What are the transition arrangements?

Our transition programme into the provision is personalised to the needs of each child and their family.

During the summer term Parents/carers will have an opportunity to visit the school at the end of the school day and meet staff. They will have a tour of their child’s new class when it is completed and pass on any relevant information that would be useful for us in getting to know to your child.

If you feel a home visit to meet your child in their own surroundings would be appropriate we would suggest one at this point. Following that your child could have some visits to their new class.

In September children will then begin with a reduced timetable, building up to full time when each individual child feels ready.

We understand transition to a new school can be a stressful one and difficult for any child and especially for those with additional needs. Experienced staff are on hand to make this transition period a positive experience for you and support if your child becomes anxious or upset.

Please feel free to discuss any aspect of your child’s transition with the staff team.

What do I do when I bring my child in the mornings?

Transport will bring most children to the Enhanced Provision office where they will be met by familiar adult and taken to breakfast club. In breakfast club they can choose toast, porridge or a variety of different cereals if they wish.  Fun activities and an opportunity to socialise with their friends will be available during this time.  Lessons begin at 8.50am.

The school day finishes at 3.05am and your children will be escorted on to their transport to return home.

What happens if my child is late or absent from school?

If you arrive after the start of the school day, you should take your child to the office so they can be put on the register and be marked in for their lunch. The school needs to know the exact number of children in school on case of emergency.

If you feel your child is too unwell for school, please call school as soon as possible and inform your child’s transport provider.  There has been a recent change to the law and, if questioned, schools now have to be able to prove that all their pupils not in school are safe. This means that if your child is not in school and we haven’t received a call must contact you.

If you are ever unsure whether your child is well enough to come to school bring them into class, as the teachers will always call you if a child becomes too unwell to be in school. We have to report lateness and absence to the local authority.

What do I do when it is not the usual person collecting my child?

If anyone other than the usual adult is going to collect your child please notify your child’s teacher verbally, in writing or in the case of emergencies through the school office. There is a form available for you to list friends/ relatives that may regularly collect your child. We will not hand your child over to anyone who we are not authorised to. 

What uniform does my child need for school?

The full school uniform is shown in our booklet “My New Class”. Sweaters, ties, cardigans, coats and school bags can all be purchased from the school office, as can t –shirt and shorts for the P.E. kit.

The children will need to have wellingtons and outdoor coats.

Children are not allowed to wear jewellery, make up or nail varnish at school and long hair should be tied back.

Please ensure all your child’s belongings (book bags, clothing, shoes, lunch boxes, coats etc.) have your child’s name clearly written on them.

If your child finds wearing uniform difficult, please discuss this with our staff as we are always keen to ensure all children feel happy and comfortable coming to school.

P.E. kit:

School T-shirt Red shorts Black pumps

(PE kit is to be brought to school during the first week and will be sent home each half term to be washed) EVERYTHING MUST BE CLEARLY NAMED

Where do I go if my child loses something?

Teachers try really hard to ensure that children do not lose their belongings, but things inevitably go missing from time to time. If the teacher is unable to locate lost items in the classroom, please look in the lost property area on the corridor by the lift.

We discourage toys or personal belongings from home being brought to school due to the fact they can become lost or broken.

Will my child go to assemblies?

As we are an inclusive school we aim for as many children for our enhanced provision to attend assemblies and other school celebrations. However due to sensory overload some children will not be able to access these occasions and will stay in an environment that suits them. The enhanced provision will attend their own weekly rewards assembly which every child in the provision can access.

Will my child need a snack?

We provide a healthy snack in our provision, which consist of fruit and milk. We understand some children, due to their needs, have a usual diet and prefer their own, therefore can bring a chosen snack in each day. However, we do encourage children to try and variety of foods and snack whilst in school.

Can my child have a drink through the day?

All children have access to a drink of water whenever they are thirsty throughout the day. We ask all children to bring a bottle with plain water in each day. It is school policy that only plain water is allowed in school, and not juice or flavoured water. Children are able to take a drink from these at any time throughout the day.

What happens at lunch?

As we are a mainstream school we hope to integrate all enhanced provision children in the main dining hall alongside their mainstream peers during lunch times. However, we recognise that this isn’t always suitable or possible for children with a range of difficulties. In such cases appropriate provision will be made in a quieter suitable, supervised area of the Enhanced Provision. Each day there is a choice between a hot meal and a range of deli sandwiches, wraps and salads. The children sit together in the dining area and are supervised by the enhanced provision staff.  The children will be encouraged to eat as much as possible of their main dinner before starting on any desserts.

We would ask that you consider making an application for Free School meals, please refer to the information in your pack. If you are eligible because of a low income the school receives a Pupil Premium which provides extra funding for the school.

Where do the children go after they have eaten their lunch?

The children will play in their allocated area of the playground where they are supervised by enhanced provision staff. For those children who prefer they will have access to the mainstream school playground to play with a wider group of pupils.

What do I do if my child needs medication?

We cannot give medicines in school without written instructions from the parents. A care plan for pupils with medical needs will be filled in with parents during transition meetings and shared with all staff working with your child.  Only prescribed medication which is in date and has the child’s name on will be given.

It is school policy not to administer antibiotics in school routinely. Parents whose children are on an antibiotic, must try to time the dosage to coincide with the school day, or visit the school to administer the medication themselves. If this is not possible arrangements can be made for school to administer, but this would be in exceptional circumstances.

What should I do if I am worried about my child?

It is always better to sort out problems sooner rather than later. In the first instance it is easy to contact class teachers on our Seesaw app. You can send messages throughout the day; however, staff are limited to responding between the hours of 8.30am – 4.30pm.

If you feel the any issues will not be best served in this way, please feel free to make an appointment to see your child’s teacher. If you wish Mrs Maguire, Mrs Hartley and Mr Barnes are also always available to address any concerns.

During the year there will also be occasions when parents are invited into school to discuss how their child is progressing.

How can I get involved with my child’s school?

Teachers are always looking for parents to help them in their classes and feel it is a valuable experience for all. You would be welcomed into any class throughout the school, or to go on trips. If you could spare a couple of hours, please let Mrs Jones in the office know.

We also have an excellent Parents’ group that organises a wide range of activities and support the school in many ways. Information regarding this is included in your pack.

We hope this has answered many of your questions about your child starting our school. We would be pleased to hear feedback and suggestions for inclusion in the future. For further information, please refer to the handouts and prospectus or speak to any member of the school staff.

Please make sure that we have all of your contact details.

Thank you for taking the time to read this information and we look forward to welcoming you and your child to the All Saints school family.

Sincerely,