Prospectus Part 2 - General
Absences
Medicines
Emergency Contacts
Personal property
School Meals
School Rules and Discipline
Homework
Setting Homework
Absences
If a child is absent from school please phone to inform the school and then send a note of
explanation on returning to school. If a child is absent without reason, the school will phone home to seek an explanation. No child is allowed out of school for dental or other appointments, unless a note is received or the child called for by a parent - this is for the child’s safety. Parents are requested to inform the Head Teacher of any relevant medical history that
may affect the child’s general development and education in school.
Medicines
As a general rule children should not bring medicines of any description to school. If your child has to take a course of medicine prescribed by a doctor, written permission must be given by the parents for the medicine to be administered. A school consent form for this can be obtained from Mrs. Bailey. Such medicines must be handed in to Mrs. Bailey or the class teacher. Medical advice suggests that if antibiotics are to be taken three times each day that they are taken before school, after school and at bedtime – not during the school day.
Emergency Contacts
When a child joins school we ask the parents to complete an emergency contact form. This
information is taken on educational trips and visits and is essential for enabling us to contact parents of children who are taken ill or may have an accident. We ask that parents notify us immediately of any change of address and/or telephone numbers.
Personal property
In general children are asked not to bring money to school.
Children are discouraged from wearing nail varnish, earrings, bracelets, rings, necklaces and other jewellery, to avoid problems arising through loss, damage or injury. The school will not be responsible for anything of this nature which is lost.
No knives, pistols, catapults or any other potentially dangerous toys are to be brought into school. If any such articles are found they will be confiscated until the end of the afternoon session and if possible returned to the parent.
A snack may be brought for morning break - preferably fruit, vegetable or something equally healthy. Sweets are not permitted at school.
A Lost Property Box is kept in school and children are free to check through the box if they have lost something. Anything left at the end of term, unnamed, will be disposed of during the first week of the new term.
Please NOTE named clothes are easy to find.
School Meals
We have a very successful hot school meals service, which operates in the school dining hall. Children who prefer to bring sandwiches usually eat in the dining hall too. Sandwiches and a water bottle should be brought in a named plastic container. If drinks are sent to school they must be in a plastic screw top container. Fizzy drinks are not permitted!
E.C. subsidised milk is available at school at 12p per one third pint and is drunk at morning break.
Children are supervised at all times during the lunch hour. There are five Children’s
Superintendents on duty each day and a member of teaching staff is always available.
Free School Meals can be claimed if parents are in receipt of Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance - Income Based. If you feel you are entitled to free school meals, call at the Office for information and an application form.
School Rules and Discipline
School rules are based upon the simple principle of consideration for others and respect for self.
We expect children to be kind, considerate and polite.
We believe that children learn through a combination of good example and high expectations.
We encourage children to become self-disciplined, both with respect to work and general behaviour.
Pupils are expected to be punctual. Parents with children arriving after the 8.55 a.m. whistle is blown are asked to report to the Office to explain the reason for their late arrival.
Pupils are expected to be regular in attendance.
If a child were to be persistently absent, the Educational Welfare Officer would be informed.
Misbehaviour is normally dealt with by the class teacher in the first instance. In extreme cases the Headteacher and Governors have the right to exercise professional judgement in the exclusion of disruptive pupils.
Homework
At Powick We Consider That The Main Purposes Of Homework Include:
developing an effective partnership between the school and parents and other carers in pursuing the aims of the school;
consolidating and reinforcing skills and understanding, particularly in literacy and mathematics, taking the needs of the individual pupil into account;
focusing the use of resources for learning, of all kinds, at home;
extending school learning, for example through additional reading;
encouraging pupils as they get older to develop the strategies, confidence and self discipline needed to study on their own and at Year 6 preparing them for the requirements of secondary school.
Setting Homework
At the beginning of the year, the class teacher will send a note home to parents, which explains their homework setting arrangements. This will refer to regular, ongoing routines for the year.
At the beginning of each term parents will be given an outline of the work each class is doing.
As the year progresses, suggestions for supporting particular topics or individuals may be discussed and given.
There has always been an expectation at Powick that children will do homework. Our
practice is in line with government recommendations. Please ask at the Office for a copy of the school’s policy and guidance to parents.