Absence

If your child is unwell and not at school, please contact the school office on the first day of absence before 9am. Please send a letter confirming the reason for absence when they return to school. Try to arrange any medical appointments outside school hours, to ensure the least disruption to your child’s education.  If exceptional circumstances mean that you wish to take your child out of school for any period of time, e.g. to attend a funeral, please discuss this with the head teacher. 

Admissions

Pupils Admissions Office, Southern Area,
Centenary House, Durrington Lane,
Worthing, West Sussex
BN13 2QB
Phone: 03330 142 903
Fax: 01903 839214
Email: admissions.south@westsussex.gov.uAbsence

Behaviour

The school uses these 3 statements as the basis for 'Brilliant Behaviour' at our school:

• Be 'READY to learn' 
• Be a 'RESPONSIBLE learner' 
• Be a 'RESPECTFUL learner' 

We expect the entire community to demonstrate these core, positive behaviours in their communication, relationships and conduct. 

To support children in displaying 'Brilliant Behaviour', the pupils have a simple stepped process to 'remind' them of what is expected. This stepped process, provides children with the opportunity to restore their behaviour and relationships, whilst also ensuring that any negative behaviour is consistently, visibly and appropriately handled across the school.

Birthdays

When your child celebrates their birthday they are able to wear their 'home' clothes to school for the day. If their birthday falls on a weekend or in the holidays they can choose the nearest Friday or Monday we are in school.  Your child may bring in  wrapped small cakes or sweet/chocolate treats to share with the children in their class to take home and enjoy.

Clubs

Clubs provided by school staff will commence are run on a Monday for pupils in all Year groups from 3-4pm. The clubs will be varied and may include: art, computing, cooking performance, board games and any other talents teachers may wish to share and develop. 

Concerns

If you have any concerns about your child, please contact your child's teacher in the first instance. Teachers are available for a brief chat at the end of the school day and most problems are easily solved if you raise them immediately. If you need a longer discussion, please ring to make an appointment. Appointments to see the headteacher can be made by contacting the office. Where appropriate and feasible, the class teacher will be included in this meeting. 

Emergency Closure

In the unlikely event of school closure due to heavy snowfall or some other unforeseen occurrence, the school will communicate the closure quickly and clearly with parents via the following channels:

• School Website 
• Email
• Spirit Fm
• West Sussex County Council website

Health and First Aid

Please keep us informed of any health problems which affect your child. Everyday bumps and grazes will be treated in school, but we will contact you immediately in the case of anything more serious, or if your child feels unwell. Children will bring a note home if they have a head injury - please check your child's book bag. 

Holidays in Term Time / Punctuality

The school will not authorise holiday in term time for any year group in line with DfE guidance. If concerns about attendance or punctuality arise, the school will contact the parents/carers to discuss these and agree how this will be taken forward.

Home/School Agreement

At the start of each academic year, we will ask you to sign our Home/School agreement, as a way of clarifying what we see as our responsibilities as a school, yours as a parent and those of our pupils.

Medicine in School

There are strict guidelines as to the administration of medicine in our school. Please speak to the school office about any questions you may have. Children are not permitted to have cough sweets in school. 

Parents helpers

We are always pleased when parents/ carers/ grandparents are able to help us in school or on trips. You will need to have a current DBS Clearance, which can be organised via the school office. NOTE: in line with our risk assessment, parent helpers are currently unable to come into school for reading buddies and activities.

Photographs and Videos

Whilst lots of parents and carers really enjoy seeing photos and videos of their children’s school life we are very mindful of our duty of care towards all our pupils. We take the issue of safeguarding very seriously and this includes the use of photographic and video images.

Any photographs or videos taken by parents, carers and relatives at school productions, sports days or other events are for the enjoyment of individual families. They must not be used in any way that could potentially place a child at risk. This would include publishing images in any form of print or on the Internet including social networking sites. 

At the start of the academic year, parents/carers are required to complete a Photography Consent form. If your decision or circumstances change, we must be informed as soon as possible.

Praise and Celebration

We have a whole school approach to spotting, sharing and celebrating Brilliant Behaviours. 

SPOTTING  In class and as a whole school, we share specific 'behaviours' we are on the 'lookout' for.

SHARING Anybody showing the 'specific behaviour' will display their name on a positive recognition board.

CELEBRATING Through displays, Celebration Worship and our Golden Book with tea and cake, celebrating and recognising  children who demonstrate  expected behaviours helps to build the intrinsic feeling of success and a cohesive community.   

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Child Protection Policy. 

Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies, when there are concerns about a child's welfare. We will share our concerns about a pupil with their parents/carers first, unless we have reason to believe this would be detrimental to the child's welfare.

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs Theresa Smyth (Headteacher). Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are Kathryn Boyd and Katie Radley ( classteachers) . The Governor with responsibility for safeguarding in our school is Janet Holt.

The West Sussex Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) can be contacted on 01403 229900 or out of hours on 0330 222 6664, email MASH@westsussex.gcsx.gov.uk 

School Timings

ALL pupils can be dropped off between 8.20 and 8.30am. They go straight into their classrooms. Pupils in KS2 are encouraged to come into school independently.  Pupils in KS1 can be dropped at their classroom door. 

ALL pupils finish at 2.45pm. Pupils in Beech class can be collected from their classroom patio area. They must be collected BEFORE siblings in Willow or Oak.

Parents for Oak and Willow pupils should wait on the playground area, so the staff can easily see you.

Term Dates

Please  Click Here for the dates for 2023-24

 Term Dates

There will be 5 additional INSET days when the school will be closed for staff training during the school year 2022  to 2023 These dates are:

• Friday 1st September 2023
• Monday 30th October 2023
• Tuesday 31st October 2023
• Tuesday 2nd January 2024
• Monday 19th February 2024

Trips

As part of our rich and exciting curriculum, teachers plan trips to enhance learning. The cost of the trips is always carefully considered and we are mindful of not placing families under too much financial pressure in an academic year.  All trips out of our immediate vicinity or to another setting, require parents/carer signed permission. We will often take children out into our local area, to the woodlands, Church or village. These trips are covered by an annual permission form when your child starts/joins school.