Parent handbook

PARENT HANDBOOK

For helpful information throughout the school year

2022 – 2023

01942 882412

enquiries@admin.astleysaintstephens.wigan.sch.uk www.astleysaintstephen.co.uk

Dear Parents / Carers, Here is some useful information about school.

Included you will find:            

The school’s Motto, Mission Statement and Aims Our Christian Values (these have been agreed with the pupils and parents) The Home School Agreement Staff list Where to find School Policies and other important information Medication in School and School Meal information Parental Consent Form for Trips Leave of Absence during term time A list of useful dates for the school academic year Term time dates for school years 2022/2023 Uniform list Useful dates for 2022/2023

I hope that you find it useful. If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch with school.

Yours sincerely, Jill Southern

Headteacher

Motto In Christ Be healthy Be happy Be helpful Believe

Mission Statement St Stephen’s is a school rooted and growing in Christian faith and committed to excellence: encouraging staff and pupils to flourish and all to feel secure, valued and loved.

We aim: 

To enable children to develop within a caring Christian school which values and is valued by the wider community



To promote in pupils, self esteem and respect for self and others, understanding and embracing their differences



To be a school where each individual makes a positive contribution to their own development, life of the school, local community and environment



To continue to develop a curriculum which recognises, promotes and develops excellence through individual learning, achievements, progress and effort



To promote a healthy environment and lifestyles which equip children with the necessary skills for life and lifelong learning.

GOLDEN RULES 

I will take care of school equipment and the building



I will be helpful



I will always try to do my best



I will be polite and respectful especially in the way that I speak to others



I will be friendly



I will keep my hands and feet to myself



I will talk at the right times



I will wear the correct school uniform



I will walk quietly around school

St Stephen’s CE Primary School

Home school agreement As a welcoming and inclusive family school we will embrace all members of our community. St. Stephen’s will strive to foster an enriched love of learning embodied in the Word of Christ by celebrating and nurturing a child’s full potential, for we believe that Jesus Christ is the Light of the World. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.

(John 1:5)

The Parents / Carers

We will do our best to: 

build a positive partnership with the school for the benefit of our child



ensure our child attends regularly and arrives punctually and properly equipped



check personal items are clearly labelled



encourage our child to be organised and reliably responsible for themselves and their belongings



inform the school of the reasons for absence by telephone and by letter



avoid taking our child on holiday during term time



support the school’s Christian values, behaviour policy and rules by encouraging a positive attitude towards school



encourage our child to show kindness and consideration to others and to show respect to other people and their property



encourage our child’s effort and achievement by talking to them and encouraging them to do their best



provide working space and a quiet environment for homework, giving support where appropriate



attend parents’ meetings and bring any concerns promptly to the school’s attention



inform the school about factors, including medical information, which might affect our child’s work, welfare or behaviour



adhere to the remote learning policy during times of remote learning

The School We will do our best to: 

build a positive relationship with parents in the best interests of their children



ensure that children are well taught, cared for, treated fairly and equally and valued as individuals within a Christian community



encourage children to always strive to do their best in everything they do



recognise and encourage good attendance and punctuality



give parents early warning of any problems with their child’s work or behaviour



provide homework to reinforce learning which has taken place in school



provide parents with regular information about their child’s progress and are invited to meet their child’s teacher two times a year



provide written annual reports for parents and be available to discuss this report if parents would like to do so



inform parents about school policies, curriculum, targets and activities through regular letters and newsletters



adhere to the remote learning policy during times of remote learning

The Pupil I will do my best to: 

come to school regularly and arrive on time and with the proper equipment



behave responsibly, treating everyone with the respect they deserve and following the school rules



wear appropriate school uniform at all times



complete my homework on time and to the best of my ability



to respect other people’s property and be responsible for the care of my own possessions



respect the school buildings and grounds and keep them tidy



tell my teacher or teaching assistant if anything is worrying me



take home all letters and handouts so that my parent / carer can read them



follow the remote learning policy during times of remote learning

Staff List 2022 - 2023 Headteacher:

