Introduction
This section of the website is designed to give parents general information about the school such as the make up of the governing body, times of the school day, our charging policy and information about illness and absence etc. It can be read in conjunction with the school prospectus which gives more information about the school aims and curriculum and each class’ Curriculum Booklet. If after reading the information in this section, you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. We aim to be approachable and work in partnership with parents to get the very best for every child at
GOVERNING BODY
The school has a Governing Body which is made up of local authority appointees (usually representatives of the political parties), parents, staff and co-opted members of the local community. Each member of the Governing Body is elected for a period of 4 years.
The Governing Body for 2012 (Governors serve for 4 years)
Chair of School Governors Mr Ashley Elliott
Parent Governors Mrs Vanessa Morrissey
Mr Phillip Hindley
Mr Kevin Brown
Mr Cranford Johnstone
Teacher Governor Mr Greg Vallance
Other Staff Governor Mrs Geraldine Leary
LA Representative Governors Mrs
Mrs Sue Hulme
Co-opted Governors Mr Ashley Elliott
Rev. Gill Newton
Mr Jonny Downing
Mr Mark Kambites
Headteacher Mr James Twigg
GOVERNORS' POLICY FOR OPEN GOVERNMENT
Lane End Governors consider the active participation of the parents to be fundamental to all aspects of school life.
The Governing Body meets formally once a term to go over the Headteacher's report and discuss matters raised by the Chief Education Officer. They may also meet on other occasions. Parents / Guardians will be notified of all meetings in the School Newsletters/calendar.
Parents / Guardians are welcome to attend as observers but may not vote. However they may be invited by the Governors to make comment. They will be asked to leave if confidential matters are to be discussed. Under the Education (School Governing Bodies) Regulations 1981 copies of the Agendas and Minutes relating to any meeting of the Governing Body of the school are available at school for inspection by parents / guardians if they so desire.
THE CORPORATE DIRECTOR FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Mr Andrew Webb
Metropolitan Borough of
Children & Young People’s Directorate
Town Hall
School Contact Information and Staff
CHEADLE HULME
SK8 7AL
Telephone: 0161 485 8071
Fax: 0161 485 8938
Email: admin@laneend.stockport.sch.uk
Website: www.laneend.stockport.sch.uk
Headteacher Mr James Twigg
Deputy Head Mrs Claire Love/Mr Chris Toyne
Class Teachers
Class R Reception Miss Judith Lynch/Mrs Helen Toyne
Class 1 Year 1 Mrs Joanne Lenaghan
Class 2 Year 2 Miss Chloe Joseph
Class 3 Year 3 Miss Stacey Rainey
Class 4 Year 4 Mr Greg Vallance
Class 5 Year 5 Mrs Claire Love / Mrs Gill Tweddle
Class 6 Year 6 Mr Chris Toyne
Secretary Mrs Judith Titterington
Classroom Assistants
Mrs Diane Davies (Class R) Mrs Sam Stansfield (Class R)
Mrs Geraldine Leary Mrs Ann Valentine
Mrs Wendy Walsh Mrs Ann Davies
Mrs Elaine Coughtrey Mrs Jan Mealand
Mrs Gill
Head Cook Mrs Jane Harper
Assistant Cook Mrs Jackie Lye
Mid-Day Assistants Mrs Wendy Walsh Mrs
Mrs Doreen Woodhouse Mrs Leila Belizidia-Edwards Miss Sarah Leary
Mrs Lynn Murphy Mrs Rachel Tucker
Parent-Teacher Association 2011/2012
Chair and Secretary Mrs Kate Godfrey and Mrs Bev Sangster
Treasurer Mrs Samantha Stansfield
These may change each year and you will be notified of any changes in a newsletter.
School Times
START 9.00am
Playtime 10.35 - 10.50am
Infant Lunch 12.00 - 1.10pm (Eat at 12.00)
Junior Lunch 12.15 - 1.10pm (Eat at 12.35)
Playtime Infants Only - 2.35 - 2.45pm
FINISH All Children - 3.15pm
SCHOOL TERMINOLOGY AND STARTING DATES
The proper title for our school is
Children start the reception class in the school year of their 5th birthday.
