Bradley C of E Infant and Nursery School has a diverse mix of pupils. HAZEL ETTIENNE went along to see how this is used in the curriculum there
LEARNING to Live, Living to Learn is the ethos that children, teaching staff and parents at Bradley C of E Infant and Nursery School work towards every day.
This culturally diverse school provides a warm welcome to children whose families come from around the globe and the curriculum has a rich mix of activities and projects to reflect that.
Head teacher Zoe Whitworth said: “Learning is what we focus on, but we aim to take the children’s experiences beyond that and offer lots of enrichment activities within the curriculum.”
Many of the school’s 120 pupils are part of Huddersfield’s African and Caribbean communities and during Black History Month this month it is focussing on raising achievement and expectations. Its gospel choir is one of the school’s strengths and its new CD, Happy Days, has been produced just in time for Christmas stocking fillers.
The 22 youngsters who form the choir, led by Sharon Burrell-Williams and Diane Clarkson, sing regularly at the nearby Friday Friends group for senior citizens at Bradley Court housing complex.
Pupils also enjoy taking part in a range of festivals and carnivals, including the Deighton Community Carnival.
Also, as a Kirklees Healthy School, they thrive on the range of sports on offer, including football, hockey, multi-skills and gymnastics.
Reading is a strength which the school enjoys and it is building on its successes and children’s confidences with the Reading Friends group. This started several years ago and encourages paired reading with volunteers to improve literacy skills.
As a church school it has strong links with its neighbouring community and Christianity and its teaching is at the heart of everything which the school does.
The parish worker leads collective worship in the school and supports family assemblies and those rewarding good behaviour, achievement and celebrating birthdays.
The school also extends its work into the community by welcoming parents and pre-school children three afternoons a week.
The Come and Do Crew introduces new children to the school by offering them a fun range of activity sessions.
Praise and encouragement is very much a focus. The school uses the Butterfly Strategy to improve children’s behaviour, with the whole staff team using the same phrases and consistency when dealing with pupils to ensure a positive outcome to situations.
The school celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006 and although the community which it supports and educates may have changed and diversified its values, ethos and spirit remains very much the same.
