Pre_Prep Booklet (Dumpton)

24/25 FOUNDED 1903

Pre-Prep Handbook

TER M DATES

The Autumn Term begins on Wednesday 4 September 2024 and finishes on Tuesday 17 December 2024 There is a half-term break from Thursday 24 October to Friday 1 November 2024 The Spring Term begins on Tuesday 7 January 2025 and finishes on Friday 28 March 2025 There is a half-term break from Monday 17 to Friday 21 February 2025 Easter Holiday Club runs from Monday 31 March to Friday 4 April 2025 The Summer Term begins on Wednesday 23 April 2025 and finishes on Friday 4 July 2025 There is a half-term break from Monday 26 to Friday 30 May 2025 There is also no school on Bank Holiday Monday 5 May 2025 Summer Holiday Club runs from Monday 7 to Friday 18 July 2025 A termly calendar can be found on the school’s website www.dumpton.com and our Parent Portal at the beginning of each term

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P R E-P R EP HA NDBO O K

Dumpton has many moving parts! But for all the excitement and opportunity this provides the children, we’re aware that there is lots to learn as parents to ensure you are up to speed.

This handbook is here to help - a one-stop shop for the key information you might need about the year ahead. Whether you are a new Dumpton parent, or an experienced one, we hope the information on the following pages helps you understand the school, your child’s experience, and importantly, your own role as parents.

We do feel that the closer we can work with you, the better. They do say ‘it takes a village to raise a child’...

Christian Saenger Headmaster

BE

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SC HO O L VA L UES

Lie at the heart of all we do at Dumpton.

BE KIND Kindness could not be more important to us. Our main school rule is ‘treat others as you would like to be treated’, and we aim for friendliness and empathy to permeate every classroom and corridor of the school.

The atmosphere is nurturing and inclusive, and pupils, staff and parents share strong relationships as a result. Dumpton is more than just a school: it is a home away from home.

AIM HIGH Our quiet sense of aspiration and ambition is illustrated by our school motto: ‘you can because you think you can’. Inspiring self-belief is key.

Inside the classroom, this means a commitment to small class sizes, highquality teaching, and academic success for all. It means helping every child realise that with hard work, practice, determination and resilience, anything is possible. Every single child has remarkable potential within them: it is our job to help them discover it.

KIND, AIM HIGH

Creativity Empathy

Collaboration

Enthusiasm

Global Citizenship

Courage Resilience

C HA R AC TER EDUC ATIO N THE DUMP TO N WAY

At Dumpton, we believe that character matters.Whilst academic success remains a core priority, we ensure pupils know that it is the person they become – not the grades they achieve – that is most important to us.

We are preparing our pupils for an increasingly challenging world. We believe that discovering, developing and harnessing their character at school is the best preparation for happiness and success in their futures.

Our approach to character education is underpinned by ‘The Dumpton Way’. This framework is built around seven character virtues which we model, teach, seek out and celebrate throughout the school: Empathy, Resilience, Courage, Collaboration, Enthusiasm, Creativity, and Global Citizenship.

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C UR R IC ULUM INF O R MATIO N

We broadly follow the National Curriculum from Reception until Year 6 and Curriculum Overviews can be found on our Parent Portal.

As well as building the strongest foundations in core subjects like Numeracy, Literacy (including reading), Science, PSHE/RSE (Personal, social, health, and relationships education), Computing and Topic (usually focusing on History and Geography including Art), taught by their class teacher, the children will also have the opportunity to experience a range of subjects from specialist teachers.

• FRENCH – children start to learn French from Year 1 in the Pre-Prep with Madame Curson.

• MUSIC – each class has a weekly music lesson with Mrs Radford. The children learn songs, play percussion instruments and make up songs and tunes. In addition, Year 2 children have the opportunity to learn to play the violin, cello, fife and recorder as part of their music.

• SINGING – there is a Pre-Prep choir run by Mrs Willcock for all Pre-Prep children called ‘The Skylarks’.

• PHYSICAL EDUCATION – all children have a weekly PE lesson in the Sports Hall.

• DANCE – weekly, with Miss Burghart.

• GAMES (team sports) – Y1 and Y2 have a fortnightly games session with our Prep School Games staff.

