Exton & Greetham CE Primary School

Parents Handbook

2019 Intake

Welcome!

We welcome you and your child to our school and hope that your child will be very happy here. This handbook has been written to help parents new to the school. It comes from realising that lots of ‘little things’ about life at Exton & Greetham Primary may be a bit of a mystery to new parents. So, rather than wait for everyone to work it out for themselves, we decided to pull information together so parents can start the school armed with a better understanding of how

it works.

We hope that this handbook will provide you with all the information needed to help you settle in as a parent or carer at Exton & Greetham CE Primary School. Please let us know if you have other questions so that we can update the handbook for future new parents.

We are keen to involve you in your child’s learning by letting you know what is happening in class, and supporting you to be able to help your child.

If you have any questions about the routines, please do not hesitate to ask any member of staff.

Whether you are outgoing or nervous, new to the area or have been around for years, we hope you enjoy your time as a parent here. Welcome!

Megan Davis (Headteacher)

Our contact details are:

Exton & Greetham CE Primary School,Garden Road,Exton,Rutland, LE15 8AY

Telephone: 01572 812380

Email: extonoffice@rltschools.com

School website: www.extonschool.co.uk

School DayMorningsThe gates are opened at 8.45am. We operate an open door policy and you can bring your child to school between 8.45am and 8.55am. Registration is at 8.55am. You are welcome to accompany your child into the classroom, especially if you wish to ask the staff a quick question, but we do ask that you are aware that lessons start at 8.55am. We also advise that leaving quickly can sometimes help your child to settle better – a lingering good-bye can be hard on both sides! If you need longer to speak to staff, please speak to the office to arrange a suitable time.

What if we’re late in the morning?If you’re going to be a few minutes late, you will be asked to fill in the late book in the school office to explain why your child is late. If you’re going to be later than 9.30am, you should ring the school to explain why. If your child has a school meal, the school needs to know if your child is going to be in or not by 9.30am. It really does help your child, their class and teacher if your child is in school on time.

AfternoonsSchool finishes at 3.30pm. The gate is unlocked at around 3.25pm and parents are asked to wait outside the coloured fencing. Children will be brought out by the staff. The gates are then locked again at 3.45pm. What if I am late to collect my child?If you are unavoidably late, the children will be taken inside the school building and will wait for you. You should ring the school to let them know you’re on your way. Please try not to be late, as children can get distressed and worry.

What if someone else is picking up my child?You should tell the class teacher in the morning if someone other than a parent is collecting your child. Otherwise ring the school during the day to inform them.

Bus childrenA free Local Authority bus is provided for the children that live in Greetham Village to take them to and from school. The children are seen straight into school from the school bus, and taken to the bus in the evenings. Seatbelts must be worn and are checked before the bus leaves school. If your child attends an after school club, you will have to arrange to collect them from Exton & Greetham School.

HolidaysHolidays are not to be taken during term time. Since September 2013 we have been unable to authorise holidays during term time. Any applications for absence will only be granted in exceptional circumstances (once in a lifetime opportunities).

How can I find out what my child is learning?

Term letters/ Website/ ClassDojoAt the beginning of each year each class produces a letter that should give you some idea about the planned learning for that class and the aims and expectations of that particular year.

LearningInformation about what your child is learning can be found on the website, either under the ‘curriculum’ page or under the class page. Information about topics that are being covered can be found in class newsletters which come out each term. Maths and English are taught daily.

Parents EveningsThese are held twice a year in November and March. A letter will come home and you can request an appropriate time. The appointments are 10 minutes long and enable you to find out how your child is doing. Parents usually have the chance to look at their child’s books while they’re waiting. If you can’t make a parents’ evening, or if you would like more time to talk to your child’s teacher, you can ask for an extra appointment. Teachers are very accommodating about these so don’t be afraid to ask. Meetings will usually be after school.

Information EveningsOccasionally we hold information evenings on particular areas of the curriculum to help inform parents about the way we are teaching the children and to help parents know how best to help their child at home. Watch out for details of these in the newsletters, on the website and on ClassDojo.

HomeworkThe main homework your child will receive at Exton & Greetham CE Primary School during their first year is phonics: recognising different letter sounds that have been taught. Once enough sounds are securely known, children will begin to bring home reading books. We encourage all parents to read with their child on a daily basis and discuss the school day with them to help with their speaking and listening. As the children move through the school spelling and maths homework will be added. Homework expectations are clearly communicated at the beginning of each year.

