Protection of children:
On behalf of the governors, the LEA initiates a criminal background check on all persons who work with the children in school either in paid employment or as a volunteer.
If staff have serious concerns about a child, by law, certain procedures must be followed. In the first instance parents will be contacted. Then, if necessary, the concerns will be referred or discussed with the Child Care Team in the Social Services office and any other service deemed necessary.
One particular member of staff is charged with the responsibility of liaising with the various welfare agencies.
Safety education
We are concerned with developing an awareness of the importance of safety procedures in the activities which children undertake in school. With the support of outside agencies, we aim to promote an awareness of the strategies and precautions necessary to avoid accidents or harm in the home, on the streets and on or near water.
Evacuation procedures
Children are familiarised with the procedures to be followed if it were to prove necessary to evacuate the building in the case of fire or other emergency. Fire practices are arranged once each term for this purpose.
Supervision
The standard of care, which the school endeavours to exercise, is that which would be expected of a caring and prudent parent.
With the Governors consent, the school's responsibility begins when the children arrive at school. However, the school cannot accept responsibility before 8.45 a.m. when a member of staff will be on duty on the top playground on the East Road side of school.
Pupils will not be allowed off-site during school hours unless there is clear evidence of a request from the parent(s) or guardian(s) or person(s) who have legal custody of the pupil. If a request has been received, pupils must be collected from school by a named person and signed out. No child will be allowed to leave unaccompanied.
The legal duty of care over pupils who remain in school during the midday break rests with the Headteacher. The governors employ Welfare Assistants to help with supervision during this time.
Parents of young children are encouraged to meet them at the end of school to take them home. Those children who travel home on the school buses are supervised as they wait for and board the buses.
If anyone other than parents are collecting the child a note or telephone call needs to be received on the day.
Security
The school has a security system to ensure the health and safety of children and staff.
Access into school at the beginning of the school day and exit from school at the end of the school day will be via the door leading on to the top playground on the East Road side of school.
Access on to the playground can be either via the small gate on East Road, or through the white gate on Balmoral Road and then through the RE Centre or via the gate into the small playground on Balmoral Road, down the steps and through the RE centre. Care should be taken when going through the double doors into the RE centre as these are heavy and fitted with a slow spring. In windy weather these are particularly liable to slam shut. Parents are asked to accompany their children at all times when going through these double doors to avoid accidents.
The school day begins at 8.55a.m. and children are not normally allowed inside school before this time. A member of staff will supervise the top playground from 8.45a.m. If it is very cold or raining heavily, children will be allowed into the school hall at 8.45 a.m. and supervised by the teacher on duty.
Pastoral care and discipline
We are committed to the ideal of the school as a community, bound by the Christian ethic of mutual love, where each person is valued and where there is constant encouragement to develop self-esteem, self-discipline and autonomous adherence to high standards of behaviour. In pursuit of the achievement of such standards we attach particular importance to praise and rewards, sound relationships between teachers and pupils and stimulating and effective learning in an attractive environment.
There will be some instances, however, when it will be necessary to apply sanctions.
The school prefers to have a few general and simply stated rules and class teachers ensure that children understand them. In essence, they require all pupils to behave in a responsible manner both to themselves and to others, showing consideration, courtesy and respect for other people at all times.
The Headteacher and the appropriate class teacher are primarily responsible for the children in their care. Parents who have concerns are encouraged to contact the class teacher or the Headteacher.
The information in this website relates to the 2009/2010 school year and was correct in relation to that year on 02/07/09. It should not be assumed, however, that there will be no change affecting the relevant arrangements in some particular matters either before the start of, or during the school year in question, or in relation to subsequent school years.