• SWIMMING – weekly, with Mrs Hopkins.

• TENNIS – weekly, with Rob from Wimborne Tennis Club (Summer term only).

• OUTDOOR LEARNING – all children have a weekly timetabled outdoor learning session.

P UPIL PRO GR ES S

Our small class sizes ensure we can constantly monitor the progress of each and every pupil in every single lesson. We also carry out a range of informal and formal assessments of the children throughout the year to monitor their progress. All assessments are carried out in a relaxed and gentle way. Any concerns are discussed with parents, and if need be we will give your child some extra support in a particular area. There is no extra charge for learning support in the Pre-Prep.

We would also stress that we have an open-door policy and encourage ongoing conversations about your child’s progress – please don’t feel you need to wait to hear from us if you have a concern.

PA R ENT EV ENINGS A ND R EP O RTS All parents are invited to an Information Evening in your child’s classroom with their class teacher in September. This is an important occasion to help you understand the year ahead and we hope you will be able to attend.

We also have formal parents’ evenings in the Autumn and Spring terms where you can book a ten-minute consultation with your child’s class teacher. In addition, you will receive three written reports across the year: • Autumn Summary Report (December) • Spring Attainment Report (March) • End of Year Full Report (July)

As your child progresses through the Pre-Prep you will receive information on your child’s progress compared to national standards in Reading, Writing and Maths. This is based on our own ongoing assessment of pupils’ progress.

ATTAINMENT STATEMENTS • Working significantly above age-related expectation • Working above age-related expectation • Working at age-related expectation • Working towards age-related expectation • Working significantly below age-related expectation

You will also see a summary of their attitude and behaviour based against the school’s key values of Being Kind and Aiming High.

Aim High • Engaged and focused • Shows resilience in the face of challenge • Works to the best of their ability with determination

Be Kind • Displays a positive and respectful attitude to learning • Kind, considerate and well-mannered towards others

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L EA R NING SUPPO RT - EDX

We have a fantastic learning support department known as EdX. All children at Dumpton are supported to fulfil their potential, and if they have any barriers to their learning we will work closely with you to identify what these may be and put the appropriate support in place. There is universal support for every child in the classroom, but it may be that some additional targeted support is suggested for your child.

At this age, it is very early to diagnose specific learning needs – but if we feel your child has a specific learning need we will raise this with you. Please always feel free to speak to us if you have any concerns about their learning and progress.

HO ME LEA R NING

Pupils are given home learning activities each week in the Pre-Prep, and these vary depending on their age and stage of learning.We try to ‘get the balance right’ to ensure that this can support pupils progress, without putting any unnecessary pressure or strain onto home life. However, the more practice of key building blocks like phonics, writing and numbers children can do outside of school, the easier they will find things in lessons and the better their progress will be.

Form tutors will explain the expectations at our beginning of term ‘Information Evening’, but home learning may consist of: • Daily reading/phonics • Maths activities • Spelling/handwriting practice • Optional online activities (eg Numbots)

R EWA R D S A N D P R A IS E

The best way to promote super behaviour and motivate children is to ensure that they receive a strong sense of positivity when they are ‘getting things right’.

The children are encouraged to have positive attitudes towards each other and towards their work, and receive lots of praise when due. This comes in the form of verbal praise, stickers, postcards, certificates and even cups. These are awarded when the children live our values of Being Kind and Aiming High or when they demonstrate the virtues of the Dumpton Way.

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WELL BEING A ND RUL ER

At Dumpton, kindness, empathy and wellbeing lie at the heart of all we do. Our forward-thinking approach to whole school emotional literacy is called RULER, and it aims to give every child the strongest possible foundations for their wellbeing.

We will share the RULER tools with you so you can use them with your children at home too. As ever if you are ever concerned about your child’s wellbeing or emotional health, please come and talk with us straight away.

We regularly discuss the children’s wellbeing at school, and the staff wellbeing team meet weekly. We have the ability to give emotional support in school through a range of expertise on our staff team, as well as having a team of trained ELSAs (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants).

If you or your child are worried or unsure about any aspect of school life, please come and tell us, or pop it into an email if that is easier. However trivial it may seem; the problem may grow if not dealt with straight away and a quick word with us often sorts the problem out. If you would like to discuss anything in depth, please make an appointment with your child’s teacher. It is often easier for us to discuss things after school when we are not responsible for the children.

