This booklet is written specifically for parents and includes information, which will help you and the school to work in the best interests of your child in our important partnership in education. Please keep it in a safe place for easy reference, and please amend it as you are informed of alterations in procedure and details whilst your child remains a pupil with us at St Margaret's.
It supplements the School Prospectus, which is issued to parents as they register their child at the school. It should therefore be read in conjunction with the School Prospectus and also the West Sussex Information for Parents document.

1.1. Principles to which we work.

We aim to:
* Offer a secure, stimulating and happy learning environment.
* Instil an understanding and respect of people from different backgrounds and ways of life.
* Prepare pupils for life in the wider community and to nurture their appreciation of the community and the environment in which we live.
* Encourage the growth of the child as an independent individual, by fostering their own academic, physical and aesthetic abilities, and their moral and spiritual development.
* Stimulate the child's own awareness of his/her relationships within the class, the school and the community as a whole, and to develop the child's facilities for working with, and cooperating with others.
* Provide a broad, balanced curriculum, which offers continuity and progression throughout the school and develops appropriate cross-curricular links.
* Match the work and the available resources to the ability of the child, and to value each child for his/her own individuality.
* Give wide practical experience at all levels, ensuring pupils are given opportunities to investigate for themselves, and to develop appropriate problem solving skills.

1.2. Working together.

Our aims for teaching and learning are that all children will:
* Be tolerant and understanding with respect to the rights, views and property of others.
* Develop a responsible and independent attitude towards work and play.
* Achieve their potential in terms of academic and practical achievement, physical development, aesthetic appreciation and spiritual awareness within a framework promoting high moral standards.
Teachers work towards the school's aims by:
* Planning a well balanced, structured and differentiated curriculum to allow for continuity and progression.
* Creating a safe, caring, secure, well resourced and stimulating environment.
* Acting as good role models.
* Being knowledgeable of the National Curriculum and other statutory requirements.
* Being aware of and carrying out agreed policies and practices.
* Encouraging autonomy in the individual.
* Praising examples of good standards in all areas.
* Having high, but fair, expectations.
* Treating children as individuals and fostering their talents.
* Promoting positive behaviour.
Pupils work towards the school's aims by:
* Behaving in an orderly manner within agreed rules, always being courteous and respectful.
* Regular and punctual attendance
* Being properly equipped and organised.
* Showing respect for their own and other people's property.
* Caring about the school environment.
* Ensuring communication links are maintained between home/school.
* Working independently where appropriate with growing responsibility for their learning.
* Developing social skills to work and play co-operatively.
* Working to the best of their ability and valuing the work of others.
* Taking responsibility for their actions.
Parents work towards the school's aims by:
* Properly equipping children.
* Ensuring their child attends regularly and punctually in good health.
* Supporting home/school and extra curricular activities.
* Supporting the teachers in maintaining standards of behaviour.
* Informing teachers of matters, which may affect the child's happiness and behaviour in school.
* Liasing with teachers at appropriate times.
* Supporting and agreeing with the aims and ethos of the school.
* Being realistic about their child's ability and giving encouragement and praise generously.
The above stresses the need for everyone to work together in partnership if our aims are to be achieved.

2. School organisation.

In September 2004 the school will have sixteen class bases, two of which are housed in mobile classrooms located across the playground and to the south of the main building.
For 2004/5 the school will be organised in classes as shown:

Reception    three parallel classes
Year 1         two parallel classes
Year 1/2     one class
Year 2        two parallel classes
Year 3        two parallel classes
Year 6        two parallel classes

3. Admission to the school.

Children have the opportunity to join the school in the September before their 5th birthday. Children will be full or part-time depending on their date of birth. Further details of the admissions policy may be found in the school prospectus.

4. The school day.

4.1. School times.

	Morning Session	Afternoon Session
Reception	8.45 a.m. - 12.15 p.m.	1.20 p.m. - 3.05 p.m.
Infants	8.45 a.m. - 12.20 p.m.	1.20 p.m. - 3.05 p.m.
Juniors	8.45 a.m. - 12.30 p.m.	1.20 p.m. - 3.20 p.m.

