CROSSCANONBY ST JOHN'S C OF E SCHOOL - 'A little school with a big heart.'

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SEND - 'Special Educational Needs and Disabilities' and our SENCo - 'Special Educational Needs Coordinator'

Our school has a qualified and experienced SENCo who oversees all SEND provision - Mrs Kelly Bowe. She works closely with all staff, parents, and external agencies to ensure that every child with SEND receives the support they need to reach their full potential.

SENCo - Mrs Kelly Bowe: email: head@crosscanonby.cumbria.sch.uk   Tel: 01900 812326

Our SEND Policy is available to view on our website:

https://crosscanonby.cumbria.sch.uk/parents/policies

https://crosscanonby.cumbria.sch.uk/about-us/send

We are committed to building strong, trusting relationships with our parents and are always available to discuss any concerns you may have. We are proud to be an inclusive school and look forward to working with you to give your child the best possible start.

CATERPILLAR CLASS - EYFS: NURSERY AND RECEPTION

Our Caterpillar Class is for the children in Nursery and Reception. Their class teacher is Mrs Mogford. She is supported by Mrs Moore and Miss Turnbull (Monday - Thursday), and Mrs Gibson and Miss Turnbull on Fridays.

Mrs Mogford (class teacher) can be contacted via Class Dojo or by telephoning school - 01900 812326.

The Early Years Foundation Stage covers the Nursery and Reception years. At Crosscanonby St John's CE School, the children are taught in a well resourced classroom with a continuous provision to meet the needs of all pupils. The children have access to outside learning daily. In addition enhancements are provided to meet the needs of individual children and are tailored to the interests of the children.

We pride ourselves in taking the children out to local places of interest and inviting visitors into school.

The staff are highly qualified and pupil to staff ratios are low.

All children are provided with a healthy snack mid-morning; fresh water is available throughout the day for children's water bottles to be filled.

At Crosscanonby Primary School, we aim to provide a balanced curriculum across the seven areas of learning, providing opportunities for children to engage in activities that are adult led, child initiated and guided and supported by adults.

There are seven areas of learning and development which are all important and interconnected.

The three prime areas are important to develop children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, for building their ability to learn and to thrive.

The prime areas are;

  • Communication and Language
  • Physical Development
  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Children are also supported through the four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied.

The specific areas are;

  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding the world
  • Expressive art and design.

Practitioners working with the youngest children will focus strongly on the three prime areas of learning. As the children grow in confidence and ability within the three prime areas the balance will then shift towards a more equal focus on all areas of learning. However the three prime areas will continue throughout the EYFS with the aim that all children will have the skills in the prime areas that will enable them to access the Year 1 curriculum.

Directed Learning

Children will have some small group times and whole group times for directed learning. The balance of time spent in directed learning will change as children progress through the EYFS.

Phonics is the key approach for teaching reading and is delivered in ability groups and is reinforced by activities children can access when making choices about the activities they take part in.

We have implemented the 'Twinkl Phonics' Scheme (an approved Phonics teaching scheme). All staff have completed CPD training to ensure that our approach is consistent throughout.

The Twinkl Phonics Approach is a rigorous and proven multi-sensory approach. The children can join in with the adventures of Kit, Sam and the Twinkl Phonics family, while they receive the vital building blocks they need to read and write. Our multi-sensory approach includes: engaging activities focused on developing and applying reading and writing skills. mnemonics, actions, handwriting formation rhymes and songs to reinforce sound and letter recognition, as well as active repetition to ensure rapid recall of grapheme-phoneme correspondence (GPCs) and common exceptions words.

Co-ordinating reading books are used to support the structure of this teaching scheme - 'Rhino Readers'. These are an an exciting, original collection of engaging fully-decodable books, exactly aligned with Twinkl Phonics, covering all levels. Children will only encounter the sounds and tricky words they’ve already learnt at their stage of the scheme. The books include a wide range of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, quizzes and fabulous illustrations. The books reflect the world in which we live, promote diversity, and keep 21st century readers turning pages. Children and parents will be able to have access to our eBook library via the free Rhino Readers app, and in hard copy as they are published. 

