Welcome

To

Grendon Underwood Combined School

Headteacher: Mr Tim Heaton

Chair of Governors: Mrs Sangita Skilling

Grendon Underwood Combined School

Main Street

Grendon Underwood

Aylesbury

Bucks

HP18 0SP

Telephone: 01296 770388

Fax: 01296 770115

Email: office@gucs.org.uk

Web: www.gucs.org.uk

The Staff and Governors all hope your association with the school will be a long and rewarding one.

This booklet aims to answer some of the questions you may have and provide statutory information about the School.

Our community links/awards:

• Activemark : for exceptional delivery within the National School Sports Strategy
• International Eco-School Green Flag : for outstanding achievement in sustainable development education and management, continuously improving the environmental performance of the school and wider community
• School Travel Plan level 2

We are members of the following Partnerships:

• Waddesdon Secondary School Art, Maths and Computing College partnership
• The Royal Latin Science College partnership
• Buckingham Secondary School Sports College partnership
• Oxford Brookes University for Initial Teacher Training placement
• HMP Springhill for work experience placement
• Bucks Business and Education Partnership for work experience placement

Contents

General Information

1. Mission Statement
2. Our Aims
3. Our School
4. The School Staff
5. The Governing Body
6. Areas Served by the School
7. Destination Of Leavers
8. Admission Arrangements

How The School Is Organised

9. Key Stages
10. The School Day

How The Curriculum Is Organised

11. The National Curriculum
12. Reception And Key Stage 1
13. Key Stage 2
14. Target Setting
15. Sporting Aims
16. Sex Education
17. Religious Education
18. Homework Policy
19. Equipment
20. Personnel Possessions
21. Special Educational Needs Curriculum Provision

Extra Curricular Activities

22. Clubs
23. Educational Visits
24. Sport
25. Music
26. Charging for Educational Activities

Routines

27. Lunch Arrangements
28. School Uniform
29. Attendance And Absence
30. School Transfer
31. Travelling to School
32. Pastoral Care
33. Medical
34. Child Protection
35. Security
36. Emergency Procedures

Parent / Teacher Partnerships

37. Home/School Agreement
38. Parental Help
39. FROGS
40. Consideration of Complaints

General Information

1. Mission Statement

By providing a caring yet stimulating environment we inspire and prepare our children for life, enabling each to maximise their potential.

We achieve this by providing a diverse range of learning opportunities, in a manner which instils a love of learning and at the same time develops confidence, self esteem and a positive and respectful attitude. Our high expectations encourage our children to excel academically, physically and socially.

We take pride in promoting values that both encourage excellence and ensure everybody is treated equally and with respect. Our school will be highly valued in the community.

2. Our Aims

At Grendon Underwood Combined School our aims are:

1. to provide an environment where pupils feel safe and happy, develop confidence, self esteem and positive attitudes.

2. to provide an exciting and creative curriculum that caters for the needs of all learners and challenges them to strive for excellence.

3. to provide a wide range of opportunities out of school hours for children to enjoy themselves and develop strengths and talents.

4. to have high expectations of behaviour, manners and respect for other people and recognize, praise and reward these.

5. to give children the skills and knowledge to make informed choices.

6. to provide staff with professional and career development through a supportive and satisfying work environment.

7. to provide a pleasant, safe and stimulating working environment achieving best value from the resources available.

8. to build good relationships with parents and the community, involving them as fully as possible and making them feel welcome in the school.

9. to provide parents and carers with the information they need to monitor and support their child’s progress.

10. to monitor and review our performance to achieve continuous improvement and make teaching and learning as effective as possible

3. Our School

Grendon Underwood Combined School was opened in 1964 and takes children between the ages of 4+ and 11 years. It is housed on a large, pleasant site currently with twelve classrooms and a well-equipped library. There is a purpose built Sports Hall for assembly, concerts and PE , a smaller Hall for packed lunches, a cookery room, music room, French room and ICT suite.

