PPlease note the following closure (training) days:

• Wednesday 2nd September 2009
• Monday 2nd Novemberl 2009
• Monday 4th January 2010
• Monday 19th April 2010

Children are admitted in the year of their 5th birthday They attend on a part time basis between 9am and 12:00 noon in September, and are full time in the term of their 5th birthday. They are invited to visit their future classroom for two sessions in the term before they are admitted. Parents are invited to attend a meeting during the previous term, in order to talk with the headteacher about starting school and:

• meet other parents of children starting at the same time.
• receive paperwork re: admission.
• ask any questions relevant to admission.
• discuss how to prepare their child for school.

It is a great help if you have registered your child`s name at the school so that we can forward plan. Please do not assume we have your child`s name down if we have an older brother or sister. This is your opportunity to tell us of any health or other problems your child may have. We also need contact telephone numbers and your doctor’s name. It is also necessary for us to see your child`s birth certificate, or another document that confirms the date of birth.

One of the most important factors in maintaining pupil progress is attendance. A child who is absent often will find learning difficult through missing parts of essential learning. Please inform the school if you know your child will be absent. We need official notification of the reason for an absence. A letter, a verbal message either over the telephone or personally are acceptable.

Holidays taken in term time are discouraged as they affect learning and progress. In exceptional circumstances the headteacher is able to authorise holidays of up to ten school days per annum, please write requesting permission to take your child out of school. Please see 'Holidays During Term' (below) for more information.

During the early summer term all children in years 2, 3 and 4 take nationally devised tests. It is necessary for them to be in school for these tests. It is for this reason that holidays requested for May will not be authorised.

Registration is at 09:00 am but children can be dropped off from 08:45 am onwards. The school day ends promptly at 3:30 pm.

Please be prompt when collecting your child. If you are delayed for any reason and are able to let us know it would be helpful. As part of our work to improve school attendance we operate an Early Bird Scheme and Attendance Panels at key points across the year as well as monitoring weekly attendance through issuing class certificates to the class with the highest attendance.

From time to time parents, and others connected with the school, will become aware of matters which cause them concern. To encourage resolution of such situations the Governing Body has adopted a ‘Complaints Policy’. Any parent is quite welcome to request to read a copy, if you wish to do so please ask the Headteacher. If any parent is unhappy with any aspect of school life please feel free to come in and discuss it with your class teacher or Headteacher.

The procedure is devised with the intention that it will:

• Usually be possible to resolve problems by informal means.
• Provide confidentiality.
• Allow problems to be handled swiftly and be non-adversarial.
• Inform future practice so that the problem is unlikely to recur.
  
  

In light of our OFSTED report which highlighted the need to work with families who take their children out of school during term time on holidays, we must remind remind parents that we actively discourage holidays to be taken in term time. Pupils may only be granted leave of absence from school to enable him/her to go away on holiday where:

• An application has been made in advance to the school by a parent with whom the pupil normally resides and,
• The school considers that leave of absence should be granted due to the special circumstances relating to the application.
  
  

DfES guidance states that schools are not obliged to grant leave for holidays in term time and applications should be carefully considered on their merits taking into account the school’s responsibility for ensuring continuity of learning. Holidays which are taken for the following reasons are not classed as special circumstances:

• Availability of cheap holidays,
• Availability of desired accommodation,
• Poor weather experienced in school holiday periods,
• Overlap with beginning or end of term.
  
  

We hope that the above raises your awareness about holidays in term time and you continue to work with us to ensure your child receives their maximum entitlement to education across the year.

To further the partnership between home and school we would ask that you adopt a ‘hands on’ attitude to homework, spending time with your child, actively encouraging a positive attitude. A small amount of homework is regularly set for each year group including reading, spelling and the learning of tables. Your child may be given sounds to learn, words to remember or a book to read to you. The amount of homework set is in agreement with Government guidelines.

To ensure safety it is most important that all cars are parked away from the zig–zag lines outside the gate. Room must also be left for the buses to park. The road is very busy at home time and there have been incidents where children have been allowed to act independently when crossing the road. Parents are reminded that they are responsible for their children and that if there is a crossing patrol, it is there only to aid safety.

Children with bus passes may use the school bus and are escorted to the bus by a member of staff. If your child normally travels by bus the school requires notification on any changes in procedure. Children who have not yet attained statutory school age will be charged for the use of the school bus. No child is allowed to leave the school grounds unescorted. Any child who has not been collected at the end of the school day must return to the building and wait in the school library.

Parents` consultation evenings are held in the autumn and spring terms. It is suggested that parents make an appointment to see the teacher who teaches their child for Literacy. In the summer term you will receive a full written report accompanied by a summary of areas of subjects covered during the academic year. There will be the opportunity to discuss the report with relevant members of the teaching staff if you wish.

An open afternoon is also held in the summer term for parents to come into school to look at work alongside children in school. This is a lovely occasion which we all forward to. Parents of year 2 children will receive a copy of their child`s SAT results with the report. Parents of year 4 children will receive the results of their child’s QCA tests. If you would like to see your child`s teacher at any other time please telephone and ask for an appointment.

We are pleased to announce the start of Pre-school for 3+ children. Please read the Letter and Poster. The remainder of this section is being constructed. Please check again for further details.

School meals are provided and a rota is operated in the dining room so that all children have equal choices throughout the week. You may pay weekly or half-termly. If you pay by cheque please make it payable to Compass Services Limited. All money should be sent on Monday each week or on the first day of term. Please make sure it is in an envelope marked with your child’s name. If you prefer your child to have a packed lunch this is perfectly in order but please put it in a lunch box with no glass, cans or sweets. A carton of drink, not fizzy is appropriate. If you wish to change arrangements please give a week's written notice.

As a school we operate a Healthy Eating Policy and nominate a Healthy Eater each week. The children receive a certificate and have their photograph taken for a disply. Please note that children under 5 are entitled to free milk until their 5th birthday. Children may bring a small piece of fruit to eat at playtime but no biscuits, crisps or sweets please.

We are also part of the Fruit Scheme. All children are encouraged to bring a bottle containing water to school to keep them hydrated throughout the day.

School Dinners cost £1.70 per. day.

It is expected that children will wear uniform at all times.