OUR SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION
Our single storey school makes it easily accessible for all. Ramps for wheelchair access have been built to the front door, Orion and Mars classrooms.
It is a priority for the building committee to ensure that any new developments address the needs of the community.
The school has a toilet built for wheelchair users which also has a shower cubicle.
All ceilings have been replaced with acoustic tiling to assist pupils with hearing impairments.
The needs of new pupils are carefully considered on entry to ensure that they are able to fully access the curriculum.
The school has eleven classes arranged in chronological order from YR to Y6. Each teaching space has a large workspace adjoining it. This enables the children to work as a whole class, in small groups or as individuals. The number of classes means that some classes are comprised of two year groups. These are arranged, generally, according to the age of the children, thus enabling children to be with children of a similar age. However, all children are taught according to their appropriate curriculum age group and academic ability. Our staff are experts at planning the curriculum for mixed-age classes and will always be willing to answer any questions about this process.
In addition to the classes there is a hall which is used for indoor PE, assemblies, liturgies and midday meals. There is also an information area comprising the library and ICT suite. This is a central area for the school used for supporting and developing the children’s learning.
We have developed the provision for play and outdoor classroom facilities. These include a secure pond complex with dipping platform and minibeast area. A quiet seating area with log stools and a willow hedgehog add to the interest of the site. We are continually seeking to develop the grounds further and are hoping for volunteers!
Play is a very important aspect of school life. Children who are happy and play well will also settle to learning more effectively. We have therefore developed the role of lunchtime staff to encourage active, co-operative play, both indoors and out. Children are encouraged to develop leadership roles to assist other children with play activities. The ‘Friends of St. Thomas More’s’ have already raised over £10,500 to assist these projects.
|
|
|
|
Bishops’ Building Fund Appeal
While grants from the DfEE are available for 90% of school building work, voluntary-aided schools have to raise the other 10% themselves. In 2000 the Bishop launched a fund to help all schools raise this money asking every school and every parish to contribute to a central fund which could then be distributed to schools needing building work.
Our school has been asked to raise £4,600 each year to help towards the Bishop’s fund. We have no other source of funding for this, so we are asking each family to contribute £30 per year to enable us to pay this.
The
Building fund has proved to be a great asset for Catholic Schools in our
Diocese. For St Thomas More’s in particular we have been able to complete
the following projects since the launch of the fund:-
· new roof
· new toilets
· replacement of all windows with double glazed UPVC units
· staffroom and workspace
· entrance and covered access to Year R classroom and Pre-school
· new enlarged office
· acoustic ceilings in four classrooms and improved lighting
· ceiling in the hall and redecoration, new lighting
· additional staff car parking
· extra play space for KS1 playground and shared space between the two playgrounds
· replacement of boiler to include thermostatic controls in each room
· additional landscaped areas outside each classroom to enable the children to work out of the classroom
· additional three classrooms including a music room
Plans for the future include:
The amount that each family contributes really does make a difference.