The school year starts in September and comprises the autumn, spring and summer terms.
We refer to classes as follows:
The first class in school is the Reception class - Class R
Class 1 - Year 1
Class 2 - Year 2
Class 3 - Year 3
Class 4 - Year 4
Class 5 - Year 5
Class 6 - Year 6
Classes R, 1 and 2 are the Infant classes. The Reception class is also the second year of the Foundation Stage (which is made up of nursery and reception). Years 1 and 2 make up Key Stage 1.
Classes 3, 4, 5 and 6 are the Junior classes or Key Stage 2 classes.
PARENT-TEACHER DISCUSSIONS
During the year arrangements are made for all parents to discuss their child's progress with the class teacher. These normally take the following form:
OCTOBER - Initial meeting just for parents and class teacher. This is a chance to get to know each other and discuss how your child has settled into the class. (In the Reception class this meeting is usually carried out in week 3)
FEBRUARY/MARCH - Parent interviews to discuss child's work and progress
JULY - Open Evening for parents to come into school with their child and look around the whole school together. Teachers are available to talk to.
If you would like to discuss any matter during the year either with your child's teacher or the headteacher please do so – we are always happy to discuss any issues or concerns so that we can aim for a swift resolution. For class based issues, it is often most useful to speak to the class teacher first who should have a better understanding of the context of any concerns. Please also come and have a chat if you want an update on progress and the work your child is doing. It is usually preferable if prior notice can be given so that a mutually agreeable time can be arranged, but teachers and the headteacher are also often available to talk after school. It is helpful if you don't engage your child's class teacher in a lengthy discussion first thing in the morning when they are busy seeing to the children.
A WRITTEN REPORT about your child will be sent to you near the end of the Summer Term.
Morning Routine
Infant children are allowed in the building from 8:50am and should enter through the side reception doors. They should then go to their classroom.
Initially, reception parents can bring their children into the cloakroom to say good-bye, however please try and build your child’s independence and help ease congestion by saying good-bye at the door after the children have settled in. Year 1 and 2 parents should also say good-bye to their children at the door for this reason.
School starts at 9:00am. Any children arriving after this time should go to the office to get a late mark before they go to their classroom.
Junior children should go into the junior playground and wait for the whistle to go at 9:00am, when they will line up and be met by their teacher. Children should not arrive before 8:45am as the junior playground is supervised from 8:50am.
PARENTAL HELP IN SCHOOL
We try to involve parents in as many activities in school as we can. Parents are often asked to help with the supervision of groups of children on educational visits.
We may also ask parents to help with other activities such as: baking, games, music, art activities, reading, etc. If you are available, please do help. Reception and infant class parents often come into class to help with other activities, sometimes on a regular basis – if you are available please talk to your child’s class teacher.
If you have a skill that you are willing to share with us please let us know.
PARENT - TEACHER ASSOCIATION
The school has a very active parent teacher association whose aims are:
(a) To encourage and promote co-operation between parents and staff for the mutual benefit of the children in the school.
(b) To foster and support all extra-curricular activities and to raise funds to provide equipment and facilities.
(c) The association has no power to order the organisation, educational policy or curriculum of the school.
During the course of the year the PTA organises many events, some of a fund raising nature and others of a social nature. e.g. Christmas and Summer Fairs, Fashion Shows, Quiz Nights for parents, Discos for children, etc. Recently, the PTA funded our new school garden and are currently fundraising for a refurbished school library.
All parents are members of the PTA. We welcome the help of the association, not only for the money they raise through your support, but also for the way in which they can help bring home and school together. Meetings are always held at 7:30pm in the school staff room. You can find out the dates of the next meeting on the school website. If you are available, please do attend the meetings – everyone is welcome.
The AGM of the PTA is held every September when the committee members are elected for the following year. All parents are then notified of the names.
We hope you will be able to help the PTA even if only in an informal way.
ATTENDANCES, ABSENCES
Attendance and Lateness
Children are given a register mark for each morning and each afternoon session. The register is taken in the morning at 9:00am.
It is important that your child does arrive to school on time. Any children arriving after 9:00am should go to the office to enter the building. A late mark will be given after 9:05am. All lateness is recorded in the class registers and needs to be reported to the appropriate Education Welfare Officer of the Local Authority.