Mrs J Southern

Assistant Headteachers: Mr S Lawrenson & Mrs M Lowe Pastoral Manager:

Mrs N Crowther

Class

Teacher

Teaching Assistants

Reception

Mrs R Deakin

Mrs C Newton

Year 1

Mrs M Lowe

Mrs L Stephens

Year 2

Mr J. Tinker

Mrs C Harvey

Year 3

Mrs K Ogden

Mrs H Peake

Year 4

Mr A Burrows

Miss J Davison

Year 5

Miss B Reynolds

Mrs A Killeen

Year 6

Mr S Lawrenson

Miss D Brennan

PPA Cover

Mrs S Tomlinson

School Business Manager: Administrative Assistant:

Mr M Clark Vacancy

Midday Assistants:

Miss D Brennan Mrs L Stephens Mrs H Peake Mrs M Norbury Mrs M Rogers Miss L Berry

Site Manager: Cleaner: School Cook: School Nurse:

Miss J Rowley Miss J Battersby Miss S Grundy assisted by Mrs J Ball Astley Clinic (01942 483000)

Policy Information At Astley St Stephen’s we recognise that the interests of our pupils are best served when the school and parents work as a partnership based on mutual respect.

We aim to realise each child’s personal potential by developing positive social and moral values, intellectual and physical skills and a positive selfimage.

To assist us in these aims we have school policies which are regularly reviewed. They indicate our intentions to help pupils in realising their full potential.

These policies cover many areas and are all available in school should you wish to view them.

Policies, important information along with curriculum overview, may be found on our website at https://www.astleysaintstephen.co.uk/policies/ All adults working with or on behalf of children have a responsibility to protect children. In our school the designated teacher for child protection is Mrs Jill Southern (Headteacher). Mrs Crowther, Mrs Lowe and Mr Lawrenson are also trained as designates for Child Protection. By following our Child Protection Policy and procedures, staff can respond appropriately and sensitively to child protection concerns. School works to promote a multi-agency approach to safeguarding and protecting the children in our school. We are also able to offer the services of a Pastoral Manager, Mrs Crowther, who will offer support to children, as well as families, as required.

Medication No medication will be given to pupils without the Headteacher’s authorisation. Medicines should only be brought into school when essential; that is where it would be detrimental to a child’s health if the medicine were not administered during the school day.

The school will only accept medicines that have been prescribed by a doctor, dentist, nurse prescriber or pharmacist prescriber.

Medicines should always be provided in the original container as dispensed by a pharmacist and include the prescriber’s instructions for administration. Relevant forms will then be completed by the office staff.

It is helpful, where clinically appropriate, if medicines are prescribed in dose frequencies which enable it to be taken outside of school hours. For example medicines that need to be taken three times a day could be taken in the morning, after school hours and at bedtime.

For children who have long term medical needs it is necessary to have sufficient information about the medical condition, so that a health care plan can be developed, involving parents and relevant health professionals.

A register of those who need an inhaler is maintained by our designated first aider who also oversees their storage etc.

School Meals

All pupils in Key Stage 1 are provided with a free school meal.

School meal prices are currently £11.50 per week (£2.30 per day) for Key Stage 2 children.

We use an automated payment system for all monies via ParentPay.

You may order your child’s meals online using our meal ordering system – PLEASE REMEMBER TO CANCEL YOUR ORDER IF YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT FROM SCHOOL. Please advise the school office if you have difficulty with any matters concerning the automated payment system or on-line ordering system.

Annual Parental Consent Form for Trips 2022 - 2023

This consent will encompass visits into the community – a walk to the Post Office, traffic surveys directly outside the school, walking to Dam House as part of our Outdoor Learning. You will not necessarily be notified of these trips as they are an integral part of the curriculum and can be weather dependant.

