Please note that many FAQ’s can be answered via our School Handbook.

General

Q. Do you have any links with the local community?

A. Yes. We are keen to work positively with our local community. Events include: music concerts, planting bulbs, litter picking and writing Christmas cards.

Q. Are dinners cooked on site?

A. Yes and children benefit from a choice of three. The menu can be found on our website.

Q. How does the new special needs centre work?

A. We are fortunate to have a 21 placed COIN which meets the needs of children with Communication and Interaction Needs. The children benefit from specialist teaching and resources within the centre and also benefit from integration into mainstream classes when it is right for the child. Please see the website for further details.

Q. How has the school coped with COVID-19?

A. A recent external visit from our School Improvement Partner celebrated that the school has coped well with the pandemic. Communication has been clear. All staff, parents and children are clear about procedures and children have settled back into life at school extremely well.

Curriculum

Q. Do the children choose a library book?

A. Yes, the children love to visit our new library each week to choose a new book to take home, in addition to their reading scheme books.

Q. Do you have a set reading scheme?

A. The Worplesdon reading scheme is not based on one scheme. We believe that children should have access to a rich range of book types. However the books are levelled using the ‘Book Bands’ so that children read books at the appropriate level for them.

Q. How do you record and report children’s learning in reception? 

A. In reception, children’s learning is captured online using EXAAT which parents are able to access throughout the year. 

Q. How much homework do the children have?

A. In reception, children will bring home their phonics to learn each day which will lead on to bringing reading books home. Further activity ideas are given through our homework passport where children are able to choose from a wide range of suggested activities. 

In year 1 to 6, reading is a priority which is supplemented with homework passports. These can be found on our website.

Admissions & transition

Q. Do children from Wood Street Infants have automatic admissions to Worplesdon?

A. Currently, Wood Street Infants is prioritised on our admissions criteria. The governors continue to evaluate this arrangement to ensure it is the best arrangement for our children.

Q. How do you transition the reception children in to school in September?

A. We stagger the children into school in groups of six. On the first day of school, the first youngest six in each class start. Two days later, the next six and so on. The children are invited to stay full-time on their first day however if parents would prefer a more part-time offer, that is easily accommodated.

Extra-curricular opportunities

Q. What clubs do you have?

A. We benefit from a wide range of clubs including rugby, football, running, multi sports, choir, orchestra, art, French etc. We are fortunate that if a child would like a new club such as yoga, we can normally drum up enough business for the club to start and be sustainable.

The school also runs an extended day club (7.45-8.45 and 3-6) which is run by school staff.

Q. Do you have a Forest School?

A. Yes, we benefit from a large Forest School with two trained Forest School teachers. Infant children access this weekly.

Q. Do the children go on school trips? If we cannot pay, do the children still go?

A. Yes, most classes go on 2-3 trips per year including visits to the farm, museums, activity centres and much more.