Apart from missing important teaching time it is also disruptive for the individual child and the whole class when children come late into a classroom.
Release of children
Please let us know in advance of any doctor, hospital, dentist appointments etc. When collecting children for appointments they need to be signed out at the office and then signed back in on their return.
During the normal school day infant children are not permitted to leave the school grounds except in the company of an adult.
For the safety of your children it is important that all people entering the school premises are identified – please report to the school office, you should not try and use any other entrance.
Absences
We want to make sure that all children are safe at school and so need to know when a child is not in because of illness. Please could you phone before 9:30am if your child is not going to be in school. After this time we will phone parents and carers if we don’t know why your child is not at school to ensure that they are safe at home.
If you know that your child is going to be absent in advance, please send a note into school with your child.
Sickness at School
If your child is ill at school and we feel they need to be collected, we will phone the emergency contact numbers in order. If your child has an accident at school which is more than a minor graze or bruise etc. then an accident form will be sent home with them. If it is deemed to be more serious then emergency contacts will be phoned.
Unauthorised Absences
We are required by law to record all unauthorised absences, i.e. absences without a sicknote or phone call, excessive lateness or holidays taken beyond TWO weeks during term time. It is at the school’s discretion whether or not to authorise absence for any holidays during term time and we recommend that holidays are not taken during term time wherever possible.
Collecting Children After School
Reception parents should wait in the Reception play area at 3:15pm when the class teacher will bring the class outside to meet you. Class 1 and 2 parents should wait on the infant playground outside of the small gate and the class teacher will lead the class so they can be sent to parents. If a child’s parent is not there to collect them the child needs to go straight to the office area and wait for their parent – they must not leave without telling a teacher.
Junior parents should wait in the junior or infant playground and the children will come out to meet you. If a child is looking for their parent and they are not there – they must come back to the office and tell a member of staff – they must not leave the office area without telling a teacher.
Under no circumstances should a child, especially an infant, be outside the school gates looking for someone.
However well meaning, can we ask parents not to take another child home if the person who is collecting them has not arrived, please send the child back into school as outlined above.
Please phone us if there is a possibility that you will not be at school by 3:15 pm to pick up your child. We will ask your child to wait in the school office until you arrive when we need to be informed before you leave.
If you change the arrangements for who is picking up your child please inform us by letter or phone. If you have a long-standing arrangement for collection, i.e. Mrs. X Monday, Wednesday, Friday; you Tuesday and Thursday, please let us know.
PLEASE TELL YOUR CHILDREN that if the person who is meeting them isn't there to go back into the school office.
It is important that Emergency Phone numbers are kept up to date – please let us know of any changes.
HEALTH
Children have medical inspections at school, usually during their first year here, and possibly at intervals before they leave. Every child's sight, speech and hearing are also tested. Dental inspections are also carried out from time to time but no dental treatment is given to children at school. Letters are sent home before these medical inspections.
Head Lice
Parents should examine their children's hair carefully, thoroughly and very regularly. If you do become aware that your child's hair is infected please use the appropriate shampoo and brush (these can be obtained from Cheadle Hulme Clinic and most pharmacies and large supermarkets). Please also let the school know so that we can ask the other parents of children in that class to check their children's hair. Regular brushing can be an excellent deterrent!
Sickness and Diarrhoea
If your child is sick or has diarrhoea we ask that they be kept off school for 48 hours subsequent to the end of the symptoms. This is to avoid the illness spreading and is the most recent advice given to schools from the Stockport Infectious Disease Control Department of the NHS.
Toileting
Before your child starts in reception it is important that they can control their bladder and bowel movements and clean themselves. Children need to be taught good hygiene practices at home well before they start school. Please help by teaching your child this independence before they start school. It is important that you tell the class teacher if your child has toileting difficulties before they start school.
Medicine in school
Although we do not approve of children coming back to school whilst still taking medicine there are occasions when a doctor might pronounce them fit to return part way through a course of treatment. If your child has to have medicine administered in school you must complete a form (available from the secretary). This form will be kept in school until it is no longer required. No medicine can be administered in school without this form having been filled in.
