Pastoral Care and Other Matters

Pastoral Care

Close relationships between teachers and children on a day-to-day basis are vital and fully recognised.

The Head Teacher knows all the pupils and has overall responsibility for all members of school but the child’s class teacher is primarily responsible for the pastoral care of the child.  The Head Teacher and Special Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) take an interest in all the childred and are quickly informed of any individual concerns.

Playtimes are well supervised and pupils are encouraged to support each other in line with our ethos statement and personal and social curriculum policy.

Lunchtime Supervisors are employed to care for the children at lunchtime.

There are many organised games and play zones used at lunchtime and we have a specialist play leader to support lunchtime activities.

Sex and Relations Education

Governors’ guidelines cover the teaching of Sex Education, which is delivered as part of our Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Programme.  The responsible staff and Governors have produced a new programme of study for upper Key Stage 2.  Before any such programme is presented to the children, parents are invited into school to review the content.  Parents have the right to withdraw their children from these lessons; suitable alternative provision will be provided.

Behaviour and Discipline

At Crossley Street School, staff take a positive approach to discipline.  We praise children who conform to the School Rules and encourage children to develop self-discipline. Parents are asked to help us enforce these rules through discussion with their children.

Appropriate behaviour is reinforced in many ways; for example in the weekly ‘Special Mention’ assembly when children receive recognition and rewards.

If children misbehave there is a system of warnings that lead to a variety of sanctions.  If a child’s behaviour becomes a matter of concern, parents are quickly informed and asked to come to school to discuss the matter.

At lunchtime the Midday Supervisor, Play Leader and Supervisory Assistants care for the children and the school reserves the right to exclude children from lunch if they do not respect the authority of the lunchtime staff or if they persistently misbehave.

Staff aim to be fair, firm and consistent in their behaviour management; any incidents will be thoroughly investigated and recorded by an appropriate member of staff.  The Head Teacher keeps an up to date data bank of any serious incidents.

School Uniform

The Governors and Head Teacher believe that the school uniform plays an important part in giving our school an identity which children, parents and teachers can be proud of. 

The uniform is smart and practical and Governors expect that parents will support its use throughout the school.  Full uniform is available through PTA on tel: 07774 151146. 

Jewellery is not permitted, apart from one pair of stud earrings worn in the lobe, however, as local PE Advisors recommend that no jewellery be worn for PE, children may be asked to remove or cover earrings.

Hair shaving, colouring, wearing make-up and body piercing is not permitted.

Homework

Formal homework is set for a number of reasons.  It enables children to prepare and plan for work that is to be done in school and to practise and reinforce what has already been learnt at school.  It helps to develop skills of independent, self-motivated learning and assists parents in taking a positive interest in their child’s schoolwork.

We support the Department of Education’s recommendation that Years 1-4 spend up to one and a half hours per work and that children in Years 5 and 6 spend up to two and a half hours per week.

Homework should always including reading and other tasks such as developing mental strategies, doing research or completing written work and learning tables.

Homework may also be assigned to individual pupils when it is felt that a child needs to make up work through absence or needs extra practise in a specific area, or if the work has not been done satisfactorily in class.   Homework timetables will be included as part of the curriculum news given to parents at the beginning of each term.

Every child has a homework diary in which we encourage communication with parents amd pupils.

Acts of Collective Worship/Assemblies

Collective worship takes place daily in a variety of forms and at different times of the day.

Assemblies are an important feature in the spiritual, moral and cultural development of the children.

Parents have a right to withdraw their children from religious education and acts of worship and suitable alternative provision will be made.

Special Needs

At Crossley Street Primary School we respect all children as individuals and recognise that children sometimes have specific needs that have to be met on a one to one basis, rather than at a group or class level.  If your child is experiencing difficulties, the Special Needs Coordinator (SENCO) will discuss the matter with you and your child’s teacher.  A special programme of work will be devised and progress monitored and reviewed each term.  In some cases the child will receive extra help in class.  If little or no progress were made over time, we would consult with parents and if they were in agreement, refer for help outside school; e.g. School Support Service, Speech and Language, Educational Psychologist etc.  We believe that early identification followed by early intervention is most beneficial to the child.  We will always work closely with parents.