4.2. At the start of the school day.

Children should only arrive on site within the 10 minute period prior to school starting at 8.45 a.m. Before 8.35 a.m. there is no supervision of pupils in the playground, and no First Aid cover is available on site. During inclement weather pupils will not be allowed access to the school building until 8.35 a.m. and only then under teacher supervision. Staff will take responsibility for any pupils they request to arrive for special activities before 8.35 a.m.
Parents of pupils who arrive by education taxi earlier than 8.35 a.m. should inform both the school office and the individual class teachers so that staff are aware of these particular exceptions.
It is the responsibility of the parents of 'taxi children' to inform the taxi operator when the child is absent from school.

4.3. At the end of the school day.

Children should clear the school site as quickly as possible at the end of the day. Reception and infant pupils will only be released to a responsible and known adult when school finishes.
Parents of infant pupils should always inform their child who will be collecting them each evening. If there is any change to this arrangement, the school office should be informed before the finish of school. Parents who are likely to be delayed because of domestic problems should also inform the school immediately. Unfortunately, because of teachers' own commitments to staff meetings, courses, after school clubs etc., pupils cannot be looked after regularly at the end of the school day.
Parents of junior pupils should make their own arrangements for their children, as these pupils will be sent home and not retained until a parent arrives.

4.4. Arrival and departure.

Parents of Reception children are very welcome to take them into their classes at the beginning of the day and to collect them from their classes at the end of school.
By half term in Year 1, children should enter their classes on their own and take responsibility for hanging up their coats and settling down. Likewise at the end of the day parents will meet their children outside the classroom door in the playground.

4.5. School crossing patrol.

The school crossing patrol officer (Lollipop lady) is usually available between 8.25 a.m. and 8.55 a.m. and between 2.55 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. on school days to see parents and children across the road. If she is ill, then the police or a replacement will be asked to deputise. However, this cannot be guaranteed, and on occasions no one may be available.
It is the duty of the parent to ensure that their child arrives safely at school. School staff are not legally permitted to deputise for an absent patrol officer.

4.6. Parking in Arundel Road.

Parking in Arundel Road is difficult. It is essential that parents do not park on the zig-zag yellow lines, as in doing so you will put children's lives at risk. Kindly do not turn vehicles in the school entrance or park across run-ups to householders' garages on the west side of Arundel Road.

4.7. Dogs in the playground.

For health and safety reasons dogs must not be brought into the school playground or tied and left unattended at the school gate.

4.8. Bicycles in the playground.

Children and adults must not ride bicycles, or other similarly propelled items, in the playground, for safety reasons.

5. Pupil absence.

5.1. Illness.

It would greatly assist teaching staff if parents would telephone after 8.30 a.m. if their child is going to be absent from school because of illness. Parents must submit a brief note to the class teacher when their child returns to school. Any child whose absence is not authorised by note or telephone is said to have an unauthorised absence, which is recorded on the pupil's end of year report.
Exclusion periods for pupils who have contracted childhood illnesses should be discussed with doctors.

5.2. Parent's holidays.

Parents must complete the appropriate form obtainable from the school office for pupil absence due to family holiday. The school should be informed as early as possible about any impending absence. Parents are strongly encouraged to take their breaks in the school holiday periods rather than during term time.
For much of March, April and May, Year 2 pupils will be engaged in national testing, and it becomes very difficult if these children are absent from school at this time. In May, Year 6 children are also involved in national curriculum testing, and no holidays will be authorised during the actual week of tests.

5.3. Part-day absence: medical appointments.

The school office and the class teacher should be informed in advance about any absence that is going to occur due to a medical appointment. During the school day parents MUST report to the school office before collecting a child from the classroom prior to an appointment, and also inform the office when returning the child to school after such a visit.

5.4. Lateness for school.

Pupils who arrive after the 8.45 a.m. school bell are deemed to be late. Should they arrive in class after the register has been taken, they will be marked late in the register. Parents will be informed if pupils are regularly arriving late for school.

