Heber Primary School is a beautiful Victorian building in the heart of East Dulwich. Situated in a quiet residential road, we are within walking distance to a range of open green spaces that we use regularly. We are also very close to transport links, enabling us to utilize everything that London has to offer.
We are a happy, unique, and creative school where all children are welcome and all achieve. Our children are eager to learn and their behavior and attitudes reflect our three key values of thoughtfulness, resilience, and responsibility.
This was also appreciated by Ofsted in our most recent inspection who reported that the school's work in promoting pupil’s personal development and welfare has been rated ‘outstanding. Sitting alongside our commitment to pupil welfare is a constant and relentless focus on the progress of every child in the school.
We consider ourselves a family. We foster strong relationships between pupils and our children create long-lasting relationships with their peers.
We provide a stimulating, creative, and challenging curriculum for every one of our pupils. We are extremely proud of the varied and meaningful learning opportunities that we provide across the curriculum and as extra-curricular activities.
Our pupils have opportunities to learn through a wide range of educational visits, experiences, and events, including residential trips. We teach an immersive and engaging topic-based curriculum and provide lots of opportunities for active learning.
We provide pupils with appropriate academic challenges and an excellent breadth and quality of education beyond the core subjects.
We are a Values-Based Learning Community. Our core values are:
- Responsibility
- Thoughtfulness
- Resilience
Schools should promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental, and physical development of their pupils. There is also a specific requirement to actively promote fundamental British values.
We provide a broad and balanced curriculum designed to fulfill our responsibility to prepare children for life in modern Britain. We ensure that fundamental British Values are introduced, discussed, and lived out through our Values-based philosophy that infuses the ethos and work of the school.
We have the highest aspirations for our children and have a relentless and expert focus on improving the quality of teaching and raising pupils’ level of achievement. We are committed to meeting the academic, social, and emotional needs of all children, whatever their starting points as they progress through the school. Our aim is for pupils to have the skills to be successful, independent, and motivated learners in readiness for their next stage of education.
We have developed our topic-based curriculum that enables children to learn in context. They are inspired to learn through exciting, meaningful cross-curricular learning opportunities.
In both Nursery and Reception, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. This is divided into six areas of learning:
<liCommunication, language, and literacy
- Personal, social, and emotional development (PSED)
- Mathematical development
- Knowledge and understanding of the world
- Physical development
- Creative development
Children in the Foundation Stage have access to all areas of the curriculum simultaneously throughout the day. They can learn both in the classroom and in their outdoor areas.
We provide a stimulating environment in which they can discover and learn about the world around them via their exploration. There are also adult-led group activities and whole-class carpet times.
An important part of our approach towards the development of reading and writing is the use of a phonics scheme. This is introduced in Nursery so that by the time our children move into Reception they are familiar with sounds and already beginning to use them in their reading and writing.
PSED is a key area of the Foundation Stage curriculum. We aim to ensure that the children feel secure and valued so that they can develop confidence in themselves and form secure, constructive relationships with others.
We aim to provide engaging and enjoyable learning opportunities that enrich the curriculum within the context of London’s history. Educational visits are a feature of school life. We regularly use the Globe Theatre, The Wetlands Centre, Science Museum, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Royal Festival Hall, and Southwark Cathedral.