Leeds has an excellent Parent Partnership Service that offers support to parents.  They have no links with school or Education Leeds.  They are based at Oakwood Centre, Oakwood Lane, Leeds, LS8 3LF (tel: 0113 2143135)

One of the school governors (Mrs R Wade) has responsibility for monitoring and implementation of the Special Needs Code of Practice.The Special Needs Co-ordinator is Mrs. S. Pammenter.

Equal Opportunities

Leeds City Council operates an Equal Opportunities Policy on issues of disability, race and gender and acknowledges that discrimination should not occur because of age, class or sexuality.  At Crossley Street School we operate under the requirements of this Policy and believe that equality of opportunity is a fundamental aspect of the ethos of the school.  We strive to ensure that all children have equal access to and can participate fully in the curriculum.  School is equipped with wheelchair access and a fully disabled care suite.

School Educational Visits and Charging

School educational visits form an important part of the curriculum and are usually an introduction to, or a follow-up from, a topic of focus.  They provide valuable first hand experience for learning.  Rigorous Risk Assessments are completed for all visits.

School is unable to make compulsory charges for activities, the major part of which takes place within school time.  These charges include costs for transport for education visits, admission charges, ingredients and materials for practical activities e.g. cooking.  The school will therefore ask for “voluntary contributions” to cover the cost of these activities, which without financial support, will not be able to take place.  In cases of financial difficulty, please contact the Head Teacher.  All enquiries will be dealt with sympathetically and in complete confidence.  An annual curriculum enhancement plan is written for parents and governors showing the full breadth of extra-curricular activities.

Dinner Money

Dinner money is collected weekly and should be sent on a Monday only.  Cheques made payable to “Leeds City Council” should be sent in a named sealed envelope.  If cash must be sent, please ensure that the correct amount is sent in a named sealed envelope.

Attendance

It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure that your child attends school regularly.  Should your child become ill and be unable to attend, please telephone the school as soon as possible.  On the first day of absence a record of the call will be kept by the admin staff.  On their return to school a note is required explaining the absence.  Please avoid unnecessary absences, as the continuity of your child’s education will suffer.  School will contact home if we have not been notified of absences.

Parents may request to take their child out of school for up to 10 days in any school year, which runs from September to August.  Permission will only be granted for a specific reason such as a family holiday that cannot be taken during school holidays owing to works’ closure, being tied to shift patterns or other extenuating circumstances.  Absence during term-time is not an entitlement and the prior written permission of the Head Teacher must be gained before these days are taken.

Leave for pupils in Year 2 and Year 6 will not be granted between January and the end of the SATs period inclusive.

At the year-end, all absences will be totalled against the number of possible attendances.  This gives an accurate picture of how many days education a pupil has lost.  This figure is noted on end of year reports and also shared with the authority.  We have a governor who is responsible for monitoring attendance and the head teacher works closely with the Education Welfare Officer (EWO).

If you wish your child to leave school during the day for medical or dental appointments, please send a note in advance and arrange to meet your child from the main school reception area where they will need to be “signed out” and “signed back in” if they return to school later that day.

Illness and Accidents

If your child is ill and needs to go home, parents or the person named as the emergency contact will be asked to come to school to collect him/her.  If we are unable to contact you, your child will be looked after at school.

The member of staff who is in charge of your child at the time treats non-serious injuries.  More serious injuries will be treated by one of the trained members of staff.

You will be informed by letter, at the end of the day, if your child has sustained an injury, such as a bump on the head, which needs to be monitored.

If your child requires hospital treatment, we will try to get in touch with either parents or the emergency contact.  If we cannot contact you your child will be taken directly to the hospital.  When we do manage to contact you, you will be asked to go straight to the hospital.

Care is taken at all times, both in the training we give to the children, and in the levels of supervision by adults, to avoid accidents and injuries.  At lunchtime, the Supervisors who are responsible for the children during the meantime and in the playground, will deal with minor injuries and other problems.  They will report any serious matters to the Head Teacher.

Medicines in School

These must be prescribed medicines, with the name and dosage clearly marked.

Parents/carers must take the medicine directly to the school office and sign a disclaimer that is recorded in the Medicines File.  Medicines must not be given to class teachers or any other member of staff and should never be kept by a child.  Inhalers should be given directly to the class teacher who will keep the inhaler in a safe place.  We do require written confirmation of how and when the inhaler is to be used.