If your child suffers from asthma or hay fever a form must be completed for the period they require the medication. These forms are also available from the secretary. If your child suffers from asthma it is very important that we have an in-date and named inhaler in school (you should get one for home and one for school from your doctor). It is also a good idea to have a spacer in school for your child to use. It is your responsibility to make sure you have given us the correct medication for your child and that this is kept up-to-date. Inhalers can be taken home each term and brought back at the beginning of the next term to ensure they are clean and in-date.
Medical Conditions
It is very important that school has up-to-date medical information about your child. This is filled in on the admissions form. We need to share this information with the school nurse. If your child develops a medical condition or this information changes it is important to update school in writing with all of the details straight away. For more serious medical conditions we may need to complete an individual health plan with you for your child.
Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding the children at
If we are concerned that a child may be at risk from significant harm (abuse) or is being abused, school is required to refer their concerns onto Social Care and the police if necessary. In some circumstances this may happen without the consent or knowledge of parents/carers.
School also has a responsibility to act upon other concerns that they may have about a child’s welfare in circumstances where there are no suspicions of child abuse. Examples of this may be when a child is demonstrating inappropriate behaviour, is involved in bullying, is failing to come to school or where difficulties at home are having an effect upon the child’s well being. However this list is by no means exhaustive.
In
Our school has a safeguarding policy which explains all the above in much more detail. If you would like to see the policy please contact school to find the best way to access it easily.
DISCIPLINE AND RULES
Very good standards of behaviour are actively reinforced throughout the school. We constantly emphasise mutual care, tolerance, and politeness. Children at Lane End follow the Golden Rules:
- Do be gentle – Do not hurt anyone
- Do be kind and helpful - Do not hurt people’s feelings
- Do work hard - Do not waste your or other people’s time
- Do look after property - Do not waste or damage things
- Do listen to people - Do not interrupt
- Do be honest - Do not cover up the truth
For following the Golden Rules, children are rewarded with 30 minutes of Golden Time at the end of each week (fun activities such as computers, art, games etc.). Positive praise is used throughout the school and children can also be rewarded with team points, stickers, certificates and being mentioned in the Smiles and Good Work Books.
Discipline takes the form of verbal reprimands and sanctions including the loss of Golden Time. School rules are designed for the safety and well-being of all pupils.
A copy of our Behaviour Policy and Anti-Bullying Policy are available on our website in the ‘Parents’ Pages Section’. This section of the website also contains other useful information to make yourself aware of.
SCHOOL UNIFORM
Children at Lane End wear the school uniform as listed below. The clothes can be obtained quite easily from a larger number of shops and jumpers and T-shirts with school logos are available from Monkhouses in Cheadle Hulme, Davensports in
Boys Grey or black trousers
School sweatshirt
School polo shirt - blue or white
Black school shoes
Girls Grey skirt or pinafore - blue and white gingham dress
Grey or black trousers
White blouse
Royal blue or grey accessories
School sweatshirt or sweat cardigan
School polo shirt - blue or white
Black school shoes
P.E. Clothing
Black or blue shorts and a white T-shirt
Pumps (black or white)
A blue sweatshirt or a tracksuit top and trousers for outdoor P.E.
All children need a simple "pump" bag (named) to keep their PE clothing in.
We recommend that Reception parents wait until a letter comes home from the class teacher before purchasing P.E. clothing as it is not used immediately and we don’t want the children to grow out of clothing that you have bought before they have worn it!
Please name all clothing which your children wear to school.
DINNERS/PACKED LUNCH
School Dinners
COST OF DINNERS £1.85 each i.e. £9.25 per week
We recommend that your child has a school dinner. School dinners offer a healthy and balanced meal each day. They are cooked in school each day by our cook.
Dinner money is collected on Monday mornings. In order to avoid errors parents are requested to put the exact money (or a cheque – please see below) in a sealed envelope which should be clearly marked with:
a) Your child's name
b) The class teacher's name
c) The amount enclosed
d) The purpose, i.e. Dinner Money
Please remember to send dinner money on a Monday as it needs to be counted and bagged for collection on Tuesday morning.
