We are a learning community aiming for high standards of achievement in a purposeful, challenging, stimulating, and inclusive environment. At Higher Openshaw Community School we recognize that each child is unique and we are committed to helping every pupil succeed, whatever their background or ability. We want to create a safe, happy, and supportive atmosphere for all our children.
At Higher Openshaw, we believe that your child deserves the best and we aim to provide outstanding learning opportunities and interesting curriculum enrichment activities both within the school and on external educational visits. We place great emphasis on education ‘the whole pupil’, and make no excuses for having high expectations of our pupils.
Our staff is committed to working with your child to achieve the highest possible standards and outcomes. To achieve the very best, our children must be confident that school and home are working together to celebrate their achievements, to encourage good behavior and attendance, and to support them through times of difficulty. As well as offering a broad, creative curriculum, we spend a lot of time promoting healthy lifestyles and British values. Through the different variety of parental communication provided we hope that parents can feel connected to the school.
At Higher Openshaw Community School we firmly believe in creating a ‘Reading for Pleasure’ culture. We encourage our children to read at every opportunity they get. Whether this is comics, newspapers, fiction, non-fiction, or E-Books, we believe reading provides opportunities for pupils to reach and achieve their true potential.
The school is only responsible for the admission of pupils to its Foundation 1 (Nursery) class. All other admissions, Foundation 2 (Reception) up to Year 6 are managed by Manchester City Council. The Council’s admissions team operates an application process where your child will be allocated a place at the nearest available school. They keep a waiting list of places if our school happens to be full in the year group that you require.
During the summer of 2016, we were lucky enough to be able to build our own, unique library space for the children. They are now able to borrow books from here, our vast in-class libraries, or choose books as part of our wider reading schemes.
The internet is a fantastic place overflowing with knowledge, games, and communities of people, and the pupils here at Higher Openshaw spend a great deal of time using the internet within the school and at home. This is why it is important our pupils learn how to be safe when browsing online. The children here learn about E-Safety through taught lessons and discussions with adults and peers. We also encourage parents/carers to talk to their children about how to remain aware when online, to ensure pupils remain safe when browsing in their own time.
At Higher Openshaw Community School, we believe that all children are unique and endorse the principle that they are entitled to the teaching and support which will maximize their abilities and sense of personal worth and hence their contribution to the school and the wider community. About this, we aim to detect those areas where individual children have special educational needs and to provide for them appropriately.
At Higher Openshaw Community School, we welcome children with special educational needs and are committed to their inclusion in all aspects of school life. Children may have special educational needs either throughout or at any time during, their school career. This policy ensures that curriculum planning and assessment for children with special educational needs takes account of the type and extent of the needs of the child.
Higher Openshaw Community School seeks to develop the full potential of each child, recognizing the uniqueness of each individual. We promote high standards of education for children with Special Educational Needs and encourage their full participation in school and community decisions about their education.
At Higher Openshaw Community School, we will have regard to the SEN Code of Practice and consider the three principles for inclusion at all levels of curriculum planning. Pupils with SEN are entitled to have suitable learning challenges set for them. This is achieved through the delivery of a broad and balanced curriculum. The assessment and monitoring of the children’s needs feed planning.
We will ensure that action is taken to respond to pupils' diverse learning needs through the class teacher and Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) monitoring and reviewing through the management of SEN provision. We will help to overcome potential barriers to learning and assessment for individual and groups of children by differentiated quality first teaching, using a variety of teaching and learning activities.
