Stratford Preparatory School Parents Handbook Prep School 2023

Parents’ Handbook

A WELCOME FROM THE HEADMISTRESS

Dear Parents

If education were to be given an imaginary geometrical form, I like to think of it as being triangular in shape.The child sits at the apex. The school and the parents play key supporting roles.

We take seriously our responsibility to bring out the best in every student academically. We are in the business of discovering what strengths and passions each individual child has and building on those. So, we need the best possible channels of communication with those who know the children better even than we do.

This Handbook aims to enable parents to fulfil their role; it is an important part of an information matrix which is designed to provide a complete awareness of what goes on here.

Above all, we want children to live their lives to the full at Stratford Preparatory School; to enthuse about the day and the week ahead; to make the most of the gift of opportunity.

If this booklet cannot be totally comprehensive, we trust that it covers most angles and that it will answer any routine queries that you may have about a wide variety of things, including the organisation of school. Not least, it exists to help you prepare your child calmly and confidently for their time at school.

At the start of each term, you will receive the School Calendar, which gives essential information on such events as Parents’ Evenings, sports fixtures, concerts, clubs and activities.

Throughout your child’s time at Stratford Prep, you will also receive regular communications. These keep you informed of the various events that take place during the school year. Providing further information are the school’s website, and our social media pages.

If you have any further questions, please contact us by phone or e-mail. We are here to help.

With every best wish.

TraceyWoodcock Headmistress

Stratford Preparatory School – Parents’ Handbook

SCHOOL LIFE AT STRATFORD PREPARATORY SCHOOL

HOME-SCHOOL LIAISON – AN OPEN DOOR

The staff at Stratford Preparatory School aim to promote a happy, co-operative relationship between parents and school, which will benefit everyone, particularly the children. Parents are always encouraged to come and discuss any matters concerning their children’s education. Teachers are available in their classrooms between 8.30 – 8.45 am each morning and at the end of each day should you have any concerns.

Please see below the email addresses for your child’s class teacher. Please do email if you have any questions, concerns or information that may be useful for your child’s teacher.

secretary@stratfordprep.co.uk blueroom@stratfordprep.co.uk yellowroom@stratfordprep.co.uk reception@stratfordprep.co.uk infant2@stratfordprep.co.uk infant3@stratfordprep.co.uk junior1@stratfordprep.co.uk junior2@stratfordprep.co.uk junior3@stratfordprep.co.uk junior4@stratfordprep.co.uk

headmistress@stratfordprep.co.uk

Children in are taught in their year group class. Our small classes enable us to differentiate work and understand each child’s individual needs. Specialist teaching is provided in subjects such as Art, Design Technology, French, Music, Physical Education and Games and Swimming. A specialist in Learning Support (SENCO) is available to help those pupils with a specific learning difficulty.

Proprietor: Mrs Catherine Quinn Email: cq@stratfordprep.co.uk

STAFF

Headmistress MsTWoodcock (BEd Hons NPQH)

Head of EarlyYears

Marketing and Admissions

Infant 2 ClassTeacher

Mrs L Maher (BA Hons, PGCE)

Mrs J Harwood

Mrs I Riley (BA Hons)

Infant 3 ClassTeacher Mrs LWright (BA Hons, PGCE Masters)

Junior 1 FormTeacher Miss LThomas (Bed CertTheol LLM)

Junior 2 FormTeacher Mrs S Himsworth (Bed Hons)

Stratford Preparatory School – Parents’ Handbook

Junior 3 FormTeacher

Junior 4 FormTeacher

Miss E Atkinson (BA Hons, PGCE)

MsTWoodcock (BEd Hons NPQH)

FrenchTeacher Madame Quinn (BA Hons, PGCE)

Art and DesignTechnologyTeacher

Miss S McDermott (BA Hons)

MusicTeacher Mrs C Dolphin (BA Hons)

GamesTeacher Mr S Arnold

LanguageTeachers Madame Quinn Miss LThomas Mrs SVincent

NurseryTeachers

Mrs S J Midwinter Cache Level 3 Mrs C Hooper

BalletTeacher Miss Kate Price

Secretary

Stratford Preparatory School – Parents’ Handbook

DAILY ROUTINES

Breakfast Club

The school operates a Breakfast Club, for all children from 8.00 am each weekday morning. At 8.30 am the children will join their class for registration. If your child would like breakfast; cereal or toast is available. The costs of the breakfast club are on the website. There is no booking system for Breakfast Club, everyone arriving at the door is welcome.

Dismissal

The school day ends at 3.35 pm.

At the end of the school day the children are lined up in the playground to await collection from parents who enter the playground by the nursery gate. Please be aware that if you leave your car on the double yellow lines there is a strict 5 minute leeway.

If parents do not arrive, then their child will automatically be taken to aftercare for the infants and Prep for the Juniors. Parents need to indicate those individuals who are authorised to collect their child on the Personal Details Form which is distributed at the beginning of the term as well as providing a collection password for occasions when someone unknown to us is collecting your child.

(Should your child need to be collected by an adult not named on the information form a collection password is required. You will need to inform the class teacher and office of this person’s name and they will need to give the password in order to collect your child.)

After Care

After school care is available every school day for all children. After school care runs from 3.35 pm – 6.00 pm for Nusery and Infant children and from 4.30 pm – 6.00 pm for Junior pupils. Aftercare supervision takes the form of structured free play. The Junior children attend a separate Prep session from 3.35 pm – 4.30 pm before joining the children in After Care. Children should be collected by 6.00 pm at the latest, staff are not available after this time. Should a child not be collected by 6.00 pm an extra charge will be levied at a cost of £5 per 15 minutes, per child. There is no booking system for After Care or Prep, all children who are not collected at the end of the day will automatically join their group. We can provide a drink and a homemade biscuit or cake made by our cook here at school.