For trips outside the local area e.g. to Jodrell Bank, Imagine That! etc, a separate consent is needed and a request will also be made for voluntary contributions towards the cost of the trip.

‘’ I am willing to allow my child to take part in activities away from the school base during the period of September 2022 to July 2023 and for the class teacher or Headteacher to sign on my behalf any forms of consent required by hospital authorities in the event of my child being taken ill or injured during the course of the journey to the extent that a surgical operation or serum injection becomes necessary, provided the delay required to obtain my own signature might be considered likely in the opinion of the doctor or surgeon to endanger my child’s health or safety’’

Term Time Leave of Absence Responsibilities of Parents / Carers Ensuring your child’s regular attendance at school is a parent/carer’s legal responsibility (Section 444 of the 1996 Education Act) and permitting absence from school that is not authorised by the school creates an offence in law.

Parents will:  inform the school on the first day of absence  discuss with the class teacher any planned absences well in advance  support the school with their child in aiming for 100% attendance each year  make sure that any absence is clearly accounted for by telephone on the first and subsequent days of absence, or by letter if a phone is unavailable  avoid taking their child out of school for non-urgent medical or dental appointments  only request leave of absence if it is for an exceptional circumstance.

Pupils who are consistently late are disrupting not only their own education but also that of other pupils.

Ongoing and repeated lateness is considered as unauthorised absence and may be subject to legal action.

Parents / Carers of pupils who have patterns of lateness will be contacted to discuss the importance of good timekeeping and how this might be achieved. If lateness persists, parents, guardians or carers will be invited to attend the school and discuss the problem and support offered.

Please collect your child promptly at the end of the school day. Where late collection is persistent and/or significantly late, the school is obliged to take any uncollected pupil to a place of safety and share concerns, as necessary, with other agencies.

You will find further information regarding Education Penalty Notices on our School Website.

Pastoral Support

My name is Nikki Crowther, I am the Pastoral Manager here at St Stephens.

My role is to support all children and families here at St Stephens. I may support your child with a variety of issues, which may be a barrier to their learning.

Here are some examples of the support that I can offer Self-esteem/Confidence building: Friendship groups Bereavement/Loss E Safety Stress: Anger Management Domestic Abuse Issues: Behaviours Young Carers Attendance/Punctuality Parenting Support Divorce/Separation Housing Issues Food Bank Vouchers Research has shown that once an issue arises, Early Support is essential to enable children to reach their full potential.

On some occasions, I may feel we need more of a coordinated plan of support in which we will work together with other professionals and agencies to best support your child. This is called an Early Help Assessment.

On rare occasions, if we have any safeguarding concerns a referral maybe necessary to Children’s Social Care.

Please feel free to contact me in school if I can help with anything at all.

I am outside at the start and end of the day, come and say hello.

I look forward to supporting you and your child.

School Holidays 2022 – 2023 AUTUMN TERM: Tuesday 6th Sept 2022 – Friday 16th Dec 2022 Mid-Term

School closes

Friday 21st October 2022

Re-opens

Monday 31st October 2022

Christmas Holiday School closes Re-opens

Friday 16th December 2022 Wednesday 4th January 2023

SPRING TERM:

Wednesday 4th Jan 2023 – Friday 31st March 2023

Mid-Term

School closes

Friday 17th February 2023

Re-opens

Monday 27th February 2023

School closes

Wednesday 31st March 2023

Re-opens

Monday 17th April 2023

Easter Holiday

SUMMER TERM

Monday 17thApril 2023 – Friday 21st July 2023

Bank Holiday

Monday 1st May 2023

INSET Day

Thursday 4th May 2023 (local government elections)

Mid-Term

Summer Holiday

School closes

Friday 26th May 2023

Re-opens

Monday 5th June 2023

School closes Friday 21st July 2023

Uniform List Grey trousers/ skirt or pinafore Red and white cotton dress Red jumper/ sweatshirt or cardigan White polo shirt White socks/ grey socks/ grey tights/ red tights Black school shoes (flat heels, not boots)

P.E. Kit Navy blue shorts/ PE skirt/ Navy blue tracksuit (plain blue jogging pants and sweatshirt) White t-shirt or St. Stephen’s logo top with blue short sleeves Pumps/ trainers Earrings are not to be worn for School.