The school is set in spacious, attractive grounds with extensive grassed areas for games and sports, a picnic area and a large pond and wildlife area.

Attached to the school, but privately run is Grendon Nursery. Enquiries about the nursery should be made to Lorinda Conway on 07769565602.

We are a foundation school which means that we are maintained by Buckinghamshire Education Authority.

Over the years we have built and maintained a reputation for high achievement in a caring environment. We aim to combine the best of traditional and modern approaches.

4. The School Staff

5. The Governing Body

6. Areas Served by School

We take pupils aged between 4+ and 11 from the villages of Edgcott, Grendon Underwood, Kingswood, Calvert, Calvert Green, Charndon, Ludgershall, Poundon and Wotton Underwood.

At age 8 or 9 pupils transfer from Marsh Gibbon and Twyford First Schools. These pupils come from Poundon, Marsh Gibbon, Twyford and Calvert Green.

Families from outside these areas also choose to send children to Grendon Underwood Combined School.

7. Destination of Leavers

Buckinghamshire operates a selective system of education for pupils of secondary school age. Pupils in Year 6 (10/11 years old) can take the 11+ examination in the Autumn Term. The result of the exams and subsequent consultation with school informs the County Council on its selection of pupils for Grammar Schools, the other pupils go to Upper Schools.

We are constantly developing our liaison with these schools. We have close links with the Grammar and Upper Schools and our staff attend open evenings, prize days and receive reports on our leavers from their Secondary Schools.

8. Admission Arrangements

Admissions Criteria

These are the same as for all County Foundation Schools and Voluntary Aided Schools. Places are allocated according to the following criteria, in order of priority:

1. Children living in the area normally served by the school.

2. Younger brothers and sisters of older children who will still be in attendance at the school on the date of admission.

3. Denominational preference for a Church of England School (for voluntary controlled schools) supported by proof of church commitment e.g. letter from local vicar. This does not apply to Grendon Underwood Combined School

4. Children with exceptional medical or social needs, supported by written evidence, from a doctor, social worker, education welfare officer or other appropriate person.

5. Children with exceptional educational needs, supported by written evidence from an appropriate professional.

6. In the event of oversubscription, once places have been allocated under criteria 1-5 the remaining places will be awarded according to the proximity of the child’s home to the school as measured by the nearest available route. This is from the front door of the child’s home to the school’s nearest entrance gate.

Admission Arrangements to Reception Class

Applications for places are made through the Admissions & Transport Team at County Hall, from Autumn the year before pupils join the school and mid January the year when the children are due to start. All children can be admitted into the Reception class full time in the September following their 4th birthday. Parents may elect to defer this until start of the term after their fifth birthday, within the same academic year, or to join part time in which case the school will hold their place open for them, but they must attend full time from the term after they are 5.

Parents who are considering sending their children to the school can make arrangements by letter or telephone to see the school and discuss matters of policy and admission with the Head Teacher. An open day for the parents of September entrants is held during the previous Autumn Term and another in the Summer Term. All new children have the opportunity to spend a day in their new class with their new teacher in July.

Parents are welcome to inspect any school documentation by making an appointment at the school office. We may require up to 10 working days notice to prepare this.

How The School Is Organised

9. Key Stages

The current number of children on roll is approximately 250. The school is divided into the Foundation Stage (age 5), Key Stage 1 (age 6 –7 years) and Key Stage 2 (age 8-11). Key Stage 1 has one class per year group. Key Stage 2 usually has two classes in Years 5 and 6. Our policy is to try to limit class sizes to 30 pupils, hence our Admission Number is 30 at 4+ (Reception) and a further 30 at 8 years old (Year 4), although this is not always possible. Key Stage 1 and 2 follow the National Curriculum. Reception children follow the Foundation Stage Curriculum.

