Park Junior School - Prospectus . . .Continued
Cycle Training and Road Safety
Parents Helping in School
Absence from School
Medical Attention
The School Health Service
The School Meals Service
Liaison with Infant and Secondary Schools
Extra Curricular Activities
The Parent Teacher Association
Curriculum Complaints Procedure
Cycle Training and Road Safety
Stonehouse is a busy place, and we often remind children of the dangers of crossing roads. We are helped in this by road safety officers and the local police. A road safety officer speaks to each class regularly and has also assisted in safety project work.The police arrange Cycling Proficiency Training each year for several groups of Year 6 children. This culminates in a test which leads to a certificate which is usually presented to the children at assembly.
Children are allowed to bring cycles to school for training days only and they should be pushed into the grounds and not ridden through the playground.
The school actively supports "walking to school" initiatives and feels that children gain much physically and socially by walking. We would ideally like to see all children who live in Stonehouse walk to and from school and encourage parents to share the responsibility of accompanying their children and those of friends. Back to top
Parents Helping in School
We welcome parents as helpers within the school. If you can come into school, especially on a regular basis to assist in any one of a variety of ways we would like to hear from you.Parents often help with reading and talking to children, cooking, swimming and accompanying classes on visits or walks. Parents often help with transport to sports fixtures, though it is necessary to hold appropriate motor insurance. Parents volunteering help with transport will be asked to complete a simple insurance form.
If you have an interest or expertise that we could use in school to the benefit of children please contact us. Back to top
Absence from School
The school emphasises the importance of attendance and requires that parents ring in on the first day of absence ideally before 9am. If the child is absent for more than one day we would appreciate an update.In the case of unexplained absences the school will follow up three days after the child's return to school with a letter. Unfortunately there is a small minority of parents who persist in not informing us for the reasons of absence.
Though most parents use school holidays for their family holidays we do appreciate that it is sometimes necessary to take time off in term time. The present regulations allow for up to two weeks per year to be requested, but we would urge parents to avoid this if at all possible and certainly during the Y6 national tests in May. We would always wish to know in advance of dates and request that you complete a holiday form available from the school office. Back to top
Medical Attention
If a child feels unwell, he or she is usually sent to the school office/Headteacher. If sitting quietly for a while helps them the child will usually return to class. If after a reasonable time we feel that the child would be better at home then we contact a parent or the parents' approved contact.Most visitors to the office at breaktimes usually require the cleaning of grazes, usually on knees or elbows, the application of a plaster and plenty of sympathy!
Occasionally a cut or wound or damage to an arm or leg, or a head injury may necessitate professional medical attention. If this is the case then the Headteacher, or in his absence another member of staff, will take the child to Stroud hospital. If possible a parent will be contacted, first of course.
We are prepared to supervise the taking of prescribed medicines if the child is otherwise fit to be in school. Such medicines should be clearly marked with a name and dosage and should be handed directly to the school office. Medicines will be kept centrally at the school office and be administered there. Each child will be asked to sign to say that they have been given the medicine
"Inhalers" are usually kept in the classroom by the child or in a central place in the room. Back to top
The School Health Service
The School Health Service will sometimes contact parents through school to arrange appointments with them when a medical examination of their child is being undertaken. This may be as a result of a follow-up to previous examinations at the Infant stage, or may be initiated by a teacher, for example a suspected hearing or vision problem.* Parents will always be consulted and invited to examinations.
* The school nurse undertakes regular vision, and hearing tests.
* The school doctor is currently changed every 6 months.
* The school dentist visits school annually to examine all children's teeth, and treatment can be undertaken if required.
Treatment can be undertaken by the school health service, though most parents of course, opt for their own dentist. Back to top
The School Meals Service
We are fortunate in having our own kitchen on site. Meals are provided by Sodexho. Children can purchase cooked meals by bringing money in a named envelope on a Monday. Children have a choice of both courses daily.Children receiving free meals are not identified in any way and known only to the class teacher and school secretary.
Many children stay just for Friday lunch which typically consists of sausages or fishfingers and chips. If you wish your child to do this, all we ask is that you book the lunch at the beginning of the week.
Eating areas are provided for children who bring a packed lunch.
The children are supervised at lunch time by five assistants. Teachers (two at a time) patrol the playgrounds at morning break. Back to top
Liaison with Infant and Secondary Schools
We are in an unusual position in Gloucestershire in being a 7-11 Junior School while most other schools in the Stroud area are Primary schools catering for children from 4-11. This means that we must try to make the transition from the adjoining Infant school as smooth as possible. With this aim in mind new links are being forged and existing co-operation strengthened. Teachers with curriculum responsibility in both schools are co-ordinating their subject areas. Ways are currently being explored to increase contacts with the Junior school for those top infant (Y2) children who will enter the following September. They do of course visit the Junior school during the summer term preceding entry.We enjoy excellent relationships with Maidenhill, the local secondary school. Y5 and Y6 children make regular visits for special day and half day sessions, especially to the science department. We are also visited frequently by teachers from Maidenhill, with curriculum co-ordinators liaising regularly. The Head of Special Needs at Maidenhill maintains close contact with Y6 teachers during the year before the children transfer. Back to top
Extra Curricular Activities
After-school and lunchtime clubs that have operated in the current school year have been:-Choir for Year 3 and Year 4
Choir for Year 5 and Year 6
Football for Year 5
Football for Year 6
Gym Club and Maypole Dancing for all years
Gym Club for Year 4
Gym Club for Years 5 & 6
Country Dancing for Year 5
Netball for Year 6
School Magazine for all years
Reading "Buddy Club" for Years 3 and 6
Knitting Club all years
Summer Games Club for Year 5
Modern Dance for Year 6
Rounders for Year 6
Drama, singing for Y6 in preparation for performance
Activities vary according to the season and according to the interests of staff. Increasing demands on teachers' time make it more difficult to find suitable times. Back to top
The Parent Teacher Association
The PTA at Park Junior School has been very active for many years.The main objects of the Association are:-
* To advance the education of the pupils of the school by providing and assisting in the provision of facilities for education at the school.
* To promote close links between parents, teachers and others associated with the school.
* To engage in activities which support the School and advance the education of the pupils attending it.
The committee meets at least twice a term, and an AGM is held in late September, when new committee members are nominated and elected. The committee can consist of up to twenty parents and members of staff. Parents will usually undertake the offices of chairman, secretary and treasurer.
The committee arranges many and varied events during the course of the year, some fund raising, others for enjoyment, while many events fulfil both aims.
During the last year events have included:-
* A Christmas Fair, A Fete in May
* Discos for children - Y3 and Y4 - Y5 and Y6
* A quiz evening for families.
The PTA circulates it's own letters to parents with details of events.
The PTA committee is always keen to attract active members and if a place is vacant members can be co-opted at any time. We are also keen to hear of new ideas, both fund-raising and social. Back to top
Curriculum Complaints Procedure
The 1988 Education Act requires that each Local Education Authority and each school should provide for parents a clear procedure for pursuing a complaint which concerns any of the following:-* The Provision of the National Curriculum.
* The Implementation of the National Curriculum and its? regulations.
* The provision of religious education and collective worship.
* The temporary withdrawal of pupils from all or part of the National Curriculum.
The complaints procedure document makes it clear that any parent or other person who has a complaint relating to the curricular responsibilities of the Local Education Authority should initially direct that complaint to the Headteacher and an attempt should be made to resolve the matter informally. The document describes what courses of action can be taken if informal mediation should fail to resolve the matter. Back to top