Parent Handbook

Parent/Carer Reception Handbook

St Nicolas C of E Infant School, Portsmouth Road, Guildford, Surrey GU2 4YD 01483 561639 1 info@st-nicolas.surrey.sch.uk http://www.st-nicolas-guildford.com/

Contents 

Children’s visits to school, home visits, start dates

Page 3

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School personnel

Page 3



Emergency closures

Page 4

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School uniform

Page 4



What to bring…

Page 4



Drinks, snacks & lunches

Page 5



Health and Safety

Page 6



The journey to school

Page 7



Home Time

Page 7



Attendance

Page 7



The Library

Page 8

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Communication

Page 8



Parent Staff Association (PSA)

Page 9



Breakfast / After School Club

Page 9



Local Parish Churches

Page 9



School Office

Page 9



Clubs

Page 9



School Trips

Page 10



Homework

Page 10



Annual events

Page 10



School Council

Page 10



Policies

Page 10



Complaints procedure

Page 10



Tapestry

Page 11



Privacy Notice

Page 11



Values

Page 11



Parent Staff Association (PSA) Welcome

Page 12



Term dates

Page 14



School Vision

Page 15



School Prayer

Page 16

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Welcome

Starting Dates

Welcome to our school. We hope you and your family will have a happy and successful time with us. This handbook has been devised to help you get to know us and settle in as quickly as possible – please let us know if there is any other information that would be useful to include in future editions.

The reception children start slightly later than the rest of the school to accommodate Meet the Teacher meetings. A slightly staggered start to school life works well so children start with half day sessions initially, increasing to include lunch and then move to full time. As a result transition from pre–school and home to school runs smoothly and happily.

If ever you are unsure about anything or have a concern, please do ask – we are here to help you and your child.

We look forward to working in partnership with you to ensure that your child’s time here is a happy one. Please remember we are part of a team; you, your child and us.

Together we want to offer the very best for your child’s education and we want everyone to enjoy their ‘journey’ through St Nics’ Infant School.

Children’s Visits to School Our Reception children will be invited to come into school to begin to get to know the staff and explore the indoor and outdoor environments towards the end of the summer term.

Meet the Teacher Meetings Our Reception children and their parents/carers are invited into school by the class teacher and the teaching assistant early in September.

The visit provides opportunities for staff to talk about a typical school day, and for children and parents to ask any questions they might have. We also ask that you complete the All about My Child document with your children.

School Personnel Senior Teacher: Dina Pandis School Business Manager: Vivian Lau SENDco: Ali McClure Office Administrators: Sarah Hurst Angelique Van Eeden

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Term Dates A copy of the term dates for the year ahead can be found on the last page of this Handbook but is also on the Calendar on the website.

Termly diary dates can be found on the fortnightly newsletter.

The school will be closed on five additional days throughout the year. These are known as INSET days (inservice training days for teachers). Parents are given as much notice as possible about these dates so that you can plan ahead.

White polo shirt

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our school website will inform you a Classlist message will be sent Eagle Radio will make announcements about school closures and put on their website www.964eagle.co.uk all school closures are listed on the Surrey County Council website www.surreycc.gov.uk

School Times     

7.30am: Breakfast Club opens 8.50am: School opens 12.00: Lunchtime 3.30pm: End of school 3.30pm-6.00pm: Junior Adventures Group

Grey trousers, skirt or pinafore *St Nics’ sweatshirt or cardigan

Items not supplied by Kids-Biz can be bought from any high street outlet or supermarket.

Second Hand Uniform is available through PSA sales throughout the year.

Grey or red tights Grey or white socks Black shoes

White polo shirt

Summer Uniform

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Grey shorts, trousers or skirt, or red and white checked dress

It is essential that all clothes are named. Our youngest children need to be able to dress themselves easily – no complicated laces or fastenings. It is important that the children always look smart so please note trainers are not part of our school uniform. We encourage you to tie long hair back.

*St Nics’ sweatshirt or cardigan Grey or white socks Black shoes

*White St Nics’ T-shirt

PE Kit in named *St Nics’ PE Bag

On very rare occasions the school has to be closed. If this is necessary we carry out the following procedures:

Winter Uniform

Emergency Closures

Red shorts Grey track suit bottoms Plimsolls *St Nics’ PE bag

School Uniform Uniform can be ordered via Kids-Biz and will be delivered free of charge to the school.

