Starting School Foundation September 2023

Starting School

Foundation

Stage

It is a privilege to welcome you to Hawes Side Academy am looking forward to meeting many of you again following our open day and for those didn’t meet, am looking forward to saying hello and getting to know you.

Foundation Stage is close to my heart. I spent many years teaching this age group and recognise how crucial this year is for children and their families As a parent and teacher, realise the importance of ensuring that each child’s first experience of school is a happy one and builds upon their passion and enthusiasm for learning.

We are very excited about your child’s journey ahead and our goal is to ensure that every child has a positive and rewarding start to their school life believe strongly in developing positive relationships between home and school as this is the bedrock for the success of each child. look forward to our journey together.

Caroline

Relationships Respect Resilience Reflection Responsibility

Our Team

Foundation Phase Leader & Class Teacher:

Foundation Class Teachers:

Mrs Helen Latham, Phase Leader & Class Teacher

Mr Alex Fleckney, Class Teacher

Mrs Hayley Gray, Class Teacher/Support

Foundation Support Team: Miss Marie Allan, Mrs Gill Boon, Mrs Emma MacFarlane & Mrs Sarah Wallace

Senior Leadership:

Mrs Caroline Boothroyd, Principal

Mrs Julie Barr, Vice Principal

Mrs Marianne Beckett, Assistant Principal

Mrs Becky Foxton, Business Manager

Pastoral:

Mrs Julie-Anne Fleckney, Pastoral Lead

In the office:

Mrs Sue Scholes, Finance

Mrs Lynsey Haley-Davis, Administration

To find out about other staff that work at our academy and the academy’s governing board, visit our website www.hawes side.co.uk ‘Our Academy’

Term Dates 23/24

Autumn Term

School opens Tuesday 5th September 2023

Inset Days

Monday 2nd October & Tuesday 3rd October 2023

School closes for half term Friday 20th October 2023 (normal finish time)

School reopens Monday 30th October 2023

School closes for Christmas Friday 22nd December 2023 (2pm close for FS, Y1 & Y2 and 2.05pm for Y3 – Y6)

Spring Term

School reopens Monday 8th January 2024

School closes for half term Friday 9th February 2024

School reopens Tuesday 20th February 2024

School closes for Easter Thursday 28th March 2024 (2pm close for FS, Y1 & Y2 and 2.05pm for Y3 – Y6)

Summer Term

School reopens Monday 15th April 2024

May Day Bank Holiday

Monday Closed for one day, Monday 6th May 2024

School closes for half term Friday 24th May 2024

School reopens Monday 3rd June 2024

School closes for summer Friday 19th July 2024 (2pm close for FS, Y1 & Y2 and 2.05pm for Y3 – Y6)

The School Day

The school day starts when doors open at 8.50am, registers are at 9am prompt. Any child arriving after 9am, will need to sign in as ‘late’ at the school office If a child is late due to an appointment, please ensure you bring evidence to support late arrival.

The school day finishes at 3:15pm for FS, Y1 & Y2 and 3:20pm for Y3 to Y6.

Uniform

Red V neck sweatshirt or cardigan

White polo shirt or white shirt with school tie

Black trouser, shorts, pinafore or skirt

In the summer term, a red and white checked dress can be worn

Logo’d items are available from uniform stockists

For PE:

Black shorts, plain black joggers or leggings

White T-shirt

Black pumps or plain black trainers

A Hawes Side Tracksuit and T-shirt is also available from uniform stockists

Our Uniform Guidelines

• All clothing must be named

• Shoes must be sensible, black and low heeled. No trainers, boots, sandals or ‘croc’ style shoes

• Jewellery may not be worn with exception of stud earrings. Please consider whether earrings are safe for the school environment. Please ask advice before getting your child’s ears pierced/wearing earrings to school

• Hair must be groomed and tidy with no extreme hairstyles, colour or cut

• Nail varnish and make up is not to be worn in school

• Long hair tied back

Please ensure you familiarise yourself with the academy’s uniform policy.