There are exceptions to the After Care provision – Christingle, Speech Day and the last day of each term when there will be no After Care or Prep available and the children must be collected at the time indicated.

Kiss and Drop

Where possible, children should be dropped off at the Nursery Gate entrance on Bull Street between 8.30am and 8.45am.A staff member will be on duty to ensure that children enter school safely and cannot leave the school. If you wish to come into school with your children, it is important that your car is parked legally in a designated parking space.There is limited waiting space for parents directly outside school, so it would be appreciated if the dropping off and collecting of children could be carried out as quickly as possible, in order that other parents may drop off their children and maintain the flow of traffic in Bull Street.We ask parents to please enter Bull Street at the ChestnutWalk end by school and to keep a clockwise direction of traffic flowing.

Please can I ask that when parking in the morning and evening due consideration is given to the safety of the children. Please do not park on the junction of the main road and please keep the doorway area clear so that the children can cross the road safely.

MORNING BREAK

Tuck Boxes and suitable snacks

The children’s tuck boxes should be a see-through plastic container. The enables us to see any foods that may cause allergies.

Children are allowed to eat tuck during their morning break. Monday toThursday they should bring healthy snacks as can be seen in the list below. On Friday a treat tuck is allowed.

It is most important that items brought in for tuck DO NOT contain nuts, sesame seeds or kiwi fruit as there are children who suffer from an allergic reaction to them. In addition, children will not be allowed to share tuck to avoid any allergic reactions. Please no fizzy drinks on any day.

Monday -Thursday

Fresh Fruit Fresh Vegetables

Plain Bread Sticks

Unsweetened Breakfast Cereal

Stratford Preparatory School – Parents’ Handbook

Plain Milk Plain/FlavouredYoghurt or Fromage Frais

Plain Biscuits, such as RichTea, Digestive or Oat Rice cakes

Friday

Any food providing it is sensible

SCHOOL LUNCHES

Water Bottles

The children have a school water bottle and are encouraged to sip water throughout the day. Children are issued with a free water bottle donated by our Parents Association when they join the school. Replacement water bottles can be purchased from the school office at a cost of £2.50.

School Lunch

All children are expected to have lunch at school and the cost of meals is on the termly bill. School lunches are prepared and cooked on the premises by the School Chef.We were awarded a 5-star hygiene rating in May 2022.

We run a 2-week rolling menu which changes betweenWinter and Summer.The school will automatically provide packed lunches when the children are out of school on an educational visit. Lunch is served in the School Dining Room.Vegetarian meals are available each day and special medical diets and religious requirements can be catered for.We attempt to provide at least 2 portions of the recommended 5 a day within each lunch. Fruit is provided as an alternative to pudding.

Stratford Preparatory School – Parents’ Handbook

ASSEMBLIES AND CHURCH SERVICES

All Prep children are required to take part in assemblies.These assemblies are meaningful and are closely linked to the interests and experience of the children, as well as including stories from the Bible. Assemblies are held on a Wednesday and throughout the year each class will lead an assembly to which parents are most welcome.

In addition to these regular weekly assemblies, the children take part in various special services in the School Chapel during the year, to which parents are warmly invited.These include a Harvest Thanksgiving Service, a Christingle Service, an Easter Service, and a Service of Thanksgiving at the end of the Summer Term. The children are expected to take part in all these special Church services. Details of all such Church Services are provided on the school calendar. Our services all take place at HolyTrinity Church, Stratford Upon Avon.

ATTENDANCE

Please ensure that your child is in school no later than 8.45 am Any child arriving after this time must be taken to the school Reception so that they can be signed in.

ABSENCE THROUGH ILLNESS

If your child is ill, please telephone the Secretary (01789 297993) as early as possible after 8.30 am on the first morning of absence.When your child returns to school, please send in a brief note to explain his or her absence. This note should be given to your child’s Form Teacher to enable attendance registers to be kept to the standard required by the DfE.

LEAVING THE SCHOOL CAMPUS

Children may not leave the campus during the school day unless prior permission has been obtained from the Headmistress. Please try to avoid making medical or other appointments during the school day. If emergency appointments are required, please contact the School to indicate your child’s necessary absence. Children should be collected from and returned to Reception when leaving the school site between 8.30 am and 3.35 pm.

FAMILY HOLIDAYS

Please do not take family holidays during term time, as this is detrimental to the children’s learning. In extreme cases a letter requesting leave of absence should be addressed to the Headmistress at least a week before the intended absence, giving full details of the reason for the child’s necessary absence.Absence without such notice (except in the case of illness) will be notified to the DfE as ‘unauthorised’. Lists of Term Dates are circulated annually, and additional copies may be obtained from Reception.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

Every effort is made to keep the school open during inclement weather (including snow). Children are therefore encouraged to attend if travel to or from the school is not deemed by parents to be too dangerous. If weather conditions deteriorate during the school day, you may choose to collect your children before the end of afternoon school. If you experience difficulties in reaching the school to collect your children, please call the school to advise us of the position. Parents will be advised of school closures via email. The school’s remote learning policy is available on the school website.

LOST OR UNCOLLECTED CHILDREN

You are responsible for ensuring that your child has been handed over to a member of staff at the school gate in the morning. During the school day the children are supervised both within and outside the buildings. Please come directly to Reception if you need to visit the school during the day.