To avoid any money falling out before it arrives at the office, please ensure the envelope is always completely sealed, if necessary with some sellotape. As it is time consuming and over complicated if we have to deal with giving out change, we will make credits for any overpayment.
If there is more than one child in the family, dinner money may be brought in one envelope by the oldest child. Please write both names on the envelope.
Dinners can be paid for on a termly or half-termly basis – please make this clear on the envelope.
Payment by cheque
If you wish to pay by cheque please make it payable to "
If you know in advance that your child will not be having a dinner on a particular day (e.g. because of a dental appointment) please indicate on the front of the envelope which day(s) he will not be having a school dinner. If your child is not in school on the Monday he must remember to bring the requisite money on the day he returns to school.
If your child will be out of school for a morning appointment, but will be back in school before lunchtime, please inform the office so that a meal can be ordered for them.
CREDITS:
If your child pays for five dinners on the Monday but is subsequently off school one or more days that week then the following week he/she should bring a reduced amount of dinner money depending on how many days' credits he/she has in hand.
If at any stage during the year you wish your child to change from packed lunches to dinners or vice versa would you please give us at least one week's written notice.
Free School Meals
If you think that you may be entitled to claim free school meals for your child please contact
Packed Lunches
If your child is bringing a packed lunch please ensure it offers a healthy balanced meal.
Children who have a packed lunch should bring their food in a lunch-box, which is clearly named. The children are allowed to bring a drink for lunchtime. This must be either of the box-drink variety or in a plastic flask with its own cup. Should you prefer, water is always available.
Sometimes children accidentally drop their lunch boxes which burst open, scattering the contents over the floor! It is a good idea if you wrap any unwrapped items (sandwiches etc.).
If you include tubs of yoghurt, mousse etc. it would be a good idea to put them inside a secured polythene bag because the tubs can sometimes burst.
Before children start having eating dinner at school it is essential that they have learnt good table manners at home. Our midday assistants encourage the children to eat their meals but no child is forced to eat anything he/she does not like.
SOME GENERAL INFORMATION
NEWSLETTERS
Please remember that all letters which your child brings home to you are important. Not all children can be relied upon to hand over a letter to you on the day it is sent out so please ask your child regularly if he has a school letter or check in their book bag/bag. If your child is absent from school on the day letters are given out, his/her teacher will give him/her the appropriate letter on the day he/she returns. A copy is also held in a file in the reception area. All letters should be retained in a safe place so that they can be referred to as long as necessary.
School newsletters are given out regularly and a copy is also available on the school website. Please do have a look at our website which will give you further
LOST PROPERTY
It is essential that all your child's clothes are clearly marked with his/her name. This greatly assists us in finding the owners of the numerous items of lost property which accumulate. If you know that your child has mislaid something do feel free to come into school one afternoon after the children have left to look through the lost property.
MORNING BREAK - Snack
FREE FRUIT is provided for the Infant children for snack time.
Junior children may bring a healthy snack to school to eat during morning playtime, e.g. a piece of fruit or cereal bar.
Children are not allowed to bring unhealthy snacks to school, e.g. sweets or chocolate bars.
Infant children are given water in class and water fountains are also available. Junior children are encouraged to bring a bottle of water to drink each day which they can keep in the classroom. Water fountains are available at playtime.
Reception children are offered water or milk to drink at snack time. Children are eligible for free milk up to the age of 5. Information about how to claim free milk will be sent home to you.
ITEMS THAT SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT TO SCHOOL
Children should not bring any toys to school unless the teacher has requested it.
Mobile Phones, sharp instruments, necklaces, jewellery are not permitted. Junior Parents - If you feel that your child really needs to bring a mobile phone then this must be discussed with the class teacher and the phone left with the school secretary during the day.
Nor should children bring money other than school dinner money or money requested for something specific.
The area outside school is a restricted area. Please do not park in the restricted area (yellow zig-zag lines). The traffic warden often pays a visit and some parents have received parking tickets. Moreover, it is a danger to the lives of the children at the school. Please park and drive responsibly and safely, bearing in mind how many children are about both before and after school.