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DROP OFF AND PICK UP

Year 1 and Year 2 children should be dropped off at the gate to their class teacher each morning at 8.15am, whilst Reception children can be dropped off straight into classrooms at 8.15am.

Teachers will bring children to the gate for collection at 3.30pm, unless staying for hobbies or after school club.

The car park can be a dangerous place - please keep your child with you at all times.

If children are not being collected by their parents, please inform the class teacher verbally or in writing in advance via the reading diary or email. If you are away for the night and your child is being looked after, being collected or staying with friends please contact your child’s teacher to inform them in advance.

WRAP AROUND CARE AND HOBBIES

There is an After School Club which runs from 3.30pm until 5.30pm. Children in the Pre-Prep can also be dropped off early from 7.45am in the Dining Hall.

Booking details and forms will be sent home at the start of each term.

In addition, there are a range of hobbies offered in the Pre-Prep which run each afternoon from 3.30pm until 4.15pm. Initially these are for Year 1 and Year 2 only, with Reception getting the opportunity to attend Hobbies in the Spring and Summer Terms. Booking details and forms will be sent home at the start of each term.

C OMMUNIC ATIO N A ND K EEPING YO U UP TO DATE

Staying in touch is so important, and we are keen to ensure the communication between home and school is as effective as possible.

iSAMS Email: If the school need to tell you something important, we will email you. We try to give you as much notice as possible about upcoming events involving you or your child. All letters from school are sent home by email to parents via iSAMS. These are also stored in your Parent Portal account.

Headmaster’s Newsletter: This weekly newsletter arrives by email and contains important and useful information for parents and is a must read each week.

Weekly Newsletter: Form tutors send out a weekly newsletter via email on a Thursday with lots of useful information about what we have done each week, and what will be coming up next.

School Calendar: The school calendar, detailing all events for the current term is on the homepage of the website where it can be downloaded to your phone. It can also be found on the Parent Portal.

Drop Off or Pick Up: If appropriate, form teachers may find the time for a quick word at drop off or pick up.

Drop Ins: In the school calendar you will see some regular ‘drop ins’. This is a chance for you to join your child in the classroom for 15 minutes at the beginning of the day, to look through your child’s recent work, or complete a short learning activity together.

Parent Portal and iParent App: All parents should also log in to our personalised parent portal which includes lots of information about your child, access to important documents, as well as a record of all school reports and communication. Whilst this can be accessed via a webpage, we highly recommend downloading the iParent App - once logged in for the first time, access is extremely straightforward. All letters from school are sent home by email to parents via iSAMS. All emails sent home are stored in your Parent Portal account.

Social Media: Social media feeds are at the top right of the website – please follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Updates and photographs of what has been happening within the school are posted regularly and it is a lovely way to see clips and pictures of school events, trips and much more.

Policies: All key school policies are also published each year on the website, as well as the Parent Portal.

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GETTING IN CONTACT WITH US

You can always get in contact with us. If you have any query, no matter how big or small, we would encourage you to get in touch.

We have an ‘open door’ policy in the Pre-Prep and we very much enjoy catching up at both the start and end of the school day with parents about any matter, no matter how large or small. However, we appreciate that this is not always possible.

Email: Email is perhaps the most efficient way to communicate with us.

We have the opportunity to check emails before and after the school day and during any breaks and we will do our best to respond quickly, and certainly within 24 hours. All staff at Dumpton can be contacted by email using their initial and surname eg: a.teacher@dumpton.com Telephone messages may also be received via the School Office 01202 883818.

Diary: Our reading records / home school link diary will be sent home with your child on the first day of term and we very much encourage you to maintain communication by recording how your child is reading at home and any other aspects of learning.

MEDICAL MATTERS

We have a fantastic team of three Matrons. A Matron is “on call” every day between 8.00am and 4.30pm for any medical emergencies. All medicines that are brought to school by any child must be handed straight to Matron, with an explanatory letter, and will be dispensed under supervision.

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MEDICAL ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL

If for any reason your child is unwell and unable to come to school, please telephone Matron on 01202 843942 or email matron@dumpton.com as soon as possible to advise of their absence. It is always worth letting your child’s form tutor know as well.