10. The School Day

The School Day For KS1 and KS2

The School Day for Reception Children

Pre-rising 5 children attend the Reception Class on a part-time basis (Rising 5s attend full time). Their day is as follows:

How The Curriculum Is Organised

11. National Curriculum

The Education Reform Act of 1988 requires schools to teach the core and foundation subjects of the national curriculum. The Act also organised the curriculum into Key Stages. The School teaches the National Curriculum 2000 through a mixture of DCFS and commercial Schemes of Work.

Core Subjects: English

Mathematics

Science

RE

ICT

Foundation Subjects: Design and Technology

History

Geography

Music

Art & Craft

Physical Education

Other subjects and Cross-curriculum issues:

Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship Education (PSHCE)

French.

Please ask at school should you wish to view specific curriculum documentation.

Children throughout the school are taught in single age classes. They have a class teacher who is responsible for their learning, attitudes and behaviour whilst at school. The teacher is also responsible for monitoring and evaluating their progress and reporting it to you at appropriate times. Teachers are also responsible for informing the relevant Senior Staff should they experience concerns. At times the children may have specialist teachers or work within a different age or ability group. Teachers continually assess progress and keep a record of achievement on each child.

12. Reception and Key Stage 1

Children come to school with different strengths and weaknesses. We have a programme of home visiting which allows an initial assessment of the child’s abilities and enables an appropriate programme of work to be set. Classroom work will normally be carried out in a group unless individual attention is deemed more appropriate to the child’s needs. Much of the work is of a practical ‘hands on’ nature as children learn best by ‘doing’. At this level social aspects of school are as important as academic aspects i.e. children have to learn to share, work co-operatively with others, look after resources and generally develop a positive approach to school life.

There are a wide variety of reading schemes available to First School children but our core scheme is Oxford Reading Tree, which is very popular with the children. The books are modern, well illustrated and use normal everyday language. We have a number of other schemes to support this and to give breadth of reading experience, which we continually update. Reading is taught by a mixture of methods including learning to read by reading, a whole word ‘flash card’ approach, phonics and through games. Children are taught strategies to deal with new words i.e. using pictorial cues, reading-on etc. Parents are encouraged to listen to their children read daily and are welcome to help with reading in school. It is important for parent helpers to understand the way the teacher organises reading and to implement the teacher’s programme.

In these early stages of reading it is absolutely vital that children see reading as a means of understanding the printed word. Messages can be conveyed in this way to gain and give information and to give pleasure. Reading should never become simply a race to get on the next book or level as this gives the wrong message, is stressful and can actually inhibit progress.

When appropriate in The Foundation Stage and KS1, children will be grouped according to ability, for example when teaching phonics.

13. Key Stage 2

Teaching begins to take on a more formal approach as children get older. The Literacy and Numeracy Hours continue to be taught. A variety of teaching methods continue to be used, including whole class teaching, group and individual work. Often this depends on the task that the teacher sets. Children will still work mainly with their one class teacher but there will be times when other teachers will act as ‘specialists’ – in music, French and maths for example. Children may be grouped by ability within their class for specific lessons. There may be occasions when individuals are asked to work with groups in other classes to extend their ability. There may be times when individual children work on a one to one basis with staff to support their learning. Should the latter two situations arise we would consult parents and explain our reasons.

14. Target Setting

To help each pupil understand what they are aiming to be able to do next, we use target books. Targets are reviewed every half term and updated as required. They are shared with parents who are encouraged to help the children to achieve the targets that they are working towards.

15. Sporting Aims

We aim to provide a rich sporting experience for each child, to develop an understanding of the need to keep fit and healthy, to foster good sporting behaviour, pleasure in the challenge of fair competition and the development of skills and coordination.

Each pupil experiences two P.E. lessons a week. One session is devoted to outdoor games and sports skills, the other focuses on activities in the hall, including dance, gymnastics, fitness activities and indoor games.

In Year 4, 5 and 6 one of the PE lessons is swimming for one term of the year.

16. Sex Education

A programme of Health Education is provided for all classes usually through topic work based on the Health for Life books. Sex education is taught as an integral part of this topic work so children will learn about how their bodies work and change. It is also important that they learn about their feelings and how they change and develop.

