Purley Oaks is a community school where our ‘staff share a moral purpose to give all pupils a rich education.’ - Ofsted 2019.

We have high expectations of our children and offer a curriculum that is creative, balanced and fun, but more importantly based on the needs of our children. Our team of experienced staff are committed to ensuring that your child is fully prepared for every stage of their educational journey. Our goal is to equip them with the values and skills that will enhance their future.

We do this by taking time to build a close relationship with the children in our care. Knowing your child well and working in close partnership with you, we are able to personalise learning and help your child reach their full potential. Starting primary school is a significant milestone in not only your child's development, but also in your own lives as parents and carers. We will do our utmost to make you feel safe, happy and welcome.

Our reception is bright and spacious and our outdoor learning area has recently been renovated to create a stimulating and safe environment that facilitates learning through play. In December 2019 Ofsted said that, 'Leaders place the care and welfare of pupils and their families at the heart of all they do. There is a clear determination to ensure that no pupil is ever held back by low expectations.'

In Early Years our children are immersed in a rich, creative and stimulating curriculum which develops literacy and maths skills to an extremely high standard, as well as their emotional intelligence. There are no limits to what your child can achieve when they become part of the Purley Oaks community.

We would love the opportunity to meet you and show you our amazing school. Please email: schooloffice@purleyoaks.croydon.sch.uk:

Tuesday 11th October 2022 at 9.30am

Thursday 13th October 2022 at 9.30am

Open morning itinerary:

• Welcome to Purley Oaks by Mr Griffin (Headteacher)
• Introduction to Reception by Mrs Erfani (Head of Early Years)
• Tour of the school, in particular our reception and nursery classrooms and outside learning areas

Please note that Mr Griffin (Headteacher) and Mrs Erfani (Head of EYFS) will be available after your tour for you to speak to and ask any questions.

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OFSTED COMMENTS

'The early years team knows the children well. Staff find out what children already know and can do when they start. They use this information to plan activities that will help children the most. Children behave well in the early years. They play alongside each other happily. Parents are included in their child’s learning. The early years has an ‘open-door’ policy and invites parents to take part in lessons. Teachers also run workshops for parents so that they can help their children at home.' - September 2019

'A love of learning is evident in all areas of the school. Pupils model the school’s values of caring, sharing, learning and listening to each other. This is a fully inclusive school.' - December 2018

'Your communication with families in Nursery and Reception is exemplary. Parents are welcomed into the school every week to observe teaching, and learning logs are shared so that parents can support their child at home with ‘next steps’.' - December 2018

'Pupils’ behaviour, both in and out of the classroom, is excellent. Through the school council, pupils have a valued voice in the school. Pupils stated that they feel safe and they know who to speak to if they have a concern.' - December 2018

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PARENT TESTIMONIALS

These comments have been received from parents via feedback forms that are issued with their child's end of term school report.

'We’ve found the level of teaching in Reception class to be outstanding.'

'Thank you to the whole Reception team for the work you have put in to making our daughter's first year such a success and for making the parent/teacher relationship so easy.'

'How lucky she is to go to Purley Oaks, it is an absolute school of excellence.'

'We have been impressed with Purley Oaks Primary School, their progress and values.'

'All your hard work is greatly appreciated we would like to thank you very much. You have a big hand in shaping young minds.'

'We thank the entire school team and especially the teachers of our son for all their great work. A child with a good teacher leads a life of no limits.'

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Our Performance Against the National Average

At Purley Oaks we ensure our children are given every opportunity to reach the Early Learning goals across the curriculum. We begin teaching, in partnership with you, as soon as they have settled in to school so that you know how to support your child at home. We want children to achieve beyond what is expected and continue to develop children’s learning even when they have met the goals.

The Early Learning goal for reading states that by the end of the year, children must be able to read simple sentences including recognition of high frequency words and be able to use phonic skills to decode. It is also important that the children can talk about what they have read.

The Early Learning goal for writing states that by the end of the year, children must be able to write sentences that can be read by themselves and others. Children must use their phonic skills to encode words and use a variety of high frequency words. Handwriting must also be legible.

