School Vision, Beliefs & Values
Vision Statement
Our vision statement "Inspiring everyone to shine" sums up our commitment to the Fairfields community to create an environment where everyone is valued and supported to reach their full potential.
Beliefs and Values
At Fairfields we believe that:
Inclusion is at the heart of all we do
- We have inclusive classes where children are grouped according to their age and compatibility. When considering class organisation attention is given to models and practices that are designed to meet the unique SEN needs of our pupils enabling them to be educated in an inclusive setting.
- We support everyone to feel that they have a sense of belonging.
- We ensure children have opportunities to interact with each other throughout the school day enabling them to develop their communication and social skills.
Children learn best when teaching is memorable, purposeful and meaningful
- Our curriculum is delivered through a highly personalised approach enabling pupils to follow their own learning journey.
- We continually develop our skill based curriculum which encourages problem-solving and the ability to reason by generalising skills taught in a range of different learning situations.
All children can achieve
- All children can achieve because we accurately assess their starting point; carefully track their progress and have clarity about their next steps in learning.
- All pupils are provided with effective learning experiences which promotes their progress.
- We ensure that every pupil has the opportunity to experience success in learning and achieve as high a standard as possible.
- We celebrate all successes recognising that for some children small step progress is an enormous achievement.
How children learn is as important as what children learn
- We ensure that all our staff have an underlying understanding of how children learn and apply this to their everyday practice.
- We take account of individual learning styles and motivators.
Children learn when they are happy and secure
- We foster caring and trusting relationships between pupils and staff.
- Through our in depth knowledge and understanding of each child we ensure that we meet their physical, social and emotional needs in order to maximise their potential for academic learning.
- We establish a positive environment in which every pupil is encouraged to respond with socially acceptable behaviour.
- We provide a happy, secure and caring atmosphere where pupils achieve the highest possible standards.
British Values
At Fairfields we recognise the multi-cultural, multi faith and ever changing nature of the UK. We promote British Values through our spiritual, moral, social and cultural education offering many broad and balanced opportunities for development throughout the curriculum. British Values are integral with our school values: courage, resilience, determination, kindness and fairness.
British Values have been identified as five key elements detailed below, together with examples of how this is achieved in everyday practice, linked to different areas of the curriculum:
Democracy: We encourage pupils to play cooperatively, to share, to turn-take. Pupils are encouraged to work as part of a group to solve problems and to negotiate.
The rule of law: Pupils are encouraged to follow school rules, to develop an awareness of behaviour boundaries and behaviour expectations. Pupils respond well to school routines, structures and a variety of social situations.
Individual liberty: Pupils are encouraged to express their preferences using their preferred communication mode.They are provided with opportunities to express their likes and dislikes; to develop a sense of “self.”
Mutual respect: Pupils are encouraged to develop an awareness of others. They are provided with opportunities to work and play alongside others, to listen to others and respect differences.
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs: We provide pupils with opportunities to experience cultural customs; encouraging them to respect similarities and differences.
Students & Volunteers
Students and Volunteers
We welcome students and volunteers coming into school and take a variety of professional and work experience students on placement.
For information on volunteering please contact Anne-Marie Hughes via or on 01604 714777.
Volunteers to be familiar with Keeping Children Safe in Education: Keeping children safe in education 2023 (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Our Staff
Our teachers are a dedicated, skilled group of staff with acknowledged expertise and qualifications in the education of children with special needs. Our teaching staff are supported by a variety of other staff during the school day. We have a school nurse and part time support from speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and educational psychologists. Classes benefit from high staffing ratios.
Our support staff are made up of Cover Supervisors, Higher Level Teaching Assistants and Learning Support Assistants. Their role is to support the learning, care and physical needs of the children within the class. Some children are assessed as being in need of additional support, either to meet their medical or behavioural needs or in order to allow them to interact effectively with their environment or to gain access to the curriculum.
The school has a business manager, office and site staff who deal with the financial, administrative and premises duties within the school. We are committed to the continuing professional development of our staff. We ensure that all staff have access to relevant training to meet both their own personal and professional development needs and to facilitate the development of the school in line with strategic priorities.
All teachers have a wide range of in-service training, particularly in relation to special needs.
Our Leadership Team
Lesley Elder Nicola Wood Sara Clarkson
Headteacher Deputy Headteacher Assistant Headteacher
James Tucker Jodie Walton
Inclusion Lead School Business Manager
Staff Team Lists
Click on a section title or its [+] and [-] icons to open and see our staff team lists.