6. Medical matters.

6.1. Administering medicines.

Teaching staff are not allowed to administer medicines to pupils. The professional associations advise strongly that office and welfare staff should not do so either.
In most circumstances medicines should not be in school at all unless the G. P. has classed this as essential. This means that 3 times a day medicines can be given totally at home. In few circumstances will pupils be in school and require medicine to be taken 4 times a day.
Any medicines must be handed in to the school office at the beginning of the school day, with an accompanying sheet giving details of the medicine, and then it must be collected from the office in the evening. No medicines or tablets should be kept in the classroom at any time, other than inhalers as set out below.
As office staff are not permitted to administer medicines to pupils, they should be informed at what time a pupil is supposed to have a medicine. Parents should tell their child at what time they should report to the office for their medication, and they should be able to administer such medicines to themselves under supervision.
The head teacher's permission must be obtained for the school to accept responsibility for a medicine where the timing of the administration is crucial. Such permission will only ever be given in very specific circumstances.

6.2. Inhalers.

An increasing number of children require the use of inhalers. Parents will be asked to fill in a card that can be kept with spare inhaler to be located in the school office outlining the pupil's needs.
For everyday use, children who are able to do so will be expected to have their own regular inhaler with them and self-administer as required.
Younger pupils should report to the school office to use the inhaler when needed. Office staff will look after the large nebuhalers for all pupils.

6.3. Illness in school.

It is very important that parents keep the emergency contact telephone numbers held on school records up to date. The school must be advised when a pupil's home address or a parent's place of work is changed.
If a child is sufficiently unwell that he is unable to continue in class, the home telephone and emergency numbers will be tried. If no contact is effected, a parent may be contacted at their workplace, if the school deems this necessary.
In more serious cases, the child will be taken to the hospital in an ambulance accompanied by a member of staff, whilst the parent is contacted and advised which hospital to attend.

6.4. Allergies.

It is important that the school is advised of pupil allergies, and in particular those which may cause a serious problem to a child if treatment is not rapidly obtained.

6.5. Head lice.

At times individual pupils suffer from head lice. To help prevent the spread of lice to others, parents will be notified as soon as staff are aware of a problem and asked to take their child home and apply medication.
The school would like to remind parents to read the instructions on the lotion and to follow them closely.
We ask parents to check their child's hair regularly for lice.
Regular brushing and combing does prevent the head lice from laying eggs (nits). A head lice protection comb can be purchased from local chemists, or alternatively from the school office.

6.6. Health interviews.

These are no longer held routinely in school.

6.7. Non-participation in games or P. E.

Pupils who are unable to take part in P.E. or games lessons must produce a signed letter from their parents stating the reasons for non-participation.

7. School Clothing.

7.1. School Dress.

The Governors request that parents support the clothing policy of the school. Appropriate garments with current prices are set out in the school's Prospectus.
Winter uniform comprises navy skirt, culottes or navy/grey trousers with a navy pullover. Sweatshirts, on which the school crest is embroidered, are available from the office. Years 2 to 6 should wear a school tie with a white shirt.
In the summer pupils may wear short sleeved shirts, blue check or striped dresses, properly tailored navy shorts.
It is essential that all clothes be clearly labelled.
During wet and snowy weather pupils should come to school in wellington boots and use their best shoes for in-school wear.
Items of jewellery should generally not be worn to school at any time. Sleepers or studs in ears are permitted, but no other type of earring. Watches should have the child's name engraved on to the back.

7.2. P. E. kit.

For all pupils, indoor P. E. kit should be a white T-shirt with navy or royal blue shorts. Pupils may choose to wear leotards instead.
The Authority advises that for indoor work children should be in bare feet.
Trainers used for wear to and from school will not be permitted for indoor P. E. use.
All kit must be labelled.
Children will not be permitted to take part in these lessons if they are wearing studs or sleepers in their ears, unless the child before the commencement of the lesson removes them. An exception will be made if the ears have been pierced within the previous 6 weeks, when it will be permitted for the sleepers to be covered with tape.
Long hair must be tied up for P. E. lessons, and parents must provide hair ties or elastic bands for this purpose.