Your child may also be given a weekly more creative homework during their time at Exton & Greetham School. We encourage you to help your child with their homework.

How does the school communicate with parents?

NewsletterThere is a newsletter that comes out every two – three weeks which updates you on school issues. These are available via email and paper copies are sent to parents as well. A copy is displayed on the school notice board at the front of school.

WebsiteThe school website is regularly updated to show what we are up to and what events are coming up. You can also link your phone to our calendar which will keep you updated about events.

Annual QuestionnaireAn annual questionnaire for parents and children is carried out in the summer term to gather opinions on different aspects of the school. Please make the effort to complete this, particularly if you have ideas to put forward. The responses are often used when reviewing school policies. Children also complete a questionnaire to help the school to evaluate its teaching and learning.

ClassDojoClassDojo is a secure on-line platform through which we are able to share children’s achievements and activities with parents. These can be via the whole school story or via class stories. This platform also allows parents to see when their child has been rewarded at school. Parents can also communicate with the teachers via the messaging in ClassDojo, which is a useful place to ask quick queries. The School and class pages also allow us to send quick messages to parents regarding class activities.

What happens if my child is struggling?

If you, or your child’s teacher, feel that your child is finding it difficult to learn or behave appropriately, good communication is the key to moving forward. It’s always worth telling the teacher if there are any changes or issues at home that may be affecting your child’s behaviour at school – moving house, illness in the family etc. Staff will always speak to you first if they feel there is an issue. It may be that with a bit of extra support and communication between home and school, problems can be resolved.If your child needs extra help, you will be informed and involved from the beginning of the process. Parents will be invited to special meetings to review progress and plan the next steps.

Food and DrinkLunchtimesFrom September 2014, all Reception and KS1 children were eligible for a Free School Meal each day. These are cooked fresh on site by our cook, Lizzie. The menu changes each term, and is available from the office and on the Aspens website. From September 2019 we are hoping to move to an on-line system for ordering lunches. Parents will be able to book meals in advance and pay for them through this system. Please watch out for further updates as we implement this system.

If you wish to send your child with a packed lunch these need to be healthy and provide a balanced diet. (i.e. no fizzy drinks or sweets please) Please also note that we are a nut-free school.

What if my child isn’t eating anything?Eating is monitored by the lunch staff. Children are encouraged to eat a balanced lunch and try new foods. If there are concerns about how much your child is eating, we will contact you to discuss the best way forward. No child is forced to eat food they do not want, but they are encouraged to try new things.

What if my child is a slow eater?Children are able to eat at their own pace and given plenty of time to finish their meal.

SnacksThe school provides fresh fruit and vegetables for children in EYFS and Key Stage 1 for playtime snacks. If your child wishes to bring an alternative snack, this should be fruit or vegetables, cheese, crackers or plain biscuits. No cakes, crisps or sweets please!

DrinksWhen first joining the school your child will be supplied with a water bottle. This should contain water only please. Replacement bottles are available from the school office for £2. These can be topped up from school taps throughout the day. Please ensure your child’s bottle is named.

School Uniform

Our school uniform comprises of: Royal Blue School Sweatshirt/Cardigan with logo Grey Trousers/Skirt/Pinafore Royal Blue School Polo Top with logo Black Shoes (no boots or trainers)

During the Summer Terms (Easter – October) As above plus Grey Shorts Blue & White Summer Dresses

PE Kit

White School Polo Top with logo Navy/Black Shorts Trainers for outdoor activities

We do not stock trousers, grey shorts or dresses. However we do stock the following:-

Sweatshirts and Cardigans Polo Tops Fleeces Shower coats PE Shorts Book Bags and Rucksacks Caps

We do hold a small amount of uniform in stock. If your child’s size is not available the approximate order time is 3 weeks.

Our parents association (FOEGS) have started a second hand uniform swap shop, where items can be purchased for 50p. There are lots of small sizes at the moment and the uniform wears well, so second hand is an excellent option, as long as clothes are clearly labelled with their new owners name!

Your child will need to wear school uniform and sensible black school shoes. All items of clothing must be named.

Every Monday, can you please make sure that your child brings in their PE kit into school, again named and in an appropriate bag. It is advisable that reception children should also have a spare pair of underwear in their PE bag – just in case!

With the exception of a watch and small stud earrings jewellery is not to be worn to school; this is for the children’s safety. Earrings MUST be removed for PE.

