Caring for Our Children
We have a number of key policies which explain, in detail, specific aspects of how children are cared for in school. The statements below provide summary information of the policies. If you have a specific question, please ask at the main school office where we will be happy to assist.
How will my child be cared for at school?
Class teachers are responsible for the pastoral care of children in their particular class. However it is the responsibility of the whole school to ensure that children are happy and secure in school. If you are experiencing a period of family difficulty – such as bereavement, illness, conflict – which you think might affect your child, we would ask that you share that information confidentially with us. This will enable us to deal with their problems or difficulties.
Children learn most effectively when they feel safe, secure and happy. We hope that you feel that you can come and share your concerns with us – so that we can discuss ways that we can help your child. Mrs Robb (School Welfare Officer) is available to support children and their families who are experiencing difficulties and are usually available to see you immediately.
Child Protection and Pupil Welfare
Our child protection programme supports each child’s development in ways, which foster security, confidence and independence.
The school has a duty of care and the right to take reasonable action to ensure the welfare and safety of its pupils. If a member of staff has cause to be concerned that a pupil may be subject to ill treatment, neglect or any other form of abuse the school will follow child protection procedures and inform social services of its concern. This could involve a visit to the child’s home by a social worker.
Ingram Road primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of all children, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
The designated staff in school are Mrs Biggs, Miss Millard, Mrs Robb & Miss Richardson.
What if my child needs medicine or has a medical condition?
Doctors occasionally advise that pupils should attend school while still receiving medicine, either because they are suffering from some chronic illness or allergy (e.g. diabetes or asthma) or because they are recovering from short term illness and are undergoing a course of treatment needing medicine.
For legal reasons, we are not able to administer medicine to children – it is the parents’ responsibility. Your child should either return home at lunchtime to receive their medication or you should come to school to administer the medicine. If you are unable to meet this requirement the Head Teacher may arrange for the supervision of the taking of medicine, providing the following procedures have been followed:
- The school must receive a doctor’s note, delivered by the parent, to the effect that it is necessary for the child to take medicine during school hours. The note must give clear instructions concerning the required dosage.
- On the first day the parent must bring the medicine to the main office. The parent must complete the school’s written indemnity form. Medicine cannot be taken in school unless this form has been completed.
- Medicines should be in the correct container with the chemist’s label detailing the child’s name, drug name and dosage.
- A parent should collect the medicine at the end of each day.
If pupils are identified as needing medical support this must be monitored and supported by a Health Care Plan. Mrs Briggs (Senco) can assist in contacting the relevant professionals to create a Health Care Plan tailored to the child’s needs.
What happens if my child becomes ill during the day?
It is possible that your child might become ill or have an accident during the day. One of our first aiders will administer first aid. A member of staff will contact you by telephone and ask you to collect your child.
If hospital treatment is needed, this can only be done by parental consent. It is essential therefore that we have a current telephone number, both your home and place of work, so that contact can be made in an emergency.
What is the school policy for promoting equal opportunities?
We are committed to achieving equal opportunity through our education provision. The whole curriculum is available to everyone irrespective of race, sex, disability, age and class. We aim to ensure the highest level of pupil achievement for both pupils and staff.
Our policy on equal opportunities is concerned with enabling all children to achieve their fullest potential, develop all their talents and ensure all their contributions are equally valued.
Behaviour, which is deemed or perceived as being racist, is unacceptable in the school.
Copies of the Race Equality and Equal Opportunities policies are available upon request.
How do you provide for children with special educational needs and disabilities?
Mrs Briggs is the school Special Educational Needs and Disability Co-ordinator and she works with the teachers and parents to make appropriate provision for their children. She also monitors their progress, keeps records and attends meetings with various support agencies.
What is the school behaviour and anti-bullying policy?
Bullying will not be tolerated.
Bullying includes any manipulative behaviour that affects another child’s emotions, hurting people deliberately and consistently, making other children do things they do not want to do, making children give things e.g. sweets, emotional blackmail, damaging other people’s property and being very critical of other people.