Education Welfare

The Education Welfare Office (EWO) can advise families about school meals, clothing grants or attendance.   They may also be involved with behavioural difficulties, bullying or emotional problems.  Your can contact EWO through the Head Teacher or LEA.

Insurance

The safety of all children, staff, parents and visitors is of paramount importance and it is the aim of the school to:

• Establish and maintain a safe and healthy environment
• Review regularly arrangements taken to secure the health and safety of all personnel
• Provide suitable training and instruction for pupils and staff
• There is a dedicated health and safety teacher representative and pupil representatives from each class who all report to a committee.

*Please note that Crossley Street Primary School is a smoking and dog free zone.

Parent Teacher Contacts

Crossley Street Primary School has an open and friendly atmosphere and we have strong home/school links.  Parents are welcome to call into school with messages or concerns, but if possible this should be done at the end of the school day.  For matter requiring a longer discussion an appointment can be made with the class teacher or Head Teacher.

There are two formal Parent/Teacher meetings a year, one in October and one in March.  Children are encouraged to attend the second of these meetings as this promotes the child’s involvement in the assessment process.  Successes can be celebrated together and new appropriate targets set.

There is a general Open Day held in the Autumn Term and several special events throughout the year which parents are invited to attend.

At the end of the year parents receive a comprehensive written report on their child’s achievements over the year.

There are many possible opportunities for parents to support their children and we encourage this wherever possible. 

If you have any concerns please contact school directly.

The Parent Teacher Association

The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) has flourished within the school for many years and all parents are automatically members of it.  Parents are invited into school for coffee mornings, assemblies, talks, sports’ days, to help in classrooms and to help on class visits.  This help and support from parents is much appreciated by the children and staff.  Much of the PTA’s time is taken up by organising fund-raising and social events from which we have benefited greatly.  They include events like Discos, Race Nights, Treasure Hunts, Fashion Shows and Summer Fairs.  These events ‘break the ice’ for new parents and create opportunities for parents to meet each other and make new friends in the context of supporting the school.

The Annual General Meeting of the Parent Teacher Association is held in September/October.

Complaints Procedure

The aim of this procedure is to ensure that a concern expressed by a parent is dealt with quickly and effectively.  Most difficulties can quickly be resolved by a word with the class teacher or Head Teacher enabling parents and school to continue to work together in the best interests of the child.  However, if a problem is not dealt with to the parents’ satisfaction then they should take the following course of action, always starting by talking to the class teacher or the Head Teacher.

• Discuss the matter with the class teacher or the Head Teacher, whichever is appropriate.
• Write to the Head Teacher.  The Head Teacher will carry out a full investigation that may involve interviewing staff, parents and/or pupils, and a written response will be given.
• Approach a school governor informally.  The governor will discuss the issue with the Head Teacher and the Head Teacher will report back to the parent.
• Write a formal letter to the Chair of the Governing Body within ten school days.  The Chair will investigate the issue or many convene a panel of governors who will meet within twenty days; a response will be given within three working days.
• Write a formal letter to the Director of Education of the Local Education Authority.
• Complain to the Secretary of State or Local Government Ombudsman if parents believe they have not been dealt with fairly.

This process follows guidelines laid down by Education Leeds in April 2002

OFSTED Inspection Report – 266700 – full report available on the Internet or from school at a cost of £3.

Dates of Inspection:  31 Jan – 2 Feb 2005

Main Findings

There are many strengths at Crossley Street and no Key Issues were identified in this Inspection.  It is a good school where pupils achieve well.

Key Stage 1 SATs results

% Children who achieved Level 3 or above:

% Children who achieved Level 2 or above:

Key Stage 2 SATs results

% Children who achieved Level 4 or above:

% Children who achieved Level 5 or above:

Statutory Targets for Key Stage 2

Targets are set for each class of children as they enter Year 5 (six terms before they take the tests).  The targets refer to that particular group of children so may vary from year to year.

Number of pupils on roll in September 2005:

                        188 in main school and 40 in Nursery

Crossley Street prides itself on being an inclusive school and because of this results vary from year to year.  However, progress over time for all children is very good and above the national average.