Section 2.1
The School Day
This section describes the daily operation and requirements of the School. These are not necessarily regulations as in section 1 but they do indicate further expectations from parents to ensure the smooth running of the school.

2.1.1 General Times
The School Hours are from 0900 to 1530 for the primary school and 0900 to 1600 for the secondary school. Dismissal for the nursery class will usually commence at 1515.

School Week and Times
The teaching week is from Monday to Friday. Children who participate in School Productions or School games teams may be required to attend on Saturdays.
The Daily Timetable is as follows. Slight variations will occur depending on circumstances.

   0815  Playground gates open
   0845  Doors open and children are admitted into the building.
   0900-0930  Registration and Lesson 1
   0930-1000  Lesson 2
   1030-1100  Morning Break
   1100-1200  Lesson 3
   1200-1300  Lunch Break
   1300-1400  Registration and Lesson 4
   1400-1500  Lesson 5 (1430-1445 Nursery break)
   1500-1515  Assembly (not every day)
   1515-1530  Dismissal Starts, primary school
   1545  Dismissal finishes Any children left are considered late
   1600  Remaining children may be transferred to After School and charges incurred. Clubs start
   1745  All after school children should have left, school closes.

Parents are requested not to enter the School unless there is a good reason to do so. If you are in a classroom we request that you leave before 0855 and staff are instructed to ask parents to leave before 0900 unless there is an emergency.

There are no restrictions with visits to the Main Office and often it is preferable to leave messages there rather that visit busy classrooms.

2.1.2 Arrival at the School
  • The School playground gates are opened at approximately 0815, children and parents are expected to wait in the playground area.
  • The side entrance will open at 0845 and children are expected to form a single orderly line for entry into the School.
  • On days when it is raining and if staff are available, children will be allowed into the School as soon as possible. If the side door is not open there is a covered area in front of the dining room entrance which can be used as a temporary shelter until the side door opens.
  • Please note that children are not allowed to use the time before 0845 as a play time.
  • Children are allowed to wait unaccompanied in the School side playground but the School does not accept responsibility for them until they enter the School building.
  • All other areas of the grounds are out of bounds at this time.
  • Cars are not allowed into the school grounds.

Parents please ensure that your children are not involved in play ground games at this time which are contrary to the School rules. If unaccompanied children are causing a nuisance at this time, do not hesitate to report them to staff as soon as the doors open. Children are also not allowed to leave the playground area at any time unless with an adult.


If you have an appointment ...
Please call at the administration block first. If there is no response from the office, call at the main building. Please be patient if there is not an immediate response. At this time of the School day staff are often not in their normal location from which to answer the door.
If you have an appointment, bring your child into the School where special arrangements can be made for their supervision.
If you need to cancel an appointment an early telephone call to the main office is appreciated. See the section below on making appointments.

Leaving Children Early ... As a general rule the School cannot provide facilities for parents wanting to leave their child before 0845. Staff are extremely busy preparing for the day at this time and are not available to supervise children. However we will help in cases of emergency so please ask at the main entrance.

2.1.3 Dismissal
Dismissal begins at 1515 for primary children, 1600 for secondary as follows.
Side door                  Nursery, Reception and Secondary
Rear Playground      Year1 to Year 6

Dismissal is done one child at a time when the parent or collector is acknowledged.
Parents are asked to stand well back from the dismissal area in order to ease congestion

Parents are reminded that once a child has been dismissed, they are not allowed back into School unless supervised by a member of staff. Classrooms are out of bounds to unsupervised children and as a general rule at this time parents are requested not to enter the School unless invited to do so.

2.1.4 Sending a new person to collect your Child
There is a strict procedure regarding collection of children. Staff will not release a child to a parent or other person that they do not recognise until their identity has been verified.
If you wish a new person to collect your child the School must be informed of their details either in writing or by telephone at the earliest opportunity i.e. before 1500. We keep records of all such instructions and details need to be prepared for staff on duty dismissing children well in advance of dismissal.