Online orders can be made via PMG Schoolwear - St Nicolas C of E Aided Infant School.

Items marked * must be ordered from Kids-Biz that have the school logo.

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What to Bring On your first day at St Nics’, please remember to bring:  St Nics’ Book Bag  A named bottle of water  PE bag with all clothing items named. PE bags can stay at school until half term when it can go home

to be washed. Please bring it back on the first day after every holiday.  No toys or snacks need to be brought to school.

…on a rainy/snowy day!

If it is cold, raining or snowing don’t forget to come in named, warm clothes as the children play outside all year round:  A warm, waterproof coat  Gloves, hat, scarf  Wellington boots

There is also provision for those children who prefer to bring a healthy packed lunch (no fizzy drinks, sweets, chocolate bars). Please note, we are a NUT FREE ZONE which includes peanut butter.

It is not possible for children to swap from packed lunches to school meals on a daily basis or mid-week. We require one weeks’ notice.

If your child has any special medical dietary requirements you will need to complete a Special Dietary Request Form

…on a hot, sunny day!

On a hot, sunny day make sure you:  Bring in a named sunhat  Apply a long lasting sunscreen before leaving home, for extra protection on sunny days.

School Lunches Lunches are cooked freshly on site each day.

Hot school meals are provided free for all Reception and Year 1 and 2 children.

Pupil Premium – Free School Meals Please let us know if you qualify for free school meals (e.g, if you are in receipt of Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance or, in certain cases, Child Tax Credit) as the school is able to claim additional funding (Pupil Premium). Children with a parent in the armed forces and children adopted from care or who left care under a special guardianship order or residence order also qualify for Pupil Premium (see complete Pupil premium Application form found here: Pupil Premium Application form

Fruit and vegetable scheme 5

We participate in the Free Fruit and Vegetable Scheme that supports our Healthy Schools Programme. This enables children in the Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 to have a free piece of fruit or vegetable each day. The fruit and vegetables are available as mid-morning snack. Please don’t send other snacks into school.

Water and milk Please provide your child with a named water bottle and ensure they bring it in every day. The water bottles are accessible in the classrooms throughout the day and they are taken out to morning and lunch playtimes.

The children are encouraged to drink water regularly throughout the day. Not only is water physically needed but it can enhance learning through reducing sluggishness and dehydration – particularly in the afternoons!

Why Milk?

Dentists recommend milk and water as the safest drinks for teeth.

“Milk is the most nutritionally complete food… in particular it is essential for the development of strong, healthy teeth and bones in young children” Food Standards Agency.

One 189ml carton at break time can provide up to half the recommended daily allowance

Cool Milk Scheme

Milk is available to all our children, at a subsidised price, and free to those under 5.

Further information and application forms are available from the School Office or you can register online at Cool Milk.

It is delivered fresh to us twice weekly and refrigerated. We encourage participation as part of our Healthy Schools Programme.

parents / carers verbally at the end of the school day.

Serious head injuries are reported to the parent/carer by telephone and this telephone conversation is noted on the First Aid Form.

Parents/carers must inform the school if their child suffers

need to have a completed Individual Healthcare Plan (IHCP) that the school will provide a template for use.

Antibiotics: No child can be given medicine without a Medicine Request Form being completed by the parent/carer. The medicine must be delivered to the office by an adult and be clearly labelled with the child’s name, dosage and time to be administered. All medicine is looked after by the office staff. Please do not ask the teaching staff to administer or look after it.

Medical: If your child has vomited or has had diarrhoea, parents/carers should not send him/her back to school until they have been ‘clear’ of the bug for 48 hours. This procedure is in place to consider the health of the other pupils.

Safeguarding: We are from asthma or an allergy.

Health and Safety Sun safety: During warmer and hot weather we encourage children to wear sunhats during playtime to protect themselves from the sun.

First Aid: Our staff are First Aid trained. All accidents are recorded however minor they may seem. Your child will also bring home a First Aid Form in their book bag and wherever possible the class teacher/ teaching assistant will inform

All prescribed medication that the school needs to hold (i.e.

EpiPens or inhalers) need to be provided to the school office and the appropriate documentation completed Perscribed Medication Medication will be taken on educational visits and to PE lessons if necessary. EpiPens, are kept in the First Aid cupboard in the school office and in the class. An Allergy Action Plan must be provided by the child’s healthcare professional for all allergies, any other medical conditions including intolerances will 6

committed to the safeguarding of our children.

