About this booklet

 

This parent handbook holds day-to-day information about Sarisbury Church of England Junior School. We hope it will be a useful guide about some of the things that happen in our school.

 

 

 

Registration and Absences

 

The school day begins at 8.45am. As teachers take registers immediately, if your child is late into school, it is important that he/she goes straight to the school office so that registers can be amended.

 

If your child is unwell then please try to let us know as soon as possible. This can be done either by phone or e-mail. If you are unable to let us know on the days that your child is off, then please send a note to your child’s classteacher on the day of his/her return.

 

Holiday forms are available from the school office for planned absences. Authorised absences will be approved for a maximum of 10 days per school year.

 

 

Lunchtime Cafeteria

 

Children are able to buy their lunch from the school cafeteria on a daily basis at a current charge of £1.90.  Lunch money is the responsibility of the child and therefore it is advisable to keep money in a purse or wallet clearly marked with your child’s name.

 

Sometimes children forget lunch money and in emergencies the school office is able to lend your child small amounts. If this occurs, a letter will be sent home; your prompt reimbursement would be much appreciated.

 

 

Medication

 

Should your child require medication of any sort during the school day, please contact the school office as a medication form may need to be completed to give details and consent for the medication to be administered.

 

All items of clothing (including P.E. kit) should be clearly marked with your child’s name.

School bags and rucksacks are available for sale in our school office.

 

P.E. Kit

 

Each class has two sessions of P.E. each week and it is important that children have the appropriate kit for these sessions:

  • Dark coloured shorts.
  • White t-shirt.
  • Plimsolls.

 

During the colder months it is advisable for your child to wear either a track suit or jogging bottoms and sweatshirt.

 

Sometimes children forget kit and we are able to lend them certain items. If your child repeatedly forgets kit items, we will send a note home to inform you of this.

 

We appreciate that on occasions there may be reasons why your child should not take part in a P.E. lesson, when this does occur please send a note to your child’s classteacher explaining the situation.

 

We suggest that your child should not wear jewellery on days when P.E. is planned.

 

 

 Off Site Activities

 

Throughout the school year, we provide a range of visits for the children in order to enhance the topics they are learning about.

 

At the beginning of the school year you will receive a letter giving details of visits undertaken in the local area, by signing the reply slip you are giving your permission for your child to take part in visits within the local area e.g. visiting St. Paul’s Church or Holly Hill Park. Where a visit has been planned further afield and where transport is required, you will receive a letter giving further details of the school trip and a separate permission slip to be signed and returned to your child’s teacher.

 

Sometimes it is necessary for the school to request a voluntary contribution towards visits. Costs are calculated according to the best deal we can make for coaches and for the activity. We do not calculate a cost that will leave a profit.

 

Occasionally we require extra adult help on school trips. If you are someone whom we could call upon to support in this way, please let the classteacher know.

 

Expectations of Pupil Behaviour

 

At our school we firmly believe that:

  • Your child has the right to attend a school in which learning takes place without disruption from other pupils.
  • Our teachers have a right to teach.

We therefore expect everyone (including adults) to adhere to the Code of Conduct:

 

At all times we should:

  • Work and play together safely and happily
  • Treat everyone and everything with respect
  • Consider the feelings and needs of other people
  • Take responsibility for our own actions

 

We believe that praise, positive actions and rewards best promote good behaviour. The school runs a system of rewards and sanctions for pupils.

 

Rewards for good behaviour include:

  • Praise
  • Stickers
  • Certificates of Achievement
  • Star of the Week
  • Golden Time
  • Headteacher’s Award for Excellent Work

 

Sanctions for unacceptable behaviour include:

  • Verbal warnings
  • Short isolation in class
  • Isolation in Year Leader’s class
  • Isolation from the class to be supervised by the Headteacher or Deputy Headteacher
  • Incident recorded in the School Behaviour Book
  • Letter or phone call home to parents

Further details of our Behaviour Policy can be found in “Expectations of Pupil Behaviour at Sarisbury Church of England Junior – A Handbook for Parents”.

 

 

Home Learning Activities

 

We believe that Home Learning is important for:

  • Reinforcing positive attitudes to work.
  • Encouraging self organisation and self discipline.
  • Reinforcing, broadening and extending the school curriculum.
  • Developing home/school partnerships.
  • Preparing pupils for life opportunities and experiences.

 

All Home Learning activities are carefully planned and structured to support progression in learning and will cover all aspects of the primary school curriculum.

 

The majority of tasks will be set and explained each Friday with the expectation that work will be returned to school by the following Wednesday. In Year 6 additional activities will be set on Wednesdays also. For all pupils, 20 minutes daily reading or discussion of a book, its plot or characters is encouraged.

 

In supporting your child at home, the following is recommended:

  • Talk with your child about the task that has been set.
  • Provide a suitable surrounding for home learning to take place.
  • Provide a “home learning” kit to include a writing pen (no biros please), pencils, colouring pencils, scissors, erasers, ruler, calculator and glue stick.
  • Encourage your child to do his/her very best in completing the tasks set.
  • Talk through the task when completed.

 

If difficulties occur, for whatever reason, please notify your child’s classteacher as soon as possible.

 

 

Music Lessons

 

If your child has a music lesson with one of our peripatetic music teachers, he/she will be given a timetabled slot each week. It is important that your child attends the lesson as there are a limited number of places available.

 

The fee for each lesson should be paid as soon as possible at the beginning of each term. The fee will be discussed and agreed by the Governing Body and confirmed by letter at the beginning of each term.

 

Further information regarding tuition and the availability of places is available from the school office.

 

 

Clubs

 

We currently run a number of clubs both during lunchtimes and after school; details of clubs will be given each term. For all after school clubs parental permission is required before a child may attend.

 

Some clubs may be run by professionals outside of the school. Where this is the case there may be a small charge for these activities.

 

 

 

Meeting Teachers

 

Parent consultation evenings are planned during the autumn and spring terms. These will give you a chance to discuss your child’s progress; to look at examples of his/her work and to discuss future targets.

 

Your child’s annual report is written during the summer term and an Open Evening is organised to give you the opportunity to celebrate your child’s achievements; view work and displays around the classrooms and to meet your child’s new teacher for the forthcoming school year.

 

Teachers are however more than willing to discuss your child’s progress with you at any time throughout the school year. It would be helpful to phone the school office so that a suitable time can be arranged.

 

 

The school year at a glance

 

September

  • Year 3 Information Evening

 

October

  • Open days – a chance for you to spend time in your child’s class and to join in with the activities
  • Year 6 Residential Visit information evening for parents
  • Parents’ evenings

 

November

  • School photographs
  • Governors AGM

 

December

  • Christmas production
  • PFA Christmas Fair

 

February

  •  PFA disco for pupils

 

March

  • Parents’ evenings

 

April

  • Easter production

 

May

  • Year 6 SATs week
  • Internal tests for years 3,4 and 5

 

 

June

  • Years 5 and 6 Sex Education information for parents
  • Class photographs
  • Sports day
  • PFA Summer Fair

 

July

  • Reports to parents
  • Year 2 information evening for parents
  • Year 6 residential visit
  • Open evening
  • Transfer day – a chance for pupils to spend the day with their new teacher
  • PFA barbeque evening
  • Year 6 Leavers’ Assembly

 

Further details and dates for these events will be given closer to the date.

 

 

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