Mathematics and Literacy are also taught in focused groups. Wherever possible a multi sensory approach is adopted and children are given opportunities and resources in order to practise the skills taught both indoors and out.

The Early Years' framework states that,” Each area of learning and development must be implemented through planned, purposeful play and through a mix of adult led and child initiated activities.”

We plan a balance between children having time and space to engage in their own activities and those that are planned by adults. During children’s play practitioners interact to stretch and challenge children further.

Child Initiated Learning

Through play, our children explore and develop learning experiences which help them make sense of the world. They have the opportunity to practise skills, develop ideas and think creatively alongside other children as well as individually. The children communicate with others as they investigate and solve problems. They become engaged for sustained periods as they have ownership over their own learning. How children learn is known as their characteristics of learning.

 “The ways in which the child engages with other people and their environment – playing and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically – underpin learning and development across all areas and support the child to remain an effective and motivated learner.” Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage – non statutory guidance material 2012.

At Crosscanonby St John’s CE School, we are committed to providing an inclusive and nurturing environment where every child can thrive. We believe in working in close partnership with parents and carers to ensure that every child's unique needs are met, and they have the best possible start to their learning journey.

The information below explains how we identify and support children who may have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in our EYFS setting:

1. Our Approach to Identifying Needs

We follow a graduated approach to identifying and supporting SEND, in line with the SEND Code of Practice. This is a cycle of Assess, Plan, Do, Review that is embedded into our daily practice.

  • Ongoing Observation and Assessment: Our experienced EYFS staff continuously observe and assess every child's development against the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework. We use our professional judgement to identify any areas where a child might be making less than expected progress.
  • Listening to Parents: We know that parents are a child's first and most enduring educators. We value your insights and knowledge of your child. If you have any concerns about your child's development, we encourage you to speak to Mrs Mogford – class teacher or our Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) – Mrs Bowe - as soon as possible. Your voice is central to this process.
  • Early Intervention: We believe in early intervention. This means that if we have a concern, we will not wait for a formal diagnosis. We will put support in place and monitor its impact to ensure your child can access and benefit from all the learning opportunities available.

Please find at the end of this page, details of suggested websites that can be accessed at home to support your child’s learning and development in the Early Years. We hope you find this information useful and enjoy using these sites to enhance your child’s learning experiences at home!

Please remember to review the sites ahead of time so that you are able to help your child find the best resources available within the sites. Some offer a great number of games, songs, stories, videos etc. so it is important to know the site well in order to support and develop your child’s learning.

The children also benefit from a weekly PE session, on Wednesdays, with our Sports Coach, Andy and a weekly Music session with Mr Clarke.

A Baseline check is carried out with children in Reception within the first 6 weeks of them starting; this consists of a series of short activities run by their class teacher.

 

CLASS 1

Class 1, which consists of Year 1 and Year 2. The children are taught by Miss Moore and are supported by Miss Summerfield and Miss Libby throughout the whole day.

The children also benefit from a weekly PE session, on Wednesdays, with our Sports Coach, Andy and a weekly Music session with Mr Clarke.

The Teaching of Phonics in Class 1

Phonics lessons are taught daily to all children in Class 1; children are grouped according to the phonics' phase they are working within.

We have implemented the 'Twinkl Phonics' Scheme (an approved Phonics teaching scheme). All staff have completed CPD training to ensure that our approach is consistent throughout.

Co-ordinating reading books are used to support the structure of this teaching scheme - 'Rhino Readers'. These are an an exciting, original collection of engaging fully-decodable books, exactly aligned with Twinkl Phonics, covering all levels. Children will only encounter the sounds and tricky words they’ve already learnt at their stage of the scheme. Staff will determine when children are ready to access these books and parents are encouraged to hear their children read every day, if possible. 