Name | Role |
Lesley Elder | Head Teacher |
Nicola Wood | Deputy Head Teacher |
Sara Clarkson | Assistant Head Teacher |
James Tucker | Inclusion Lead |
Anne Marie Hughes | Lower Key Stage 2 Leader |
Michaela Russell | Early Years & Key Stage 1 Leader |
Ben Barnett | Upper Key Stage 2 Leader |
Sophie Hill | Early Years & Key Stage 1 Leader |
Jodie Walton | School Business Manager |
Name | Role |
Sophie Hill & Michaela Russell | Teacher - Duckling Class EYFS |
Ann Marie Morton | Teacher - Otter Class EYFS |
Jordan Sherrington | Teacher - Dormouse Class KS1 |
Kim Savage | Teacher - Hedgehog Class KS1 |
Nikki Jones & Claire Wright | Teacher - Mole Class KS1 |
Ruth White | Teacher - Rabbit Class KS1 |
Paul Ford | Teacher - Fox Class LKS2 |
Craig Thompson | Teacher - Squirrel Class LKS2 |
Rosy Jones | Teacher - Badger Class LKS2 |
Anne-Marie Hughes | Teacher - Deer Class LKS2 |
Hannah Roberts | Teacher - Robin Class UKS2 |
Mark Spindler | Teacher - Owl Class UKS2 |
Amanda Dawson | Teacher - Kestrel Class UKS2 |
Ben Barnett | Teacher - Dove Class UKS2 |
Name | Role |
Abigail Eason | Learning Support Assistant |
Agnieska Borkowska | Learning Support Assistant |
Aisling McGown | Cover Supervisor |
Alice Woods | Learning Support Assistant |
Alice Walters | Learning Support Assistant |
Amy Clark | Cover Supervisor |
Amy Chatterway | Cover Supervisor |
Aneta Darmofal | Learning Support Assistant |
Barbara Giza | Learning Support Assistant |
Beverley Marwaha | Cover Supervisor |
Beverley Fuller | Learning Support Assistant |
Charlotte Lane | Learning Support Assistant |
Charlotte Duffy | Learning Support Assistant |
Chaveze Grant | Learning Support Assistant |
Claire Bull | Learning Support Assistant |
Courtney Dennis | AAC Technician |
Elizabeth Peters | Learning Support Assistant |
Emma Turland | Cover Supervisor |
Faye Parker | Learning Support Assistant |
Gemma Manyweathers | Cover Supervisor |
Hayley Roache | Cover Supervisor |
Helen Johnson | Learning Support Assistant |
Hilarine Thomas | Learning Support Assistant / Cover Supervisor |
Jennifer Steptoe | Learning Support Assistant |
Jemma Carley | Learning Support Assistant |
Jodie Clarke | Cover Supervisor |
Jodie Leach | Learning Support Assistant |
Jodie Lamb | Learning Support Assistant |
Joy Scott | Cover Supervisor |
Justine Mitchell | Learning Support Assistant |
Katrina Munson | Learning Support Assistant |
Khali Humphreys | Learning Support Assistant |
Keirston James | Learning Support Assistant |
Kelly Allen | Cover Supervisor |
Kelly Timson | Cover Supervisor |
Kelly Meadham-Smith | Learning Support Assistant |
Kirstie Brown | Learning Support Assistant |
Latoya Scott | Learning Support Assistant |
Laurel Chan | Learning Support Assistant |
Lauren Marriott | Learning Support Assistant |
Lauren Garnett | Cover Supervisor |
Leah Eaton | Learning Support Assistant |
Ligita Brusokiene | Cover Supervisor |
Lousie Thomas | Cover Supervisor |
Lucy Martin | Learning Support Assistant |
Lynn Care | Cover Supervisor |
Madeleine Lakatos | Learning Support Assistant |
Marina Forskitt | Learning Support Assistant |
Millie Wright | Learning Support Assistant |
Mozzah Badruu | Learning Support Assistant |
Narelle Bowers | Cover Supervisor |
Nic Miller | Learning Support Assistant |
Osma Khan | Learning Support Assistant |
Papori Neog | Learning Support Assistant |
Rachael Hibberd | Learning Support Assistant |
Rachel Parris | Learning Support Assistant |
Rahma Mohamed | Learning Support Assistant |
Rose Evans | Learning Support Assistant |
Sarah Shortt | Learning Support Assistant |
Sam Wright | Learning Support Assistant |
Sian Maycock | Learning Support Assistant |
Sophie Billington | Learning Support Assistant |
Sophie Clarke | Learning Support Assistant |
Stacey Burrows | Learning Support Assistant |
Susan Needham | Learning Support Assistant |
Susan Allen | Learning Support Assistant |
Susan Lewis | Learning Support Assistant |
Terry Bird | Learning Support Assistant |
Tracey Dell Sanders | Cover Supervisor |
Vicky Wykes | Learning Support Assistant |
Wendy Shanahan | Learning Support Assistant |
Zoe Dartnell | Learning Support Assistant |
Name | Role |
Jodie Walton | School Business Manager |
Vicki Coleman | HR & Finance Co-ordinator |
Katie Cooke | Resources Manager |
Abbey Townley | Review Co-ordinator / Administrator |
Louise Wilson | Receptionist |
Name | Role |
Gayle Griffiths | Lunchtime Supervisor |
Hayley Fruish | Lunchtime Supervisor |
Kelly Anderson | Lunchtime Supervisor |
Susie Pitman | Lunchtime Supervisor |
Natalie Kendrick | Lunchtime Supervisor |
Mozzah Badruu | Lunchtime Supervisor |
Kirstie Brown | Lunchtime Supervisor |
Name | Role |
Dani Halton | Site Supervisor |
Wayne Coleman | Assistant Site Supervisor |
Name | Role |
Janice Crane | Family Support Worker |
Beni Constantinou | Conductor |
Joy Scott | Healthcare Assistant |
Lorraine Sharpe | Healthcare Assistant |
Sue Lewis | Healthcare Assistant |
The Governing Body of Fairfields School
Our Governing Body is made up of Parents, Staff, Community and Local Authority Governors. They are responsible for the strategic leadership of the school and ensuring the school runs effectively. They also decide school policies and procedures.