7.3. Outdoor games.

In the summer time, many physical activity lessons will take place out of doors. Normal P. E. kit, together with good trainers as footwear, is ideal.
In winter months, weather permitting, junior boys and girls may participate in outdoor games/skills lessons which may include netball, hockey, football, non-contact rugby and cross-country running whilst infant children also undertake outdoor activities.
For outdoor games pupils require a good strong pair of trainers (without high ankle support) and a change of socks. Children may wear their own preferred kit for outdoors P. E.
Only pupils taking part in extra curricular football and rugby club activities and matches will require studded football boots.
In winter it can be very cold, and parents are advised to provide a tracksuit, old jogging suit or warm pullover as an extra.
The same rules apply for outdoor games concerning long hair, studs and sleepers as apply for indoors P. E.

7.4. Kit bags and painting aprons.

Parents must provide a suitable bag in which their child can keep sports kit. The traditional large cloth plimsoll bag with drawstring is ideal and hard wearing too. The child's name should be clearly shown on the outside of the bag.
For art lessons, an old shirt from a parent, tacked to size with elastic at the wrist, is perfect, and it should be named and kept in the plimsoll bag.
All kit should be taken home regularly and washed please!

8. Lunchtime meals and break time snacks.

8.1. Lunchtime meals.

A cold lunch service consisting of a packed lunch is provided for those children whose parents are in receipt of income support, or income based job seekers allowance, on completion of an application form available from the office.
Parents can pre-purchase a daily packed lunch from the catering company who supplies all of West Sussex schools, details of which are available in school.
Currently most children bring a packed lunch from home. Drinks must be non-fizzy and kept in an unbreakable container.
All children eat their packed lunches in their classrooms under the supervision of mid-day meal supervisors. The Governors are indebted to these colleagues and wish to acknowledge their importance in the smooth running of the school lunch hour.
Few pupils return home for mid-day lunch. We would like to warn parents that no crossing patrol officer is available in Arundel Road during the lunchtime period. At this time too, parents must make their own arrangements for their child crossing Arundel Road.

8.2. Break time snacks.

Children may only have fruit as their mid-morning snack. Infant and junior pupils use the water fountain for break time drinks.

8.3. Milk.

Milk is provided free of charge for all children until their fifth birthday. Infant children five years of age or over have the opportunity to drink a subsidised carton of milk each day, which is paid for at the beginning of every term.

8.4. Drinking water.

It is important that children have ready access to water during the day. Please provide your child with a 500ml, or similar sized, filled water container, which they keep on their table and can drink from during the day.

9. The Curriculum.

Teachers plan together and deliver a differentiated curriculum catering for the different mixed ability needs of children within their class. Children are grouped according to ability within each class and across the age phase in the junior department for some subjects.

9.1. National Curriculum Subjects.

The school curriculum is based on the ten National Curriculum subject areas: Mathematics, English and Science as core subjects and Design & Technology, Information Technology, History, Geography, Art, Music and P.E. as foundation subjects. In addition, Religious Education is taught.
From September 1998 the introduction of the Literacy hour throughout the school has meant that the children focus on literacy skills as a class activity with some element of differentiated group activities. Mathematics is in the main taught as a separate subject and has been incorporated into the Numeracy Hour since September 1999. Other classroom activities are based around topics that engage the children in cross-curricular activities.
The National Curriculum starts in Year 1. Reception children work at the Foundation stage. Key Stage 1 covers Y1 and Y2, whilst Key Stage 2 encompasses all of the Junior years from Y3 to Y6 inclusive.

9.2. Health and sex education.

Sex education is a small part of a much broader Personal and Social education development programme, which is taught throughout the school. Other aspects include the people in my life, friendships, keeping safe, families, growth in people, animals and plants, feelings, body changes, first aid, healthy eating, personal hygiene, and the functions of the major organs of the body.
As and when questions concerning reproduction arise as part of topic work, these are dealt with candidly and openly by the class teacher.
In Years 5 and 6, one aspect of a health related topic focuses on human reproduction and birth. Children in Years 5 and 6 also receive talks on menstruation in single gender groups.

9.3. Religious education.

St Margaret's is a Church of England (Aided) Primary School. Religious Education is based on a series of topics and themes, which are taken mainly from the Bible and Christian beliefs, with some study of other world faiths.
All children experience an act of collective worship each day.
The purpose of all acts of worship is to promote Christian knowledge, faith, ethics and behaviour, whilst R.E. lessons educate pupils principally in Christianity, but also with reference to other world major faiths.