CURRICULUM

At Stratford Preparatory School we follow a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum in a happy and stimulating environment, laying good foundations for the children’s future education, to enable each child to achieve his or her full potential.

The National Curriculum is used as a basis for the curriculum, and this is enriched and expanded upon in the subject policies and schemes of work. Great importance is attached to literacy and numeracy, but our broad curriculum offers very much more.Trips and workshops help to enliven the learning experience of the children and reinforce or extend the work undertaken in the classroom.There are numerous opportunities, too, for the children to expand their horizons, both on the sports field and through involvement in the many extra-curricular activities we provide.The Curriculum Policy is available in Reception and on the school website.

The core subjects of the National Curriculum, English, Mathematics and Science, are accompanied by Computing, Art and Design, Design and Technology; French; Games and Physical Education (PE);Geography and History; Music; Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE), Religious Education (RE) and Swimming. The skills of Verbal Reasoning and Non-verbal Reasoning are also taught from Junior 1 onwards. Further details of the topics covered in each subject area are provided in the Curriculum Overview issued at the beginning of each term.

PREP

Children are given regular homework throughout the week. Homework may reinforce work that has been covered in class or may involve preparation for the next lesson. In addition, pupils are expected to read regularly to an adult at home, and to learn times tables and spellings each week. Children may stop their work if they have worked sufficiently hard for the suggested time but have not managed to complete the task.

All children keep a Homework Diary in their School Planner, which helps to teach them organisational skills and contains their school lesson timetable and weekly homework timetable. The Planner provides useful information to help parents support their children’s learning at home, and it offers a ready means of communication between home and school. Parents are expected to read and sign the Pupil Planner each weekday and at weekends.

The Junior children will receive two pieces of homework each night in J1 and J2 they are expected to spend 20 minutes on each piece and in J3 and J4 30 minutes. It is important that the children complete their prep with only a little support so that guidance can be given as necessary.

ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT

Staff monitor the academic development of all the children through formal assessments and in observations of progress in lessons. Any concerns about a child’s academic development in any aspect of the curriculum are discussed each week in our staff meetings so that appropriate intervention programmes can be devised. Ms Woodcock has oversight of the provision for children for whom English is an Additional Language,Able, Gifted andTalented children and children with specific learning needs.

LEARNING SUPPORT AND SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

We try to identify any children with Special Educational Needs Learning Difficulties and Disabilities at an early stage. Ms Woodcock monitors all children with SEND. In consultation with parents, teachers refer to her for advice about any child who they believe has a particular difficulty or aptitude. In accordance with the Code of Practice, a special programme of learning activities is devised, and the child may be removed from some classes for individual tuition on a long- or shortterm basis. Progress is reviewed regularly, and parents are consulted and encouraged to help with their child’s special programme of work. Further details of provision for the welfare and education of children with special educational needs are set out in the Policy for Special Educational Needs and Disability, which is available on the school website.

ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE

Support is provided through differentiated work or additional work provided by the ClassTeachers to enrich the language of children for whom English is an additional language. Further details are set out in the Policy for EAL, which is available in on the school website.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Stratford Preparatory School promotes equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice and ensures that every child is included and not disadvantaged because of ethnicity, culture or religion, home language, family background, learning difficulties or disabilities, gender or ability.The school’s Equal Opportunities Policy is available on the school website.

PUPIL PROGRESS

We do encourage you to discuss your child’s progress informally with his or her Form Tutor and Subject Teacher, as appropriate. More formal avenues of communication, such as Parents’ Evenings, assessments and reports, provide additional information on progress and achievement.

Parents’ Evenings

Parents’ Evenings are held throughout the course of the year as indicated in the published termly calendar.At these Evenings, Subject Teachers, discuss each child’s progress with parents. Should a matter require more lengthy discussion, parents may be requested to make a separate appointment with a member of staff.

Assessments

As well as regular spelling tests, children undertake formal assessments in the Michaelmas and the Summer Terms. Standardised tests are also used to track progress in a child’s general ability and in English and Mathematics.

Reports

School reports are written at the end of the Michaelmas and Summer Terms These summarise the child’s academic achievements to date.The report may also include comments on a child’s attitude and / or behaviour if appropriate.

Parents’ Information Sessions

Parents’ Information Sessions are held during the school year as detailed on the termly school calendar. These sessions outline some of the key information about school and expectations. A further Parents’ Information Session is also held in the LentTerm for Junior 3 parents to outline the 11+ options and the application procedures.

Stratford Preparatory School – Parents’ Handbook

An Online Safety Day is held in the Lent Term which includes a parents’ presentation as well as sessions for staff and pupils.

Parents are entitled to have access to their child’s development records. However, a written request must be made for access to their child’s personal file in order to comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

PRIZEGIVING

Speech Day is held at the end of the Summer Term. The children are congratulated on their achievements over the course of the year and are encouraged to recognise and celebrate each other’s successes. The Junior 4 children are commended for their achievements as they prepare to transfer to secondary schools.

BEHAVIOUR, DISCIPLINE AND PASTORAL CARE

We are committed to establishing and maintaining high standards of behaviour in all aspects of school life. Behaviour includes personal standards, self-discipline, manners, respect, pride, general conduct, and attitude. Children are expected to be courteous and well-mannered and to show respect for the opinions and rights of other members of the school community.