Teachers write to parents early in the school year informing them briefly of the curricular aspects to be covered during the year. If detailed sex education is specific to that year’s teaching, this will be made clear, usually in Year 6. Further details of the context of teaching will be issued to parents at the time. There will also be an opportunity to view any teaching materials. Some elements of sex education are statutory under the National Curriculum Science Orders and therefore there is no right of parental withdrawal. There are, however, other elements of sex education we cover e.g. from the booklet National Curriculum Guidance 5, that are non-statutory. These elements particularly relate to feelings and emotions. Our approach is to teach the biological aspects sensitively alongside the emotional ones. Should you have any concerns about sex education please seek clarification from the class teacher in the first instance.

We are concerned that children are taught sensitively, that parents are informed and that children’s choices are based on information not ignorance in this all-important area.

17. Religious Education

The School follows the new Agreed Syllabus for RE. Daily acts of collective worship support the syllabus by introducing themes e.g. through Bible stories and stories from other religions. Parents do have, for whatever reason, the right to withdraw their child from religious education and collective worship.

The school has close links with St Leonard’s Church, Grendon Underwood, and the Swan Ministry Team. This link involves members of the Ministry Team becoming involved in our assemblies, as well as our children visiting the church in the village, for traditional celebrations.

18. Homework Policy

According to the DCSF, research conducted over a number of years has indicated that homework can make an important contribution to pupils’ progress at school. We want the children of Grendon Underwood Combined School to attain the highest educational standards and therefore seek to foster an active educational partnership between home and school. It is hoped that families will support the work of the school by familiarising themselves with the type of tasks set and helping their children to develop routines.

The following plan offers a guide as to how much homework each year group might to be set per week. It is based on the recommendations set out in the DfEE publication ‘Homework: Guidelines for Primary and Secondary Schools’ (Nov 1998).

Weekly homework allocation

The School relies upon the co-operation of parents not only to take on some responsibility, but also to encourage their child to do the same. Homework is recorded in a homework diary that we ask you to sign.

19. Equipment

School will provide most basic equipment such as text books, pencils, pens, rulers, etc. However, children are encouraged to bring their own pencil cases and use their own equipment, i.e. HB pencil, eraser, pencil sharpener, ruler in cm, coloured pencils and particularly a calculator for the following functions for older children: + - ÷ x and solar powered – this of course saves valuable school resources. Please note that for handwriting, fountain pen or Berol type roller should be used, we do not use biro. Please name all belongings.

20. Personal Possessions

The children are encouraged to look after and be responsible for all personal belongings. The school can accept no responsibility for the loss of any personal property or money. We will, however, always investigate such losses. For this reason, bringing toys or money to school is not allowed. Mobile phones are not allowed. Children who need to contact parents can do so from the school office.

21. Special Educational Needs Curriculum Provision

The school has implemented the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice.

Provision is made for children of varying abilities within our mixed ability class groups. Staff regularly assess children and parents are informed if we have any concerns. This may involve meeting with your child’s teacher and the Special Needs Coordinator (SENCO) to discuss the intervention the school plans to make, and how you can best help with the programme that is set. The class teacher or the SENCO may then provide additional help to children. Children at School Action Plus need additional support from the Learning Support Service, the School Psychological Service or other professionals. We would always consult with parents before referral on to such support services. If parents wish to consult the SENCO regarding their child’s progress they should do so by telephoning between 12.30 and 1.30 pm or after 3.15pm to make an appointment.

A copy of the school’s SEN policy is available for parents to see.

Extra Curricular Activities

22. Clubs

Whilst we are proud of our academic record, we also make provision for a breadth of experiences over and above the general curriculum. The following extra curricular activities are typically available:

Art*, Film Club*, Computers, Recorders, Football, Cross country, and Hockey.

*a covering charge is made for these activities.

Availability of clubs is likely to change from time to time.