We have a clear school policy on dealing with bullying. We investigate the incident; discuss the findings with the parents of both the bully and the bullied, applying appropriate sanctions and investigating the cause of the bullying.
Good behaviour and discipline are a vital part of school life as it sets the atmosphere of the school, providing a good learning and teaching environment.
We aim to promote good behaviour by developing the values of mutual respect, self-discipline and social responsibility.
There is no corporal punishment in school. We encourage self-discipline and the ability to work within the rules set down for the common good of all children. As a school we have developed a whole school code of conduct for promoting good behaviour.
- Everyone should walk quietly and sensibly around school.
- Everyone should show respect for their teacher, each other, the classroom and the resources.
- Everyone should get on with his/ her work quietly.
- Everyone should listen carefully to the adults working in the school and should co-operate.
- Everyone should tidy up properly.
- Everyone should have good manners, in that they say please and thank you. Also everyone should show good table manners.
Parents will be involved with the discipline of their children and they will be told when their children have behaved well, as well as when they have been punished.
What links are there between home and school?
You will be asked to sign a home – school agreement along with your child and the class teacher as your child starts school. This agreement explains the aims and values of the school. It has been introduced so that you know about the responsibilities of the school and about your responsibilities as parents. It sets out what we expect of the children.
This agreement should strengthen the partnership between home and school so that we can work together to continue to raise achievement in the school.
Parents are welcome in school at anytime. When your children start school we encourage you to spend time with us getting to know the school and its staff.
We encourage parents to come into school to spend time in the classrooms and help us with activities such as reading, gardening, craft work, art, cooking, sewing, woodwork, school outings and visits.
We make the opportunity each term for parents to come into school to see their children’s work. This is arranged through an Open Day in spring, when parents come into their child’s class to see their children at work on a typical day. We also arrange two Open Evenings (autumn and spring), when parents are invited to see the class teacher regarding their child’s progress.
Each class leads an assembly each term, to which parents are invited. The children show some of the work they have been doing in the classroom.
If you have any worries or concerns about your child please talk to the child’s class teacher or the Head teacher, so that we can work the problems out together.
Mrs Robb is available for advice and information.
What if I have a complaint?
Any parents or interested party can complain if a school or local education authority is not fulfilling its legal duties in offering the National Curriculum, including R.E. and worship.
All complaints must go to the Head teacher at the school. If the person making the complaint is not satisfied the complaint can be taken to the Governing Body of the school by contacting the Chair of Governors.
If the person is still not satisfied, the complaint can be referred to Children’s Services, Leeds City Council and will be considered by the elected members.
If the person making the complaint is still not satisfied, the complaint can be referred to the Secretary of State. Further details about the complaints procedure can be obtained from school.
What else do I need to know about the school?
- Money -The children are not encouraged to bring significant amounts of money to school. The teacher is not responsible for any money that gets lost during the day. We do have a fruit tuck shop at Wednesday break and sell toast on Friday morning but only to a maximum of 50p.
- Toys and sweets – If the children bring toys and sweets to school it causes problems, and we ask your help in keeping them out of school. An exception is made if a child wants to bring in a treat to share on their birthday but this should be given to the class teacher at the start of the day.
- Fruit and water – The children are given the opportunity to drink water during the day and should each have their own plastic bottle to fill from the water fountains in school. A piece of fruit will be given to the all children in Foundation and KS1 each day.
- Hair hygiene –Despite all that has been done to eradicate them, the problem of head lice still emerges from time to time. If you find them or suspect they are in your child’s hair, don’t worry but please come in and tell us so that we can help you.
- Parking – If you are picking your child up in a car, PLEASE DO NOT PARK ON THE ZIG-ZAG LINES OUTSIDE SCHOOL, this is for the safety of all the children and is also illegal. We encourage all families to walk to school whenever possible.
- Scooters and Bikes – must not be ridden in the school grounds at anytime.
- DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN SCHOOL OR IN THE SCHOOL PLAYGROUND
- SMOKING IS NOT PERMITTED ON THE SCHOOL SITE. This includes the playground and front of school.