Why
Educare is Different
When childhood education is a shared responsibly between parents, teachers, community members and the children themselves, it is the beginning of a lifelong process which allows each child to develop his or her potential as a whole person. A holistic approach to education is fundamental to our philosophy.
The Educare Concept grew from a concern that a large number of young children experience failure in school. Early difficulties with learning have lasting effects on children's self esteem and the inability to communicate effectively on all levels is proven to be at the base of much of the disaffection in our society. The cause of most children's failure appears to lie in the inflexibility of the educational system which surrounds them and not within the child.
Educare has small group sizes which allow teachers to observe and assess children's needs through warm and supportive relationships. Basic literacy, numeracy and communication skills are taught alongside the expressive arts and the principles of the Alexander Technique and meditation which are used to extend children's self-awareness and develop their own identities.
Educare is extending to adult education and will aim towards becoming a small centre for community activities. The long term vision is to build a unique educational opportunity, which will influence the society of tomorrow. The use of the word 'small' indicates more than just size, it is used to emphasise belonging to a community and the human scale values this involves.
The
Aims of Educare Educare Small School has the following aims. They respond to the all round development of the young child and, therefore, are not in any order of priority.
- To help children to identify themselves as valued members of a secure group from which they can grow into confident, aspiring adults.
- To foster the spiritual and moral growth of each child as an individual and as part of a wider community.
- To develop children as independent learners with an enthusiasm for learning who are able to organise their own learning effectively, make choices, and interact within a stimulating and creative environment.
- To encourage each child to achieve an appropriate level of communication through language, mathematics, science, creative arts and information technology.
The Learning Environment
The school building is a refurbished Baptist Chapel built in 1816. It has two large halls separated by the central block. The outside play area is landscaped to extend the learning environment through large and small play apparatus and environmental study.
Educare provides an environment which facilitates learning and draws on children's interests. The learning areas are attractive and welcoming offering a wide range of well structured materials to encourage active learning. Educare provides children with a place to be quiet and reflective and a space to be active and inquiring.
The Curriculum at Educare Offers:
Listening, speaking, reading and writing activities to encourage and develop literacy skills. Specialist help for those children who find early reading and writing difficult.
Maths activities which combine practical skills with formal recording and calculation.
Opportunities to develop Science and Technology skills through practical understanding.
Access to the creative arts in the form of art, craft, music, drama and dance.
Experience of using computers to aid and support learning.
Our
curriculum also aims to balance physical and spiritual well being through
the use of some of the principles of the Alexander
Technique, meditation, and various Energy Balancing techniques. Also by looking at
diet, with every child offered a free food
intolerance test and dietary advice on-site.
The
Programmes of Study of the National Curriculum at Key Stages 1 and 2 and
the Desirable Outcomes for Nursery Education are used to plan the
curriculum. Our half term & week planning sheets are available on the
Parents notice board.
Monitoring Children's Progress
The assessment and evaluation of both learning and teaching is considered important. The staff team meet together regularly to plan and evaluate the curriculum and assess children's progress through it. Individual children's progress is monitored through observation, samples of work and recording of concepts and skills.
Assessment of children's development in all areas is shared with parents on a regular basis and used to plan the next stage of their child's learning. The Attainment Targets of the National Curriculum and the Desirable Outcomes for Nursery Education are used to provide some of these assessments.
Organisation and management
Age Groups
The school takes up to 50 children between the ages of 3 and 11 years and there is a balance between the age groups. All children are part of large and small groupings depending on the activity or teaching that they are involved in. The Kindergarten Group remains in the rear hall with their teachers but the older children are withdrawn into teaching groups in different parts of the building.
School Year
Educare offers 39 weeks of education in three terms running concurrently with state school terms.
School Day
The school day is from 9.15 am to 3.30 pm.
There is a half day option for under 5 years. 9.15-11.45 or 1.00-3.30
Staff
The staff at Educare work together as a team. There is a core staff team of three full time teachers. The team has further teaching and non teaching staff who are qualified accordingly.
Pupil/ adult ratios never exceed:
1 to 8 for Kindergarten children
1 to 15 for school age children
The flexibility of the teaching groups allow these ratios to be lower for all children at different times of the day.
Admissions
Educare Small School is open to all children and no child is denied access on the grounds of gender, race religion or disability (if they are able to access our curriculum).
Parents have to make contributions towards running costs, but by keeping fees as reasonable as possible and using alternative sources of funding we endeavour to include as many children as possible.
Out of school care
The current nature of society and the need for many parents to work has highlighted the need for quality out of school care. Young children must feel supported and safe at all times and this is a right which is denied to many children and parents because of the lack of adequate childcare facilities in the public or private sector. Educare offers before and after school care which is stimulating for the child and supports the needs of the working parent. Flexible care arrangements ensure that children are educated and cared for in an environment which they know and trust by appropriately qualified staff.
School Lunches
Children bring a packed lunch which is eaten in school.
The school has a healthy eating policy, which we encourage
parents to follow.
Parents
You as parents are a very important part of our school. Your views and feelings matter to us and we hope that you would always feel comfortable to share these with us. We are delighted to have you in school to help or visit. There is an active Parents Association which regularly organises social and fundraising events for the school.
The following are available from Mrs Steinthal for you to see at any time:
Ofsted Report for Nursery Education; Staff details; Health and Safety Policy; Equal Opportunity Policy; Special Needs Policy and Behaviour Policy.
For more information contact:
Educare Small School,
12 Cowleaze Road,
Kingston Upon Thames,
Surrey, KT2 6DZ.
Tel:
020 8547 0144.
Email: educaresmall@btconnect.com
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