23. Educational Visits

School Trips

Each class will make day trips to places that enhance their units of study in the classroom or have visitors to school and there will be approximately one event a term. We also try to hold a whole school event each term, such as a visiting theatre company. You will be fully informed of these visits well in advance for which you will be asked to contribute, these events enrich learning we hope you will give consent for your child to take part.

Residential Trips

Key Stage 2 undertake a residential trip that focus on personal development and team building through outdoor activities.

There is usually a summer ‘camp out’ on the school field for children and families from KS1.

24. Sport

Grendon School provides a wide range of sports through curricular, as well as extra curricular activities. We hold the Activemark Award for in recognition of exceptional quality and quantity of sport delivery. Alongside the National Curriculum PE that is taught, the school is also involved in numerous sporting competitions held throughout the County. We compete very successfully in the Aylesbury Vale Primary Schools Athletic Association championships in both cross-country and athletics.

Years 4, 5 and 6 have one terms swimming lessons at the Swan Pool in Buckingham. Our girls and boys football teams play both friendly, league and cup matches. The hockey club meets on a weekly basis, and plays friendly matches against other schools. The Residential Trip also give the children the chance to practice some of the more unusual sports, including canoeing, abseiling, archery and orienteering.

25. Music

The school employs a part time specialist music teacher. This teacher organises all the peripatetic lessons, e.g. percussion, woodwind, brass and strings. There are also recorder groups, choir and rehearsals for upcoming performances at school and elsewhere. The school enters a number of local festivals and competitions for instruments and choir, so rehearsals and practice are usually year round events. These are in addition to the National Curriculum music curriculum followed by each class.

26. Charging for Educational Activities

All Governing Bodies are required in the Educational Reform Act of 1988 to declare a policy on charging for Educational Activities as from the 1^st April 1989. Our Governing Body has met and considers the following as their policy towards the charging and remissions:

(a) That where activities take place in school session time, parents should be invited to make a voluntary contribution towards the cost of the activity on a pro-rata basis but that a pupil should not be debarred from taking part in that activity because his/her parents cannot, or will not, contribute.

(b) That where activities take place outside school session time, charges should continue to be levied where appropriate.

(c) That the Headteacher will consider any application for a full or partial remission of charges.

(d) That appropriate charges be made for ingredients and materials where parents have indicated in advance that they wish to own their child’s finished work.

(e) That parents may be required to meet some or all of the costs of breakages and damages where this is a result of their child’s behaviour.

(f) Parents who apply for peripatetic music lessons, will be asked to pay the whole years tuition fees in advance. Unfortunately, the Music Centre does not refund fees in the case of a child who stops having lessons part way through the year.

Routines

27. Lunch Arrangements

Hot meals are available on Mondays, otherwise children bring a packed lunch, but glass bottles or fizzy drinks are not allowed. There are two supervised lunch sittings, 12.30 –12.50 and 12.50 – 1.10.

Children remain on the school premises between 12.30 and 1.30 at the discretion of the Headteacher and Governors but in a case of serious or repeated misbehaviour or lack of respect for the staff on duty we reserve the right to ask parents to make arrangements for their children to go home to lunch.

Children are allowed to bring fruit as a snack at morning break time and have a water bottle on their table in lessons.

Free school meals are available to any pupil whose parents receive Income Support. To find out if you qualify, contact the Educational Welfare Office at County Hall, Aylesbury on 01296 395000.

28. School Uniform

Children are expected to wear school uniform and maintain a clean and tidy appearance. They are also required to have the proper kit in school for all PE, games and swimming lessons.

Jewellery and nail varnish are not allowed. Children with pierced ears may wear plain ear studs but county regulations state that for safety these must be removed for PE/games/swimming.

We prefer children to have plain haircuts and would ask parents to avoid novelty styles and colouring during term time. We have found this to be disruptive and cause unnecessary peer-pressure in the past.