We have a Safeguarding Policy and procedures in place. All adults using our school site (including supply staff, volunteers and governors must ensure that they are aware of these procedures and will be asked to sign that they have read and understood our safeguarding information.

For Safeguarding information, please visit our website.

NB in the interest of health and safety, no smoking or dogs, except for guide dogs, or school reading dogs are allowed anywhere on site.

The Journey to School St Nics’ can be accessed by 2 pedestrian walk ways: one from the Portsmouth Road and one via a lane from The Mount. All St Nics’ parents can apply for a URC (United Reformed Church) parking permit when joining the school. This is only for use at drop off and pick up times.

The drive is not for pedestrian use and there is no parking on site for parents.

As part of our Healthy Schools Programme, we encourage families to walk to school as much as possible. Children may also come on their scooter/bike which can be stored in the bike shelter.

During the day there is a security system on each gate so please use the buzzer to talk to the office.

Home Time Parents/Carers must inform us if another adult is going to collect your child from school.

We will not allow the child to be taken off the premises without your permission, even if the adult is known to us.

Note: whenever you arrange for someone else to collect your child, you are responsible for your child once they leave the school premises.

Please complete the Collection Consent form for anyone who collects your child regularly.

Please use the clipboard located outside the class to record any change of arrangement for that day and sign your permission – this will enable the class teacher to refer to the clipboard at the end of the day to ensure safe delivery of children to the correct adult. If there is a change of arrangement after you have left school in the morning, please ring the school to notify us of your permission for another adult to collect your child.

At the end of the day, please collect children from outside the classroom. The teacher will send them out to the adult known to be collecting them.

Please ensure that you arrive in plenty of time to collect your child. Please note that the school office closes at 3.15pm.

If your child is going to an After School Club, they will be taken to the hall by a member of staff.

Thank you for your cooperation with this matter as we wish to ensure the safety of our children at all times.

Attendance It is vital that parents/carers notify the school of any planned child’s absence in order for it to be authorised or not by the school. (Please 7

complete a Leave of Leave of Absence Form.

NB we do not authorise any holiday in term time.

Please do ensure that your child arrives on time to school. We open the doors at 8.50am and the register is taken at 9.00am.

All absences and late arrivals to school are regularly monitored by the school and the Inclusion Officer (IO), from the Local Authority. Any unexplained absence is recorded as ‘unauthorised’.

We are required to refer any concerns regarding a child’s attendance or punctuality to the IO. If your child’s attendance drops below 90%, which the DfE defines this as ‘Persistent Absenteeism’, you will be contacted by the school to agree on how to improve.

Persistent absence may require evidence of a medical appointment or prescription.

If your child is ill, please telephone the school every day your child is absent. As part of our safeguarding procedures, the school will contact you if we do not hear from you. Please make medical, dental or other appointments out of school hours wherever possible, but if you need to collect your child early please inform the school office. Any children leaving school early or being dropped off late will need to sign them in/out at the school office.

Please refer to our Attendance Policy which can be found on our website: Attendance Policy.

E-Safety As children are growing up in a society full of computers and electronic devices, computing is an important part of children’s learning and the curriculum. In class, children have the opportunity to learn new computer skills, develop those skills they already have and use computers as a tool to help them learn in other areas of the curriculum. All children in the school have access to either classroom computers, laptops or tablets. As these computers have access to the internet, e-safety is of high importance. The school takes the following steps to make sure children are safe when using computers and electronic devices:  All internet access is filtered.

 E-safety is discussed regularly with the children as part of the computing curriculum.  All parents are asked to sign an e-safety form.  All staff adhere to the school’s e-safety policy which is monitored by senior staff and governors.

The Library Class library sessions take place regularly each week.

The children visit the library in small groups during this time and each child is allowed to borrow one book per week and should return it the same day the following week.

The children are encouraged to use their library time to browse books even if they have forgotten their book that week.

Communication Parents/carers and reception staff have direct, informal access to each other daily for quick questions/exchange of information during the first few minutes before registration. If you have any concerns, parents/carers can arrange to see the class teacher at a time convenient to them both, arranged via the school office. Tapestry can also be used to convey nonurgent messages between home and school.

