SCHOOL LIFE

The Firs School Chester offers a broad and balanced curriculum, in addition to a rich and diverse extra-curricular program to ensure that each and every child has the opportunity to explore their interests and discover their talents.

We strive to meet the academic needs of every child and also place equal importance on meeting the personal, social, and emotional needs of the children in our care. The Firs School Chester is characterised by an excellent academic reputation aligned with a strong sense of community where everyone is valued and everyone is celebrated.

CURRICULUM

EXTRA-CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES

Enrichment

The Firs School meets the needs of all of its pupils and know that every child has their own unique gifts and talents. We pride ourselves on nurturing our students by providing a wide range of opportunities to ensure they thrive. 

Our enrichment provision is wide-ranging, however, here are just a few of the activities and sessions our children have been able to experience and enjoy: Northwest Gifted and Talented Workshops and other challenges in music, maths, English, creative writing, language, code-breaking, art, STEM challenges, citizen and politics, sports. 

Our older pupils also have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the surrounding secondary schools that offer enrichment days; with maths and science sessions at Abbey Gate College and art and drama at Moreton Hall.

Excursions

The Firs School meets the needs of all of its pupils and know that every child has their own unique gifts and talents. We pride ourselves on nurturing our students by providing a wide range of opportunities to ensure they thrive. 

Our enrichment provision is wide-ranging, however, here are just a few of the activities and sessions our children have been able to experience and enjoy: Northwest Gifted and Talented Workshops and other challenges in music, maths, English, creative writing, language, code-breaking, art, STEM challenges, citizen and politics, sports. 

Our older pupils also have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the surrounding secondary schools that offer enrichment days; with maths and science sessions at Abbey Gate College and art and drama at Moreton Hall.

Sport

The Firs School meets the needs of all of its pupils and know that every child has their own unique gifts and talents. We pride ourselves on nurturing our students by providing a wide range of opportunities to ensure they thrive. 

Our enrichment provision is wide-ranging, however, here are just a few of the activities and sessions our children have been able to experience and enjoy: Northwest Gifted and Talented Workshops and other challenges in music, maths, English, creative writing, language, code-breaking, art, STEM challenges, citizen and politics, sports. 

Our older pupils also have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the surrounding secondary schools that offer enrichment days; with maths and science sessions at Abbey Gate College and art and drama at Moreton Hall.

Learning Support

An integrated approach to supporting children with specific learning difficulties, e.g. dyslexia, dyscalculia, coordination and other educational needs is one of the hallmarks of the school’s commitment to enabling all pupils to achieve their best. 

We have a well-resourced self-contained inclusion department, staffed by a dedicated Inclusion Leader; Mrs Sarah Johnson. Mrs Johnson works with teachers and pupils to ensure individual needs are met. Children are supported by the team within the classroom, in small groups and sometimes receive individual tuition depending on their need. Individual Education Plans are produced for children and additional work is given. Close communication is maintained with parents to ensure the best possible support is provided.

Our Inclusion Leader also has oversight of the enrichment programme for our children who show particular ability in any given area. She will ensure excellent provision is made for them both in the classroom and through additional enrichment days.

As part of our inclusion provision, we also offer our children extra support through a Learning Mentor. Learning Mentors help children and young people learn to understand their emotions and respect the feelings of those around them. They provide them with the time and space for pupils to think about their personal circumstances and how they manage them. Children learn lots of new skills at school not just academic but also social and emotional skills. Whilst some children may require extra help academically, others will benefit from support with the emotional side of their development.

English as Additional Language (EAL)

At The Firs we have an increasingly international community including children who speak a wide range of languages.

We support children who speak English as an additional language and welcome children who have little or no English. We have a specialist language teacher to work with children in the classroom and also offer additional lessons on an individual or on a small group basis. We aim to develop language skills for children for whom English is not their first language so they can speak and write English confidently and independently in the mainstream class setting.

We have carefully structured programs tailored to the individual language needs of each child. Using an extensive range of up to date resources and through activities such as role play, song, games, ICT we aim to give each child the very best opportunities to integrate fully.

At The Firs we pride ourselves on offering an inclusive and welcoming environment ensuring all children are able to develop their confidence and language skills in a secure and safe setting. This enables them not only to thrive but also to share something of their own background and culture and therefore enhance the whole school community.

After-school & breakfast clubs

Night Owls After School Care is available from 3.30 pm to 6 pm and charged at £6.96 per hour, termly booking required. For Keystage 1 & 2 pupils we offer an ad hoc booking service within the same hours, at £8.43 per hour.

Breakfast club runs from 7.45 am to 8 am and includes continental breakfast with cereal at £1.28 per session.

Early Birds Early Morning Care runs from 8 am to 8:35 am and is charged at £2.25 per session, termly booking required. For Keystage 1 & 2 pupils we offer an ad hoc booking service within the same hours, at £2.98 per session.

Extra curricular clubs on-site are charged at £6.96 per session. External providers may charge differently.

Educational visits will be charged according to the cost of each visit. 

Holiday Club

We run our school holiday club every day during each school holiday (with the exception of Christmas) in association with S4YC. The club is for children from aged 2-11 years. S4YC offers an exciting and action-packed programme of play schemes and sports courses. The club usually runs from 8 am-6 pm with the option of shorter days and can be booked as a whole week or on a selected day-by-day basis.

Please book online