We have a uniform shop at school where nearly-new garments are available at very reasonable prices. Gifts of good quality school uniform will be gratefully received. The secretary also has supplies of new sweatshirts and bookbags. Coats and sweat-cardies have to be ordered through the office.

We hope you agree with us that a child’s appearance in school is important. The uniform listed below is intended to be both smart and economical and we would ask for your co-operation in seeing that your child comes to school in the appropriate clothing. Children are expected to wear leather shoes as part of the school uniform; trainers are not considered appropriate for children to wear for most of the school day – although they are required for some outdoor activities games and are optional at playtimes for football.

Colours: Royal blue and grey/white

Girls Summer: Royal blue and white stripe/check dress

White or grey socks

Royal blue cardigan or sweatshirt

Either white blouse or polo shirt

Grey skirt

Girls Winter: Grey skirt or grey school trousers

White blouse or polo shirt

White or grey socks, or tights

Royal blue jumper/cardigan/sweatshirt

Boys: Grey school trousers

White shirt or white polo shirt

Grey socks

Blue sweatshirt

Girls/Boys PE: Blue shorts

Gym shoes (optional) for use in the hall

Plain white or school tee shirt

Navy blue sweatshirt & jogging bottoms (for games in winter)

Football boots (optional)

Trainers (essential for outdoor activities)

PLEASE would parents ensure that each item of your child/children’s uniform is labelled clearly with his/her name.

29. Attendance and Absence

As parents you will understand the importance of regular and punctual attendance and your co-operation in this aspect will be much appreciated.

• Punctuality: School commences at 8.55 am and all children should endeavour to arrive at 8.50 am and no earlier than 8.40 am. In certain circumstances some children occasionally arrive late and if this is after 9.00 am then they must go to the School Office when they arrive, to be registered.

• Absence: A letter giving the reason for a child’s absence must be sent on the child’s return to school. Telephone calls explaining absence should be made each morning of the absence. School should be notified as soon as possible in cases of infectious diseases or prolonged absence. Please wait 24 hours following a bout of illness before returning children to school.

• In exceptional cases pupils may be given permission to visit a doctor or dentist in school hours but whenever possible lengthy courses of treatment should be arranged for school holidays, or out of school hours. If you take your child out of school during the day you must sign them out at the school office.

• Holidays: Forms requesting holiday absence during term time are available from the school office. At this school the Governors have decided that all holidays taken during term time will be counted as unauthorised absence. Parents should be aware that the National Curriculum is tightly timetabled to cover statutory areas. Leave of absence will not be granted during the SAT testing period or during Residential trips.

· Unauthorised Absence: Each term, the Headteacher and Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) review the attendance rates for all children. When attendance falls below 90%, the EWO will contact parents to seek ways of supporting improved attendance. Where attendance problems occur, the key to successfully resolving these problems is through collaborative working between the child, the parent, the school and if need be, the LA. Collaborative measures include individual pupil Attendance Plans and Parenting Contracts. If however, there is no improvement, other measures, such as Parenting Orders or Penalty Fines, may be used.

30. School Transfer

We maintain good links with both the schools who transfer children to us and the schools who we transfer children to. We regularly liaise with teachers from these schools discussing children and the curriculum they will be taught. Children from our feeder schools will have the opportunity to join us for at least one full day during the Summer Term. Likewise, children transferring to secondary schools will visit their new schools during this term. In this way they learn a little bit about our routines making transfer that much easier.

We also work closely in liaison groups with other neighbouring schools to share experiences and ideas.

31. Travelling To School

Children living more than 3 miles away and in our reserved area are brought to school by bus. Parents need to apply to County Hall for a bus pass and forms are available in the school office. Children and parents will be asked to sign a Code of Conduct to ensure that journeys are safe and pleasant.

We ask all car users to be considerate to our neighbours when parking, particularly on Main St, do not block our neighbour’s entrances. The school has a travel plan and car sharing is encouraged to avoid congestion.

