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Holidays
Wherever possible, holidays should be taken during school holidays so that continuity of learning can be maintained. A two week holiday during term time means that your son or daughter would miss fifty lessons.
DCSF guidelines specify that students may apply for up to 10 days leave during term time (subject to exemplary attendance levels). Applications in excess of 10 term time days cannot be granted in view of the serious disruption to continuity of learning.
If you wish to take your child out of school during term time:
- Your child should collect a holiday request form from Student Reception for your completion.
- The form should be returned to student reception completed for consideration at least 3 weeks before the intended leave of absence.
- If permission for an authorised absence is not granted by the school and you take your child out of school the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.
- The Education Welfare Officer may contact you about unauthorised absences.
Home/School Agreement
Thurstable School will offer an education:
- Characterised by high quality teaching and learning, ensuring high standards of achievement
- Personalised to the intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual needs of every student
- Based on broadly Christian values, developing sound moral principles and mutual respect for all
- In a safe, caring, well-ordered environment where everyone is aware of their rights and their responsibilities
- Enriched by a range of extra-curricular activities
- In partnership with parents, providing regular information on their child’s attainment and progress, and keeping parents closely informed about the life of the school.
All members of the school community enjoy three fundamental rights:
- To feel safe and comfortable
- To learn and teach without interruption
- To be treated with respect
It is the responsibility of all members of the school community to afford these basic rights to all others at all times. For students this means following our rules and routines, which are there to protect the rights of others. Students who fail to do this must accept that their actions will have consequences, which may be either immediate or deferred, but will follow with consistency and certainty.
We expect pupils to:
- Give of their best at all times
- Take a pride in their School, re-enforcing our high reputation and affirming our values
- Take responsibility for planning and organising their own learning outside lessons, so that they can make the most of the opportunities we offer
- Attend school regularly and punctually in full uniform
- Come properly equipped to cope with all the requirements of the school day
- Behave on their journey to and from school in a manner that reflects credit upon them and upon the School.
We expect that parents will:
- Support our values, and in particular our stance on rights, responsibilities and consequences, including the imposition of after school detentions where we deem them necessary
- Ensure that their child is supplied with full and correct school uniform, and leaves home wearing it
- Ensure that their child has the equipment needed for classroom and practical work, and brings it to school
- Attend parents evenings, tutor days, and any specially arranged appointments concerning the progress of their child
- Sign the School Planner
- Show interest in their child’s work, in their school day, and in their homework in hand, providing help where appropriate
- Inform the school of any planned absence well in advance, of any unplanned absence as soon as it occurs, and supply a note to the Form Tutor after all absences.
We consider all parents to be part of our community, and we hope that parents will involve themselves in the life of the school as much as possible. The PTFA always welcomes new members, and the governing body requires a regular supply of parent governors. Thurstable is your school, too.
We recommend that your child should have the following facilities at home to facilitate his/her education:
- A suitable area for study to aid concentration and the development of good study habits.
- Access to the local library, books, and if possible ICT.
Photography:
Unless parents inform us otherwise we assume their permission for their children to be photographed in school for use within the school and in school publications distributed solely to members of the school community. Where photographs are to be used outside the school (press, school brochure, the school web site) we always request individual permission in each case.If parents do not wish their child to be photographed for internal school use they should notify the Pupil Services manager, Karen Wickham, in writing. We use CCTV in school to monitor some communal areas and some ICT facilities to deter inappropriate use of ICT and petty vandalism, and to increase pupils’ sense of security. Images are erased after 7 days, their use is carefully controlled by staff in school, and they are not released outside the school except to the police on request as part of an official investigation (this has never happened to date).
Safeguarding:
We work in close partnership with Essex Safeguarding Services, Essex police and Essex Social Services to ensure that the children in our care are protected from abuse. Where we have reason to suspect abuse may be taking place in or out of school, we will always take the appropriate action necessary to safeguard the child.
Communication:
Parents are able to email their child’s teachers and tutor directly. Once parents have added their email address to our database via the school web site we are able to email regular updates on school events, including any school closures. In addition, it will soon be possible to view your own child’s academic progress and behaviour record via a link on the school web site. You will be able to check what report grades they have been given, their daily attendance, and much more.
- Parents are requested to email the single member of staff closest to the information they need direct, and not to ‘copy’ the emails to others.
- Staff will endeavour to acknowledge emails within 24 hours, and will answer them fully as soon as possible.
- Staff will be unable to answer emails outside term time. Please do not email staff during school holiday periods.
- Email is not a suitable medium for complaints. Parents are requested to use alternative forms of communication if wishing to complain, as per the School complaints policy.
Complaints Procedures
We want to ensure that all our pupils get the best out of their time in school. We want them to learn, to participate in activities in school and to enjoy their life here.
If things go wrong it is important that you get in touch with us immediately, especially if you wish to complain.
Please contact the School Office, leaving your child's name and tutor group and stating the nature of the complaint. A senior member of staff or the teacher concerned will return your call within 24 hours or within three working days if you have contacted us in writing.
Accidents and First Aid
If your child has an accident in School, whilst we have trained first-aiders, we can not “treat” injuries or give pain killers. Our role is to take reasonable care of the child and you will be contacted if we feel a student cannot remain in school. In the event of an emergency an ambulance may be called. Please ensure that you advise us of any changes to your emergency contact details.
Medication
If your child has medication for a condition, allergy or illness such as diabetes, asthma or a nut allergy, small quantities of their medication may be brought into school and stored in the first aid room in case of emergency. These should be clearly labeled with the child's name, and care should be taken to ensure that any medication held at school is ‘in-date’.
Travel Arrangements
If you are entitled to free transport you will receive a blue form PT.10A included in a pack from your child’s Primary School and this should be returned to Essex County Council, Passenger Transport Section, County Hall, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1QH. Any queries relating to transport should be directed to that office. Should your child lose a bus pass they should contact main reception. There is a charge by ECC of £7.50 for a replacement. Students traveling on school transport must carry their tickets at all times as school buses operate a “no ticket, no ride” policy.
If you live in Mersea, or the Great Totham areas the school runs its own bus service. You will be contacted directly by the school or you can contact the Finance office at the school.
If you do drop your child off or collect by car to allow safe access for buses and students please do not drive on to the School site between 8am-9am and 3pm-4pm. The gate in Barbrook Lane is open in the morning before school and in the afternoons immediately after school. The Barbrook Gate will be locked for security reasons once registration time begins in the morning. When parking near the school please show consideration to local residents. If your child uses a bicycle please ensure that they use a cycle lock.
| PICK UP POINT | BUS DEPARTURE TIME |
|---|---|
Mersea Primary School |
7.45 am |
MICA Centre |
7.48 am |
Upland |
7.50 am |
The Stroud |
7.53 am |
Peldon Village |
7.55 am |
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