9.4. Swimming.

Year 1 and 2 pupils go to the Littlehampton Leisure Centre each week for part of the school year. Parents, the Friends and the school jointly fund these sessions.

10. Reporting to parents.

The home-school link is recognised as being of vital importance by all the teaching staff at St Margaret's. Although parents are able to request an appointment at any time throughout the school year, there are a number of fixed contact times when parents and teachers are able to get together.
Consultation evenings are held annually in November and March. These work on an appointments system and are an opportunity for the teacher and parents to meet to discuss the child's progress and attitude in school.
In mid July parents will receive a school report. Parents of Year 2 pupils will also receive SAT results for Maths and English and teacher assessments for Maths, English and Science. While parents of Year 6 pupils will also receive teacher assessments and test result levels in the three core subjects of Maths, English and Science.

11. Contacting staff.

Inevitably there will be a range of occasions outside the formal consultation evenings where parents and teacher may need to discuss a particular issue. A brief word may be exchanged at the classroom door in the morning, although longer conversations must be kept for the end of the school day.
For more important meetings, a note should be handed in to the teacher requesting an appointment, which the class teacher will be happy to arrange.
If a parent considers that it is urgent to effect an appointment with the school, they should call in to the school office or telephone and request an appointment with the Headteacher or Deputy Headteacher that day.

11.1. Complaints.

Most complaints will be resolved amicably through discussion between parents and teacher or headteacher.
A complaints policy, including detailed procedures, is available in the school office for parents who wish to pursue a particular complaint more formally.

12. Behaviour and discipline.

12.1. Discipline.

The staff at school maintains a discipline, which is both firm and fair, borne out of the pupils' respect for each other and their property.
Teachers attempt to encourage children towards their own discipline. It is inevitable that, at times, rules will be broken. Staff discipline may vary from a friendly word to the child working through playtime as a result of a misdemeanour.
If a member of staff is persistently worried about a pupil's work or behaviour, they will contact the parents with a view to seeking a meeting, so that the problem may be discussed and a plan of action mutually agreed.

12.2. Behaviour policy.

A copy of the school's Behaviour Policy can be viewed in school.

12.3. School rules.

Our school rules, devised in association with the children, are set out below and are displayed throughout the school.
I WILL ALWAYS
* Walk and talk quietly in and around school.
* Do as I am asked.
* Be kind and helpful to people.
* Play sensibly.
* Take care of my own and school equipment.
* Work my very hardest.
* Be polite and patient.
* Respect other people.
* Care for the whole school environment.
I WILL NEVER
* Bully.
* Fight.
* Use bad language.
* Call other people nasty names.
* Bring sweets or expensive items to school.

13. Class movements.

The class in which the children are in September will be their class for the duration of the whole school year, unless there are very exceptional educational reasons to move them.
Parents are told by mid-July as to which new class their child will be in when returning in September.

14. Holidays and training days.

Holiday dates up to 2 years in advance are on file in the office, and although parents are advised of these at regular intervals, the school secretary is able to give them to parents at other times to assist with planning.
Schools can take 5 staff training days during the year at times outside these holiday dates. At these times no children should report to school. Parents will be advised of these dates well in advance. It has been our practice, wherever possible, to attach these to the beginning or end of holiday dates to cause the least disruption to parents working away from the home.

15. Pupil Visits.

15.1. Voluntary contributions.

Staff regularly arrange visits for their pupils in order to support work currently being undertaken in the classroom.
Government legislation informs parents that for day visits taking place mainly during the school day, schools may only seek voluntary contributions from them to cover the cost of the visit. As no additional funds are made to schools to cover any shortfall between contributions and the actual cost of the trip, teachers are left in a dilemma. Residential visits are funded by voluntary contributions covering at least the costs of board and lodgings.
Accordingly, for trips out, voluntary contributions will be requested in advance of a visit, and if these fail to cover the expected cost of the trip, it will be necessary for it to be cancelled.
Parents who are genuinely unable to afford the cost of the trip for their child should contact the head teacher, who will discuss the problem in confidence.
The same rule applies for special activities, such as the visit of outside theatre groups etc.