We encourage parents and children to walk to school and use healthier and more environmentally friendly travel methods whenever possible. To support this we have a ‘Walk on Wednesdays’ initiative which encourages everyone to walk on Wednesdays!
The staff/visitors car park must not be used as a car park or turning area.
Parents should not take their children through the car park - using it as a short cut. Please always use he pedestrian gate. Please also pass this information on to ANYONE who is likely to collect your child.
JUNK ITEMS
We are always very grateful for any paper, pieces of material etc. We also collect food cartons, egg boxes, wool, buttons, etc. for our creative activities.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
We offer a very wide range of extra-curricular activities which are run by the teaching staff and other organisations. Parents are informed by Newsletter each term of what activities are taking place. These can also be found on the website in the ‘Children’s Pages’ section.
Examples of extra-curricular activities which are organised in school: Football, Rounders, Athletics, Country Dancing, Art and Craft, Guitars, Recorders, Flute, Clarinet, Cross Country, Gym, Multi-sports, Basket ball, Tennis and Cricket.
The range of activities on offer changes each term.
SCHOOL VISITS
During the course of a year the children go on educational visits. These take various forms. They make be local visits, e.g. to the library, the park etc. or visits entailing coach travel. All visits are linked to themes that the children are following in school and are therefore an integral part of the curriculum.
The children in Class 5 and Class 6 are usually offered a residential visit.
As a result of the Education Reform Act 1988, from 1st April 1989 schools are no longer allowed to charge parents for activities which occur in school time, but may ask for voluntary contributions.
In relation to
i) Educational visits during the day to zoos, parks, museums, theatres etc. - where the visit is followed up in school and forms part of the work being undertaken by the class. Voluntary contributions would be asked for and unless parents were willing to make such contributions the visits could not take place.
ii) Our yearly residential visit for the Year 5 and 6 children which is prepared for and followed up in school. A charge can be made to cover the actual cost for board and lodging and voluntary contributions sought for travel and extras. (e.g. Entry to museums, guide charges, extra tuition, etc.) Confirmation of the visit only taking place if sufficient funds are available.
iii) Baking activities : These can be charged for if a parent indicates that they wish to "own" the finished product.
iv) Individual small group flute, clarinet, saxophone and guitar tuition will be charged for.
As a school we place great value on our range of additional activities and because no extra funding is available from the local authority, we ask you to positively consider the need for voluntary contributions when asked for so that these activities can take place. If sufficient voluntary contributions are not forthcoming the visit/activity would have to be cancelled.
No child would be excluded on the grounds of inability to pay and parents are asked to contact the school, in confidence, in such circumstances.
The Governing Body Policy on Charging and Remissions follows for your information.
I hope we can look forward to your future support in this complicated matter.
The Governing Body recognises the valuable contribution that the wide range of additional activities, including clubs, trips and residential experiences can make towards pupils' personal and social education.
The Governing Body aims to promote and provide such activities both as part of a broad and balanced curriculum for the pupils of the school and as additional optional activities.
CHARGES
The Governing Body reserves the right to make a charge in the following circumstances
for activities organised by the school :
SCHOOL JOURNEYS IN SCHOOL HOURS
The board and lodging element of residential activities deemed to take place in school hours.
ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS
The full cost to each pupil of activities deemed to be optional extras taking place outside school hours.
CHARGING IN KIND
The cost of materials/ingredients provided parents have indicated in advance that they wish to own the finished product.
CHARGES FOR BREAKAGES TO SCHOOL EQUIPMENT
Charges for breakage or loss of, or damage to school equipment will be made at the discretion of the Governing Body.
GENERAL
i) The Governing Body may, from time to time, amend the categories of activity for which a charge may be made.
ii) Nothing in this policy statement precludes the Governing Body from inviting parents to make a voluntary contribution towards the cost of providing education for pupils.
REMISSIONS
Where the parents of a pupil are in receipt of income support or family credit, the Governing Body will remit in full the cost of board and lodging for any residential activity that it organises for the pupil if the activity is deemed to take place within the school hours.
I hope that you have found the information in this section useful. Please do not hesitate to come and talk to me if you require any further clarification.
Please also remember that our prospectus and curriculum
We look forward to working in partnership with you.
James Twigg
Headteacher