32. Pastoral Care

Great importance is placed on the well being of your children in our care. We work hard to provide a happy, caring environment. Each class teacher is responsible for giving the security of pastoral care to the individual child within a class. The class teacher receives support from the Headteacher, their KS Manager and School Welfare Assistants, all of whom seek to know the children individually.

We seek to promote a positive atmosphere and attitude throughout the school so that each person feels valued and respected and takes an active and caring interest in the community and life of this school. We have a system of merit awards to support this.

Pupils are expected to take responsibility for the care of the environment, their work and each other. Older pupils particularly, are encouraged to take extra responsibilities and expected to set an example and show a caring attitude to younger pupils.

We expect the children to show respect to each other and all adults, teachers and non-teachers alike. Each class displays a copy of our Golden Rules designed to enable large groups of children to live together amicably.

Britain today is a society of many cultures and this enriches society for all. We aim to prepare children to live in this multicultural society with the knowledge and understanding to enable them to form and modify their opinions about others, particularly those whose customs and backgrounds are different from our own. The staff and Governors believe in multicultural education for all pupils and totally oppose any form of racism.

A school Behaviour Policy is in operation, and can be inspected by parents.

NO BULLIES HERE

We work very hard on the positive emphasis of good behaviour. However, every school has its share of bullies and victims. Bullying can be responsible for sleepless nights, upset stomachs, lack of concentration, absenteeism and even changes in personality. It causes untold worry for parents and spoils a schools’ good atmosphere. It is directed, regular, hurtful behaviour. School and home working together can prevent all this. Please let us know if your child is being bullied – ask them often as they are not the best at volunteering information and look out for the tell tale signs listed above.

We have a very comprehensive support network at school but when all else fails the final answer from school will be to exclude persistent bullies. The school has published a leaflet entitled ‘A Kid’s Helper on Bullying’ and teaches pupils to deal with bullying in PSHE lessons.

33. Medical

Most of our staff have qualified First Aid status, and deal with minor accidents and ailments that occur in school. If more specialised treatment is required, children are referred to hospital and in this case a parent or guardian would be informed immediately.

It would be much appreciated if children with severe colds or stomach upsets are not sent to school and the school must be notified of any infectious diseases. If your child is taken ill at school, you will be contacted and asked to make arrangements for their collection. It is important, therefore, that we have an emergency number and are informed of any changes that might occur.

Children who need to bring any medicines into school should make sure they are clearly labelled and hand them in for safe keeping to the classteacher. Parents must put in writing their signed consent for these medications to be given to their children as well as stating when they will be needed. Forms are available in the school office. Administration of Medicines by staff is entirely voluntary.

Children who suffer from asthma are expected to carry their own inhalers and use them sensibly and as required. Again please notify school of this. The school insists that each child keep a spare named asthma inhaler in the medical room at all times.

The school nurse regularly visits the school and is available to discuss any matters concerning your child’s health. The school nurse will conduct medicals on new entrants the term after they arrive. Parents are always notified and consent sought and can, by prior arrangement, be present.

Parents are requested to contact their child’s teacher by letter if their son/daughter is unfit and unable to participate in PE/Games lessons.

34. Child Protection

Parents should be aware that the school has a child protection policy. This policy requires appropriate cases to be referred to the investigative agencies in the interests of the child. Parents are welcome to come into school and view this policy.

At this school, the health, safety and well being of every child is our paramount concern. We listen to our pupils and take seriously what they tell us. Our aim is that children will enjoy their time as pupils in this school. We want to work in partnership with parents to help their children achieve their full potential and make a positive contribution. On rare occasions our concern about a child may mean that we will have to consult other agencies even before we contact parents. The procedures, which we follow, have been laid down by the Buckinghamshire Area Child Protection Committee, and the school has adopted a Child Protection Policy in line with this for the safety of all. If you want to know more about our procedures or the policy, please speak to the Headteacher or your child’s class teacher.

