest standard of behaviour
at all times because every peer mentor and play leader must be a good role model for the
rest of the school.
Our Peer Mentors and Play Leaders are highly skilled young people and we hope that the
skills they have learned at Holy Trinity will serve them well in the future as good citizens.

26. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 26
Prospectus 2012‐13
Sport and Healthy Lifestyles
Our provision for Sport at Holy Trinity is something we have worked very hard to develop
in the last four years. In 2006, for the very first time, Holy Trinity was presented with the
Sport England Activemark Award ‐ a national award that recognises excellence in provision
for school sport.
Although we focus on participation, we have a number of competitive sports teams who
take part in local festivals and tournaments. We currently have teams in the following
sports:
Football Girls Football Cross Country Running
Netball Cricket Rounders
Athletics Rugby Mixed Football
PE Clothing and Equipment
See Section on ‘Things your children will need in School’ Page 9.
After School Activities
To compliment our work in school, we try to provide a wide range of after school activities
or ‘extended services’ including the following before and after school activities:
Gymnastics Club Football ICT Club
Art Club Drama Club Football Club
Library Club Nintendo DS Club Plus others…
Our activities are very popular and waiting lists can be lengthy. Every term we ask families
to re‐apply for activities, these are then allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Breakfast Club
Every Thursday and Friday morning (8.15 am ‐ 8.45 am) we hold our Breakfast Club. There
is a small fee to come to Breakfast Club (25p per day) and this includes entry, plus cereal
or toast and a drink. Entry is free for all families with a free school meal entitlement.

27. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 27
Prospectus 2012‐13
A Healthy School
Holy Trinity holds Healthy School Status ‐ our school has been judged to provide an
environment where children can thrive and develop a healthy approach to life.
Provision in school is judged against a series of core themes. The four core themes are set
our below:
• Personal, Social, Health & Economic Education
• Healthy Eating
• Physical Activity
• Emotional Health and Well being
Aspects of our work that have made a significant contribution to our Healthy School status
include:
• Peer mentoring and Play leaders
• Outstanding contribution to inclusion
• School Shop
• School Council
• Commitment to pupil voice in school
• 2 hours per week of PE and Sport
• Extensive after school activities
• Daily healthy snacks
• Counseling support
• First Aid qualifications of teaching staff
• Comprehensive programme of Sex Education
As part of our school self‐evaluation we continually discuss our provisions for health,
safety and well being with children. Provisions such as after school clubs, learning through
technology, class newsletters and ‘curriculum weeks’ are the result of extensive
consultation with our children.

28. Holy Trinity Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 28
Prospectus 2012‐13
Appendices
As part of the school prospectus we include a series of useful appendices, these are
documents that will give you even more information about our school. The current list of
Appendices is:
Latest OFSTED Report
Home School Agreement
National Test Results (Key Stage Two)
School Term Dates