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Welcome to our new website.
We hope that you will find your visit informative and that it gives you an idea of life at our school.
Latchmere School is surrounded by parkland and situated in the green, attractive area of North Kingston close to the borders of Richmond upon Thames. Within walking distance, we have the wonderful natural resources of Richmond Park, Ham Common, Ham Lands and the River Thames with its walks and parks.
Kingston upon Thames has a long history and we benefit from being close to many historic sites including Hampton Court, Ham House and Orleans Park. A fifteen minute walk will take you to Kingston town centre.
At Latchmere School we have created a vibrant learning community in which all of our children can flourish, supported by a talented and dedicated staff. We enable all the children in our care to attain the knowledge, skills and attitudes that lead to high levels of achievement in all areas of the curriculum and equip them to be life-long learners, ready to take their place as active global citizens.Our school has many strengths: high standards achieved throughout the formal aspects of the curriculum; specialist teachers for French, Music and Art, ensuring excellent quality of work with specialist rooms; high profile for the Arts; an orchestra and two choirs; a leading role in borough primary school sports; swimming in our own heated indoor pool for the whole school; an extraordinary range of over 25 after school clubs; a Breakfast Club, After School Club and Holiday Club; a social skills programme which includes conflict management and mediation.
This is a friendly and caring school which recognises the importance of the parents and the school working together in a partnership to support the children’s education. We welcome parents into the school to take a full and active part in the life of our community and we value their views, ideas and expertise which help to enrich our school. We have a Pupil Council and a Parents’ Council, both of which are involved in the decision making and information gathering processes of Latchmere School. The school also benefits from the support of a very active parent association (LSPA).
We hope this website can answer most of your questions about the school, but if you would like to know more please contact us by either giving us a ring, sending an email or making an appointment to come and see us.
We look forward to meeting you and sharing more of the life of Latchmere with you. Valerie Al Jawad M.A. Headteacher.
To create a happy and purposeful school community that fosters mutual respect and tolerance, values individual worth and ability, and raises each individual’s self-esteem.
To develop positive relationships with families and community that foster confidence and trust.
To provide access to the National Curriculum and the broader school curriculum for all children in the school in line with the objectives outlined in Every Child Matters
.To provide a learning environment that fosters the development of each child into a person able to function well in the society now and in the future – capable, adaptable, self-reliant, sensitive, tolerant, caring, co-operative, confident, independent and flexible.
To encourage the development of creative enquiring minds, positive attitudes to learning and good work habits.
To develop a moral code that encourages self discipline, respect and good manners.
To develop an understanding of the world and the interdependence of individuals, groups, communities and nations, and celebrate our cultural diversity.
To foster an enjoyment of, and recognise the benefits to health of all aspects of the physical activity, through curricular and extra curricular opportunities.
To provide worthwhile experiences and opportunities that enrich each child’s life and spirituality.
To have fun while learning.
We place great value on working together with parents. We know this makes a great difference to the quality of the children's education. We welcome the informal links we have with you. For the first two weeks of the school year, teachers accompany their class to the playground at the end of the day, and you will collect your child from them. This is in order that you can make yourself known to them and discuss any issues. On Fridays for the rest of the year, teachers will accompany their children to the playground after school.
SUPPORTED LEARNING
You are also welcome to spend regular time in school sharing your skills and interests, which might include art, music, science, listening to children reading , assisting in the Literacy Hour and discussing their work. Please contact your child's teacher if you would like to help in this way. We also very much appreciate help from parents in accompanying classes on educational visits, and with supervision at swimming lessons.
CLASS REPRESENTATIVES
Each class has one or sometimes two parent representatives ('class reps') who provide liaison between the class teacher and the parents. Class reps also help to co-ordinate parent support for various activities (visits, cake sales, fund-raising etc.), and any social activities among the class group.
PARENT CONSULTATIONS
We hold consultation evenings with parents each term, when there is an opportunity for you to discuss your child's progress and targets in detail with their teacher. A written progress report is sent to parents at the end of each school year. From time to time we hold evenings for parents when we explain some aspect of the curriculum. There is also a Parents' Meeting arranged annually by the Governing Body. This is an opportunity for parents to hear about general issues concerning the school, and to ask questions. If you wish to see your class teacher at another time, please phone or visit the office in order to make an appointment or perhaps a number and time to phone which is mutually convenient. Mrs Al Jawad, Mrs Johnston and Mr Read try hard to see parents immediately or within 24 hours of a request being made to see them.
KEEPING PARENTS INFORMED
The Headteacher sends a regular newsletter to parents which is also posted to the 'Notice Board' section of this website. This keeps you up to date with school events and any new arrangements.
SECURITY MEASURES
At Latchmere we have a long and strong tradition of good relationships with parents. With a growing school population, however, it is impossible for anyone to know everybody who comes in and out of the school during the school day. In order to safeguard the children, we have a few security measures we ask parents to adhere to. In the morning, infant parents accompany their children onto the playground whilest junior parents say goodbye to their children in the Parents' Waiting Area. In the afternoon junior parents stay in the Parents' Waiting Area until the bell goes at 3:30 when they may enter the playground to collect their children. Parents entering the school during the day, whether to help in class or collect children, must sign the visitors' book in the entrance lobby and collect a 'Visitors Badge'.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Every person in the school community, whether teacher, support staff or child, has a fundamental right to equality of opportunity and we aim to provide this irrespective of religious persuasion, ethnic origin, cultural or linguistic background, gender, social group or disability. We belief that education has an essential role to play in promoting positive attitudes towards diversity amongst all pupils and staff. We recognise the importance of the people in our school as our most valuable resource and we are committed to developing the potential of both children and adults.
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
The school strives to create a challenging learning environment with an atmosphere of encouragement, acceptance, respect for achievements, and sensitivity to individual needs in which all children thrive. We identify those children with special educational needs as early as possible and quickly devise individual education plans to fit their needs. These are monitored regularly with parents in line with our Special Educational Needs Policy. If you are concerned that your child has special educational needs, we are keen for you come and share your concerns with the class teacher. If we identify difficulties, we will want to discuss them with you as soon as possible so that we can act together.
MORE ABLE CHILDREN
All children are offered work that suits their level of ability within the class, but more able children are offered added challenge and enrichment. In Year 5 and 6 they have the opportunity to partake in science days either at school or at the Science Museum and also go to citizenship conferences. Throughout the school children who are more able in English have the opportunity to study Spanish or German.
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
At Latchmere School, we try our utmost to ensure that each child has a rich and rewarding education. If you feel that we have got something wrong, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can sort it out to everyone's satisfaction. Ask to talk to your child's class teacher as soon as the problem arises. Give the teacher a fair chance to deal with the matter. If you are still not satisfied, make an appointment to see the Headteacher. If there are still problems, please write informing the Headteacher, giving an opportunity to respond. If you wish to proceed further, please write to the Chair of Governors explaining clearly events and your reasons for dissatisfaction.
Special statutory arrangements exist for dealing with complaints specifically about the curriculum, particularly if you feel that the law is not being complied with. You may make a formal complaint if you believe the school is failing to provide the National Curriculum in school or for a particular child, or is failing to follow the law on charging, religious education or daily collective worship. You may also make a formal complaint if the school is failing to provide the information they have to provide. If you have a complaint about the curriculum at the school and you think the governing body is at fault, you should contact the governing body. If you are not satisfied with their response, you can approach the LEA (Local Education Authority). If your complaint is about the LEA's powers or functions, you should go direct to the LEA.
This section is under construction and will be completed by early December 2007.