There should also be no nail varnish on in school or extreme hair styles.

Illness, Accidents and Medication

When your child starts school with us you are required to complete a form, providing information of any illness, medication required or allergies. Please also let us now of any historic issues that may still affect your child. This information is vital if we are to keep your child safe. All inhalers and medicines must be clearly marked and are kept in the school office or classroom if appropriate. We also ensure that these medications are taken on any trips out of school.

Staff are not required to administer any medicines prescribed to pupils. If your child requires prescription medication you must complete a medical form, and only then will staff be able to voluntarily and without liability administer medication.

As a precaution we do not allow nut products in school. All staff are trained in dealing with asthma attacks and in basic first aid.

What if my child won’t be in because s/he is ill?If your child is unable to attend school, you should ring the school office before 9.30am to explain that your child won’t be in due to illness. If you don’t ring, the school will ring you to check. If absence is persistent you may be asked to provide medical evidence or appointment cards. Your child should return to school as soon as possible, providing they are not contagious! If your child has been sick, then they must not return to school until 48 hours have passed since your child was last physically sick.

Illnesses and AccidentsIf your child becomes ill during the school day, or has an accident, we will contact you immediately. It is therefore vital that we have up to date contact numbers or an elected representative should you be unavailable. All staff are trained first aiders, and children can be given simple first aid but in the event of an accident or injury, or if immediate treatment is necessary, then we will contact the hospital. All serious accidents are reported using the school’s pupil accident form and a copy will be sent home. Minor injuries are recorded in the school accident book which is held in the school office. If you child receives a minor bump to the head, your child will receive a bumped head letter and will wear a ‘bumped’ head sticker for awareness and monitoring.

Hot weatherParents are asked to provide a sun hat and sun cream in hot weather. It is good if the children can be taught to apply sun cream themselves, or have had a ‘once a day’ cream applied in the morning, as it can be time consuming for staff to apply sun cream to a whole class!

What are the school reward systems?

The school is very keen on recognising and rewarding children’s effort and achievement with their learning and behaviour.

The school uses Class Dojo as a reward system. Through this the children are rewarded with ‘Dojos’ each time they demonstrate a good learning behaviour, try especially hard, make great improvements, or are particularly helpful or kind to others. Class teachers will update you on how this works at the beginning of the Autumn Term. Points are collected and can be exchanged in the Class Dojo Shop for rewards.

‘Star of the Week’ certificates and a ‘Headteacher’s Award’ certificate are awarded in our weekly Celebration Assembly. These focus on improvement and effort rather than ‘the best’.

Payment of Monies

We are a busy school and as such we try to provide a variety of activities and stimulus for your child. This often involves workshops, trips, and theatre productions. The school will always try to subsidise these activities, however, we will sometimes ask for a voluntary contribution towards the cost; this ensures that we can continue to offer these activities to the children.

Can you please ensure that all monies are sent into school in a named envelope. We encourage payment by BACS or by cheques, which should be made payable to Exton & Greetham Primary School.

Photographs

In line with new GDPR regulations we operate an ‘opt-in’ policy on photographs. There should be a form with your welcome pack. If you do not wish your child to appear in photos on the school website, in newsletters or in the paper you need to make this known through the form. If we do not receive a form, we will assume your child may not be photographed. Parents have the right to review their choices on the school’s use of photographs at any time through the school office.

Computer Safety

We ask our parents and children to sign a form annually relating to safe computer use. All school computers are protected by a fire wall, but we also ask that the children and parents re-read our policy on computer use and sign it each year.

Policies

Policies pertinent to parents and children can be found on our website or by written request from the school office. In particular can you please familiarise yourself with the following:

Behaviour PolicyHome school agreementHealth and Safety PolicyResponsible use of the Internet Security and Access PolicyAttendance Policy

Ways in which you can help us

Please speak to your child’s class teacher if you have any concerns. We would rather deal with small problems before they become big ones.

Please keep us informed of anything that may affect your child’s education, such as health, upsets with friends or a change of family circumstances.

Please inform us immediately of any change of address, email or phone number. It is really important that we can get hold of you quickly if we need to.

Join FOEGS!

The Friends of Exton and Greetham School is the name of our parents association. This group of parents arrange many fun activities for the children, fund raise, and form action groups to help maintain our school surroundings.

Watch out in school newsletters for dates of events. All are welcome!