The Form Tutors are responsible for the pastoral care of the children in their form or group. If children feel that they cannot talk to this member of staff about an issue, then they are encouraged to talk to staff with whom they may feel more comfortable. This may include Mrs Hooper our Mental Health and Well Being Lead, or Ms Woodcock. Positive praise rather than negative criticism is used wherever possible, and the children are encouraged to be responsible for their actions and to develop self-discipline. Good manners and behaviour are promoted, together with a respect for the freedom and property of others. Teachers use various forms of incentives and rewards for good work and behaviour. Any concerns might also be discussed with MsWoodcock.

Members of staff take particular care to deal swiftly and effectively with any cases of bullying, encouraging children to report any upset to an adult at the earliest possible opportunity. Details of the procedures are set out in the Anti-Bullying Policy, which is available on the school website, together with the Behaviour Management and Exclusions Policy.

REWARDS

Great emphasis is placed on a system of positive rewards.Those most commonly used include:

Verbal praise - to an individual or group of children

House Points - for individual pieces of good work or excellent behaviour

House Point Certificates - for accumulating Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum House Points

Courtesy Award given each week in assembly

Headmistress Award given each term

SANCTIONS

Where a child’s behaviour is deemed to have been unacceptable, a member of staff will have recourse to a number of sanctions, which include:

A discussion between the member of staff and the child

A verbal reprimand to an individual or group of children

Moving a disruptive pupil or removing a pupil from a particular activity

A Breaktime Detention for poor behaviour

The school’s Behaviour Management and Exclusions Policy gives full details of the expectations of children in school, outlining daily routines and the behaviour expected both within and beyond the school gates. It also gives details about discipline and exclusions. If a child’s behaviour causes particular concern, parents are informed. Through co-operation between home and school, it is hoped that any small problems will be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction.

In the vast majority of cases poor behaviour is soon rectified and issues of concern are speedily resolved. However, the School reserves the right to impose fixed-term or permanent exclusions, subject to rigorous procedures, where such sanctions are deemed appropriate or necessary. Children and parents have the right of appeal against such decisions to the Proprietor.

GROWTH MINDSET

At the Stratford Preparatory School, we believe in developing a Growth Mindset in the staff, children and parents of the school. Developed by Professor Carol Dweck, this theory that all achievements come through effort and perseverance rather than from an innate ability we are born with, ensures that all children can believe in themselves and know that they can get better at everything.We promote this theory in our language in the classroom, in our marking and feedback comments, in our displays around the school and in the values that we hold dear.We understand that praising effort rather than achievement is key and will always reward those who have tried hard and persevered rather than those who are simply ‘top of the class’.

SPIRITUAL, MORAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

All staff actively promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. Throughout the curriculum and in all our pastoral work with the children all the staff enable the children to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence in a wide range of situations. The children are taught to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the laws of the country in age appropriate ways. The children are encouraged to accept responsibility for their behaviour and the impact of their behaviour on their peers, the school community and the wider community.

The children are encouraged to show initiative and they are taught how they can contribute positively to the lives of those in their local community and more widely. This is done largely through support for local and national charities such as the annual Children in Need Day and through House Charity Days. Through discussions and work on people who help us the children are taught about some of the public institutions and services in England.

The children are taught to value and respect different cultural traditions, lifestyles and religions. Discriminatory or extremist opinions or behaviours are not allowed in our school community.

SCHOOL COUNCIL

The School Council gives children a chance to voice their thoughts about life at school. Each form has their own Form Council where they can discuss the topic of the week and offer their opinions. Children have the chance to elect their Form Councillor who will then represent them, and their views, at the School Council . School Council has many benefits and our aims are to: 

Involve the whole school community in developing and maintaining shared standards of behaviour  Improve communication structures at every level within the school 

Encourage pupils to become partners in their own education and make a positive contribution to the school environment and ethos  Promote responsibility and build self-esteem by involving pupils in decision-making.

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND CHILD PROTECTION

As part of the Stratford Preparatory School ethos all staff are committed to the highest standards in protecting and safeguarding the welfare of the children entrusted to their care at all times.The school follows the current procedures laid down by the DfE and the Local Safeguarding Children Board as part of its commitment of care. Our first priority is your child’s welfare and therefore there may be occasions when our concern about your child means that we must consult other agencies even before we contact you. The procedures we follow have been laid down by Warwickshire County Council.

Ms Woodcock the Headmistress is the main Designated Safeguarding Lead for Child Protection and as such she has responsibility for oversight of safeguarding and child protection throughout the School. She is supported in this role by Mrs L Maher, who is fully trained for these responsibilities. A copy of the school Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is available on the school website with the Staff Code of Conduct, the ICT Online Safety Policy and other relevant policy documents.

STRATFORD PREPARATORY SCHOOL PARENTS ASSOCIATION

All parents are members of SPSPA.The Parents Association organise various social and fund-raising events throughout the year. The Friends raise generous amounts of money for school projects. Parents are encouraged to join the Committee or take an active part in the Friends’ activities. The Friends can be contacted via the School Secretary.

UNIFORM

The children are expected to wear full school uniform and behave in an acceptable manner whilst so attired please can we ask that when attending functions out of school they are not presented in their school uniform.

The school uniform must always be adhered to, substitutions are not acceptable. 

Hats / caps must always be worn when the coat / blazer is worn. 

House Badges and honorary badges, such as the prefect badge, are the only badges permitted. 

All clothing, including footwear and possessions must be clearly labelled with names and initials. 

No make-up is permitted. This includes wearing nail varnish on fingers and toes. 

Girls - long hair must be tied back. 

Boys - hair must be short and tidy. 

Hair accessories should be navy blue. 

Plain or tortoise shell slides are permitted. 

Watches and plain stud earrings are the only jewellery permitted

If you would like to order any items of uniform please complete a uniform order form and this will be given to your child for collection and the items added to your invoice.

A uniform list is included in your starter pack as a separate document.

Please mark all items of clothing and footwear clearly with the child’s name. For Health and Safety reasons children are NOT allowed to wear jewellery of any kind. Traditional wristwatches may be worn, but not during PE or Games.

Electronic equipment, such as mobile phones, iPod or cameras, is not allowed at school. There may be occasions when these can be brought in during school trips, but that will be specified for each event. Electronic devices brought in by the pupils without permission will be confiscated.

Money is not to be brought into school by the children unless this is specifically requested by staff.

PERSONAL EQUIPMENT

Children can bring a pencil case of their choosing. Parents provide the items as required by Infants and Juniors which are listed below. Pencil cases should be checked at home each weekend and any missing items replaced. School bags are available from the uniform shop.

Infants

Writing pencils

Juniors

Writing pencils

Rubber Rubber Ruler – short Ruler – short Pencil crayons Pencil crayons

Glue Stick Glue Stick Pair of small round end scissors

Pair of small scissors Pencil Sharpener Pencil Sharpener Cartridge or roller ball pen

MEDICAL MATTERS

A Medical Information and Consent Form must be completed and returned to school prior to admission. Information about who has legal contact and parental responsibility for your child should be given on this form. It is the responsibility of the parent to keep the school up to date with any changes to this information

Mrs Sarah Jane Midwinter will administer First Aid to the children as and when this is necessary. In the unfortunate event of illness or a more serious accident, parents are informed as soon as possible.

MEDICINE IN SCHOOL

Prescribed medication can only be administered in school in exceptional circumstances and in accordance with the school First Aid and Health Policy; a copy of this is available on the school website. Medicine forms are available in Reception.These must be completed and signed by parents before any medication is accepted in school. All ongoing medication must be clearly labelled and handed in to Miss Mc Dermott in the School office.

If your child has vomiting and/or diarrhoea please keep him/her at home for at least 48 hours after the last bout of vomiting and/or diarrhoea, as infection spreads through the school very quickly if not carefully contained. This is the recommendation of Public Health England.

The School must be informed of changes to a child’s health requirements. Children who need inhalers or Epipens/JEXTS must have them in school at all times. Children who do not have their emergency medication available will not be allowed into School.

HEAD LICE

It is an unpleasant fact of life that whenever children are together there is a tendency for occasional bouts of head lice to occur, which unfortunately spread very quickly when not treated promptly. Parents are asked to check their child’s hair regularly and to inform the school if head lice or eggs are found so that an outbreak can be contained.

SUN CREAM

There is increasing evidence that excessive sun exposure for children under the age of 15 is a major risk factor for skin cancer in later life. High protection sun cream should be applied before coming to school and, if your child is particularly vulnerable, this can be renewed by the child if cream is sent in original containers clearly labelled with the child’s name. School sun hats are recommended in sunny conditions.

PARENTAL CONTACT DETAILS

Communication

The school keeps a current record of each parent’s contact details including: mobile and home telephone numbers, work numbers and emails addresses, as well as a home address. If a parent needs to be contacted during the day, we anticipate that you will be contactable on one of the numbers provided to the school. Alternatively, we cannot stress the importance of providing the school with another family member, or friend, who can be contacted in an emergency or should a child be taken ill whilst at school.

The majority of the school’s correspondence will be sent via email.

Class Blackboards

On the website we have a password protected parent section which contains useful information and a section called ‘class blackboards’. These blackboards are updated weekly to keep you informed of what is happening in school and if the children need anything to bring to school. For Infant classes, teachers summarise what learning objectives the children have been working on and upcoming topics.

Teachers are available in their classrooms between 8.30 – 8.45 am each morning and at the end of each day should you have any concerns.

When both parents will be absent from a child’s home for a 24-hour period or longer, or when a child is residing away from the family home temporarily, written notification must be given to the Headmistress of the name, address and telephone number for 24-hour contact of the adult to whom parental responsibility has been delegated in loco parentis

PRIVACY NOTICES AND DATA PROTECTION

The school conforms to data protection legislation in respect of all data held for children, parents and staff. Privacy notices are set out on the school website in the section on policies. Any complaints in relation to data can be made to the School and also to the Information Commissioner’s Office: ico.org.uk.

Stratford Preparatory School – Parents’ Handbook

PRIVATE FOSTERING

A private fostering arrangement is one that is made privately (that is to say without the involvement of a local authority) for the care of a child under the age of 16 (under 18, if disabled) by someone other than a parent or immediate relative. The Children Act 1989 defines a relative as a grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt (whether of full blood or half blood or by marriage or civil partnership), or a step-parent.

If the arrangement is to last, or has lasted, for 28 days or more it is private fostering.There is a mandatory duty on the carer, the parents, and anyone else involved in making the arrangement, to inform the local authority of a private fostering. The local authority has a duty to check that the young person is being properly cared for and that the arrangement is satisfactory. Further details about Private Fostering are set out in the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy which is available on the school website and in Reception.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Comprehensive risk assessments are carried out in accordance with the School Health and Safety Policy, a copy of which is available on the school website and in Reception.

ACADEMIC CURRICULUM

The following pages provide an overview of each subject .We hope that this information will offer an insight into the curriculum and will enable parents to reinforce what is taught at school.

ENGLISH

Through a variety of activities, children develop their skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing – the principal components of National Curriculum English. Important though it is for them to express their ideas clearly and effectively, we also want children to take pleasure in reading, writing and discussing poems, plays and stories.

An important part of our work is the focus on the development of skills in handwriting, spelling, grammar and punctuation, composition and comprehension. Children are often given learning preps to reinforce the work covered in lessons, and there are weekly tests in spelling.

Skills developed include:

Reading (Comprehension) Writing (Composition) Grammar and Punctuation

Information retrieval

Inference and deduction

Close reference to or quotations from the text

Empathy with characters and situations

Awareness of different text types and styles of presentation

Writing a beginning, middle and end

Using imagination/ creativity

Including descriptive language (adjectives and adverbs) to describe character and setting

Using advanced vocabulary/ synonyms

Balancing description, action and conversation

Using paragraphs and creating structure

Including varied conjunctions and different ways of starting sentences

Including imagery (alliteration, onomatopoeia, similes and metaphors)

LIBRARY AND READING

Knowing and recognising different parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, etc.)

Using capital letters and full stops accurately

Using a range of punctuation including commas, exclamation marks, question marks apostrophes and speech marks accurately

Spelling and Vocabulary Spoken Language

Homophones

Prefixes and suffixes

Weekly spelling tests: - Spelling patterns - Vocabulary acquisition - Etymology

Idiomatic English

Advanced vocabulary and synonyms

Reading with expression

Poetry recitations

Presentations

Drama

Role Play

Debates

Encouraging a love of books is central to the teaching of English. Children have access to the School Library, from which they may choose books that interest them, from a wide range of fiction and non-fiction. They are taught how to locate and use information from reference materials, dictionaries and thesauruses as part of their work in English. Opportunities also exist for children inYears 5 and 6 to become Librarians and Library Assistants.

Stratford Preparatory School – Parents’ Handbook

Children are encouraged to read a wide variety of material, and it is helpful if this is reinforced at home.We are keen for all children to read regularly with an adult who listens for expression and awareness of punctuation as well as accuracy of the words. Children will also benefit from being questioned to check understanding according to their ability. Some will need to focus on basic information-retrieval while others could go deeper into the text to deduce and infer answers.As they progress, it would be helpful if they could back their answers up with evidence from the text. It is also extremely important for parents or adults to read to their child so that they can listen to a story. It is also a great way to relax before bedtime!

MATHEMATICS

We follow our own curriculum for Mathematics based on the combined experience of our teachers. Preparation for senior schools helps to shape this curriculum and it also takes into account the National Curriculum for Mathematics. Fluency, problem solving and reasoning make up the objectives of each lesson.

Topics are taught, revisited and extended throughout the year. Emphasis is placed on understanding the four rules of number, knowing times tables and number bonds, making calculations correctly, and the application of skills and understanding to solve problems. While a wide variety of methods is used to teach topics and calculations, the focus is on teaching pupils to record their calculations in a formal standard method.

Topics include:

Number PlaceValue

Properties of Numbers Addition & Subtraction Multiplication & Division Fractions, Decimals & Percentages

Order of Operations Ratio and Proportion

Measurement

Length, Mass & Capacity Perimeter,Area andVolume Money Time Pythagoras’Theorem

Algebra

Investigations

Geometry

Properties of Shapes Position & Direction

Angles Symmetry Transformations Circles

Statistics

Problem solving and application of Mathematics are taught continuously.

SCIENCE

Our emphasis at this level is on the development of scientific knowledge and understanding through practical activity. Children are encouraged to question what they observe, to devise fair tests to evaluate their ideas, to make measurements with increasing accuracy, and to draw logical conclusions.

The monitoring and tracking of children’s progress takes the form of continuous close scrutiny of class work and summative assessment activities at regular intervals throughout the year.

The topics taught include: Infants: Living things and their habitats; sound and hearing; materials; plants; electricity

Junior 1: Teeth, eating and digestion; magnets and springs; rocks and soil; light and shade; trees in our environment

Junior 2: Moving and growing; solids and liquids; electricity and circuits; friction and forces; living things and habitats; keeping warm

Junior 3: The human body; properties of materials; earth in space; how we see; life cycles; microorgansims

Junior 4: Forces in action; sound; materials – changes; electricity – circuits; interdependence and adaptation, into KS3

There is a school Science Club which offers extra opportunities for those with particular interest in Science andTechnology.

COMPUTING

Computing is taught as a discrete subject by a subject specialist and also used as a means of developing pupils’ learning in a range of different subjects. Our computer network provides all children with access to appropriate hardware and software, with controlled use of the Internet allowing for excellent opportunities for independent learning.

Children are timetabled for a one-hour Computing lesson each week and are given every opportunity to use the school’s ICT facilities at other times – in other subjects, during clubs and activities.

Pupils are taught to use appropriate programs to complete a wide variety of projects using Microsoft and Mac OSX equivalents including Word Processing, Page Layout, Spreadsheets, Databases, Control Technology, Coding, Programming,Art Packages, Internet and E-mail.They work on exciting media-based projects using a variety of hardware. They enjoy recording and editing video, digital photography and the manipulation of still images; the editing of slide shows and videos to combine sound and picture and are taught to use the Internet responsibly through a series of Online Safety lessons. Coding and simple programming is also a very important aspect of the curriculum and children have access to a coding curriculum which they can work on at home and at school. More and more we are embracing cloud computing so that the children’s work is easily accessible at any time.

The subject is constantly evolving, and we respond to what the children have access to and the skills they will need.

HUMANITIES

Humanities lessons include both geography and history topics and relevant links are made between the two strands of humanities to provide context for the children’s learning. In geography, topics skills, places and themes are woven into a coherent fabric of geographical enquiry that helps children to explore, understand and appreciate the Earth and its people. Pupils are encouraged to develop an awareness of global events and the impact these have on the physical and human environment. Regular use of an atlas is practised to extend each pupil’s spatial understanding. Through active exploration of the locality, the children begin to develop a real sense of identity. They are encouraged to explore the relationships between people and places through investigative enquiry.

In history topics pupils learn to consider evidence and to draw conclusions, making comparisons between our lifestyle and those of previous eras. An interest in, and an enthusiasm for, different

societies and the past is fostered as pupils gain a sense of time and learn to recognise characteristic features of periods and societies.

The topics taught include:

Infants: Seas and Coasts;Arctic Adventures, Let’s go on Safari;Australia and Map Makers; Kings and Queens;Toys and Houses and Homes

Junior 1: Bella Italia, Fire and Flint (UK land usage, farming and the Stone Age); Continents and Countries;Ancient Greece and Romans

Junior 2: Anglo Saxons,Vikings and Explorers; Maps and mapping; America and the Rainforests, Local Study

Junior 3: Local History study; Islamic Civilisation;WWII; Coasts, Population and Migration; India and Rivers

Junior 4: Industrial Revolution; The Tudors; Ancient Egypt; Mountains, Shackleton’s Endurance Expedition, Sustainability

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Religious Education enables children to explore Christianity and the other principal religions in Great Britain. It promotes the values of truth, justice and respect for all. Children learn about, and from, the beliefs, values, traditions and celebrations of those of other faiths.They also learn about the lives and examples of the faiths’ founders, where applicable.

Children are encouraged to explore and develop their own faith, and to understand the multi-faith society in which they live.They learn about festivals, belief systems and ways of worship, sensitively and without criticism or judgement. They are also encouraged to reflect upon such fundamental questions of life as ‘Who am I?’,‘What is life for?’, and ‘What is God like?’

Topics include:

Infants: Belonging, Friends of Jesus and Hinduism

Junior 1: Living as a Christians; the Bible; Old Testament characters such as Noah, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, David, Daniel and Esther; Hindusim beliefs and practices

Junior 2: Sikhism beliefs and practices; Miracles of Jesus; Islam beliefs and practices

Junior 3: Judaism; Jewish festivals; the synagogue; the life of Moses; Creation stories; Buddhism beliefs and practices

Junior 4: Alternative spirituality; Christmas – Sacred or secular; Sacred places; Faith and Social Change

PSHE

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) includes relationship education. It is primarily concerned with fostering the qualities essential to human development. These include respect and care for oneself and others, a sense of social responsibility, a commitment to learning and a sense of belonging. Topics include: Families and people who care for me; Caring relationships; respectful relationships; Being safe and Mental wellbeing. Further information can be found in the PSHE Policy on the school website.

FRENCH

Through our teaching of French, we aim to encourage positive attitudes to foreign languages, broaden horizons through intercultural understanding, and foster a love of learning languages at an age where children are often very receptive to it. There is a strong emphasis on French phonics in

order to create learners who are more confident in reading out loud and dealing with unfamiliar language.

Topics included in French lessons include: phonics; the alphabet; greetings; story telling; numbers; colours; French celebrations; parts of the body; the planets; French café; tongue twisters; expressing likes and dislikes; extending sentences; present and future tenses.

CREATIVE ARTS

Pupils enjoy two lessons a week of Creative Arts, on a rotation between Art and Design and DesignTechnology. Both subjects are taught by a specialist teacher in a purpose built art room.

ART AND DESIGN

Creativity is expressed through many aspects of the curriculum and during art lessons pupils are given the opportunity to explore and develop their ideas. The works of famous artists provide inspiration and offer grounding in the history of art. Pupils contemplate work by contemporary artists, as well as art from different cultures.

Pupils explore and learn about the visual elements of art: tone, line, pattern, colour, texture, form and shape, recording new skills, experimenting with ideas in their sketchbooks, extending their fundamental skills of drawing, painting and 3D work.They gradually strengthen their observational skills and become more confident in their ability to draw from imagination and memory. Children learn how to manipulate a variety of media: (2D – sketching pencils, fine liners, chalk and oil pastels, watercolours, gouache, acrylics, inks, charcoal, collage and textiles; 3D – animation, clay, papier mâché, modroc and ceramics). They are encouraged to be independent learners within a no-fail subject and mistakes are seen as an opportunity to be creative. Many cross-curricular links with other subject areas are also developed to enhance their learning.

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

Design and Technology provides pupils with the opportunity to combine creativity and technology in order to produce well-finished products for a specific user. Pupils analyse and investigate a wide range of items discovering what they are made from and how they work. They carry out focused practical ‘design and make’ tasks using a range of techniques and machinery in textiles, electrical circuitry and woodwork.They learn how to use a variety of tools safely and effectively in order to complete the design and make assignments.

MUSIC

Music plays a full and important role in the school and in the development of each child. Children are encouraged to participate in a variety of musical experiences through which they build confidence and self-belief. Emphasis is placed on performance, through singing and various wholeclass performance activities.The appreciation, enjoyment and understanding of music are fostered through listening, appraising, participating, composing and performing.