The Phonics Screening Check

The Phonics Screening Check takes place for Year 1 children and any Year 2 children who did not make the check when in Year 1; this is usually in June. Children throughout the country will all take the test during the same week. If they are absent from school during that week, they will take it within the specified time frame. Children in year 2 will also take the check if they did not achieve the required outcome when in year 1 or if they have not taken the test before. The Phonics Screening Check is designed to allow schools to assess whether children have made expected progress within their phonics learning and have reached an appropriate standard. It can help teachers to identify gaps in children’s phonics knowledge and gives the school a picture of where children may be excelling or requiring extra support.

The Phonics Screening Check is designed not to be stressful for your child. We will have prepared your child well for it beforehand and it will not be referred to as a ‘test’. The check contains 40 words. Some of these words are real words and some are ‘non-words’ or ‘nonsense words’. Your child will be prepared for the fact that some of the words will not be real words and these words are identifiable during the test by having a small image of an alien next to them. These ‘non-words’ are important because all children will need to use their decoding skills to read them as they will have not been learnt by sight. The test will take around 10 minutes per child, although children are allowed to work at their own pace and there is no time limit. If your child is struggling, the teacher can stop the check. Each child will sit one-toone with an adult and will be asked to read the 40 words out loud.

The Phonics Screening Check will take place in the week commencing Monday 8th June 2026.

Key Stage 1 SATs

Children take Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2) in: - Reading - English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (an optional paper), and Maths. 

SATs are a series of Maths and English assessments, carried out in two stages during your child’s primary education.

KS1 SATs are non-statutory from 2023-2024, but such tests may be used to contribute to evidence-gathering for Teacher Assessment.

Key Stage 1 collection of evidence for Teacher Assessment will take place during May.

 

CLASS 2

Class 2 is a combination of Year 3 and Year 4. The class is taught by Miss Martin and is supported by Mrs Gibson, Miss Baxter and Miss Fisher. 

The children also benefit from a weekly PE session, on Wednesdays, with our Sports Coach, Andy and a weekly Music session with Mr Clarke.

YEAR 4 - Multiplication Tables Check

If you have a child currently in Year 4,  they will be participating in the multiplication tables check in June. The purpose of the check is to determine whether your child can fluently recall their times tables up to 12, which is essential for future success in mathematics. It will also help us to identify if your child may need additional support.

The Multiplication Tables Check is an on-screen check consisting of 25 times table questions. Your child will be able to answer 3 practice questions before taking the actual check. They will then have 6 seconds to answer each question. On average, the check should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete.

The Multiplication Tables Check will be carried out in the two week period starting on Monday 1st June 2026.

CLASS 3

Class 3 is a combination of Year 5 and Year 6 pupils. The class is taught by Mr Corkill and has the support of Mrs Hodgins in the mornings.

The children also benefit from a weekly PE session, on Wednesdays, with our Sports Coach, Andy and a weekly Music lesson with Mr Clarke.

Key Stage 2 SATs

At the end of Year 6, our children will sit tests in:  

  • Reading
  • Maths
  • Grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS)

These tests are both set and marked externally, and the results are used to measure the school’s performance (for example, through reporting to Ofsted and published league tables). Your child’s marks will be used in conjunction with teacher assessment to give a broader picture of their attainment.

The KS2 SATs for English and Maths taken since 2016 reflect the amended national curriculum, and are more rigorous than previous years' tests. There is also a new SATs marking scheme and grading system which has replaced national curriculum levels.

In 2020 and 2021 KS2 SATs did not take place due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Primary school SATs results will not be published in national league tables until 2023 to reflect the disruption to children's learning.

DATES FOR KEY STAGE 2 SATS - Monday 11th May 2026 - Thursday 14th May 2026.

