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Key Features of The Family School
A list of important characteristics which should help to make clear the way that the school operates.
FAMILY INVOLVEMENT
Families are involved in the day-to-day life of the school as a matter of course, so that it feels like a home from home, not an institution apart.
In Practice
Families are expected to spend some time on site each term, and to take part in school life which could include simply reading or cooking with small groups of children, cleaning, cooking lunch or driving the school minibus, amongst other things. Parents will always be welcome to participate in school activities, including attending the classroom sessions with their child if they desire.
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RESPONSIVE TO CHILDREN AS INDIVIDUALS
The school engages with each child as an individual, in the context of their family and the whole school, and attention is paid to the needs, motivations, abilities and interests of each.
In Practice
Children will be allowed to develop at a pace that suits them, rather than being forced to follow a timetable imposed by SATS or the National Curriculum.
This may mean that some children who are not ready for reading at 5 or 6 years, may not meet National Curriculum targets at these ages. We aim for all children to achieve a good standard in core skills by the time they transfer to secondary school.
Small classes will mean that options and choices are available to the children from the start.
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SMALL, MIXED AGE CLASSES
The school provides a wide range of appropriate and stimulating age mixes to enable children to learn from the experience of others.
In Practice
The age groups (4 -7, 7-11) correspond to broad developmental stages, and most activities will be centred on these, but there will be opportunities for mixing across groups.
Classes will have 15-18 children ideally, with a maximum of 20.
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ACTIVE, PARTICIPATORY AND PURPOSEFUL LEARNING
The Family School uses real-life activities as vehicles for learning. Children feel that what they are doing is worthwhile. As children grow older, the school supports them in the transition to more abstract and intellectual approaches – finding out that learning itself is a real-life activity – a normal and enjoyable part of life.
The Family School offers a holistic and integrated curriculum, addressing development of ability, knowledge and judgement across all ‘subject’ areas and life skills.
In Practice
The teachers will have a curriculum covering all ages through the school, addressing aspects of child development covering:
* reading and literacy
* arithmetic and numeracy
* science and technology
* creative arts, music, drama
* environment/nature
* games/sport
* social development
* emotional development
* practical development
* intellectual development
* physical development
* ethical development
The flexibility of The Family School educational approach and the small group sizes will allow the teachers to respond to each child’s individual enthusiasms, wishes and expectations.
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PROFESSIONAL AND INNOVATIVE TEACHERS
The Family School has excellent professional teachers, in tune with its core principles, who are personally engaged with the life of the school. Their skills and thorough knowledge of child development are highly valued.
In Practice
Whilst The Family School has its own emergent curriculum, teachers will have a working knowledge of the National Curriculum. We will aim for children to be well equipped academically and personally, whether they move on to state or private secondary schools.
Specialist teachers and outside experts will share their skills on a regular basis.
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LEARNING THROUGH PLAY
The Family School understands that playing is a serious activity for children, through which they explore their world, their society, and stretch their mental and physical abilities. The school values play and uses play in its teaching.
In Practice
Play provides opportunities for learning, as well as development of physical strength and control.
It includes autonomous and imaginative, structured and unstructured play, and both co-operative and competitive games.
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LEARNING IN THE OPEN AIR
Special effort is made so that, even though it is a city school, the children have regular interactions with the natural world in all its variety.
In Practice
The Family School has lots of outdoors activity, on and off site, in all weathers.
The site will have covered outdoor spaces for flexibility.
Expeditions, organic gardening and environmental craft activities will take place outdoors as well as scientific investigations, music and drama performances and art exhibitions.
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VARIED EXPERIENCES
The Family School makes good use of the resources available in London and beyond – both in terms of visits to all sorts of venues and in bringing interesting people onto site.
In Practice
There will be weekly visits to galleries, museums and other places of interest. Active links will be built with such places as farms and other schools based in rural areas.
There will be a wide range of activities open to the whole school; a school band, cooking, gardening, science and swimming groups, art clubs etc.
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HIGHEST ASPIRATIONS
The Family School takes children and their interests and activities seriously. Each individual is supported to flourish.
In Practice
We encourage everyone involved with The Family School to have the highest standards in their relationships and activities with and within the school.
We expect that children will do just as well at the ‘core skills’ as their peers in more conventional schools, and that they will develop as more rounded, confident individuals, with good practical, emotional and social skills.
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WHOLE SCHOOL COMMUNITY
The Family School has a cohesive, relaxed feel – like a large, loose extended family.
In Practice
Teachers are addressed by first names and will have pastoral responsibility that is integrated with their academic role.
Regular, whole-school meetings will ensure that children feel their views are valued and will foster the development of responsibility, co-operation, judgement and cohesion.
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HUMAN SCALE
The Family School has a small, friendly character, where everyone can recognise each other, and feel personally valued.
In Practice
We plan to have small classes of maximum 15-20 children to ensure that real relationships evolve.
The school will have a maximum capacity of 60 children, once it is full in a few years time.
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HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT
Food prepared by the school is healthy and nutritious. Children are encouraged to develop healthy eating habits. Active physical and mental play is encouraged.
In Practice
We will use organic ingredients in school lunches and cooking plans wherever possible.
Computer games and other electronic gadgets will be discouraged on the school site.
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LOCAL CONNECTIONS
The Family School endeavours to foster connections with local residents, businesses and institutions.
In Practice
We run an organic vegetable box scheme and bulk wholefood ordering scheme for families and local residents.
We hope to make available our facilities to the local community out of hours once we move into our new building.
Weekly awaydays will often be to local businesses and institutions
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ECOLOGICAL CONSCIOUSNESS
The Family School works to develop ecological understanding in all its members, and aims for best practice in its actions.
In Practice
Our purpose built school building will have a sustainable, low energy design, with a green oak frame, solar panels for hot water, natural ventilation and high levels of insulation. The building will act as a teaching resource in itself.
The children will help to manage the site as an organic ‘forest garden’.
There are bike racks for families who wish to cycle to school.
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RESPECT FOR OTHERS
The Family School consciously supports a culture of kind behaviour and views conflicts as shared problems, to be addressed immediately, and resolved together through discussion, acknowledgement, acceptance and respect.
In Practice
There are established policies to deal with disputes and problem behaviour as well as non-discrimination, child protection and fair employment.
Children are encouraged to be responsible for their own behaviour, to understand its effects and to gain insight in to themselves and others.
Teachers and parents will be encouraged to develop their own communication and conflict resolution skills.
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AWARENESS OF SPIRITUALITY WITHOUT RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION
Individual religious convictions are respected, but there is no religious instruction.
In Practice
The Family School does not celebrate any religious festivals on site, including Easter and Christmas.
Religious practice and belief is only studied when appropriate as a part of the world around us.
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