Our Chair of Governors is Katie Usher. A welcome letter to parents can be read here
Governors serve a four year term. Parent governors are elected and LA and Community Governors are recommended and approved by the Governing Body.
The Governors have two committees – Supporting School Structures (Finance and Personnel, Premises and Health and Safety) and Excellence and Enjoyment (Curriculum). These are sub committees of the full Governing Body and they make recommendations that are ratified by the full Body.
We expect our governors to undertake any training that will enable them to carry out their role more effectively.
Governors need to have an intimate knowledge of how the school works to enable them to make decisions that ultimately affect the lives and education of the children in their care.
Title | Description | Download |
---|---|---|
pdf Instrument of Governance |
Download
Preview File |
Contacting the Governing Board
If you would like to contact a member of our governing board, please do so by sending your written correspondence to: Clerk to the Governing Board, Fairfields School, Trinity Avenue, Northampton, NN2 6JN or by email .
Governance Information
Fundraising & PTA
Fairfields School Fund
Due to ever restrictive school budgets, it is essential that we raise additional funds to help support and enhance our children's learning environment and opportunties.
Fairfields School Fund has been set up with charitable status to create an additional funding stream to allow the school to go the extra mile in providing an inspirational education to our wonderful pupils. Parents, former pupils, friends and businesses are invited to make voluntary contributions to enable us to help every pupil in school.
The School Fund has previously been used for the following:
- Purchase of school minibus
- Christmas presents for the children
- Enrichment - horse riding
- School trips & residentials
- Music lessons
This page will be used to celebrate the companies, charities, individuals and families that have worked hard to support us and generously raise funds for Fairfields School. We will also highlight the projects for which we are currently fundraising and details on how you can help.
We are currently working on setting up easier ways for our community to get involved, either donating directly or setting up a campaign to support our fundraising efforts, so please keep an eye on this page.
Individual, Charity & Corporate Sponsers
We fully appreciate the support and generosity from our individual, charity and corporate donations. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our sponsors for their commitment to supporting our amazing school.
If you would like to get involved, please contact us on 01604 714777 or email
Pioneer B ladies Darts team kindly donated £100 in April 2017.
Sugar and Spice Club donated £500 in February 2016 and £625 February 2017.
Thank you Lions Northampton Eighty Club for your generous donation of £686.11 in memory of Lion David. This will help support the development of our sensory garden.
Thank you to the Rotary Club for their generous donation of a sensory arch in memory of Kai & Paul Simpson.
We would like to extend a warm thank you to the family and friends of Lorraine Jennings, one of our retired staff members, who have raised a wonderful £2500 in her memory. We will be using the funds raised to create a new memorial garden as a special place to reflect, remember and celebrate members of our school community who have passed away.
Thank you to ex-pupil Christine Turner for her generous donations of £100 for the sensory room, £100 for outdoor learning projects and £100 voucher for library books in October 2023.
Thank you to the Wellingborough Trefoil Guild for their kind donation to school of £25 in October 2023.
Thank you to Global Giving for their donation of £4053.51..
Fairfields School PTA
Fairfields School PTA was formed in Summer 2023.
Our launch event and summer hamper raffle raised a total of £276.82. Thank you to all of the companies that donated prizes and vouchers.
Our purpose is to enhance the quality of the children’s education and school life. We do this by raising money to help the school pay for items that are outside the school budget. To this end, we organise a variety of fundraising events throughout the year for parents, children, staff and community. We also hold regular meetings throughout the year to plan our activities. All parents are warmly welcome to come along.
If you are interested in joining the PTA meetings, please contact the Chair - Kelly Allen on