Chestnuts Primary School

"Making Learning Irresistible" 

Through this link you can read about;

• Chestnuts School Vision                  * Admissions          * The Curriculum                    
• School Meals                           *Chestnuts aims & values                 
• School Uniform                               *PE & Swimming at Chestnuts  
• Extended Services                     *How to pay fee

Our school vision
We aim to ensure that pupils leave Chestnuts Primary School having identified a skill, talent or aptitude, and with a sense of their own uniqueness.  We teach children to challenge self imposed restrictions, foster high aspirations and encourage positive self esteem, enabling them to leave our school secure in the knowledge that the world is at their feet. 

We motivate and inspire pupils through our creative curriculum and teaching which is innovative, weel paced and child initiated and hopefully makes learning irresistible.

We expect children in our community to reach age related levels, in line with national standards, as a minimum and ensure that the barriers to learning are removed so that every pupil reaches their full potential.

At Chestnuts, we teach pupils to take responsibility for their own actions; children learn that they choices and learn to evaluate the consequences of the choices they make.

All members of the school community, including pupils, staff, governors, and parents, recognise that they hold a stake in Chestnuts Primary School; they are committed to establishing a life-long love of learning, enabling our children to take their place confidently within a rapidly changing world.

Our school aims

Working in partnership with parents to develop the whole child and their love for learning is important to us and that aim is reflected in all we do.  On this website we have tried to include as much information about our school as possible, we have also included some useful links and educational games for children to play.  Our children are aged between 4 and 11 and this site has been designed with them in mind, we hope our website is useful to both children and adults.  Parents can find lots of information about forthcoming events through the calander link in the "News" menu.  You can also find out information about your child's class and the work they have done.

Our School
Chestnuts Primary was formed in September 2004 following the amalgamation of separate infant and junior schools.  We offer places to 420 boys and girls.  We have 14 classrooms, an art room, music room, two sensory rooms, a garden and cooking room, and a state of the art ICT suite. 

There are 55 adults working in the school (19 teachers, 19 Educational Support staff and 17 site, kitchen and administration staff)  Take a look at our Who's Who. The children are primarily taught in their year classes.  They have weeky music lessons with our specialist music teacher and swimming in our pool with our swimming instructor.

Admissions
Chestnuts is a very popular local school and have a waiting list for most year groups.  If you are considering Chestnuts as your child's school we would recommend that you come and see us.  Call the school office for an appointment.  Children are admitted to Chestnuts in accordance with Haringey Council admissions criteria.   Click here to see the Haringey admissions Policy.

Attendance

Over the last few years we have been working really hard with parents to improve the attendance and punctuality of children at chestnuts. We were delighted when in 2010/11 our attendance percentages exceeded national averages at 95.75%. Well done and thank you everybody!



The Curriculum
In September 2011 we are launching our revised and update currciculum.  Since 2007 we have taught our children through the exploration of topics.  We call this our "Chestnuts Learning Journey".  Our creative approach to the curriculum is designed around the teaching of topics which are relevant to our children.  In September 2011 we have introduced topics with a real sense of community.  We want our children to understand their community and how society operates and why.  We have introduced topics such as "democracy" in Year 5 and "people who help us" in year 1.  We believe it is important that children leave Chestnuts having good, confident social skills and an understanding of society.  The other key development in our curriculum is the increased emphasis on the teaching of skills.  In this ever progressive world we believe that if our children are taught information gathering skills they can then easy go out and source the information for themselves.   

All lessons are taught through topics and linked together to provide children with a learning journey that simply makes sense and is connected. Chestnuts aims to provide a happy, creative yet structured environment for learning based on mutual respect and high expectation.  Take a look at our topic map. Topic map Parents/carers receive a curriculum update every half term from the teachers letting them know about the topics and how they can support their child's learning at home.  Click here for more information about the Curriculum.

Attainment & Achievement

The national testing (SATS) at year 2 is showing us that steadily year on year our results are improving and we are closing the gap on national averages. We are delighted with the progress of our children.



In the national testing for our year 6 children (SATs) we have been making steady progress over the last 4 years, particularly in English. Some of our year 6 children in 2010/11 needed lots of additional support in maths and this is reflected in the slight attainment dip last year. We fully anticipate to again close the gap on national averages in 2011/12.



School Meals
We have a split lunch break with Infants eating between 11.55 - 12.55pm and Juniors between 12.25 - 1.25pm.  The vast majority of children at Chestnuts eat school meals.  We run our own kitchens and as such the school meals are excellent!  Click here to view our current menus.  School meals cost £1.90 per day and present excellent value for money.  We highly recommend school meals and discourage children from having a packed lunch. Our School Council also run a snack shop where children can buy healthy snacks at breaktime. We also offer a “Daily Choice” option for our packed lunch pupils. Boards are displayed outside school where you can view the following week’s menu and decide if you would like your child to have a school lunch. – Please talk to Tara in the main office indicating which days your child will be taking meals. You will be required to pay for the meals at the time of ordering them.
 
If you think your child is entitled to free school meals we can easily check for you.  Just come into the school office and ask either Tara or Louise to check for you.  You will simply need to National Insurance number for us to check for you.  Being entitled to free school meals can help you access support with breakfast and after school club fees.

School Uniform
Whilst Chestnuts does not have a compulsory school uniform many of our children choose to wear our sweatshirts and polo shirts - many parents have commented about how much more durable they are and how easy they are to wash!  The uniform is a brown or gold sweatshirt with a gold polo shirt.  The uniform can be bought from the school office on Tuesdays and Thursday before and after school.   Please collect and order form from our office. Click here to view uniform photographs  and price lists.

 

What about PE, Swimming & games
At Chestnuts we have our own swimming pool and all our children swim. We have chosen to put swimming as part of our PE curriculum and as such employ a qualified swimming instructor.  You can purchase a swimming cap from the school office.   Physical Education (PE) is part of the curriculum and children must take part in all lessons. For PE and games lessons your child will need; a pair of shorts, a t-shirt and plimsolls.  For outdoor games they can wear tracksuit trousers and sweater with trainers.

NOTE:  PE, Games and swimming are curriculum activities and such are compulsory, your child will need a medical note to be exempted. 

 

Extended service (Out of hours clubs)
We believe extra-curricular activities play a very important role in the life of the pupil and the school.  We therefore offer a wide variety of clubs for pupils to join. Click here for a link to our clubs or follow the link from the home page.
  
Chestnuts also has a very successful Ofsted registered breakfast club, after school club and holiday play scheme Click here for the link and more details.

 

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