School Meals

Every child in Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2, regardless of family income, is entitled to a ‘universal free school meal’ from the government. From Year 3 your child ‘s meals must be paid for at a cost of £2.20 per child per day. However, if you are in receipt of certain benefits your child maybe entitled to free school meals (this is different to universal free school meals).

We urge all families that feel their child maybe entitled to apply as soon as possible for Free School Meals. Scan the QR code using your phone to find out more.

Our meal service is provided through the catering company Mellor’s provide a wide range of healthy and tasty menu options for your child to enjoy. Visit the Our Parents section of the academy website to see sample menus.

Children can also bring a packed lunch for their lunchtime meal and we recommend 5 items to include fruit and a healthy snack. We ask that no chocolate, sweets, fizzy drinks or items with nuts are included.

With Blackpool Council we offer a Breakfast scheme to include breakfast snacks and milk. In addition fresh fruit is available in class for certain year groups.

All children should bring with them a named water bottle (water only) to keep them hydrated throughout the day.

Absence

Illness: If your child is unwell we ask that you report this to the academy office either by phone, the school app or by email to admin@hawes-side.co.uk. We ask that absences are reported before 9.30am.

Appointments: We ask that wherever possible appointments are made outside of school hours but understand that this may be unavoidable. Please notify the academy office of any appointments and provide evidence for attendance purposes. This way the absence will be authorised and marked as ‘medical’.

Holidays: We do try to appreciate the predicament families face with regard to cost of holidays but any holiday taken in term time will not be authorised. Presently the academy do not fine but this may change under government legislation, local council initiatives or where a family is ‘monitored’ by the councils Pupil Welfare Officer.

Attendance: The government attendance benchmark for a child in education is 96%. Attendance is continually monitored and should attendance become a concern, you will be supported by Pupil Welfare.

Any absence from school affects your child’s attendance regardless of whether it is authorised or not. Good news is the more days your child attends the better your child’s attendance. Regular attendance has a positive impact on your child’s future and life opportunities.

We hope you will support us getting your child in school on time and every day!

Extended Schools

As an academy we offer a wide range of extra curricular activities run by staff and external providers such as multi-skills, sewing club, football, arts and crafts.

We are also proud to be able to offer a fun and safe morning and after school provision. It enables children to extend their school day with us, helping families go about their busy lives.

Practical Information

Times:

• Breakfast Club starts at 7.45am

• After School Club starts directly after the school day and finishes at either 4.30pm or 6pm

Children are escorted to class after Breakfast Club and escorted from class to After School Club.

How to secure a place:

The provisions are very popular and early booking is essential to avoid disappointment. Once your place is secured, bookings are made for the year and payment is made a week in advance via ParentPay.

We will send out a link, end of May, so that you can provisionally enquire about our Out of School service in readiness for September.

Need to chat, please contact Sue Scholes in the academy office.

Good communication is key. You can get in touch with the academy by phone, email or calling into the office. Our website holds lots of information about the academy in particular the ‘Our Parents’ section.

If you wish to speak to your child’s class teacher you can make an appointment through the academy office and should you have any complaints or concerns, likewise get in touch.

School app: We have a school ‘schudio’ app that can be downloaded from your app store. Simply search Hawes Side. By having the app you have all information at your fingertips and can also report your child’s absence too.

Text/Email: We may also send out texts to primary guardians of pupils advising about future events, first aid injuries, general information.

It is therefore very important that we have up to date contact details for your child, these can be updated by informing the academy office or by using Arbor.

Arbor: Once your child is enrolled we will send an invite for you to access the Arbor App. This will enable you to update your child’s details and also book parents evening appointments once they become available.

ParentPay: We are a cashless school and once your child is enrolled we will send you information about how to log on to ParentPay to book your child’s meals and pay for items such as trips, events etc.