School Day
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The primary school day starts at 9.00 and finishes at 3 pm.
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The secondary school day is split into two timetables, and students are in school either n the morning or afternoon.
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The Morning session is from 8.30 am to 12.00 pm. The students are timetabled for online sessions from 1.05 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.
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The afternoon session is 12.00 pm to 3.30 pm. The students are timetabled for online sessions from 8.30 a.m. to 10.55 a.m.
For the online sessions, students are expected to be logged on 5 minutes before the session starts.
School Calendar
We follow the Essex Term and Holiday Dates
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Autumn Term: |
Monday 4 September 2023 – Wednesday 20 December 2023 Half Term Break 23 October – 27 October |
73 days |
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Spring Term: |
Thursday 4 January 2024 – Thursday 28 March 2024 Half Term Break 19 February - 23 February |
56 days |
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Summer Term:
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Monday 15 April 2024 – Tuesday 23 July 2024 Half Term Break 27 May – 31 May May Bank Holiday - 6 May |
66 days |
INSET (In-service Education and Training) days are:
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4th September 2023
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5th September 2023
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4th January 2024
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5th January 2024
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7th May 2024
Uniform and Mobile Phones
The school jumper will be provided free of charge at admission. If the first is lost or damaged, a second jumper can be purchased from the school office.
Students are not allowed to wear coats in the building. These will be handed to the staff at entry and collected when leaving the school.
Mobile phones are not allowed in the school. Students hand them to a member of staff on arrival.
Trouser Uniform
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Black trousers
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White shirt
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Black shoes or trainers
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School jumper
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No headwear (unless worn for religious observance)
Skirt Uniform
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Black skirt which is worn to the knee
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White shirt
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Black shoes or trainers
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School jumper
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No headwear (unless worn for religious observance)
Tracksuit bottoms, jeans or leggings are not allowed
Nail extensions
Nail extensions should be at a reasonable length, whereby they will not interfere with the health and safety of the individual student or others. Students who come to school with nails too long are putting themselves and others at risk; therefore will not be allowed to work in their regular classes and can be sent home.
Attendance and Punctuality
Attendance at school and arriving on time is essential.
Attending today means achieving tomorrow.
Going to school every day is essential. Why? Practice Makes Perfect: Just like practising a sport or playing a game, going to school daily helps you get better at reading, maths, and all the other subjects. Those subjects will be the key to having all the options open to your student as they grow up.
The expectation is for pupils/students to attend school when they are timetabled at school and, in the Secondary section, when they are timetabled to be online.
We ask that parents to support your child by explaining the importance of being on time.
Being punctual means arriving on time for your lessons, and it's important for your learning! Here's why:
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No Rush: You don't have to rush to catch up when you're on time. You can calmly start the lesson with everyone else.
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Not Missing Anything: Teachers often start with important stuff immediately. If you're late, you might miss something essential.
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Good Habits: Being punctual is a great habit to have. It shows responsibility, and people admire that.
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Less Stress: You might feel stressed or worried if you're late. But when you're on time, you feel more relaxed and ready to learn.
So remember, being punctual helps you learn better and enables you to take responsibility. Taking responsibility is so important when you leave school and become an adult.
Curriculum
The curriculum is based on the individual student, and we take the time to understand their needs. This process is started by Kim Stayt, our Family Liaison Officer, who will get to know you and your child.
When pupils starts at Moundwood, they are assessed on:
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On reading and maths using GL assessments
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We will assess the students for any unmet needs.
This enables us to plan the best curriculum for your child.
We aim to support our pupils back into a mainstream school. The time taken to achieve that aim depends on each child and their needs. So, each student’s curriculum is designed to be delivered when they are with us. Sometimes, this can be all the way through their GCSE exams.
Key Stage (KS) 1:
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The Phonics scheme is Twinkl, and the reading scheme is Bug Club
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Educational Psychology Service (EPS) Maths Intervention - This is research-based practice on effective teaching of maths for all pupils and those with maths difficulties. This includes addressing questions about dyscalculia.
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Precision Teaching - Teaching is a method that aims to address the individual needs of students, particularly those who struggle with specific areas of the curriculum. This technique has gained recognition for its effectiveness in ensuring high accuracy and fluency in learning. As opposed to traditional teaching methods, Precision Teaching focusses on tailoring educational experiences for each student, thereby fostering an environment conducive to skill acquisition and fluency development.
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We use the Twinkl scheme for Primary PSHE.
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Our resources allow key stage 2 students to learn more about themselves, their bodies, peers, and the world around them. It prepares them for life outside and beyond school.
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PSHE activities and lessons also help children to understand different emotions and feelings, that it's important to reach out when they're struggling, and that there is always someone who can help.
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In PSHE lessons, you can give children the knowledge and tools they'll need in everyday life, both now and once they leave school. Using activities also reminds children that learning about all these new things can still be fun, however daunting it may seem.
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The resources cover the three main PSHE topics: Relationships, Health & Wellbeing, and Living in the Wider World.
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Key Stage 3 (KS3) (Content being updated)
Key Stage 4 (KS4): a list of courses available to pupils, including GCSEs
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Maths
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English Language
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Science Synergy (double award)
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Functional Skills English and Maths Entry levels and Level 1 & 2
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Vocational Courses in bricklaying, carpentry, motor mechanics and hair & beauty are delivered via a local provider one day a week.
The Secondary Section’s personal development curriculum includes
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PHSE programme of study from the PHSE Association - this covers the breadth of PSHE from all statutory RSHE requirements
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Relationships Education,
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Relationship and Sex Education
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Health Education
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Economic well-being
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Careers,
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It sets out suggested content for each key stage. Learning opportunities are spread across three core themes: Health and Wellbeing, Relationships, and Living in the Wider World.
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This is the only national programme of study for PSHE education and is signposted by the Department for Education.
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For further information on the Careers Programme (policy can be found in the policies section) for further information, please get in touch with Hayley Watson.