15.2. Transportation by private car.

At times, to help reduce the cost of trips, or to assist with sports matches, parents are invited to help by transporting pupils in their own cars.
We are very grateful to parents who offer this assistance. Pupils may only travel as seat belted rear passengers. Cars must have a valid MOT and a current comprehensive certificate of insurance for the transportation of passengers, and all volunteer car drivers must complete an Authorised Driver's form, available from the office.

15.3. Insurance of pupils in school and on visits.

The Local Authority and the Governors wish to inform all parents that pupils are not covered by personal accident insurance for in-school or off-site activities. Parents who wish to arrange such cover privately should do so through their own insurance agent or contact the school for details of the optional County scheme.
Children are covered for accidents resulting from an act of negligence by any member of staff, or a school helper (including parent helper), both in school or out of school on an organised visit. Personal accident insurance cover for pupils is taken out by the school for any visit which includes an overnight stay and most trips out by coach.

15.4. Residential visits.

Children in Years 4 and 6 have the opportunity to take part in a residential visit during the year.

16. Parental help.

The school is indebted to parents who give up time to help in the classrooms or who accompany pupils on visits and supply transport.
Class teachers will regularly request such help from parents by newsletter. Parents who are willing to help in the classroom or to listen to children read should contact the headteacher or a particular member of staff. The school checks all regular voluntary helpers in school against List 99 held by the Criminal Records Bureau.

17. Extra-curricular activities.

A number of after school activities take place at St Margaret's. In the main these are for older, junior pupils and depend on the interests of the teaching staff at any time. Presently these include sports, music, dance, gymnastics, drama and computer clubs, but these are subject to change depending upon the interest of the staff and the time they have available to offer these activities.
Year 2 pupils are offered recorder tuition. There are also numerous recorder and guitar groups for junior pupils. The school orchestra meets after school on Tuesday evenings, and choir on a Friday evening, whilst sports matches and training, mainly for Year 5 and 6 children, can occur on any evening.
Teachers leading these activities will inform parents of participating year groups when places become available in any particular club.

18. Safety.

18.1. Fire practice.

These are held regularly, at least once each term and at varying times of day.

18.2. Stranger danger.

The police liaison officer visits school to discuss this topic with pupils. Parents following up this topic with their child at home will reinforce the work done in school.

19. Other school organisations.

19.1. The governing body.

The Governors have overall responsibility for the organisation, curriculum and financial management of the school, although much of the responsibility, including the day to day running of St Margaret's is devolved to the head teacher.
The Governors have a formal meeting each school half term. Twice a year informal meetings are held where the Governors visit the school during the morning to see the school at work.
The Governing body also has sub-committees for 'Staffing and Finance', 'Buildings' and 'Policy', which generally meet independently each half term. In addition each governor liaises on a regular basis with a particular member of staff to follow the developments in a particular subject area of the curriculum.
An 'open Governors' meeting' with parents is held annually in November to discuss a previously circulated report concerning activities and developments which have occurred in the school during the previous year.
A file containing up to date copies of Governors' Minutes and Policies is available, upon request from the school office for perusal by parents on the school site.

19.2. The friends of St Margaret's school.

The committee of the Friends organisation normally meets every half term. New members are elected to the committee each autumn at the Annual General Meeting.
The purpose of this group is mainly fund-raising, but it also provides social events for parents and children.
The two major functions each year are the Christmas Market, held in late November/early December and the Summer Fete, which usually takes place at the end of June on a Friday evening.
The names of the present Friends' Chairman and Secretary are available from the school office.

20. Miscellaneous.

20.1. Expensive personal effects.

Children must not bring electrical equipment or expensive games to school (apart from inexpensive calculators) without the class teacher's permission. Arrangements are made for storing musical instruments (e.g. recorders, violins, guitars) during the day ready for orchestra or club activities. The school accepts no responsibility for damage occurring to these instruments whilst they are on the premises.

20.2. Mobile phones.

Pupils should not bring mobile phones into school.

21. Conclusion.

The Governors, Staff and Friends organisation hope that the partnership between your family and St Margaret's Primary school will prove to be stimulating, enjoyable and rewarding, and that, jointly, we will fulfil your child's true potential.

D J BOREHAM Headteacher

S WEST Chairman of Governors

St Margaret's Church of England (Aided) Primary School: Parents' Handbook.