Please also send any planned Medical or Dental Appointments to matron@dumpton.com as well as your child’s form tutor.This is to ensure our Matron team are aware of any upcoming appointments and so they can update the registers accordingly and inform the School Office.

OTHER ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL

All other non-medical requests for authorisation of a planned term-time absence, or leaving early from school, must be made either by emailing the Headmaster (headspa@dumpton.com) or using the form available on our Parent Portal. Requests will be reviewed and responded to as soon as possible.

To avoid disruption of lessons and school activities, parents are requested not to arrange holidays during term-time – any such absences will be marked as ‘unauthorised absence’ on your child’s attendance record, and will only be approved if the circumstances are exceptional.

K EY EV ENTS

All events will be included in the school calendar and published in advance of the new term, but please note some key events to look out for:

Towards the end of the Autumn term the children put on a Christmas Play to which you are warmly invited to attend. Parents are asked to provide a costume for their child. Year 2 pupils also have an instrumental concert. To finish the Autumn term, there is a Carol Service held in Wimborne Minster in which all children from Year 1 upwards are involved.

During the Spring term all Pre-Prep children are involved in the Spring Spectacular performing arts performance.

During the Summer term we hold a concert where the children again show off their musical and dance talents. Our Sports Days are also held during the Summer term. On the Friday of Summer half-term we hold our Family Afternoon: all parents are invited to walk around the school with their children to view the exhibitions and displays.Tea is served and half-term begins afterwards. The Year 2 pupils will also have their first sporting ‘fixture’ towards the end of the term, with parents able to come and spectate. To finish the Summer term we hold Speech Day. All children from Reception upwards are involved and once again all parents are invited to attend.

A S S EM BL IES

During the week there are assemblies as follows:

Monday - A PSHE assembly

Wednesday - Pre-Prep class / visitors’ assembly Friday - Awards and celebration assembly

Each class also have the opportunity to do a class assembly every year and this will be included in the school calendar – we warmly invite parents to join this, usually on Wednesday afternoons at 3pm.

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SA F ETY

We aim to provide a safe environment where children can work and play happily. Individual staff are responsible for first aid and attend Red Cross First Aid Courses regularly. A lifeguard is always in attendance during swimming lessons.

Regular risk assessments are carried out on working and playing equipment and surroundings.

Matron is in attendance from 8.00am until 4.30pm and is responsible for the medical welfare of the children.

A list of children with medical conditions and allergies is kept in the Pre-Prep office and staffroom.

SA F EGUA R DING

The most important thing of all at school is that everybody is safe. It is our top priority to know everyone as an individual and to provide a secure and caring environment so that every pupil can learn in safety. We work closely with parents to understand specific family circumstances and situations where it is appropriate to offer extra support.We encourage you to share as much with us as you can, in the knowledge that all personal information will be treated with the utmost sensitivity and confidentiality.

Whilst safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility, it is led by a dedicated team of Designated Safeguarding Leads. They and all staff regularly receive relevant and up to date training and Dumpton has strong links with local Safeguarding Partners. The Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is on the public area of the school’s website. Other policies, including arrangements for admissions, accessibility, children with EHCPs, anti-bullying, health and safety and many others are available on request from the School.

If you every have any concerns about anyone safety’s or wellbeing – a child, a parent or a member of staff – at Dumpton, please do let us know.The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Sam Moulton s.moulton@dumpton.com tel: 01202 847936.

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OUTINGS AND TRIPS

Throughout the year the Pre-Prep organise outings and in-house visits which provide added stimulation and hands on experience to link with our curriculum topics. There will normally be at least three trips/experiences a year for the pupils.

FOOD

The school provides a delicious home cooked lunch, which is eaten in the dining hall.

Children are expected to sit and use their cutlery correctly and to have good table manners.

The children will be encouraged to eat well. We do encourage the children to try new foods even if they think they will not like them. We also provide snacks in the morning and, if children are staying later, in the afternoons.Menus for the week can be found on the website and Parent Portal.

We aim for all food leaving the kitchens to be nut free. Whilst we understand that a complete nut free school cannot be guaranteed, we aim for a whole school awareness of allergy, educating all staff and pupils in the signs and symptoms and how to deal with allergic reactions.