School uniform supplies can be purchased from the following: Touchline Embroidery Online http://www.touchline-embroidery.co.uk Click on ‘school shops’ PASSWORD: astl8629 Wendy’s Uniform, 428 Tyldesley Road, Atherton Manchester, Manchester, M46 9AT - 01942 877317 http://www.wendysuniforms.co.uk/

ICON Embroidery, Unit 5, The Gables, Stour Rd, Tyldesley, Manchester M29 7PX – 01942 375253 https://www.iconembroidery.co.uk/ Jaymax, 1 Gas Street, Leigh, WN7 4PD - 01942 682984 https://www.jaymaxuniforms.com/

School Governors Three Core Strategic Functions of the Governing Board:   

Ensure Clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction Hold Executive Leaders to account for educational performance of the organisation and its pupils and the performance management of staff.

Oversee the financial performance of the organisation and make sure money is well spent.

Janet Pollard Foundation Parochial Church Appointed Governor and Chair Responsibility: Years 3 & 4 Contact Email: jpollard@ststephensastley.org.uk Alison Paddon Foundation Parochial Church Appointed Governor and Vice Chair Responsibility: Quality of Education Reverend Martin Cox Foundation Ex-Officio Governor Responsibility: Pastoral, Welfare, Years 5 & 6 Ceri Forster Parent Governor Responsibility: Safeguarding & SEND Emma Teale Foundation Parochial Church Appointed Governor Responsibility: EYFS/ KS1 Nicky Wallace Foundation Parochial Church Appointed Governor Responsibility: P.E. & R.E. Jessica Eckersley Parent Governor Responsibility: Safeguarding & SEND

Leanne Dunn Parent Governor Responsibility: GDPR, Personal Development Vacancy Local Authority Appointed Governor Responsibility: Rachel Deakin Staff Governor

Astley St. Stephen’s C.E. Primary School 2022-23 30th September 2nd October 5.00pm

Macmillan Coffee morning Confirmation at Atherton Parish Church

4 & 5th October 9.15am

Harvest Service Tuesday & Wednesday School Discos (Infant 3.15 – 4.30pm, Junior 4.45 – 6.00pm) Break up for half-term School re-opens Parents Evening School Photographer – portraits Open Day 1.30pm & 5.30pm Christmas Performances (dates & times

20th October 21st October 3.15pm 31st October 8th November 15th November 29th November w/c 5th December to be confirmed) 13th December pm 14th December pm 15th December pm 16th December 3.15pm 3rd January 4th January 17th February 3.15pm 27th February 7th March 28th March 5.00pm w/c 27th March 31st March 3.15pm 17th April 4th May w/c 8th May 26th May pm 26th May 3.15pm 5th June 5th- 9th June

Infant Party Y3/4 Party Y5/6 Party Break up for Christmas Inset Day – closed to pupils School re-opens Break up for half-term School re-opens Parents Evening Y2 & Y6 Sats meeting for parents Easter Services Break up for Easter School re-opens School closed Inset Day (local government elections) Sats week for Y6 pupils Sponsored Walk Break up for half-term School re-opens Y6 to Low Bank Ground

w/c 12th June 14th June 6.00pm 22nd June 29th June 4th July 11th July 12th July 9.15am 14th July 17th July 2.00pm 18th July 7.00pm 21st July 3.15pm

Phonics testing in Y1 New Reception Parents meeting Sports Day Reserve Sports Day Pass Up Day Pass Up Day Y6 Leavers’ Service Leavers’ Ball Y6 Play Y6 Play School closes for Summer