Newcastle School for Boys Parent Handbook 2008 / 2009
The Junior School - Attendance
Attendance – Nursery	Attendance – Reception	Preparation for Starting School
Dropping Off	Breakfast Club	Collection
After School Provision	Safety	Security
Contact Between Home and School

The Nursery and Reception classes are at North Avenue, Year 2, 3, 4 & 5 are taught at West Avenue.

ATTENDANCE - NURSERY

The school day begins at 8.45 a.m.; however children can come into the Nursery from 8.15 a.m. onwards. In Nursery and Pre-Nursery there is the option of part-time attendance.

ATTENDANCE – RECEPTION

Many of our Reception children have already attended our Nursery and the transition between Nursery and Reception, for them is a natural progression.

Children joining Reception from other nurseries are ensured a supported transition from the caring staff that are sensitive to the fact that this is a new environment. They will be gently integrated and it doesn’t take long for the class to become a unit where all of the boys feel included and secure

PREPARATION FOR STARTING SCHOOL

Children thrive when they feel confident and secure. The more independent a child is the more readily such confidence grows. For some Nursery children this may be the first time they have been left by their mothers for any length of time.

The Nursery staff ensures that there is a warm welcome every morning. Upon arrival, children join in the prepared activities and parents are welcome to stay for a short time until their child is settled. If a child becomes distressed when it is time for the parents to leave, a member of staff will gently guide the child to an activity at which point the parents should leave. Children usually settle very quickly once they are fully occupied and their parents are no longer in view. The Nursery staff may, in certain circumstances, telephone during the morning to reassure the parents that their child is settled. Nursery children must be out of nappies during the day and at least be able to ask to go to the toilet. Assistance will be given to those who need it and in the early stages children are always escorted to the toilet.

DROPPING OFF

Children can be brought to school from 8.15 a.m. onwards.

Nursery Children should be brought straight to the nursery. After a settling in period where reception children can be brought to their classrooms. The reception children are encouraged to play outside until 8.40 a.m.

Year 2 Children should be dropped off at the North Avenue site.

 Boys in Years 3, 4 and 5 should be dropped off at the West Avenue site. Boys can be brought to school from 8.15 a.m. onwards, when the gate to the rear of the Playground will be opened by the member of staff on duty. Boys should not be left unaccompanied in the back lane, and are asked to respect our neighbours through their good conduct, should they be present before 8.15 a.m.

No children should be left until a member of staff is on duty at 8.15 a.m.

Most staff are in school before 8.15 a.m. in order to prepare for the school day but they are not available to supervise children.

BREAKFAST CLUB

Children can attend our Breakfast Club from 7.45 – 8.15 a.m. at a charge of £2.65 per day.

COLLECTION

Nursery

All children must be collected by an authorised person. Please inform us in writing of any change. Children must not be given to an unauthorised person.

Morning only - children should be collected from the outside play area and signed out.

Full day children should be collected from the nursery – access being by the Nursery buzzer from 3.30 p.m. onwards.

At 3.45 p.m. children will join the rest of the school in the small hall and should be collected from there.

Year 2 boys should be collected from the West Avenue site at 3.30pm. Any children not collected by 4.00 p.m. will be deemed to be staying for packed tea and taken to the after school room.

Year 3, 4 and 5 boys should all be collected from the Playground at West Avenue. Year 3 and 4 boys will finish their School day at 3.45 p.m., whilst Year 5 boys will finish at 3.55 p.m. Any Year 3 or 4 boy not collected by 4.00 p.m. will be deemed to be staying for packed tea and taken to the appropriate after school room. Year 5 boys will be taken to After School Care at 4.00 p.m., when the gate to the Playground will be locked by the member of staff on duty.

AFTER SCHOOL PROVISION

Any children staying at school after 4.00 p.m. should have a small snack and, until 4.30 p.m., this provision is free. Between 4.30 6.00 pm the cost is £2.35 per half hour or part thereof.

SAFETY

Parents are responsible for their children before and after school whilst on the school premises. No child should be left until after 8.15 a.m. when a member of staff will be on duty. Any children left before will be deemed to be attending breakfast club and a charge of £2.65 will be made.

No child is allowed on the climbing frame or other play equipment unless a member of staff is present.

SECURITY

Parents must close the gates on entering and leaving the school premises in order to ensure the safety of the children at all times.

We are committed to keeping your child safe and the front door is kept locked at all times other than playtimes. Entry is by use of the buzzer system. Children are not allowed to open the door.

CONTACT BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL

There is a parents’ notice board in the Nursery and all letters should be collected from there. Letters for reception children are put in their bags, so please check them each day.

For boys in year 2, 3, 4 and 5, there are parents’ notice boards in the Hall, and by the Office at West Avenue, displaying general information. Letters containing other information will be sent home via the boys, so please ask them regularly if they have any letters to give to you!

Parents’ Evenings are held each term, but staff are available daily to answer questions and communicate any matters of concern as well as to celebrate your child’s successes. We value communication with parents and encourage you to inform us of anything that may affect your child’s day in school.