Monday 11th May 2026 Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling - Paper 1
Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling - Paper 2
Tuesday 12th May 2026 English Reading
Wednesday 13th May 2026 Maths Paper 1 (Arithmetic)
Maths Paper 2 (Reasoning)
Thursday 14th May 2026 Maths Paper 3 (Reasoning)

 

Please find below, details of suggested websites that can be accessed at home to support your child’s learning and development throughout their primary school education. We hope you find this information useful and enjoy using these sites to enhance your child’s learning experiences at home!

Please remember to review the sites ahead of time so that you are able to help your child find the best resources available within the sites. Some offer a great number of games, songs, stories, videos etc. so it is important to know the site well in order to support and develop your child’s learning.

EYFS:

  • www.busythings.co.uk

Excellent site built around the 7 areas of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage. You can access a free 7-day trial but you need to subscribe after this period to access the content – various subscription packages available.

  • http://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/freeIndex.htm

Great site with some free phonics games

  • www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies

Many games often recognised by children from their favourite programmes.

  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/eyfs/

Links to particular cbeebies games from areas of learning.

  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/stories

Cbeebies stories and rhymes.

  • http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/

Interactive books and reading activities to share with your child at home.

  • http://www.funwithspot.com/

New and improved! Try creating your own Spot story.

  • www.sebastianswan.org.uk

Books for reading together with links to understanding of the world (good for natural science).

  • http://www.ictgames.com/

Some excellent numeracy and literacy resources

  • http://www.ictgames.com/looCoverWriteCheck/LCWC_demo/index.html

Good for spelling high frequency and tricky words!

  • http://www.crickweb.co.uk/Early-Years.html

Lots of maths and literacy games

  • www.boowakwala.com

Many games and songs including those relating to festivals.

  • www.poissonrouge.com

Many delightful games. Spend some time exploring!

  • http://www.topmarks.co.uk/Search.aspx?Subject=37

Games of varying quality to support different areas of learning.

  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/

The Little animals’ activity centre - plenty of good quality activities to support learning

  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/story/sbi.shtml

The Little animals’ activity centre – stories

  • www.abc.net.au/children/play

Various educational games, videos and craft ideas

  • www.britishcouncil.org/kids-songs-little-kids.htm

British Council “Learn English” – songs and stories

  • http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/15.cfm?s=15&p=252,index

Good quality games from a range of websites such as BBC. Supports communication, language and literacy, problem solving, reasoning and numeracy as well as other areas of learning.

  • www.bbc.co.uk/schools/numbertime/index.shtml

Problem solving reasoning and numeracy

  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/barnabybear/

Visit the world with Barnaby Bear!

CLASS 1:

  • Learning and Exploring Through Play www.learningandexploringthroughplay.com
  • Messy Little Monster https://www.messylittlemonster.com
  • Hello Wonderful https://www.hellowonderful.co
  • Music with Nancy https://youtu.be/egt_2WBjeOM
  • Imagination Tree https://theimaginationtree.com/
  • Best Ideas for Kids https://www.thebestideasforkids.com/
  • Twinkl https://www.twinkl.co.uk
  • Cool resource to learn about deep sea creatures https://neal.fun/deep-sea/ National Geographic Kids
  • https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/
  • Oxford Owl for Home https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/
  • Topmarks https://www.topmarks.co.uk/
  • Mystery Science https://www.mysteryscience.com
  • Cbeebies https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies
  • Cbeebies Radio https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/radio
  • Nature Detectives https://naturedetectives.woodlandtrust.org.uk/naturedetectives/
  • TTS https://www.tts-group.co.uk/home+learning+activities.html
  • Hungry little minds https://hungrylittleminds.campaign.gov.uk/#3
  • Classroom secrets https://classroomsecrets.co.uk
  • Arcademics https://www.arcademics.com

CLASSES 2 and 3:

WEBSITES TO HELP CHILDREN WITH STATUTORY ASSESSMENTS: