Clapham Staff Handbook 2025-26_v2

Welcome to Thomas’s Clapham

2025-2026

This Staff Handbook covers much of the basic information that you will need as a new or existing member of staff.

The information is provided alphabetically for ease of reference. Much more information is available on our website or Staff Hub including our school policies.

We hope that you will find this handbook useful.

A Quick Guide of Who to Contact

Should you have a query, or wish to discuss any of the following we encourage you to make contact with:

Catering

Clubs

Harrison Catering Chef Manager at Thomas’s Clapham thomas-s@clapham.harrisoncatering.co.uk

David Hallas Assistant Head - Operations & Services dhallas@thomas-s.co.uk

Digital Support IT Support itsupport@thomas-s.co.uk

Future Schools

Health And Safety

Inclusion And Enrichment

Lower School (Reception, Years 1 & 2)

Learning And Teaching

Middle School (Years 3 & 4)

Operations & Services

Safeguarding

School Nurse

Stationery

Upper School (Years 5-8)

Wellbeing & Health

Sara Harrison Assistant Head - Future Schools sharrison@thomas-s.co.uk

David Hallas Assistant Head - Operations & Services dhallas@thomas-s.co.uk

Esther Sharkey-Yun Inclusion and Enrichment Leader esharkeyyun@thomas-s.co.uk

Sarah Melsom Assistant Head - Head of Lower School smelsom@thomas-s.co.uk

Kiara Gray Deputy Head - Learning and Teaching kgray@thomas-s.co.uk

Charlotte McConnell Assistant Head - Head of Middle School cmcconnell@thomas-s.co.uk

David Hallas Assistant Head - Operations & Services dhallas@thomas-s.co.uk

Kirsty Whitwood Deputy Head - Wellbeing & Health kwhitwood@thomas-s.co.uk

Maine Taylor-Chappell School Nurse mtaylorchappell@thomas-s.co.uk

Yvonne Walsh ywalsh@thomas-s.co.uk

Fenella Spendlove Assistant Head - Head of Upper School fspendlove@thomas-s.co.uk

Kirsty Whitwood Deputy Head - Wellbeing & Health kwhitwood@thomas-s.co.uk

Nathan Boller Head

nboller@thomas-s.co.uk

NB: To make an appointment with Nathan, please do so through his PA, Emily ActonEdmiston: eactonedmiston@thomas-s.co.uk

Helen Stewart-Morgan Senior Deputy Head - People & Culture hstewartmorgan@thomas-s.co.uk

Kirsty Whitwood

Kiara Gray

Sarah Melsom

Charlotte Mcconnell

Fenella Spendlove

Sara Harrison

David Hallas

Deputy HeadWellbeing & Health kwhitwood@thomas-s.co.uk

Deputy HeadLearning & Teaching kgray@thomas-s.co.uk

Assistant HeadHead of Lower School smelsom@thomas-s.co.uk

Assistant HeadHead of Middle School cmcconnell@thomas-s.co.uk

Assistant HeadHead of Upper School fspendlove@thomas-s.co.uk

Assistant HeadHead of Future Schools sharrison@thomas-s.co.uk

Assistant HeadOperations & Services dhallas@thomas-s.co.uk

Viki Stanton Operations Administration Manager vstanton@thomas-s.co.uk

Emily Acton-Edmiston Head’s PA eactonedmiston@thomas-s.co.uk

Genie Jones Head of Admissions gjones@thomas-s.co.uk

Sarah Carrington Leadership Support Administrator scarrington@thomas-s.co.uk

Maine Taylor-Chappell School Nurse mtaylorchappell@thomas-s.co.uk

Poppy Green

Carol Wright

Yvonne Walsh

Claire Byrne

Library Administrator and PA to Deputies and Area Leaders pgreen@thomas-s.co.uk

Morning Receptionist and Administrative Assistant cwright@thomas-s.co.uk

Afternoon Receptionist and Administrative Assistant ywalsh@thomas-s.co.uk

Music Administrator (Part-timeMonday to Friday 8.00am to 1.00pm) cbyrne@thomas-s.co.uk

The A-Z of What You Need To Know

ABSENCE

If you are sick or unable to come to school, please contact the following people ASAP (by 7.00am at the latest);

All Teaching Staff

David Hallas - 07341 029766

Admin, Caretakers and GAP staff

Viki Stanton - 07710 863400

Please always ring David or Viki – an email is not appropriate, nor a voice mail to the office.

If you need to be absent for any reason other than sickness including off site meetings, please inform David Hallas, (All Teaching Staff) and Viki Stanton (Admin, Caretakers and GAP Staff) in advance. This should be done through the Absence Request Form found on the Staff Hub. This is necessary even if no lesson cover is required.

For any absence you will need to complete an Absence Request Form on the Staff Hub. This is to be completed before any planned absence or within 24 hours of your return from sickness. If you are off work for seven days or more, you must obtain a Doctor’s Certificate.

ADDRESS AND CONTACT DETAILS

If you move, or your emergency contacts change, please amend them using Employee Self Service (ESS) –it is your responsibility to keep these details up to date.

In line with GDPR all staff must not give out addresses or telephone numbers of other staff members to parents.

ASSEMBLY

The Assembly schedule is organised by Kirsty Whitwood and the Area Leaders. Assemblies play an important role in a school community and we ask that you actively promote positive behaviour. Please talk to Kirsty if you would like to lead an assembly on a certain topic.

All members of staff should attend assemblies in their area of the school. All assemblies and church service dates and times are in the school calendar and details can be found under the ‘Events’ tab of the Staff Hub.

ALLERGIES

A number of children and staff in school have severe allergies to a variety of things. Please ensure you are fully aware of anything that a child you teach is allergic to. A full list of children who suffer from allergies is available on Medical Tracker and it is the responsibility of all teachers to check on a regular basis, and to know what treatment to administer should an allergic reaction take place. Due to the severity of anaphylaxis reactions, the school does not allow nuts or sesame in any areas.

Children who have special diets due to their allergies have food provided for them by the allergy trolley; Lower School children have place mats. If you are unsure, or have any queries, please speak with our School Nurse, Maine Taylor-Chappell.

ALUMNI

We believe that your time at Thomas’s should not end when you leave the school. Thomas’s Alumni aims to build an active association of past pupils, parents and staff so that they are part of the school community, for life.

Founded in 2021 to celebrate the 50th Year of Thomas’s London Day Schools, Thomas’s Alumni is an organisation which keeps past pupils, parents and staff, affectionately and collectively known as OTs (Old Thomasonians), in touch with each other and with the school through events, reunions and OT communications. The association provides a network for people who have been involved in a Thomas’s education so that they can reconnect with each other and with their particular school. We hope that by being a member of Thomas’s Alumni, you will be part of a family which will be of value to you as you progress through life.

Please visit the website: www.thomas-s.co.uk/alumni/ for more information or email: alumni@thomas-s.co.uk

ANTI-BULLYING

At Thomas’s Clapham, staff, parents and pupils work together to create a happy and safe learning environment where bullying is not tolerated. It is everyone’s responsibility to promote an anti-bullying culture and to deal with any incidents quickly and effectively.

Kirsty Whitwood, Deputy Head - Wellbeing and Health, leads on this aspect and works closely with the Area Leaders, Heads of Year and pupil ‘Be Kind’ Committee. Please refer to our Anti-Bullying Policy on our Staff Hub for detailed information.

ART SUPPLIES

Lower School

Art supplies are stored in the store room in Reception. There is an additional Lower School Art Cupboard situated on the Hall level, that should only be used by colleagues in Years 1 and 2.

BABYSITTING

No member of Thomas’s Clapham staff is allowed to babysit for a Thomas’s Clapham family whilst they are employed by Thomas’s. This is for safeguarding reasons.

BEHAVIOUR

At Thomas’s Clapham, our aim is to develop a whole school culture of excellent behaviour which provides a supportive and safe environment for all to learn and thrive.

We believe that all members of the community should Be Safe, Be Kind, Be Calm, and Be Ready. Our positive behaviour management approach is underpinned by a shared understanding of these four rules and our school values, the promotion of calm and consistent adult behaviour and a focus on recognition and relationships.

Please refer to our Behaviour Policy Supplement and our Behaviour Blueprint for detailed information.

BICYCLES

There is Bicycle Storage for staff cycles in the parking area on the kitchen side of the building. Please ensure that this is kept locked at all times. The code for the padlock is: 1971. The School accepts no liability for loss or damage to bicycles or scooters whilst in the school grounds.

Please ensure all cycles/scooters are taken home every evening, weekend and holiday.

BIRTHDAYS

We celebrate children’s birthdays with the child wearing a birthday hat/sash/badge etc for the day! We do not give out cakes or sweets on these occasions.

BREAKFAST

Staff breakfast (toast, tea/coffee) is provided in the High Dining Room from 7.30 – 8.00am.

BREAK TIMES

Dismissal from class:

• In Lower and Middle School teachers of the lesson preceding break take their class out.

• Upper School classes should be sent down by the teacher of the lesson preceding break. They may come down unsupervised but all staff should monitor behaviour and reinforce as required. At morning break, snack is provided for each year group in the playground at a designated point.

End of break:

• The teacher taking the lesson that follows break should collect Lower School and Middle School classes.

• In the Upper School, the teachers taking the lesson that follows break for Years 5 - 7 should collect the children from the playground. All year groups have to line up but Year 8 do not need to be collected.

Other information:

• Please ensure there is a teacher on duty before leaving children in the playground.

• No child should be unsupervised inside the building at break times.

• There is a range of equipment for the children to use in the playground.

• Lower School and Middle School children have playground equipment stored in the playground sheds.

• Children in the Lower and Middle School eat their snack in classrooms before or after break. They are not to walk down to break eating food.

• Upper School children eat their snacks outside.

BUSES

There is a Thomas’s bus run for children in Years 7 and 8 that join the school from Thomas’s Fulham.

Michele Carpenter is Thomas’s London Day Schools Transport Manager and co-ordinates all school buses. She is based at Thomas’s Battersea and can be contacted on 07737 860301 or via email.

David Hallas, Assistant Head - Operations and Services, is Thomas’s Clapham’s contact for buses.

CALENDAR

You can access the school calendar through the TomCom App or the Internal Systems page. By clicking on the dates, you will be able to see what is scheduled for each day. You will also be able to add important dates to your personal calendar.

CALENDAR ENTRIES

Entries for the School Calendar must be submitted using a Calendar Entry Request form, which can be found on Clapham Staff Hub, under the Admin tab. Before submitting the Calendar Entry Form you must gain approval for the entry from the relevant Area Leader. The deadline for calendar entries is published in advance and must be adhered to so please start planning well in advance of this date. No calendar entry is considered as confirmed until after the Calendar Committee has met and agreed the calendar for the term ahead.

CARETAKERS

Carlos Sanchez is our Caretaker who works from 10am to 8pm, Monday to Friday. Carlos and his family live on site.

Carl Whittaker is our Caretaker (Grounds and Security), who works from 6.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

CHARITIES

We believe passionately in engendering a sense of social responsibility and a culture of being ‘givers not takers’ at Thomas’s Clapham. Each year we will be financially supporting our Charity of the Year, as selected by pupils, parents and staff. Please see the Charities Policy and look out for information about how you can continue to support children to raise awareness with various fundraising events throughout the year.

CHARGING PARENTS

Very few items should be added to a child’s school account – the majority of these should come out of the department budget.

If you have an item which you are wishing to be added to a child’s account, please email your request to your Area Leader in the first instance. The Finance Team must receive info regarding the item being charged to parents and in plenty of time for billing.

CHANGING FOR PE/GAMES

All pupils in Years 6 to 8 change for PE activities in the changing rooms. All other pupils change in classrooms.

For Reception to Year 2, form staff remain in the form room to supervise the pupils. In Years 3 & 4, teachers should step outside the form rooms when the children are changing, keep the door ajar and actively supervise from the corridor. In Years 4 & 5, girls get changed in one room and boys in another, and a member of staff supervises the corridor outside.

Red bags should be kept in the specified areas (detailed below) and should only be in the changing rooms during PE lessons.

Year Group Location of Red Bag Storage area

Years 3 to 5 Classrooms

Year 6 Cubby holes outside changing rooms

Years 7 and 8

Covered shelves behind the cricket nets in the playground

CHURCH

Attending St Luke’s Church is central to our Assemblies programme and an important part of school life. Please ensure you check the termly calendar for the Church dates for your specific area of the school and read through the guidance provided in advance.

Key Guidance:

• Pupils should walk to Church quietly and in pairs, making sure they are aware of other pedestrians using the pavement.

• Please wear your Hi-Vis vest while walking to church. Please remove Hi-Vis vest and coats before entering church.

• Before entering church ensure pupils are calm, smart and silent.

• Enter and leave the church according to the side your year group is seated.

• During the service, please be aware of and manage any disruptive behaviour proactively.

• At the end of the service pupils should remain seated in silence until they are dismissed from church by a member of SLT.

• Please exit via the same door you arrived.

CLEANING

All staff should ensure that a bottle of hand sanitiser, box of tissues, disinfectant spray and a pack of paper towels are available in their classroom. In line with our commitment to sustainability the hand sanitiser and disinfectant bottles are refillable - please take the empty bottles to Viki Stanton who will exchange them for a full one. You can also collect tissues and paper towels from Viki Stanton’s office.

Our cleaning contractors work in the evening from 7.30pm to 10.30pm. Please ensure rooms are left tidy in preparation for the cleaning team - all desks and work surfaces to be kept clear, rubbish/pencils etc removed from the floor, chairs tucked neatly under tables.

We also have a daytime cleaner, provided by our cleaning contractor, who works alongside Carlos from 10am each day.

We all have a collective responsibility to ensure the school is kept looking at its best but if you notice that an area requires some further attention or has been missed, or if you have any feedback regarding the cleaning - both negative and positive - please email Viki Stanton: vstanton@thomas-s.co.uk

CLUBS

There are a number of clubs at Thomas’s Clapham, which operate after school hours every term. If teachers have a particular interest, which they would like to promote, please see David Hallas about taking a club. It is the expectation that every teacher offers at least one club in an academic year.

Teachers who are responsible for clubs are able to claim extra pay for doing so, although only for clubs that operate before 8.00am or after 4.00pm. Claims are made through the Staff Hub. To receive the pay during the calendar pay month staff would need to submit the claim by the middle of each month - the specific date changes depending on where the weekend falls, however the Finance Team publish these dates in advance and they are available on the Staff Hub. All claims must be made within the same term as the club/ duty took place.

Lower School children doing clubs go to an allocated Lower School classroom at 3.30pm. The teacher on Club Room duty then dismisses the children to their club location.

A snack will be provided to all children to eat at the beginning of the club. This is available to children attending a club beyond 4pm. Club Teas rooms will operate for clubs (eg. sports clubs) that start at 4.15pm.

If you take a club, please ensure you complete the club register, which can be found on SOCs, every week and put the names of all the children who attend the club on the relevant Club Billing Spreadsheet. Club registers will then be sent electronically to Finance for billing purposes. The register on SOCs also shows which children should be having the allergy snack in their club. This is indicated by a red and white cross next to a child’s name.

Club and Supervised Prep staff dismiss children at the end of the club or prep, from the allocated collection point. Club staff must wait until all children from their club have been collected; they should not leave them to wait unattended.

CODE OF CONDUCT

We expect everybody – adults, pupils, parents and anyone connected to the school to be kind, honest, considerate, trustworthy, courteous, responsible, cooperative, friendly and hardworking.

We should all respect others’ feelings and be ready to help; give praise and encouragement; be sympathetic to others’ needs; try our best; tell the truth; be reliable in carrying out our duties; be polite; show respect for property; be punctual and be ready for lessons.

Children should show kindness and courtesy to all members of the school community; work to the best of their ability; ask for help when necessary; listen carefully and involve themselves fully in the life of the school.

Teachers are expected to promote a happy environment for their pupils; ensure the safety of their pupils to the best of their ability; establish high expectations and maintain appropriate behaviour in their lessons; deliver the best possible lessons to their pupils through careful planning, assessment and relevant feedback and show courtesy at all times in their dealings with parents.

Parents should support the school in their children’s education and discipline; show courtesy at all times in their dealings with all members of the school community; observe the given term dates and ensure their children’s punctual delivery and collection.

COMMUNITY

We are keen to establish and maintain links with the local community. If any staff have ideas of how we can strengthen our links with the community, please speak with your Area Leader or Kirsty Whitwood.

COMPUTERS AND MOBILE DEVICES

Staff MUST supervise children and any digital usage at ALL times - teachers can use Apple Classroom to monitor the children’s iPad screens.

Logging on:

Children log into the computers in the Computing Lab with a unique username and password. Children in Years 3-8 choose their own password at the start of the year, which should be kept secret (unless a teacher or parent asks for it) and is also used for Google Drive. Children in the Lower School can log into computers with a class login.

Staff log in to their computers with their own personal username and password, which are the same as those used for MSP, Google Drive, iSAMS and other staff IT systems.

All devices are owned and managed by Thomas’s IT systems. Staff and pupils need to sign usage agreements.

Other information:

• Each member of staff has their own laptop which they can plug into any docking station in all of the classrooms which connects to the IWB and can airplay to the screen too.

• Each member of staff also has an iPad. You can airplay this to the screen.

• Lower School children have access to a shared iPad between two children. There is a class password for these devices.

• Middle School children have their own iPad which is kept in school in locked charging cases. Children login with their date of birth as their password and also use fingerprint ID.

• Year 5-8 have their own iPad which they take home for homework and to charge each night. Children can change their own password though they must share it with a teacher/ adult if asked. They can also use their fingerprint ID.

• All computers and iPads can print to our network printers.

• Computers or iPads should not be used by a pupil in any part of the building at any time without a member of staff being present.

• Staff need to ensure that they log off at the end of the day or if you are leaving a room for a long period for compliance security reasons.

• If you have any problems with your computer or with mobile devices, please send an e-mail to itsupport@ thomas-s.co.uk.

All pupils must complete an acceptable use policy (AUP).

If children in the US wish to bring a personal device (phone, Kindle) they need to sign a “Bring your own device” form. Mobile phones (pupils in Years 6-8 only) should be turned off and handed into form teachers at the start of each day and returned at dismissal. They should not be used by pupils on site unless permission has been given by a teacher.

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

We support staff in the development of their career and are keen to enhance further professional training. Funding for courses will be allocated in accordance with staff needs and in conjunction with the areas of focus on the AIP. If you find a course that interests you and relates to your areas of development, please discuss with your Area Leader, Kiara Gray or Helen Stewart-Morgan.

After the course, please give your feedback to your Area Leader. You may also be asked to report back to other members of your department or a larger staff group in order that others may benefit from the training.

The INSET and CPD programme at Thomas’s Clapham is a critical part of what we do. This underpins the development of Expert Teaching Teams as a wider part of our 5-year vision. All development falls into categories - Wellbeing, External training and our targeted development programme. The bespoke development programme is a termly cycle consisting of three main elements:

• Professional Learning Communities - with a schoolwide specific focus on challenge this year

• AIP-related content

• Learning groups - defined groups that meet throughout the year with a group specific action ie Subject Action Groups

Our Guest Speakers have been thoughtfully scheduled to ensure they support the above programme and relate to our AIP.

Flexi slots are slots that have been left open to allow for any training/development needs identified throughout the year. They may be left open to create space for staff to implement/embed/review practice or used as training slots. Staff are expected to attend any INSET that has been arranged.

COVER

You will be asked to cover lessons for absent staff. You will usually be notified by 8.00am at the latest. Please check the cover on the Staff Hub every morning and regularly throughout the day in case of alterations.

CRITICAL INCIDENTS AND LOCKDOWNS

We have a Critical Incident Policy in place which is reviewed regularly. This includes our response to local terrorist attacks or threat. Our Critical Incident Management Team meet each term, led by David Hallas, Assistant Head – Operations and Services.

The school community undertakes Lockdown practices to ensure that all pupils and staff are familiar with the procedures in the event of an incident requiring the school to go into Lockdown. Parents are informed when these practices will take place and the purpose of the procedure, and we ask that parents discuss them with their children.

Please ensure you are familiar with the Lockdown sounds and processes and contact David Hallas if you have any queries.

DANCE

Lower School

Lower School children have a weekly Dance lesson as a part of their Curriculum timetable. The uniform is white t-shirt, navy shorts and bare feet. Long hair must be tied back and no watches or jewellery should be worn. Your support with a safe and neat uniform is appreciated. For Reception and Year 1 classes Learning Assistants are expected to attend to support learning. With these classes we will work towards their parent facing performance. In Year 2 Dance, which is led by 2 Dance Teachers, children will work towards the Rambert Grades Creative Movers examination.

Year 1 and 2 children can choose to attend Extra Curricular Dance classes. Year 1 have the choice between Ballet, Tap and Boys’ Dance. Year 2 have the choice between Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, Street Dance and Boy’s Dance. Children who take extra curricular Dance classes take part in the biannual Dance Show and prepare for examinations. Extra Dance classes do not count towards the child’s open club allocation.

Prep School

Children in Years 3 to 8 can take Extra Curricular Dance classes in Ballet, Tap, Contemporary and Street Dance. Classes take place as an additional activity; before school, at lunchtimes and after school. Extra Dance is a commitment for the whole year as classes involve examination and show preparation. Classes do not count towards the child’s open club allocation. Extra Dance classes require a half term written notice to stop lessons. Performance opportunities include the biannual Dance show. In years when the show is not on, classes will also be involved in ‘Watching Week’, ‘Choreography Challenges’ and ‘Dance Leavers’ Highlights’. Staff are encouraged to attend and support Dance events.

DATA PROTECTION

All staff will undertake Educare Training on Data Protection.

At Thomas’s we have always taken data security very seriously as we appreciate the consequences of data being shared inappropriately or incorrectly and the implications this can have on everybody involved.

Thomas’s London Day Schools aim to ensure that all personal data collected about staff, pupils, parents, visitors and any other individual is collected, stored and processed in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the provisions of the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018). This applies to all personal data, regardless of whether it is in paper or electronic format.

Full details can be found in our Privacy Notice and Data Protection Policies which are available on the Staff Hub.

There are secure units in the Staffroom, Top Floor Staff Study and School Office which are collected by Secure Shred monthly. There is also a shredder located in the basement. Please ensure any items containing personal or sensitive data are put into these units or shredded.

All documents/files containing personal or sensitive data must be stored in a secure cupboard and not left on desks/ accessible.

DISMISSAL

Every child should say goodbye to their teacher before going to the person who is picking them up.

Never let a child leave until you have seen who is collecting them. Please familiarise yourself with our non-collection policy

Dismissal Locations:

• Reception - Outside the Reception block

• Years 1 to 8 - In the playground at the back of the school

WALKING HOME

Children in Years 6 – 8 (and Year 5 in the Summer Term) may walk to and from school unaccompanied. Parents must complete the ‘walking to and from school’ form found on MSP and a central list is kept by the Head of US and the School Office. If you receive any communication about walking home, please forward it to Fenella Spendlove and Carol Wright or Yvonne Walsh. We suggest that children walk in pairs or threes, not alone and that they do not walk unaccompanied after dark. They should also have a designated route to follow so we know where to look for them if necessary.

Children below Year 5 are not allowed to walk unaccompanied, even if they have an elder sibling who does.

DISPLAYS

You are responsible for the display boards in your own room which should be changed fairly regularly. Where possible, displays should show examples of children’s work.

The Lower, Middle and Upper School will be allocated corridor boards which must be changed termly, at a minimum. They should show examples of the children’s work rotating around the subject areas. Work displayed should not just be completed pieces of work but should include the process and drafts to get to the final piece. Working walls within the classroom should be updated for each unit of work.

Displays should be kept looking tidy and relevant.

All backing (hessian) and border rolls can be found in the Prep School Art Cupboard on the Balcony level.  The Prep School Art Cupboard is used by many staff so if you notice anything is running low, please let your Area Leader know.  We would also ask that the cupboard is kept tidy at all times.

DRESS

Teachers should look clean and tidy in school hours and wear smart work dress. Motifs, slogans or emblems are not permitted. Jeans, crop tops, trainers, flip-flops and skimpy tops are also not considered appropriate.

All staff members must dress smartly for Church and any formal school day, or evening function involving parents.

Any member of staff (other than PE staff) that is involved in PE/Games lessons throughout the day should change into suitable clothing the break before the PE/Games lesson, and change back into smart dress at the first available moment upon their return to school.

Staff going on trips should dress accordingly – they should not “dress down” unless appropriate.

DROPPED OFF ITEMS

Children should bring the correct equipment to school each morning. If a parent brings in a forgotten item, they will put it in the Dropped Off Items Box in the entrance hall. Parents will email the form teacher and the child will then collect the item from the box. If a child is calling home for a forgotten item then please think whether the item is required or if the child can do without the item for the day. Also please be realistic with timescales to avoid adding pressure to the child and parents.

EDUCARE TRAINING

Thomas’s Clapham uses Educare (part of TES) to deliver some online training. You will be sent a Welcome Email by Educare TES enabling you to log on. Please save your password as you will be required to undertake some of these courses at various points.

To ensure we are compliant, staff across all Thomas’s schools will be required to undertake refresher training in some modules in certain years. The training to undertake for this academic year is detailed on the Staff Inset document.

For academic year 2025-2026 the following must be undertaken and completed by the end of the Michaelmas Term:

1. Prevent Duty

2. Moving and Handling

3. Anti-Fraud and Corruption

If you have any queries, or experience any difficulties accessing Educare please see Viki Stanton.

There are a large number of courses available on Educare and you are welcome to undertake any of these at any time.

EMAIL

All staff have email access and an individual Google Mail account. This can be accessed from anywhere enabling you to collect and respond to any messages inside or outside school.

Your email address is usually your first initial and surname followed by @thomas-s.co.uk (eg John Smith would be jsmith@thomas-sco.uk).

Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as it is used for important messages as well as being a good communication tool by the parents.

Please copy in your Area Leader if you are emailing parents.

If you are emailing more than one parent please remember to bcc all the recipients.

If you need to communicate with a group of parents, please do this via a Need To Know message, rather than email.

In the interests of staff welfare, we practise a policy where staff do not send or reply to internal emails after 6pm during the week, except in emergencies, and not at all on weekends. We ask that parents do the same when communicating with the school.

We commit to responding to parent emails within 24 hours during the week and within 48 hours if received at the beginning of the weekend.

Staff who wish to work later can ‘schedule send’ emails.

All members of staff are expected to check their school email regularly (at least weekly) during any holiday period in order to be able to respond to any urgent communications.

EMPLOYEE SELF SERVICE

Our Employee Self Service (ESS) portal allows you to easily manage your personal information, view payslips, request leave, and access important HR documents at your convenience here. There is also an ESS guide you can find here.

EXAMINATIONS AND PRE-ASSESSMENTS

Throughout Years 5 - 8 there are regular assessment points including internal examinations. Children are also prepared for external academic examinations and pre-assessments. This mostly happens in Years 5 and 6. There are a small number of external assessments in Years 7 and 8.

EXERCISE BOOKS

Sarah Carrington is responsible for Prep School exercise books and Poppy Green is responsible for Lower School exercise books.  All exercise books are kept in a locked cupboard.  Please speak to Sarah or Poppy if you have any exercise book requirements.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR EVENTS

We would really appreciate your attendance at fixtures, performances and special performances, especially those that involve your year group, wherever possible.

FIRE EVACUATION PROCEDURES

Please make yourself aware of the procedures for when a fire alarm is sounded. There are Fire Evacuation Maps on display near fire exits. Please notify David Hallas if this is missing.

• Our Emergency Response Plan is printed for viewing in the staffroom and is also available on the Staff Hub.

• Fire evacuation practices are held randomly throughout the year. However, should the fire alarm be sounded do NOT assume it is a practice.

• The Fire Alarm is tested every week on Friday at 5.30pm.

1. Evacuation Procedure

• Teacher to LEAD the class and choose the most suitable exit route to the playground. Staff to wear their hi vis jackets if they are readily to hand.

• Make sure the door to your room is shut.

• Pupils to remain silent so that specific orders can be heard if the need arises.

• Designated staff to “sweep” their assigned area and ensure it is completely evacuated and ready for roll calling.

• The lift should not be used in any circumstance.

• All sweepers to report to Viki Stanton that their allocated areas has been swept.

2. Roll Call

• Registers to be collected from (Carol Wright or Yvonne Walsh) and returned to the Area Leaders.

• Pupils are to line up silently in their form groups.

• Pupils’ surname to be called. They answer by saying their first name.

• When the whole class has been accounted for, the children all sit/crouch down.

• Staff with surnames beginning A-L to report to Emily Acton-Edmiston, M-Z to Sarah Carrington.

• Visitors line up silently for roll call by Genie Jones.

3. Returning to the Buildings

For your own safety, do not attempt to re-enter the buildings until you have been given the command to do so.

FIRST AID (HEAD BUMPS/INJURIES)

If any child has sustained a ‘knock/bump on the head’ it must be treated with extreme care.

The incident/accident must be recorded on Medical Tracker, the information will be sent to parents and teachers relevant to the pupil via the Medical Tracker Platform.

If you are concerned about the pupil, call parents and have a conversation about the best course of action.

Members of staff should use their common sense as to what is a genuine injury. If in doubt, please ask the School Nurse, or any first aid trained staff. Please find instructions on how to add injuries to Medical Tracker on the ‘No Nurse, No Worries’ Google Document (QR codes around school and on staff hub).

If a child comes into school having sustained an injury at home, please add to medical tracker and monitor them carefully, especially if it is a head injury (which can take up to 48 hours to develop), and call their parents if you are at all concerned.

FORM STAFF

Every class has a Form Teacher, Deputy/Learning Assistant who is responsible for the registration, form time and dismissal of their forms. They will also teach them their PSHE lesson each week and accompany them to Church and Assemblies.

HIGHLIGHTS

Staff are encouraged to upload photos to the Highlights section of TomCom, so that all parents can see some of the ‘highlights’ of life at Thomas’s Clapham. Each year group/subject area should aim to upload at least one ‘highlight’ per week. Please only choose photos that are GDPR compliant (use the face filtering feature to check this) and then write a short blurb to go with them. These will then be approved, before being published to parents.

HISTORY OF THOMAS’S

Thomas’s was founded in 1971 as a Kindergarten in Pimlico, expanding to include a Prep School in Cadogan Gardens in 1977 when David Thomas joined his wife Joanna in running the schools.

In 1981, Thomas’s Kensington in Cottesmore Gardens opened, expanding further in 2002 with the acquisition of Lady Eden’s School in Victoria Road. In 2008, an additional building was purchased to enhance music and drama facilities for Thomas’s Kensington. The school in Cadogan Gardens moved to Battersea High Street in October 1990, while the second Kindergarten opened in 1992 in St Mary’s Church, Battersea.

Thomas’s Clapham opened in September 1993, followed by Thomas’s Fulham in September 2005 with 97 pupils. From just 11 pupils in 1977, Thomas’s has grown to over 2000 pupils. In 2015, Thomas’s Academy (previously New King’s Primary School) opened in Fulham, forming a genuine partnership between the independent and maintained sectors. Thomas’s Putney Vale opened as a senior school in September 2021, and Thomas’s College is set to open in September 2025.

Thomas’s London Day Schools (TLDS) is a private limited company. The Thomas family hold a majority share alongside a long-term investor, Oakley Capital, which took a minority stake in March 2023. Tobyn and Ben Thomas are Directors and Executive Principals. David and Joanna Thomas are the Founding Principals and, although no longer Directors, they maintain an interest in the activities of all the schools. You will see them at some school events.

History of Thomas’s

The Ranelagh Kindergarten opened

Thomas’s Kensington opened in Cottesmore Gardens

The first preparatory school opened in Cadogan Gardens, with eleven children and two teachers

Thomas’s Kindergarten, Battersea opened in the Crypt of St Mary’s Church

The prep school in Cadogan Gardens moved to the site of the former Sir Walter St John Grammar School in Battersea High Street (now Thomas’s Battersea).

Launch in the Royal Albert Hall of the Thomas’s Schools Foundation, a charity founded to assist with bursaries for children and to help with local community projects

Thomas’s Clapham started in the former Walsingham Girls’ School in Broomwood Road

Purchase of Lady Eden’s School in Victoria Road, Kensington. The school was managed by the Principals for one year, closing in July 2002 and reopening as the Lower School of an expanded Thomas’s Kensington. The buildings in Cottesmore Gardens became the Preparatory School for Thomas’s Kensington

Opening of Thomas’s Fulham in the former Chelsea School of Art building, Hugon Road opens

Purchase of the former Pru Leith building to provide enhanced music and drama facilities for Thomas’s Kensington

2005

Thomas’s Academy opened in New King’s Road

2008 2007 2013 2015 2021

The CAIRN (Child Aid In Rural Nepal) Trust was established by David and Joanna Thomas

A Celebration of Childhood was staged at the Royal Albert Hall and included ballet, drama and musical performances by 1,326 Thomas’s pupils

Thomas’s College site opens in Richmond and Thomas’s Kensington new site opens at Atlantic House

Purchase of Putney Vale and the opening of Thomas’s Senior School

2025

HOUSE SYSTEM

The House System is maintained to encourage healthy competition between groups at the School. There are four Houses (all famous Thomas’s):

Pupils and staff are put in one of the houses when they arrive at Thomas’s and remain in it for their whole time with us.

House points are accumulated through various sporting, musical or academic events where the children compete on behalf of their houses.

INCLUSION AND ENRICHMENT DEPARTMENT

The Inclusion and Enrichment department is led by Esther Sharkey-Yun and her office is in the Reception block. The IE Dept is responsible for children who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, English as an Additional Language and Most Able children.  Please contact her directly if you have any questions.

If you are concerned about any child you should first raise it with your relevant Area Leader who will in turn discuss it at the IE meeting or will ask you to complete a referral form. The referral form for the referral committee, along with the SEND, EAL and Most Able pupil registers can all be found on the Staff Hub.

Children who require extra support with their learning may be taken out of class to work with Esther, Rachel Doherty, Katie Hubber or Laura Cooper. We also have two Speech and Language therapists, an Occupational Therapist and three peripatetic Learning Specialist teachers who are based in the Reception block and paid directly by parents.  Children are usually seen on

a rolling timetable so that they miss a different lesson each week. If a Learning Specialist teacher comes to collect a child from your class, please allow them to leave the lesson and give them work to catch up on if necessary. The specialists may come to discuss a child with you in order that their learning can be supported to the greatest effect.

INTERNET

Pupils have regular access to pre-approved websites on school computers and iPads. The school filters and blocks certain sites like YouTube on the children’s iPads. We use Ed Puzzle to view YouTube videos.

No child is allowed to use the internet at any time without a member of staff being present, and full internet access should be closely supervised at all times. All members of staff need to be aware of this and not allow children to research a topic unaccompanied. Staff must monitor iPad use in their lessons using Apple Classroom.

Google SafeSearch is automatically turned on on all computers/ devices. If you notice that SafeSearch is not turned on for a particular device, please let IT Support know as soon as possible by emailing itsupport@ thomas-s.co.uk. More details about this can be found in the Staff Acceptable Use Policy. Children in the Middle School should use Kiddle as a web search- there is an app for this sites on their iPads. Staff in Lower School should direct children to specific sites via Apple Classroom or using QR codes.

LEAVING THE BUILDING

The school building is open from 6.30am until 8.00pm, Monday to Friday.

If you need to leave the school building during the day please let a member of SLT know for security purposes and ensure you log in and out using the biometric fingerprint readers outside the School Office.

Becket Lawrence

More Hardy

When you leave the building at the end of the day, please ensure you turn off the lights in your classroom, shut the windows and close the door.

LIBRARY

All Lower School classes have regularly timetabled sessions in the Library. Learning Assistants (LAs) are expected to attend these sessions with their classes. In the Middle School, there is no fixed timetabled slot but pupils are welcome to use the Library by booking this through the ‘rooms’ booking system’. Class Teachers should accompany their classes during library visits.

If you would like to arrange an additional session, please check availability with Poppy Green (Library Administrator) in advance.

LIFTS

The lift can be used by members of staff. Children who are injured may use the lift but must be accompanied by another child and we must have some communication from parents. For safeguarding reasons, please avoid using the lift with a child. The stair lift to the top floor may only be used under the direct supervision of the member of staff accompanying the pupil who needs to use it.

LOST PROPERTY

If you find lost property anywhere in the building, in the first instance please try and take it to the child’s classroom.  If this is not possible, lost property should be put in the Lost Property basket in the staffroom which is emptied regularly by our team of GAP Assistants.

Your assistance in ensuring children take all items with them at the end of a lesson, or end of break time is greatly appreciated.

All named items of lost property are returned to children’s classrooms on a regular basis. Unnamed items are displayed on a table outside school, from 7.45am to 8.30am and from 3.15pm to 4.15pm (weather permitting).

Any unnamed lost property is disposed of at the end of each term.

LUNCH ARRANGEMENTS

Please see the timetable for lunch times.

Reception and Year 1 - Low Dining Room (LDR)

Year 2 - Gym

Years 3 and 4 - Gym

Years 5 - LDR

Years 6, 7 and 8 - Gym

Staff lunches are eaten in the High Dining Room.

LUNCH ROUTINES

As we are a big and busy school eating across three locations in the school, lunchtime is a busy time; please be aware of the routines below;

Low Dining Room (Reception, Year 1 and Year 5):

• Children file in and sit quietly. Each class sits at a table and any extra children fill up one of the spare tables.

• Teachers on duty serve the food and plates are passed along to each child. Every child is to be served a bit of everything. They should not start eating until everyone has been served.

• Any child with a food allergy will be given the allergy food option.

• When finished, plates are passed back to the staff to clear and stack. They are then removed from the table by the catering staff. Children should remain seated at all times.

• Pudding is served in the same way. Children may have fruit as an alternative, available at the end of the Low Dining Room.

Gym (Year 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 & 8):

• Children file in and sit down quietly. Each class sits at a table and any extra children fill up one of the spare tables.

• Children are sent up a table at a time to get their food from the service counter.

Other Information:

• Before serving lunch to any child, please make sure you are aware of their dietary requirements and any allergies.

• Children on special allergy diets should not eat the main meal. They will collect their meal from the designated member of Catering staff.

• Children who are vegetarian should take their plate and get the alternative main course. They should still be served the rest of the meal on their table.

Staff Information:

• Staff eat their lunch in the HDR. Please do not take lunch to the classrooms.

• All staff will be timetabled to do some lunch duties.

MAINTENANCE

If something in your classroom or teaching area needs repairing or replacing, please email Viki Stanton, Operations Administration Manager. The caretaking team will then deal with it as soon as possible. If the matter is urgent please ring Carlos Sanchez directly on 07979 039286 or inform the School Office Team.

MANNERS

Ensuring all children have good manners is everyone’s responsibility. We teach this through our values education program.

MEDICATION

If a child has to take medication during the school day, parents must complete and sign a Prescribed Medication Form (kept at the front desk). Parents can also print forms from My School Portal. All medication must be kept in the medical room/fridge unless the school nurse has an agreement with a teacher and parent.

Children may not carry their medicine around in their bags and medicines may not be left in the classroom unless it has been agreed with the teacher, school nurse and parent. The only other exception to this rule are epipens, Years 5 to 8 carry their own.

All staff should be familiar with the use of Epipens. Training on use of Epipens should be undertaken every two years. It is the responsibility of staff to ensure you receive the training. Please see the School Nurse if you have any questions.

Staff need to ensure they take pupils emergency medication on any school trip and any off-site PE session. Children must have a minimum of two prescribed Epipen offsite. Any other long term medications that children have administered daily must be taken on any school trips unless parents request otherwise.

MEETING RECORDS

If you meet with a parent, or have a telephone conversation, please record the meeting on iSAMS. This also applies to any “off the record discussion” or email communication that you feel may be significant.

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID

There are several members of staff who are trained as Mental Health First Aiders. Please see the notice board in the Staff Room for the current list and do talk to any of our Mental Health First Aiders if you would like some support through non judgemental listening and guidance.

MOBILE PHONES

Staff mobile phones must be set to silent and out of sight when you are teaching, with pupils, or whilst you are on duty.

When off-site they can be used for school business although not to take photographs or videos of pupils. There are school trip phones available for off site use if necessary. If you require a trip phone at any time please ask Carol Wright or Yvonne Walsh, providing as much notice as possible. Mobiles should only be used in a classroom without children present. You must not make or take calls in corridors, dining rooms, playground etc. Please do not give your personal mobile phone number out to parents.

For more information, please refer to the ‘ICT Acceptable Use Policy’ on the Staff Hub.

MONITORING AND FILTERING STAFF DEVICES

All Thomas’s staff accounts, email, computing and electronic devices are company owned and subject to monitoring and filtering. These accounts, email and devices are for work purposes only and not for personal use.

Thomas’s have always filtered internet access for all staff onsite. After recent compliance and safeguarding reviews and our accountability to the board it was decided to also monitor and filter email activity and internet access of staff mobile devices on and off site.

All emails and internet activity are logged; certain activity and searches will be flagged to the heads of schools or heads of departments.

MORNING BREAK

For Reception to Year 2, snack will be delivered to a designated location where staff can collect and distribute it.

Snack for Years 3 to 8 will be served in the Playground. One teacher will be on duty for each Snack Trolley (Years 3&4, 5&6, and 7&8). These trolleys should be collected from the kitchen by the duty staff. Children should not help themselves to snack without a teacher present.

For the early break, snack for Years 3&4 will take place in the Marquee. For the later break, Years 5&6 snack will take place in Clamber Close, and Years 7&8 snack will take place in the Marquee.

All children should eat their snack in the designated area before moving to the playground, as running whilst eating presents a choking hazard. All jugs should only be filled from the taps in the High Dining Room, which provide drinking water.

MUSIC LESSONS

Over 60% of the school have one, two or three musical instrumental or singing lessons per week from one of the sixteen visiting peripatetic teachers. To ensure students don’t consistently miss the same academic lesson, music lessons are scheduled during the school timetable and follow a rotation system. This means lesson times will vary (school calendar and events permitting), and we generally don’t offer fixed lesson times, except in exceptional circumstances. It is the responsibility of the relevant teachers affected by an absentee pupil of an instrumental lesson to check that the child has caught up with any work they have missed and receives details of any homework set.  If you find that a child’s work is suffering due to instrumental lessons please speak to Rachel Chambers, Director of Music and the relevant Area Leader.

The peripatetic teachers schedule lessons each half term in advance with reference to the school calendar and any further information given by the school, Music department or parent.  If there are planned assessments, exams or tests, and excursions out of school the relevant teachers must inform Rachel

Chambers, Director of Music and Claire Byrne, Music Administrator with at least a week’s notice to allow peripatetic staff to amend timetables.  If a week’s notice is not given the child must attend their instrumental lesson and be informed by the relevant subject teacher what they have missed at a later date.

Peripatetic Music staff collect Lower School pupils for their lesson and return them to their class.  Year 3-8 are expected to attend lessons independently.

Music recitals, lunchtime concerts, Ensemble concerts and ABRSM concerts happen each term and staff are encouraged to attend if available. Form tutors are strongly encouraged to attend these to support the children.

There is a Thomas’s Community Choir which is open to all! Staff are also very welcome to play in the Orchestra - more details from Rachel Chambers.

MY SCHOOL PORTAL (MSP)

My School Portal (MSP) is our Parent Portal and can be used by staff and parents and pupils.

It provides parents with:

• Single sign on access to other systems

• TomCom (Thomas’s Communication)

• Vectare (Bus Bookings)

• SOCS (Club Bookings)

• Parents’ Evening System (Parent Teacher Meeting Bookings)

• School Information

• Online forms to be completed

• Updating and sharing of personal contact details

• Timetables

• Reports

• Attendance

For staff, the Staff Hub holds all the policies, staff forms etc.

NEED TO KNOW

Parents receive important messages from the school through the TomCom App. These messages will appear on the parent’s mobile device, similar to that of a text message. The Need to Know is every parent’s personal inbox for important messages from the school.

Please upload your Need to Know message into TomCom. These will then be checked and approved before being published to parents.

The days and times for parents to receive TomCom messages are…

Mondays 2 - 4pm

Wednesdays 10.30am - 12.30pm Fridays 10.30am - 12.30pm

If there is an urgent message that needs to be sent to parents, these can be sent outside of the above timesbut this should be the exception to the rule.

NEWS

Our weekly ‘News’ is circulated to parents every Friday via the TomCom App. The News summary contains a wealth of information, including a message from the Head, advance notices and celebratory reports of events. Parents are asked to read this News every week, and we ask that staff do the same.

Please submit any News articles by 4pm on a Wednesday. These will then be checked and approved before being published to parents on Friday.

NUTS/SESAME SEEDS

Thomas’s Clapham strives to be a nut and sesamefree school but we do not claim to be ‘nut free’. We have a number of children and adults who will have an anaphylactic reaction if they come into contact with nuts or sesame, or someone who has handled them. This can be extremely serious, and in the worst case, fatal. It is therefore essential that staff do not bring any nuts or sesame, or items containing these ingredients into the school building or the grounds surrounding the school. Unfortunately, it is now common practice for many food companies to cover themselves legally and state on the food item ‘may contain traces of nuts’ even if the product does not. However, we ask that staff do not bring anything into the school or the grounds surrounding the building that displays this warning.

ORDERING GOODS

All items ordered are made using the Thomas’s Purchase Orders system, iFinance. A link to this system can be found on the Internal Systems homepage.

Purchase Orders are normally completed by Subject Leaders and Budget Holders and items must only be ordered with the approval of the budget holder.

Please watch this video to see how to create a Purchase Order: vimeo.com/1093647035/854b7fe208?share=copy

The Purchase Order request goes through to the budget holder for approval. Once approved, the Purchase Order creator will receive an email confirming approval, and the creator should then place the order for the goods.

If you have any queries regarding ordering goods or the purchase order system please see Viki Stanton.

PARKING

There are a restricted number of parking spaces at either side of the school; these are allocated by Viki Stanton. There is currently a very long waiting list but if you wish to be added to the list please see Viki.

If you do not have a parking space but need to drive to school for a specific reason on a specific date, please see Viki Stanton who will try to assist you.

Please note that the school grounds become Pedestrian Only between the times of 7.45am and 8.30am and then from 3.00pm to 4.15pm. If you are parking within the grounds and arrive after 7.45am you will need to park in the surrounding streets and move your car into your parking bay after 8.30am. Equally if you need to leave between 3.00pm and 4.15pm you will need to move your car into the surrounding streets before 3.00pm.

If you arrive at school and someone has parked in your allocated bay, or you are unable to access your allocated bay due to a delivery, please do not park in another bay - this causes a domino effect. Instead park in the surrounding roads and notify Viki asap who will endeavour to solve the issue.

PAYROLL CLAIMS

Teachers who are eligible to claim for duties worked outside of their contracted hours can claim through the online Staff Payroll Form found on the Staff Hub. The rate for additional hours/duties is published in advance of the academic year. For claims to be processed and attributed to the staff’s pay at the end of the month, the claim needs to be submitted before the middle of each month - the exact date each month is published by Finance on the Staff Hub.

PE AND GAMES

For details of your form’s Games and PE lessons, please refer to your timetable.

• Swimming (Years 1-4) – class teacher and children go on a bus and meet the swimming teacher at the pool.  All form teachers should attend swimming lessons unless timetabled elsewhere.

• Games – Years 3-5 form teachers may be asked to attend their year group’s afternoon Games lessons.

PERFORMANCE REVIEW (PR)

Performance Review is a supportive and developmental process designed to ensure that you have the skills and support you need to carry out your role effectively. It will help to ensure that you continue to improve and develop in your role. The PR policy runs alongside, and should be read in conjunction with, the Professional Development (PD) policy. PD needs are partly informed by the Performance Review process.

Our PR is coordinated by Helen Stewart-Morgan and Kiara Gray. Your Performance Reviewer will contact you at the start of the year to discuss the process and plan meetings.

Timeframes

TERM

Michaelmas Term

PERFOMANCE REVIEW

• Complete Introduction section of PR profile (Google Doc).

• Meet with Performance Reviewer to set objectives

Lent Term

Summer Term

• Continue to complete the Personal Reflection and Evaluation section of the PR profile

• Complete the Review section of the PR profile.

• Meet with Performance Reviewer for end of cycle meeting

PHOTOCOPIER/PRINTERS

All main photocopiers/printers are coded.  You will be issued with a six digit code to enable you to release your work or to use the photocopiers.

Please keep printing and copying to a minimum and use black and white rather than colour, and print two sided wherever possible. The cost per black and white copy is 3p and the cost for each colour copy is 30pa considerable difference! This cost does not include the cost of the paper or the rental charges for the printer or copier!

Please remember the following:

• Please ask a member of the office staff if you are unsure of how to use the copiers.

• If you notice a jam, errors, the waste toner cartridge needs replacing etc, please notify IT Support: ITSupport@thomas-s.co.uk. Please do not assume that someone else has already logged that the copier is not working. If they are unaware of an issue they will not be able to rectify it!

• Any mistakes should be placed in the recycling bins, or the secure shredding containers if the item contains personal or sensitive data. Please keep the surrounding areas tidy.

• The caretaker will keep each room supplied with paper.

In line with data protection legislation any documents printed in error that contain any personal or sensitive data should be shredded or disposed of in the Secure Shredding Bins that are located in the School Office, Staff Room and Top Floor Staff Study. There is a large shredder in the basement area.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Teachers are encouraged to take photographs of children for class use and display purposes.

All photographs taken of children remain the property of the school and, in order to comply with our safeguarding policy staff should ensure that any pictures are only taken on a school camera or a school iPad or a school trip phone, not on a personal device.

All photos/ videos taken by staff should be stored in Thomas’s Media Storage.

We use photographs internally such as for Highlights or Weekly News articles in TomCom. Although we do not ask for consent for this type of use, parents can raise concerns about their use internally and these should be directed to the Registrar. Where images are going to be used online externally or in a more privacy intrusive manner, we must ask for consent from parents (and pupils if in Year 7 or 8).

No child’s photograph should appear in an external publication without permission of the Head and it should never give the child’s full name and the school name together, for reasons of security.

PIGEON HOLES

Each member of staff has a pigeonhole in the staff room. Please ensure that you check and clear your pigeonhole regularly, dealing with any issues promptly, so it does not become too full. Food items should not be stored in pigeon holes.

Pigeonholes for the SLT are in the School Office. Any information for Nathan Boller should be passed onto his PA.

PLAYGROUND DUTY

When on playground duty, please wear your Thomas’s red coat or your fluorescent jacket. There are a range of break time duties to which staff are allocated. The playground is a social learning environment for children so please patrol your zone and provide support and interact with children as appropriate. Please be on time for all duties and do not take a hot drink out to break.

Wet Break - If it is raining the wet break sound will play. The children stay in their classrooms and the teachers on duty should ‘patrol’ as listed on the duties rota. Please be especially vigilant around the balcony.

First Aid bum bags containing first aid kits are stored in the staffroom, please wear one whilst on duty. The school nurse is available each playtime to support any injuries if needed.

When on duty, please wait with the children until all the classes have been collected by teachers.

POLICIES

All staff must read and be familiar with all Thomas’s Policies. These can be found on the Thomas’s Staff Hub, or selected policies are available on our website New colleagues are expected to read the following policies before they start.

• Data Protection Policy

• Privacy Notice for Staff

• Health and Safety Policy

• Staff ICT Acceptable Use Policy

• Staff Code of Conduct

• Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

• Attendance Policy

• Behaviour Policy

• KCSIE Part 1

PREP

Children in the Upper School have the opportunity to do Supervised Prep at school on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Children sign up to Prep on a particular day for a whole term.

At 4.00pm children staying at school for Prep should go to their allocated Prep room to have their snack at the start of the session. Prep continues until 5.00pm when the teacher on duty dismisses the children doing Prep from the designated location.

Staff can recommend that a child stays for Prep if work is not being completed at home.  They should speak to the Head of Upper School if they have any concerns.

PSHE

PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) is taught in a dedicated lesson across the school each week. It is a spiral curriculum which revisits, reinforces and extends the following three themes in age appropriate ways:

• Health and Wellbeing: Healthy Lifestyles, Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing, Ourselves, Growing and Changing, Managing Risks and Personal Safety, Drugs Alcohol and Tobacco and Puberty and Sexual Health (Year 7-8).

• Relationships: Families and Friendships, Managing Hurtful Behaviour, Bullying, Abuse and Discrimination, Safe and Respectful Relationships, Consent, Respecting Self and Others, Contraception and Parenthood (Year 7-8).

• Living in the Wider World: Shared Responsibility, Communities, Media Literacy and Digital Resilience, Economic Wellbeing, Choices and Pathways, Money, Aspirations and Careers.

These lessons help our pupils to stay healthy and safe and provides them with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage their lives, both now and in the future.

Kirsty Whitwood has overall responsibility for the PSHE curriculum and works with PSHE Coordinators in each area of the school.

PTA

The PTA is an important link between parents and the school, and provides a structure for co-operation in many of the events of the school year. Each class has one or two representatives, which is decided at the end of the Summer Term for the next academic year. Please ensure you are aware of who your PTA rep is.

Your Rep is responsible for answering any nonacademic queries that your parents may have. Throughout the year you may be invited to attend some events organised by the PTA Rep for your class parents. It is not compulsory for you to attend these functions, so accept or decline as you wish.

PUPIL FILES

The School is currently digitising Pupil files with all documents being stored on iSAMS instead of in paper files. Whilst the transition takes place, all new documents for all pupils in all year groups must be attached to the pupil on iSAMS - all staff are trained to do this by the IT Team as part of the New Staff Induction programme and it is the responsibility of all staff to complete this when something is received or a document created.

All Pupils’ files are CONFIDENTIAL. Paper versions of files may not leave the office and should NEVER be in the classrooms. Pupils’ contact details are also confidential and may not be given out to anyone.

PUPIL LEADERSHIP

Providing pupils with meaningful areas of responsibility in the school is central to our PSHE curriculum and as such all Year 8 pupils have the opportunity to lead the school in some way. The application process for Pupil Leadership positions is an important part of the transition between Year 7 and 8. At the end of Year 7

pupils are given the opportunity to apply for the following positions which they commence at the beginning of Year 8:

• Head of School

• Assistant Head of School

• House Captain

• Prefect (Areas of responsibility can include: Sport / Arts / Technology / Sustainability / Community / Learning and Teaching / Wellbeing / Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (including neurodiversity)

Pupils are provided with defined roles and responsibilities and work with a designated teacher leader to fulfil them. There is also an expectation that all Year 8 Leaders role model the four school rules and work closely with a Lower or Middle School class as a Pupil Buddy.

READING RECORD

All pupils in the Lower and Middle School use a Reading Record in place of a pupil planner. The Reading Record is designed to support the development of reading skills by providing a consistent space to document reading and feedback. It allows both teachers and parents to monitor progress, encourage regular reading habits, and communicate effectively about each child’s reading journey.

At the start of each term, please ensure that every child has their Reading Record and is clearly informed of how it is to be used and what is expected of them.

The children in Years 5 - 8 use a Digital Planner via Google Classroom.

If a child requires a replacement Reading Record the form teacher must advise parents that the replacement cost will be added to their school account. Please then email Viki Stanton confirming parents have been informed, along with the child’s name and class. Viki will then issue a replacement Reading Record and inform Finance Team for billing purposes.

RECYCLING

Thomas’s Clapham is very keen to recycle wherever possible. Any binders, folders, covers etc that can be reused may be returned to the School Office throughout the year. Green recycling bins for scrap paper are in all classrooms. The green bins are emptied by the caretaker regularly throughout the week. If your bin is full please email Viki Stanton who will arrange for the caretakers to empty it as soon as possible.

There are separate bins provided in classrooms and the Staffroom for different types of waste. Please ensure you put the correct items in the correct bins.

REGISTRATION

Registration is taken on iSAMS. Carol Wright is responsible for morning registers and Yvonne Walsh is responsible for afternoon registers.

Children must sign in and out in the School Office when they arrive late or leave early. If a child is late arriving at school, please ensure they have checked into the school office to enable the register to be completed.

It is vital that all registers are completed accurately and on time should there be an emergency evacuation of the building.

Register guidance will be sent separately by Kirsty Whitwood.

REPORTS

All reports are completed on iSAMS. Guidance on writing reports and deadlines for submitting them are given throughout the year.

NB No report is released early. Reports are published to parents on a date that is agreed by the school.

SAFEGUARDING

Safeguarding is EVERYONE’S responsibility. Please make sure that you have read our school policy very carefully and refer to our safeguarding posters which are displayed around the school and include important information about who to go to with any concerns.

There will be regular training for all staff throughout the year.

ROLE

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (with Early Years responsibility)

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

NAME

Kirsty Whitwood

Helen Stewart-Morgan

Sarah Melsom - Lower School

Charlotte McConnellMiddle School

Fenella SpendloveUpper School

SCHOOL ANNUAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (AIP)

Every teacher must have a good knowledge of Thomas’s Clapham 5 Year Strategic Vision and the Annual Implementation Plan which lists the aims for each academic year. Each teacher is given a booklet of the 5 Year Vision and area and subject leaders will lead you through the process to complete the AIP.

SCHOOL COUNCIL

The School Council is a cohort of pupil representatives from across the whole school who have been peer elected to represent the views of all pupils and to improve their school. The School Council will meet once a half term.

Each class in the School will vote for one School Council representative each term, who is responsible for representing the views of their form. They will attend meetings chaired by Kirsty Whitwood and the Year 8 Heads of School. Ideas are discussed and suggestions are put forward to the Head and SLT for their consideration. These are then followed up at later meetings.

SCHOOL HOURS

The School building opens at 6.30am and the cleaning team starts working at 7.30pm each evening, so please try to vacate the building before this time, but definitely by 8pm.

During busy times of the year, the lock up time may be varied; this information will be shared when appropriate. The school may also be open on some weekends if there is an event taking place. If coming into the building at weekends please sign in and out on the clipboard in the cupboard by the School Shop, as well as using the biometric system.

SCHOOL RULES

We have four school rules:

SCHOOL VALUES

We have 10 school values;

Givers, not takers

Be Safe Be Kind Be Calm

Be Ready

SECURITY

The main front door is self-locking and can only be accessed from outside with a fingerprint.

The back door must be closed whenever the playground gates are open. It can be accessed by staff, children and parents who key in the security code.

The inner gates to the playground are locked at 8.30am and re-opened at 3.30pm.

No child should be in the building (unless they are doing an early club or at Early Risers) before the doors are officially opened at 8.10am by a member of staff on duty. If you have arranged to see a child or parent, please meet them at the front door.

All visitors to the school are issued with a visitors’ pass. This includes parents visiting the school at any time other than drop off or collection time. Staff should respectfully challenge any person in the building without a pass and escort them to the School Office to be signed in correctly. Please ensure you are familiar with our Visitor Policy and are aware of the differences in lanyard colours.

SHOWS

Each year group will have one parent facing performance opportunity during the academic year and parents are invited into the school to watch. Some year groups may watch the dress rehearsals of performances, depending on the content of the show. The classes allocated to watch each show will be communicated at the time of the show. Please do not take children to watch any other rehearsals than those listed.

All form staff of each year group will be allocated jobs for their classes performances and are expected to be involved with their year groups annual production. Years 5-8 performances occur after the school day and the relevant teams are required to stay for the performance.

Due to space restrictions and supervision issues, siblings are unable to attend the dress rehearsals of shows. Siblings are also not permitted to watch the final performance due to space constraints. All shows are recorded and the film is shared, free of charge, via TomCom for families to enjoy together at home.

SHOWROUNDS

Showrounds (for prospective parents) take place regularly throughout the year. Please always ensure that your classroom and cubby holes outside the classroom are tidy. Should visitors come into a lesson you are teaching please acknowledge them and then continue teaching your class, unless asked to speak to them directly.

SOCIAL MEDIA

All staff are asked to ensure that any of their social media accounts are set to private. No member of staff should accept a friend request from a parent or pupil at the school.

STAFF BENEFITS

Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

We are committed to supporting the ongoing professional growth of our staff. A wide range of CPD opportunities are available to help enhance skills, knowledge, and career progression.

Cycle to work scheme

The scheme launches in September 2025 and you will receive an invitation to your Thomas’s email address from DASH with a link to create an account and start searching for your bike. Anyone who is not interested in the Cycle To Work scheme can click on the unsubscribe link to opt out of further DASH email communications. Information regarding the Cycle to work scheme is available on the staff hub, or by using this link

Death in Service Benefit

In the event of an employee’s death while in service, this benefit provides financial support to their nominated beneficiaries, offering peace of mind for employees and their families.

Employee Assistance Programme

As part of our commitment to staff wellbeing, we offer an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), providing confidential support, guidance, and counselling on a range of personal or work-related issues. This service is free and available 24/7 to all employees. For details of how to access this programme please visit https:// sites.google.com/thomas-s.co.uk/information-for-staff/ thomass-staff-hub/staff-information/wellbeing via the staff hub.

Free Daily School Meals

All staff are entitled to a free school meal each day during term time.

Group Personal Pension Plan - Support Staff

We offer a Group Personal Pension Plan administered by Aviva. The employer contribution is set at 5% of salary, with a default employee contribution of 3%. Staff have the option to adjust their personal contributions if desired.

Group Personal Pension Plan - Teachers

We offer a Group Personal Pension Plan administered by Aviva. The employer contribution is set at 22% of salary, with a default employee contribution of 10%. Staff have the option to adjust their personal contributions if desired.

STAFF CATERING AND DIETARY REQUIREMENTS

We have an amazing catering team who provide breakfast, morning break and lunch for staff on a daily basis.

Please remember when having lunch that it is prepared for many and therefore be thoughtful to those that have specific dietary requirements when making your selection.

STAFF HUB

The Staff Hub is a google site page that contains all the useful links to various sites and policies as well as the daily cover.

STAFF MEETINGS

The whole school staff meeting is from 7.50am – 8.10am on Thursday mornings, usually held in the Drama Studio. It is expected you will attend all staff meetings. If for any reason you do have another commitment you should speak to your Area Leader.

STAFF ROOM

Please respect this as a staff area and avoid welcoming children and parents into the staff room.

Please ensure that the staff room is kept tidy at all times, with mugs being placed in the dishwasher or on the tray above and rubbish/recycling put in the bins. Plates and cutlery must be returned to the HDR.

Hot drinks must not be taken out of the staff room without a lid.

Please check the notice boards regularly, as details of staff social events will be displayed here!

STAFF STUDY

There is a staff study on the top floor of the school. It is available for use by any member of staff, with priority for desks being given to teachers who do not have a classroom base. Please remember that this area is used by many and should be left tidy at all times.

STAIRS

Everyone goes up and down the stairs on the right hand side.

STATIONERY

School Stationery is managed by the School Office Reception team (Yvonne Walsh and Carol Wright). We have a very small budget for many staff and therefore provide the basics: pens, pencils, laminating pouches, glue sticks, sticky tape, blu tak etc. If you require stationery, please ensure you plan ahead to ensure your request can be fulfilled. If you have any stationery excess to requirements at any time please return the items to the school office.

SUSTAINABILITY

We are committed to promoting sustainability throughout our school community. The Staff Eco Committee meets regularly, and welcomes all interested staff. Pupils engage in fun environmental projects as Green Unicorns. In Middle and Lower School, teachers select Green Unicorns. All Upper School pupils can become Green Unicorns. Some US Green Unicorns join our Eco Schools Eco Committee.

Staff are encouraged to integrate climate and sustainability education into their teaching, with a focus on outdoor learning supported by the Eden Project. Eco-initiatives include ‘Lesswaste Lunchboxes’ for staff to prevent food waste and annual ‘SwopItUp’ clothing exchanges for pupils.

Our school holds the Eco-Schools Green Flag accreditation and the TFL Stars Gold Award for sustainable travel.

TELEPHONE (MOBILES)

Telephones in the school can be used for local and national calls but not 0800 numbers or international calls.

Staff must not use their mobile phones when there are children present, including in the classroom, communal areas and playground. No member of staff should use their mobile telephone to take photographs or videos of pupils.

Some children who walk to school unaccompanied may carry mobile telephones with them for security, however, these should be handed into their Form Teacher upon their arrival at school and collected again at home time. No child should have a telephone with them during the school day. Any child using their telephone without consent from a member of staff will have their phone confiscated and their parents will be contacted. Please let Fenella Spendlove know. Parents need to sign the Bring Your Own Device Form if they wish their child to bring a phone to school and it is the responsibility of the Form Teacher to check this. Pupils also need to sign an additional agreement on their Year group Google Classroom.

THOMAS’S CLAPHAM APPROACH

The Thomas’s Clapham Approach incorporates our school values, our school rules and our commitment to learning excellence, ensuring that pupils, staff and parents are clear about our vision.

The Thomas’s Clapham Approach

THOMAS’S STATIONERY

Thomas’s headed paper and envelopes are not to be used for personal use. Nor can it be used for references or any other matter not directly relevant to Thomas’s.

Any letter that is to be sent out on headed paper must be seen and agreed by the Head, Deputy Heads or Area Leaders prior to sending.

THOMAS’S FOUNDATION

The Thomas’s Foundation is a registered charity which was launched in March 1999. On a rotation basis, schools help to fundraise and support The Foundation.

More information can be found on the website.

THOMAS’S WEBSITE

The Thomas’s website address is www.thomas-s.co.uk. This contains details of all the Thomas’s schools.

TRIPS

Trips can be arranged to support a curriculum area. They should be of relevance to the subject being studied. Pupils can be taken as a set, a class or a whole year group. Staff wishing to arrange a trip should check with their Area Leader and Viki Stanton to find suitable dates.

There is a Trips tile on the Clapham Staff Hub with the steps on how to set up a trip. The first step is to complete the Trips Request Form; after which a folder with the templates for the Risk Assessment, Pupil Briefing and Staff Briefing will be shared with you. Please then arrange a meeting with David Hallas who oversees the Trips programme.

Any teacher taking a class out on a trip, be it a day trip or just up to the common, needs to sign those children out and in again on their return. Please see the registration guidance in the appendix for more details.

Years 4-8 go away on residential trips at some point during the year. If you teach in this part of the school, it is expected that you will attend at least one residential trip each year.

TUTORING

Parents may approach you to give their child some extra lessons to support a particular subject area. You must adhere to the Thomas’s Tutoring policy and discuss with your Head of School and the Head of Inclusion and Enrichment before commencing. All tutoring should take place in school and out of working hours. Approval for tutoring must be signed off by the Head.

UNIFORM

The items on the school uniform list are compulsory. Pupils must arrive and leave at school in neat and tidy school uniform unless an alternative dress code has been communicated by the SLT. All staff should ensure that the children are correctly and tidily dressed.

Other specifics;

• Girls in Years 5 and 6 wear the navy kilt.

• The only jewellery that is allowed to be worn, is one pair of stud earrings for the children in Year 7 & 8.

• PE “base layers” for cold days should be navy or white only.

• Girls’ hair ties should be scarlet or navy in winter and pale blue or white in summer.

• Girls’ summer socks should be navy blue and short but clearly visible above the shoe.

• School shoes should be navy for girls and black for boys.

• Shirts must be tucked in.

VISITORS

All visitors must report to the School Office on arrival, sign in using our ‘Inventry’ system and wear Visitors’ lanyards showing their name, details of who they are visiting and a photograph. Details of our DSLs are included within the lanyard and there is an Information for Visitors booklet at the Reception desk that must be shown to all visitors upon arrival.

If you are expecting a visitor (including a member of staff from another Thomas’s school), please inform the School Office so they can enter the visitor’s details onto the system in preparation for their arrival. All visitors must sign out when leaving the building.

Please ensure you are familiar with our Visitors Policy.

We would ask that staff do not hold the door open for other parents or visitors to ensure that everyone entering or leaving the school building adheres to the correct procedure.

THE WELLBEING HUB

The Wellbeing Hub is an interactive online portal, designed to help us to understand and meet our pupil’s social and emotional needs. It is also an invaluable source of information and support for our parent community.

You are entitled to free access to the platform and we highly recommend you take the opportunity to register and start exploring the resources available. These include helpful articles, CPD courses, podcasts, monthly live Q&As with a child and adolescent psychotherapist and monthly webinars from in-house and guest, expert-level speakers on a range of topics. The link to register for The Wellbeing Hub can be found under the ‘Wellbeing’ tab on the Staff Hub.

WRAP AROUND CARE

Thomas’s Clapham offers full wrap around care every full day of the school year from 7.45am to 6.00pm.

Early Risers - 7.45am

This is a free of charge drop off service in the Library. Breakfast is not provided as it is an opportunity for the children to read or participate in a calm morning task.

Sibling Room 3.30pm-4.00pm

A 30 minute waiting room for Lower School children that are waiting for their older sibling in the Middle or Upper School.

After School Care

After School care is run in two different slots which can be booked;

4.00pm-5.00pm

5.00pm-6.00pm

There is a fee for after school care and this can be found when booking. Bookings are made online.