2.1.5 Custody Instructions
A parent in dispute over rights concerning custody of a child often asks the School not to allow a child to be dismissed with the other parent. The School’s policy on this matter is strictly as follows.
1. We will only refuse a parent access to a child if there is an appropriate court order in place restricting access. There are numerous types of court orders covering types of access and the parent involved must ensure that the order includes access to the child at School. This is often an ambiguous area and a specific statement concerning the child at School is preferred.
2. A copy of this order must be in our possession.
3. Without 1) and 2) above the School has no right to restrict access to a child by a legal parent or guardian. If we are aware of a potential problem we will do our best to delay the dismissal process until further enquiries of the other parent can be made but if the parent insists on taking the child immediately we cannot stop them.
4. If a parent is subject to a court order and still requests to see the child, we will immediately contact the police and ask them to remove the parent from the premises.

2.1.6 Late Children
Children are defined as being late for collection if they are still at School after 1545.
Late dismissal is from the side entrance through the playground.
After 1600 the School reserves the right to charge for late collection according to our standard charges.
Please try to avoid telephoning the School after 1430 giving us information about new collection arrangements. This avoids the rush at the end of the day and helps to ensure that correct procedures are followed.
Messages are often left for us to pass on to other parents. Although we will do our best to provide this service we cannot guarantee success every time. If you wish another parent to collect your child you should endeavour to contact the parent and not use the School to make the arrangement for you.
Often this kind of arrangement breaks down and we are left with a further problem.

If you know you are going to be late ...
Telephone the School to let us know that you are going to be late.

At 1600 we begin trying to contact parents in order to find out where the collection arrangements have gone wrong. Telephoning the School as soon as possible removes this extra task.
If we cannot contact parents of late children we begin to try telephoning emergency numbers.

2.1.7 Making Appointments
This applies mainly to appointments between parents and staff outside the normal parents evenings procedure.
  • All appointments are preferably made through the School Secretary in the main office
  • We will give you a start and a finish time for your appointment especially if it is for before School in the morning.
  • If there is time, we will acknowledge the appointment in writing.
  • If you are late for an appointment please note that, especially in the case of early morning appointments again, the appointment cannot be allowed to over run outside the allotted time span. It would be necessary to reschedule it for another day

2.1.8 Sick Children and Illnesses
It may sound obvious but children should not be brought to School if they are thought to be ill.
All this usually leads to is the parents being asked to come back to School to collect a sick child.
We will always send home a child that cannot take part in lessons.

Appendix 1. gives guidelines relating to common communicable diseases.

2.1.9 If Your Child Misses School
1. It is not necessary to telephone the School during the first few days of the illness. Telephone the School typically on the third day to minimise unnecessary calls to the office. The only exception to this is if you child has a serious contagious disease (see appendix 1).
2. When the child returns to School, send in a letter explaining the reason for absence. If this is not done the absence may remain on the register as UNAUTHORISED. Please note that if a child is absent from School for a period greater than 10 working days and we have not heard from the parents, the pupil is considered to be ‘off role’ and the appropriate authorities are informed.


2.1.10 Injuries and Medicines
  • With the exception of asthma inhalers and emergency treatments for diabetics the School will not administer any medicines of any description. Medicines must never be sent into School.
  • Inhalers must be clearly marked with the child’s name and the Inhaler Medical Form should be completed by parents indicating the correct dosage and methods.
  • Please note that the School will use its discretion concerning the use of inhalers and they may be given on demand if a child is clearly in distress. If possible we will always contact parents first. At other times we will discourage the use of inhalers on demand if there appears to be no need for their use.
  • Inhalers are taken to both swimming and athletics lessons for emergency use.
Treatments for any diabetic children are discussed individually with parents.
Injuries to children are if possible given first aid within the School. More serious injuries are immediately sent to the Accident and Emergency departments of the nearest hospital and if the parents are not available, a member of staff will travel with them.
Less serious injuries that still need external treatment are left to parents to arrange. Parents are informed and are asked to attend School to collect their child.
Please note that the School cannot accompany children to visits to their GP on behalf of parents. GP’s will not treat children under these arrangements.