The Music curriculum includes:

Singing – this is the foundation for all music in the school

An introduction to a range of classroom percussion instruments, both tuned and untuned

The introduction and development of music notation and reading

An introduction to the elements of music, a range of musical styles, musical form and structure Stratford Preparatory School

Exploring individual composers and their work

Important aspects of instrumental performance and ensemble playing

Participating in group and class composition exercises

Harmonic progression

INSTRUMENTAL LESSONS

Specialist teachers offer instrumental lessons on a wide range of musical instruments, including the violin, piano, cello, trumpet and voice. Using a rotational music timetable, pupils enjoy learning to play music and studying for their Music exams. Requests for peripatetic music lessons are made via the School office.

PE AND GAMES

It is well documented that adults will in future spend many hours involved in leisure and recreational activities. It is important, therefore, that we prepare children to take full and active advantage of their leisure time, enabling them to enjoy good health and to have fun, whilst developing a range of important skills.

Our aim is for all children to enjoy PE and Games by developing their self-esteem in both individual and team games as well as in the gym and the swimming pool.All the children have timetabled PE and Games lessons.

Sports Day is held in the Summer Term where children are invited to take part at various levels of competition. Sports trophies are presented at the annual prize giving ceremonies. Sports such as tennis, football, rugby, netball, cross country and dance are all offered as extra curricular activities.

Activities in PE rotate every half term as follows: Gym and Dance; Ball skills; Health Related Exercise; Racket skills; Swimming;Athletics

SPORTS KIT

Parents are issued with a kit list, which varies from term to term. Please ensure that all equipment is clearly and appropriately marked, and that school kitbags are named clearly on the outside.

TEAM SELECTION

Fixtures take place over the course of the year, and children are continuously assessed in Games lessons for effort and progress. Selection for any school team is considered an honour, and the children are expected to be available for these fixtures if selected.

All parents are currently notified of the details of team fixtures, via email. Additionally, please be sure to inform the teacher in charge of a team if your child intends to travel to or from a fixture independently.

DRESS CODE

In the Michaelmas and Lent Terms, children are expected to wear the school tracksuit and trainers when travelling to fixtures.The tracksuit should be worn in full over games kit; boots should be carried separately, along with a school polo shirt in case a change of clothing becomes necessary. For weekday fixtures, school uniform should be worn into school unless the children are otherwise directed by the teacher in charge.

MATCHES

Parents are warmly encouraged to support their children at all fixtures and to stay for refreshments afterwards.

SWIMMING

As part of the curriculum, the school provides swimming lessons at the Stratford Leisure Centre. Swimming commences in the SummerTerm for the Reception Children.

SAILING

The school is very proud of the accomplishment of it’s pupils in obtaining their Royal Yachting Association certificates. Most children will have completed either a Level 3 or 4 when they have completed Junior 4. The sailing is arranged through Aztec Adventure at Upton Warren each term for the Junior children. The cost of sailing is shown on the school website and added to each term’s invoice. Please note that due to the Health and Safety provisions of the centre, their staffing is arranged well in advance of each session. Therefore, every child will be billed for each of the three sessions even if your child is absent on the day.

SCHOOL OUTINGS, VISITS AND RESIDENTIAL TRIPS

Children in school go on school outings and visits in their year groups.A great deal of thought is given to the choice of venue for each group, and the children enjoy a varied and stimulating educational experience. Educational groups are also invited into school to work with the children on specific projects. Parents and visiting speakers are welcomed to give talks connected to relevant topic work when appropriate.

As the pupils progress towards the end of their education at Stratford Preparatory School, they have their residential experience with a trip to Boundless Outdoors in Malvern. This gives the children the opportunity to take risks, and challenge themselves through a variety of outdoor and adventurous activities.

The Policy for Trips, Outings and Off-SiteVisits is available on the school website; this gives further details about the health and safety of children on school visits.

Stratford Preparatory School – Parents’ Handbook

CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMME

We believe that learning does not stop once academic lessons do, and therefore we encourage all children to take part in as many different activities as possible throughout their time at Stratford Prep.The school is pleased to offer a myriad of clubs focusing on sport, arts, language and music. A clubs list is issued with the calendar at the start of each term and parents are asked to sign up for the clubs they wish the children to attend. Some clubs will incur an additional cost while others are provided by the school.

The value of these activities is not limited to the skill or knowledge that is being practised but also wider-ranging skills such as cooperation, perseverance, problem-solving and effort are reinforced in co-curricular clubs. Form Tutors will keep a close eye on the number of activities that children are involved in, and they will liaise with parents if they feel this is having a detrimental impact on a child’s progress

COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

Stratford Preparatory School takes pride in the quality of the teaching and pastoral care provided to its children. However, if parents do have a complaint, they can expect it to be treated by the School in accordance with the Complaints Policy and Procedure. Copies of this are available on the school website, together with the number of formal complaints received. Parents are asked to refrain from using social networking sites to discuss sensitive issues relating to the school. In particular, parents are asked to refrain from discussing any matters of complaint on social networking sites.

Parents are also entitled to make complaints to ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate). ISI is the regulatory body for inspecting the provision in Prep.They can be contacted at: Independent Schools’ Inspectorate, CAP House, 9 - 12 Long Lane, London EC1A 9HA Tel.: 0207 600 0100

Disclaimer

This Handbook has sought to describe, in general terms, life in School, and the School’s aims and ethos.

The School will take all reasonable steps to provide the education and pastoral services described in this Handbook; however, it does not guarantee the provision of such services, and this Handbook does not form part of any contract, or offer of a contract, between parents and the School.

The School will not be liable for loss occasioned to any person as a result of relying on the contents of this Handbook.

Stratford Preparatory School – School Handbook