Spurcroft Primary School

Spurcroft Primary School and Nursery is committed to preparing children for their future. We focus on high standards of teaching, an engaging and wide-ranging curriculum and developing a thriving relationship with the community.

At Spurcroft, we are building the skills and teaching the values that young people will need to take them forward.  We are dedicated to developing children to be ready for their future, in collaboration with families and the community. 

At Spurcroft Primary School we aspire for the children in our care to be confident learners and have self-belief in their skills and ability to reach their goals. Throughout our school we encourage pupils to form their own views and share their opinions. We strive to give opportunities for them to work independently as well as learn the importance of teamwork and collaboration with others.

Staff at Spurcroft believe that our children will thrive in an environment where clear behavioural policies, which are understood by the children, parents and staff, are fairly and consistently applied. Kindness to each other and respect for people and property is expected and explicitly taught. Pupils are given personalised feedback on their behaviour and are supported to learn to be pro-social. We follow a ‘Therapeutic Thinking’ approach, as promoted by West Berkshire Local Authority.

We have recognised the importance of mental health and emotional wellbeing as well as physical health to our pupils and staff. We will be ensuring that staff have the support and training to recognise and support those pupils who are struggling with their mental health and support from specialists is sought when needed.

Developing a love of learning is a key priority at Spurcroft. We want children to be curious, ask questions and satisfy themselves by receiving stimulating responses to their enquiries.  Children are encouraged to be responsible learners who work hard to achieve their ambitions.

We are committed to developing the ‘whole child’ through our interesting and engaging curriculum. The critical subjects of communication, reading, writing, maths, science and IT have a high priority and we support pupils to achieve, succeed and be well prepared for the next stage of their educational journey. Alongside this, teaching in music, art, technology and the humanities ensure that children develop a broad general knowledge and have opportunities to express themselves creatively.

We know that pupils need to be prepared for the challenges of entering the 21st Century workforce. Opportunities to develop good communication skills, creative thinking, financial understanding and the ability to analyse and interpret a wide range of information are woven through our topic based curriculum. Children are encouraged to be adaptive and flexible in their approach to challenges, to reflect on their learning and learn from their mistakes.

Pupils at Spurcroft learn that they are part of a local, national and global community and explore the responsibilities that this brings. We actively engage in local activities, expanding the life of the school into the surrounding area. Our focus on British Values allows children to develop an understanding of their role in the country and its democratic processes, as well as the importance of living in a diverse society, respecting other views and customs.

Across the school, we have a growing focus on children embarking on projects linking to understanding the environment, and the impact they can have on global issues.  We continue to look for new opportunities for pupils to make meaningful connections with others in our community and in the wider world.

Communication about our school is very important to us and our open approach encourages engagement with the school. We strive to provide children, parents, staff and our local community with on-going and current information about the school through a variety of media. 

We have high expectations for pupils’ learning and strive to ensure children make strong progress throughout their school life. Setting clear targets and developing transparent plans improves our school and outcomes for children. Our development plans align closely to our school’s vision and strategy. 

Our highly engaged and informed Governing Board monitor the work of the school and measure progress towards set goals. Governors work closely with the leadership team to ensure that statutory obligations are met, the financial health of the school is maintained and that the provision we offer continues to develop.

We work closely to engage all staff in our school development plans and provide professional development opportunities enabling them to contribute to and flourish within the school. Staff collaborate to ensure we are continuously providing an inspiring curriculum and learning environment.

At the heart of Spurcroft is a desire and drive to offer the children of our community the best educational experience possible.