Our online communication tool is called Classlist. All new parents will receive an email inviting them to join. Please accept this invitation as this will enable us to send messages, announcements 8

and letters to you online and via the Classlist app. The PSA and Class Reps also use Classlist to communicate to families. For further info: Classlist - Build amazing school communities The class teacher sends a termly Topic Plan home which can also be found on the class pages of the school website: There are parent /teacher consultations in the autumn and spring terms. Reports go home in the summer term and it is possible to make an appointment to see your child’s teacher to discuss these if required.

The school sends home a fortnightly Newsletter via Classlist on Friday’s which can also be found on the school website Newsletters | St Nicolas' CofE Aided Infant School.

Pupil Post Any reminders or additional letters are communicated via Classlist as we strive to be a paper free school, but occasionally we do put some in the children’s book bags – do please check them regularly. If you feel you have missed any communication, further copies are always available from the school office or on the school website.

Curriculum Workshops

Wrap around Care

These are held from time to time during the school day or in the evening to help parents/carers support their child’s learning. In the first term we run a Tapestry Workshop and Phonics/Reading Talk.

JAG runs our Breakfast Club each morning from 7.30am until 8.50 am and our After School Club until 6pm.

Bookings may be made on a regular basis or ‘ad hoc’, directly with the club.

JAG also runs Holiday Clubs for children age 4-8.

Parent Staff Association: PSA The Parent Staff Association at St Nics’ (PSA) aim to organise events which are not only enjoyable, but also raise money for the school throughout the year. Each class has 2 parent reps who organises social events for the parents in the class so everyone gets to know each other. Communication from the PSA also comes via Classlist. Class groups are set up to enable informal; communication to take place between families and for Class Reps to post reminders etc.

(See page 12 of the handbook for more information)

For more information or to make bookings please contact hello@junioradventuresgroup .co.uk (0333 577 1533) Junior Adventures Group

Clubs

School Office Open every day: Mon/Tues/Weds 8.30am – 3.15pm Thurs/Fri 8.40am – 3pm

Trips

At St Nics’, we offer a choice of 1 hour activities which take place after school. These are paid for by parents direct to the provider. Clubs and Wrap Around Care

Local Parish Church links We enjoy strong links with the local churches within our Parish. The rector from St Nicolas’ Church, Father Neil, leads weekly collective acts of worship in our school and we have termly services at the church throughout the year.

We recognise the value of educational visits and their holistic value to the development of children. We believe that outdoor learning enriches the curriculum and can improve attainment. We ask for voluntary contributions from parents to finance these.

Homework Homework provides an opportunity for you to work with your child at home, supporting their learning in school and contributing towards their progress.

Homework in reception includes: Reading daily  Practising phonics (letter sound)  Learning key words  Topic activities

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Annual events

Complaints Procedure

Autumn Term

If you have any concerns about your child’s progress, development, behaviour or treatment you must always speak to the class teacher in the first instance. If you wish to discuss the matter further, Mrs Smart (Headteacher) is always happy to arrange an appointment for you. Should you feel the matter has not been resolved satisfactorily there is a complaints procedure to assist both you in resolving difficulties.

 Harvest  Parent Partnership Evenings  Whole School Theatre trip  Advent Pause Day  Christmas play/lunch  PSA Christmas Fair  Christmas Nativity  Christmas Service

Spring Term  Parent Partnership Evenings  World Book Day  Easter Pause Day  Easter Service

Summer Term      

Pentecost Pause day PSA Summer Fair Sports Day Leavers Assembly Whole School Trip End of Year Reports

Policies A copy of policies and procedures are available on our website or by hard copy from the school office upon request.

Helping in Class We welcome parent helpers in school and also have Reading Volunteers that help weekly. We have found that helping in a different class, not the one your child is in, works better.

Sometimes children find it hard to ‘share’ mum or dad with other children. All regular helpers must be DBS checked.

Handwriting At St Nics’ children learn a cursive style of handwriting as soon as possible. The letters all start at the same point which makes the formation of letters easier to learn. Please adopt the same style at home when your child is ready and remember capital letters only needed at the beginning of their names!

When teaching phonics (letter sounds) the children will be taught any digraphs (2 letters one sound e.g. sh, th, ch) as a 10

joined up combination of

letters.

Values We are a Values Based Learning School which means we teach the children 6 explicit values throughout the year through weekly assemblies, circle times and lessons.

Values are an integral part of our school ethos and we as adults model our Values every day for the children. As parents we ask you to support us in instilling these Values at home.

