Dalton School is a Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School providing education to children aged four to eleven years from Dalton, Ashurst, Whalleys, Skelmersdale and the surrounding areas. We are proud to be a caring Christian community, supported and encouraged by our Parish Church of St. Michael and All Angels.

This is a small, friendly, village school, situated in a delightful rural setting on the edge of the Ashurst area of Skelmersdale. The original Victorian building has been extended and modernised throughout with a purpose built room for the Foundation Stage children and a covered play area being the latest additions.

A brand new school hall is to be built to accommodate indoor P.E. on the premises with completion expected Autumn 2007. This means we will no longer have to travel to local high schools for our indoor P.E. sessions!

The children are taught in three classes:

Foundation Stage, Y1 & Y2	Lower Juniors – Y3 / Y4	Upper Juniors – Y5 / 6

There are two playground areas and a pleasant, spacious playing field, which is used extensively with a further large grassed area available for our use in the car park.

Rear Playground	Front Playground	School Field

Within school we promote a family atmosphere where we value the contribution each child is able to make. Every effort is made to ensure that children are happy, secure and successful pupils, well prepared both socially and academically for the rigours of the next phase in their academic life.

A significant number of our past pupils return to visit us on a regular basis. This, we feel, is testimony to the quality of the educational experience they have received at Dalton School.

The school was inspected by Ofsted in January 2006 and was proud to receive a good report, which may be found on the Internet at: www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/ or a copy can be obtained from the school office:

• St Michael’s is a good school where every child is known and valued as an individual.
• Pupils have a very good understanding of right and wrong. Relationships are very good. The school’s Christian ethos helps pupils develop spiritually and to show respect for others. Pupils make a positive contribution to the school.
• Teaching and learning are good throughout the school.
• The quality of pastoral care is outstanding.
• The school has a very good partnership with parents and is very well regarded by them. They are pleased with the open door policy and friendly welcome they receive.
• Pupils are well motivated. They gain in confidence because their efforts and achievements are acknowledged and rewarded. They are attentive in lessons.
• The school provides a good curriculum, enriched by well-attended activities and a good programme of educational visits and visitors.
• Standards in year 2 are above average in reading, writing and mathematics. Standards in English and mathematics are above average by the time they (pupils) leave. Pupils achieve particularly well in writing. The quality of work seen in mathematics was better than that in most schools.
• Pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities and those who are gifted or talented achieve well. Teachers have high expectations.

Curriculum

Our aim is to ensure that each child will receive the full basic curriculum to which they are entitled. Computers are widely used for teaching and learning across the full timetable, in addition to separate Information, Communication & Technology lessons.
Educational visits have always been prioritised but we are looking forward to an expansion of the programme and greater participation in inter-school sports activities following the recent purchase of a school mini-bus.
Experiential education is a feature of life at Dalton with visitors and workshops regularly contributing to children’s “hands on” opportunities.

Features of school life include:

• Educational visits
• Sports club and inter-school friendly games
• Science club
• Extensive use of computers and library
• Infant story club
• Themed weeks e.g. French week, Healthy Living
• Swimming
• Activity days
• Musical excellence
• Musical productions – all pupils participate
• Guitar club
• Charity days

The school views each child as an individual. Children who have special needs are given additional tuition either individually or in small groups. This applies both to those with learning difficulties and those who are especially talented.

Parents are encouraged to keep closely in touch with school life.

• Volunteers to help in school or with special events are very welcome.
• A regular school newsletter keeps parents informed of holiday dates, events, changes to routines and all school activities.
• During the year, there are formal invitations into school to discuss each child's progress with the teachers and a written report is sent home at the end of the school year.
• It is almost always possible to have a short talk with teachers should you have any concerns.

Admission to School

Children due to start school in September are invited, with their parents, to a meeting with the teachers as part of the induction process. A series of “taster” visits to school are also arranged to provide the child, and the Infant teachers, with the opportunity to "get to know" each other and the other children before full-time school in September.

Applications for places for older children transferring from other schools will also be considered.

Please call in or telephone if you would like to find out more about the school. Visitors are always very welcome. A full school prospectus is also available. Download Application Form (Microsoft Word Document)

Dalton St. Michael's C.E. Primary School