As a result of ‘Natasha’s Law’ and the associated risks, we would ask that no food is brought into school from home, including birthday cakes, coins in cards etc. If your child has a medical allergy to certain foods or is on a special diet please inform Matron.

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ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND

We are always happy for parents to take children to the Adventure Playground between 3.30pm and 4.15pm each day. It’s a lovely way to let the children have a play together and run off steam, and for you to spend time with other parents.

We do please just ask that you supervise your children carefully and ensure that they follow the Adventure Playground rules that are posted on the gate.

We do ask that children do not play in the Early Years Garden after school or use any of the equipment as often this has already been tidied away and safely stored.

The exception is for Nursery children waiting for Pre-Prep siblings to finish, who are welcome to use the sandpit from 3.15pm to 3.30pm while they wait with you.

DUMPTON FRIENDS

The Dumpton Friends organise social events throughout the year for parents to get to know each other. Dumpton Friends use the Classlist App for parents to connect with each other, organise events and learn about the school community. Please sign up at Classlist.com

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SCHOOL TRANSPORT

Children can use the School Transport to and from school as soon as they are ‘ready’. For children in the Pre-Prep, please consult with your child’s form teacher in the first instance.

The school uses an online minibus booking system called Vectare https://dumpton.vectare.co.uk. You will be able to sign up using your email address that is registered with the school. On the website there is a useful ‘how to book’ guide along with a FAQs section. There is also a parent App ‘VecTive Passenger App’ available in the App Store where you can book and cancel trips using your Android or Smartphone. If you have any queries or questions about the minibus service please email busadmin@dumpton.com or call the School Office on 01202 883818.

TERMLY ACCOUNT

Fees should be paid in advance by the first day of each term. Please note that the fees are normally reviewed annually and parents are informed of any increases to take effect the following September as soon as possible.

USEF UL C O NTAC T INF OR MATIO N

Head’s PA Mrs Lerryn Chaffey 01202 883818 l.chaffey@dumpton.com

Admissions and School Fees Mrs Juliet Siggers 01202 883961 j.siggers@dumpton.com

Bursar Mr Justin Perry 01202 847937 j.perry@dumpton.com

School Reception Mrs Naomi Miller 01202 883818 n.miller@dumpton.com afterschoolclub@dumpton.com

Matron matron@dumpton.com 01202 843942

Senior Deputy Head Mrs Hilary Shaw 01020 883818 h.shaw@dumpton.com

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Head of Pre-Prep Recepton Teacher (RW) Mrs Kellie Wort k.wort@dumpton.com

Head of Early Years Reception Teacher (RM) Miss Tonya Monaghan t.monaghan@dumpton.com

Reception Teacher (RW) Mrs Jazmine Williams j.williams@dumpton.com

Year 1 Teacher (1C) Mr Dan Clark d.clark@dumpton.com

Year 1 Teacher (1F) Mrs Alice Fisher a.fisher@dumpton.com

Year 2 Teacher (2M) Mrs Sharon Morton s.morton@dumpton.com

Year 2 Teacher (2H) Mrs Kat Hatchard k.hatchard@dumpton.com

Pre-Prep Learning Support EYFS SENDCo Mrs Anna Appleby Ingram a.appleby@dumpton.com

C A MPUS 1

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Performing Arts School, Recital Room & Arts Courtyard

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Pre-Prep & Nursery

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Food Technology, Design Technology and Art

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School Reception

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Adventure Playground

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Deans Grove Pitches

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Main Entrance

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Visitor and Parent Parking School Campsite

10 Environmental Ponds 11 Forest School Site

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12 Watson Astro Pitches

13 Allotments, Orchard and Outdoor Classroom 14 Lower Pitches 15 Top Pitches

16 Science Laboratories

17 Library

18 Prep School Classrooms

19 Assembly Hall

20 Swimming Pool

21 Browning Sports Hall

22 Netball & Tennis Courts 23 Uniform Shop

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Pre-Prep

Deans Grove House, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 7AF 01202 883818 . www.dumpton.com @dumpton_school Images by PaulWest Photography This programme is sustainably printed by Shelleys of Sherborne and is 100% recyclable