School Aims And Ethos
Introduction and Welcome
School Vision and Mission Statement
Core Beliefs
Aims for Pupils
Strategic Aims
Strategic Plan
Investors In People Action Plan
Introduction and Welcome
Welcome to Foyle View School.  This handbook is designed to help new staff quickly acclimatise to the pace of life in our school by providing a comprehensive overview of key policies, protocols and procedures. Not only will the handbook be used for induction purposes, it is also designed to be a revisable scheme of management that can be used to review and record existing arrangements within the school for all staff.  There are sections that will be reviewed on a regular basis and sections that require reviewing and updating on a more infrequent basis.  We are continually exploring to present information in more accessible forms and we would be grateful to hear your feedback on our handbook.
School Vision and Mission Statement
The Best For All - From Each The Best

We work together, guided by agreed aims and core school values, to provide a happy, caring and stimulating environment where children achieve their fullest potential, to enable them to make their best contribution to society.

Core Beliefs
At Foyle View we believe that:

All children have a right to learn

Children’s needs come first

A child's experience of being disabled is heavily influenced by the views and structures around him/her

All children should be enabled to take greater control over their lives

Children learn best in a positive, secure and relaxed environment that allows each pupil to succeed

All children can learn with varying levels of support

Every person at Foyle View School should be treated with respect

Aims for Pupils

To create an enabling, learning environment that fosters high self-esteem through high expectations

To promote self-determination

To provide individualised planning for each pupil where appropriate

To provide educational opportunities that meet individual and group needs

To meet the individual needs of the pupils, recognising the range of intelligences and learning preferences and use active and agreed approaches

To enable our pupils to be happy and autonomous learners  

To share good practice

To deliver the N. Ireland curriculum at an appropriate level

Strategic Aims
As expected these have been drawn from recent audits and reviews.  Please comment on their suitability and wording.  These set out the key headings for development over the next three years.  Appropriate action plans will accompany each aim.

 To maximise pupil achievement through ICT

 To enhance the learning experience for pupils with more complex needs.

 To pursue effective partnerships for school improvement.

 To review and agree the school system of assessment, recording and reporting

 To become an Investors in People School                            

Strategic Plan
Aim

To maximize pupil achievement through ICT

To enhance the learning experience for pupils with more complex needs.

To pursue effective partnerships for school improvement

To raise pupil achievement through a review and amendment of the school’s system of pupil assessment, recording and reporting (ARR).

Investors In People Action Plan
Action Projects to be undertaken

1.        Commitment:

Ø        To formulate a Staff Development Policy based on the guidance set out by the Standard.

2.        Vision & Direction

Ø        To re-visit the school vision with all members of the school community with a view to clarifying our vision for all. &

Ø        Set out our aims for pupils as identified in the staff review in Nov 2003.

3.        Evaluation:

Ø        To identify what needs to be done to address all aspects of evaluating staff development & plan a way forward for the school.

4.        School Planning:

Ø        To set out the school’s strategic plan which clearly identifies the long-term aims, outcome goals & measurable targets for the next 3 years.

5.        Induction

Ø        To develop induction training & mentoring programme that effectively supports all new staff, including volunteers and substitute staff.   

Ø        To develop a comprehensive and easily used staff handbook

6.        Team Leader Roles

Ø        To investigate, identify and access training in people development skills to support those in team leadership roles.

Ø         To identify what is recognised good practice and establish a system to monitor its effectiveness. 

7.        Continuous Improvement:

Ø        To carry out a review of the system for staff development with a view to further development in line with the Standard’s guidance.

8.        Costs & Benefits:

Ø        To identify and make explicit to staff clear pupil outcomes arising from staff development policy and activity.

Ø        To develop and publish a costed plan for S.D.

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