Our Achievements
What we can do Together
Specialist Music Provision
At Manorfield, because of the support of the charity, we are able to maintain the specialists already mentioned here as well as a specialist Music teacher. Given our demographic, this has been so valuable, since only a specialist truly understands the scope of world music and the sensitivities of different religions. Our Specialist Music teacher has been able to expertly navigate sensitivities with families and ensure that all children access Music. The charity has also provided bursaries and it has also enabled us to pay for children to sit exams where parents have not been able to afford to.
Food Pantry
We deliver numerous healthy eating initiatives, including a food pantry and food bank deliveries during school holidays. This is particularly important as some children at the school are facing food poverty and, without this, would struggle to intake proper nutrition during their time away from school.
Our objective of supporting the whole child means providing wraparound support targeting multiple points of need.
Edible Garden
The majority of our families live in flats and do not have access to a garden or outside space. We have a purpose built growing garden and a Specialist Gardening Teacher (Gardener in Residence), who works with groups of children, to educate them in what we can grow and eat, and complementing the science curriculum being taught in the classroom. Being outdoors also boosts emotional and mental health. Since Covid we have seen an upsurge in the numbers of children presenting with fragile emotional and mental health. Our Gardener in Residence works with children in a nurturing way, reducing the numbers of children needing more formal intervention.
Teaching Kitchen
Recognising high levels of obesity and tooth decay, we are determined that our children have access to a cooking curriculum, taught by a specialist cook, that equips them for healthy living in their future. The school has a Teaching Kitchen where all children can be taught their Design Technology Cooking Curriculum in a fully functional well equipped live kitchen, upskilling them with skills for life.
Woodland Library
Part of the major internal learning environment improvement project at Manorfield Primary School from 2016 -2019 was the creation of a Woodland Library - An area of the school which was under-utilised for learning has been turned into a magical reading space for KS1 pupils. This was initially started by a generous £15,000 donation from M & G investment bank. The Manorfield Charitable Foundation are proud to have further supported this project with a £1000 donation towards books which will inspire the 5-7 year olds at Manorfield.
Art Studio
Many of our children grow up in overcrowded households, limiting their access to space at home to create. Furthermore, we know that our children have limited excursions to galleries etc. at the weekends and in the holidays. Many of our children who may struggle academically, can flourish in art. The school has a beautiful art studio that promotes high expectations and creativity. In here the children are taught be a specialist art teacher. The outcomes are really impressive for all children.
Extended Schools and Enrichment
At Manorfield we are determined that poverty does not limit children’s access to wider school opportunities and trips. At Manorfield, we manage to keep Breakfast Club free to all children as we know a good start to the day, with a decent breakfast, is directly linked to children being able to access their education better and succeed in school. Our After School Club is heavily subsidised. The fact that we get very little back from families for trips, does not hinder the amount we attend. Residentials are also heavily subsidised, with families who have very little money, being supported to ensure their children can access all events.