Bumps to the head are always communicated to parents through a letter sent from the office.

2.1.11 Lunches and Other Breaks
Lunches
A choice of School meals or a packed lunch provided by parents is available.
  • Each day a vegetarian option is provided and this has to be requested through the office when the child joins the School.
  • Please inform the office of changes to any other special dietary requirements.
  • The menu does not include beef, pork, nuts or nut products.

Other Breaks and Drinks
Milk is provided for all classes up to K1. Above K1 parents may send in a carton drink usually for morning break.
Children unable to drink dairy products may bring into School an alternative which will be kept refrigerated. It must be clearly marked with a name and class.

Any changes to lunch requirements
These will only be accepted using the required form available at the office. At least a half term’s notice is required of any change to lunches.

‘Forgotten Packed Lunch’
If a child forgets their packed lunch we will automatically provide a School lunch and a charge of £2.00 will be made.Please send in cash for the required amount the following day.

2.1.12 Children Leaving Early
We prefer to be informed in writing at the earliest opportunity if a child has to leave School early on a particular day for any reason. Acceptable reasons are for medical or other treatments.
Children should be collected via the main office. Please do not attempt to collect children via the main school building.

2.1.13 After School Care
Facilities are available for care of children after dismissal. This service is normally arranged on a termly basis. However if space is available it can be booked with short notice on an irregular basis.
Charges are based on the length of stay up to 1745 maximum.

The same School Rules apply in After School and facilities are normally available for children to complete homework if they wish to.
Drinks and a light snack are available at around 1600.

Enquiries concerning After School Services should be directed through the Main Office.

2.1.14 Dismissal of After School Children
After School children are dismissed through the dining room doors to the left of the main entrance.

2.1.15 Dismissal of Children from Late Activities
Late activities taking place in the hall are normally dismissed from the rear hall entrance. Other children are dismissed from the side playground entrance. Please note that parents or collectors of children are not allowed to wait in the main school building before collecting their children after late activities.

2.1.16 Security and Access
There are a number of basic School Rules concerning Security and access to the building which for the safety of all at the School, parents should be aware of and follow all times.

We need to address 2 main issues which are:-
a. Reducing the risk of intruders entering the building to as low a level as possible when the building is occupied or otherwise.
b. Being aware of all occupants of the building at all times including visitors. This is especially important with regard to fire risks and procedures.

Our basic policy is as follows:-
1. A minimum of entrances should be unlocked and open at any time. Normally this is only one. Any entrance found to be unlocked must be locked and the incident reported immediately to the Safety Officer or a senior member of staff.

2. A member of staff is to be on duty at any open entrance.

3. Parents or relatives making short term visits to the School should first report to the main office in order to sign in. Please resist the temptation to enter the School unknown to staff.

4. Children are not allowed into classrooms unsupervised at any time. This includes after dismissal when children are not allowed back into School without an escort.

5. Staff are instructed to immediately challenge any person found within the School at any time.

Parents are requested to follow the guidelines for access to the School at various stages of the daily routine and to only use the entrances designated in various other sections above.

The School building has automatic intruder and fire alarms in all sections. Both services are linked to the appropriate emergency services who will be activated if an alarm is raised. If the fire alarm is set off the fire brigade will be dispatched and it is a process that we may not be able to stop in the likely event of a false alarm.
Likewise if the intruder alarm is triggered when the building is unoccupied, the police will be called automatically if keyholders cannot be found.
The main front door is also alarmed and a sounder will operate if this is left open for longer than 90 seconds without the interlock push button being held down.