The Early Learning goal for number states that children must have a deep understanding of numbers to 10, including subitising, number bonds to 5, then to 10 and doubling facts. They must have a good understanding of comparing quantities and counting beyond 20.

Whilst we strive to achieve these goals, we also recognise the importance of skills such as communication, relationships and managing feelings, the arts and physical exercise, which are taught through our varied and exciting curriculum.

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SCHOOL MEALS

We run our own in-house catering service offering a highly appealing and tasty choice of dinners in line with our commitment to being a Healthy School. All children have a vegetarian or meat option (all our meat is Halal) as their main meal, plus a homemade dessert or fruit. There is also a well-stocked salad bar and freshly baked bread every day. Our weekly school dinner menu is included in this pack for your information. Meals cost £2.40 a day.

All our reception children are provided with a free school dinner as part of the government’s Universal Infant Free School Meal scheme. Free fruit is provided during the morning.

Free school milk is also provided for children under the age of 5. Parents can choose to purchase milk for children over 5 by registering with Cool Milk: www.coolmilk.com.

Please be aware that we are a NUT FREE school.

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EXTENDED SERVICES

Free of Charge Teacher Led After School Clubs

High quality clubs are an essential part of school life. They provide opportunities to enrich children’s experiences and are an excellent medium to foster good relationships between staff, pupils and parents and carers.

Reception children can develop their skills in one of the two clubs available to them: Bringing Stories to Life and our more activity based club, which is a mixture of keep fit, mindfulness and yoga.

Clubs begin at 3:15pm and end at 4:00pm. They can be booked via Weduc. A timetable of clubs for the autumn term is usually published in September.

Learning Resource Centre

We have a fantastically resourced Learning Resource Centre that children visit every week with their class. If children want to borrow a book to read at home, our LRC is open every Tuesday between 3.00pm and 4.00pm for children to visit with their parents and carers.

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EDUCATIONAL TRIPS AND VISITS

Throughout the year reception children can experience a number of different trips, visits, theme days and activities designed to develop their knowledge, language and love for learning:

• autumn welly walk to look at signs of autumn
• local church visit to learn about Christmas through story and music
• planetarium visit to school to develop a knowledge of space
• visits from people who help us: the dentist, police, train driver, librarian
• visiting farm to enhance the topic of growing – observing sheep, pigs, rabbits, goats
• incubator in class with eggs to watch chicks hatch
• caterpillars in nets, watching changes to butterfly
• growing area developed by staff and children: tomatoes, strawberries, beans, sunflowers
• trip to Lloyd park to experience travel on trains and trams
• walk to the local shops to learn about money

Parents and carers are welcome to join us as helpers on our educational visits.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions September 2022

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FURTHER INFORMATION AND HELP FOR PARENTS

By the time your child starts reception the expectation is that they will have mastered a number of basic skills. To help you and your child prepare for starting school please work on the following skills together over the summer:

Reception Skills Checklist September 2022

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Applying for a Reception Place at Purley Oaks

Our admissions are dealt with by Croydon Council Admissions. The closing date for applications is 15th January 2023 for admissions to school in September 2023. To apply click on this link: Croydon Council Admissions.

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VIRTUAL TOUR

To take a virtual tour of our reception classrooms, outdoor play and learning areas, our fantastic learning resource centre and observe a phonics and maths lesson, please click on the link at the bottom of this page.

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TIMES OF THE DAY

The school day for reception children begins at 8.40am and ends at 3.00pm. Their lunch is taken between 11.30am and 12.30pm.

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BREAKFAST CLUB

Our breakfast club opens from 7:30am until school starts and it provides children with a secure and happy environment to begin their day. Breakfast club costs £5.00 a day, which includes breakfast and supervision.

Places must be booked and paid for in advance via our school app called Weduc.

The school also accepts childcare vouchers.

Children are taken to reception by a member of the breakfast club team.

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AFTER SCHOOL CLUB

Holiplay are a local organisation who offer after school and holiday clubs across Croydon. Holiplay runs from 3.00pm until 6.30pm and includes supervision and light refreshment. Each session costs £15.00.

A member of Holiplay will collect your child from reception at the end of the school day.