I hope you had a great summer, and we look forward to welcoming pupils back to school on Monday. I am just writing with some key reminders and updates, making for a smooth start to the year.

 

Attendance Matters

 

We want every child to be a HERO - 

Here Every day Ready On time 

(minutes late to school are minutes lost from learning) 

 

Gates open at 8.35am, and it is expected every child has passed through by the time they are closed (8.45am). Children who arrive after this must enter via reception and are subsequently marked as late; parents and carers must also complete a confidential late-book entry before leaving. Registration closes at 9.00am, when unexplained absences are automatically recorded as unauthorised. The end of the school day is 3.15pm for early years foundation stage and key stage 1, and 3.20pm for key stage 2.

 

Please contact the school when your child is absent to explain the reason. 

 

The NHS is clear you can send your child to school with a cold, cough, headache, sore throat or stomach ache if they do not have a fever; cold sore or head lice, but please let us know, so we can look after them. If you are not sure, send them to school anyway as they often improve following registration and we would contact you should their symptoms become more concerning.

 

Lateness patterns and unauthorised absences trigger a communication from the headteacher. Failure to improve or non-engagement with the school in offering support can lead to involving the Local Authority Attendance Officer and even legal sanctions.

 

You can be fined for taking your child on holiday during term time without the school’s permission.

 

The guidance surrounding penalty notices has recently been changed.

 

Behaviour Policy

 

We recently codified our anti-discrimination practices, more clearly stating our zero-tolerance approach towards racism, homophobia and other forms of prejudice. This has now been added to our Behaviour Policy and was approved by the Governing Board.

 

Except in the second half of the summer term, when pupils in Year 6 can bring mobile phones to school, leaving them at reception, mobile phones are banned.

 

Calendar

 

Upcoming events for the year ahead have already been added to the calendar on our website. Please note the house winning most credits last half term (Neverland) can wear their colour on Friday.

 

Collecting Children

 

If you have arranged for someone else to collect your child after school, please inform Amy directly.

 

Dogs

 

Dogs of any breed or size, even on a lead, can scare younger children, so please do not bring them on site or near the gates.

 

Extreme Reading

 

This summer, I have once again been challenging the children to do some extreme reading.

 

Here is what they need to do:

 

• Pick a book.
• Find an extreme but safe place to read it, like in another country, on a bus or with an animal.
• Ask their parent or carer to photograph them and email us (admin@northaw.herts.sch.uk), or they can bring a copy to school after the summer holiday.

 

Photographs will be used both for a display by my room and on our website.

 

Invitations and Presents

 

Invitations to parties and presents for classmates, e.g. birthday sweets or home baking, cannot be accepted by staff for distribution in school.

 

Healthy Snacks

 

Parents and carers are welcome to send their child to school with a snack for break; however, healthy choices are strongly recommended for this point in the day. We also provide a range of fruit and veg.

 

Managing Medicines

 

We can only administer non-prescription medicines when they have been recommended by a professional, e.g. GP, and written consent has been provided beforehand.

 

Parking Safety

 

The carparks are solely for use by staff. No parent or carer should enter with their vehicle apart from when permission has been expressly given by the headteacher. Please avoid parking opposite the school given the dangers this poses to our children.

 

School Uniform

 

Expectations regarding school uniform have recently been clarified, reducing costs for parents and carers.

 

No child should wear hair dye, jewellery, make-up, nail varnish or temporary tattoos to school.

 

Social Action

 

Last year, we raised money for The Phoenix Group.

 

This year, we are raising money for Médecins Sans Frontières, carefully selected by the School Council.

 

Médecins Sans Frontières is an international humanitarian organisation providing medical care in more than 70 countries.

 

And finally, we are celebrating 175 years of our small school, and a Jubilee Jamboree is planned for June.