35. Security

Pupil Security

Pupils are protected by the controlled access of adults into the school. After parents have cleared the playground at 9.00 a.m., the side gate onto the playground is locked by the Site Manager. Between 09.00 a.m. and 3.15 p.m., visitors must enter the school via the main door. To do this they must request access from the school office via the intercom fitted to the front door. On entry they must report to the office, sign the visitor’s book and be issued with a visitor’s badge.

Any adult who is on the premises and is not recognised or not wearing a badge will be challenged by a member of staff. The side gate is opened to parents again at 3.15p.m.

Staff Security

In addition to the above, extra measures are in place to protect staff working at other times. CCTV has been installed to deter unwanted access and monitor any activity.

36. Emergency Procedures

If we need to let you know that the school was closed, in heavy snow for example, we will use our website www.gucs.org.uk and Buckinghamshire County Council www.buckscc.gov.uk and click on education/schools/closures. We suggest you put these sites into your favourites. Families without internet access should ask those who have to share information regarding school closures.

Parent / Teacher Partnerships

We believe in the importance of working closely with parents to ensure the best progress is obtained for their child.

37. Home/School Agreement

The school has a home/school agreement which outlines what the school will do and what we would like you to do to help us achieve the best for the pupils. All parents are asked to sign this when their children enter the school.

· Parents’ Evenings: Early on in the Autumn Term, parents are invited to discuss progress. At the end of the Spring Term parents will have the opportunity to have another private discussion with their child’s teacher. There will be an ‘open day’ during the Summer Term.

· Reports: A full report on a child’s work, attainments and progress will be issued towards the end of the Summer Term.

· Termly Letter: Each year group will send out a termly curriculum letter outlining the study units the children will be covering and their weekly timetable. The letter should also expand upon the information on the homework allocation grid by providing more specific information about homework tasks.

· Other Contact: You may of course wish to discuss some matter at another time of the year and this can always be arranged. Please do not hesitate to telephone or write to make an appointment.

· Newsletter: Parents are kept in contact regarding the ‘day to day’ events at the school by a weekly school newsletter, distributed every Friday if you do not receive a newsletter, it will be posted on the website over the weekend.

· Reading Record / Homework Diary: Pupils at KS2 will be given a homework diary. This will be used for recording the work which pupils are expected to carry out. It will also provide the means for parents to keep themselves informed of what is expected and record their comments. In KS1 reading diaries can be used for such communication purposes.

Our policy is to contact you at the earliest signs of concern – we hope you will do the same. Our positive approach also means that you will also be contacted when your child has made a significant achievement.

38. Parental Help

Parents can become involved in school life in many ways and this help is greatly appreciated. You will be informed about possible ways of helping and you may well have something new to offer. Up to now parents have helped in the following ways: accompanying day and residential visits, helping in the library and classrooms, transporting games teams and helping with the school cycling awareness course becoming a Governor or a FROGS committee member. Hot meals are available on Mondays

Please contact the school – either the secretary or the class teacher – should you wish to offer help. Class teachers send out a letter at the beginning of each year requesting help.

39. FROGS (FRiends of Grendon School)

The Friends of Grendon School is a parents’ organisation that helps the school with fund raising, social events and educational activities. All parents are automatically members.

Our ‘Frogs’ work extremely hard, on a number of projects, including the annual school fete. Indeed, they raise a large amount of money to buy numerous resources for the school.

We welcome ‘old’ and ‘new’ parents to help the FROGS in any way they can. Please contact us at the school office if you are interested in helping out.

40. Consideration of Complaints

Schools today are a partnership between staff, parents and children. We will let you know if there is a worry about your child – we hope you will do the same as soon as possible. Should you have a concern or complaint please contact the class teacher or the Head as appropriate.

Should it not prove possible to resolve the problem, then a formal complaint can be lodged with the School Governors. Please contact our governors by writing confidentially to them via school. The Local Education Authority Manager may be contacted at County Hall, Aylesbury, telephone 01296 395000 as a further avenue.

The school has a formal complaints policy which can be downloaded from the website or requested from the school.