White Notley Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Love this school! After moving my daughter from a Witham School I have been so impressed with the nurturing, compassionate teaching at the school. This school is small (less than 100 children from year R to year 6). There are only 15 in each ear group and it could be argued that the step to senior school from such a small school will seem immense to the children. The confidence that my child has been able to acquire from the excellent teaching and the way the school have got to know her as an individual however, will undoubtedly make the transition easier then if she’d been left to “sink or swim” in a larger school. The school frequently does whole school activities end the year 5 and 6 children take a leading role in supporting the younger children. This develops everyone’s confidence and belief that they are an important member of the school community but also creates a family feel within the playground and the indoor school setting. Children’s mental health is a priority at the school. Additional time is given to ensuring that children’s well-being is as well supported as their learning and that shows when you visit the school. When you speak to parents and children they will tell you that they love the school and the fact that most of the teachers have sent their own children to the school says a lot about the quality of teaching and the teachers’ own belief in the quality of the school. In some ways this school feels like a step back in time; a charming red bricked, village school with a traditional assembly and PE hall. The support offered to the children and the forward thinking of the teachers is far from a step back in time though. Small classes and attention to every child’s needs feels like some thing that all schools should aspire to and is refreshingly different