Values | St Nicolas' CofE Aided Infant School https://www.valuesbasededu cation.com/

Tapestry

Independence

We use Tapestry as our online learning journal for our children. This invaluable tool enables us to capture the many magical moments of a child’s first year at school and to share them with you at home. We will be running a Tapestry Parent Meeting early next term to explain in more detail how this works but do see the website for some initial information.

We encourage children’s independence in all matters.

You can help us in this task by:

Personal Details Please let us know immediately if any of your personal details change, particularly your mobile number.

most welcome to come in, but please encourage your child to take responsibility for their belongings at the start of the day.

Privacy Notice

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Teaching your child to undress and dress themselves and avoiding belts and shoes with tricky laces (we love Velcro!)  Ensuring you child can use the toilet without help (if there are issues here please let us know).  Encouraging your child to use a knife and fork – help is always available.  Letting your child take responsibility for their own coat, and book bag at the start of the school day.  As soon as your child is settled into class life, saying goodbye at the door and letting him or her enter the classroom on their own.

Certainly by the start of the second term, this should be happening as a normal part of your child’s school routine. If you need to talk to the class teacher first thing, you are

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St Nicolas Infant School is the Data Controller for the purposes of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We collect information from you and may receive information about you from any previous school. We hold this personal data and use it to:  Support learning  Monitor and report on pupil progress  Provide appropriate pastoral care  Assess how well the school is doing  To protect pupil welfare  To comply with the law regarding data sharing You will find our Privacy Notice on our website or feel free to contact the school office for a paper copy.

A very warm welcome to the St Nicolas’ Parent Staff Association - PSA)) We very much look forward to meeting you and your child. All staff, parents and carers who join the St Nicolas’ infant school community, are automatically members of the PSA. The PSA is a registered charity and our two core objectives are: 

To contribute to building and maintaining effective relationships within our special school community and,



To work in partnership with the school to help give our children the best possible infant school experience.

As such, the PSA organise social events for both adults and children, and fundraise to provide resources and opportunities that the school may not otherwise be able to afford. We also contribute towards developing an active school community.

The PSA Core Team is made up of nine parent volunteers who oversee the running of the charity, and Miss Pandis, who represents the staff. We are supported by class representatives, and by lots of wonderful parent and carer volunteers who get involved with individual events and projects.

There are many opportunities to personally contribute, from coming to PSA events; donating money or items for tombolas etc.; or being actively involved in supporting individual events. All offers of help or ideas are always welcomed. We understand that sometimes you may be at capacity, and other times have more flexibility. We are grateful for whatever support you can offer. It really does make a huge difference.

The main activities for 2023 included the following:  Mothers’ day breakfast  Fathers’ day breakfast  Easter bunny hunt  Easter egg trail  Coronation disco  Coronation tea towels  Cake and uniform sales run by each of the 3 classes  Sponsored Rainbow Run  Wine and Cheese event for parents  Bingo evening for parents  Summer Fair  Christmas Fair  Christmas cards and gifts These activities typically raise in excess of £10,000 a year – a tribute to the hard work and enthusiasm of the amazing community at our small school.

Some of the ways PSA fundraising helped the school over the last two years include:    

Regeneration of the forest school area The woodland library Repair/regeneration of the playground gazebo Coach trips 12

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Resources for our Emotional Literacy Support Assistant IT desk kit to complete the woodland library ‘Tilt and Turn’ table tablet The Rainbow Room

So, once again, welcome to St Nics’ and we very much look forward to meeting you and your child. Do get in touch if you have any questions: psa@st-nicolas.surrey.sch.uk Best wishes, Your PSA Team Phil, Ruby, Paulina, Pam, Verity, Ceylan, Laura, Lucie and Ceren

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Term Dates:

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Vision Statement: Our school community lives life in all its fullness:  Through a love of learning,  By having a sense of unity,  Understanding right and wrong,  Being able to persevere through life’s challenges  With dignity and respect for ourselves and others  And with hope for the future and all that it brings.

Vision Phrase: “Living life in all its fullness” John 10:10

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Our School Prayer Dear God, Please help our school community to live life in all its fullness.

Thank you for the grown-ups who help us have a love of learning.

Thank you that we can all work together with a sense of unity.

Holy Spirit, please help us to understand right and wrong.

Be with us as we learn to persevere through life’s challenges.

Jesus, thank you for showing us how to behave with dignity and respect for ourselves and others.

And for giving us hope for the future and all that it brings.

Amen

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