COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
CURRICULUM AND RELATED MATTERS
Section 23 of the Education Reform Act makes provision for the consideration of complaints about the school curriculum and related matters. All schools are now required to inform parents of this provision and the procedure to be followed if a complaint is to be made.
Briefly the general principles are:-
· all complaints will initially be dealt with by the Headteacher
· every complaint will be investigated fully
· every complaint will be dealt with as quickly as possible
· priority will be given to complaints that are considered to be urgent
· complainants will be kept informed of progress
· complainants will be informed of the outcome
Unless there are exceptional circumstances there should be full discussion at the informal level.
Copies of the Authority’s documents on these arrangements are available at the school or at any public library.
SCHOOL MEALS AND HEALTHY EATING
An important aim of our school is to encourage and promote healthier eating habits in our children
For lunch parents may choose one of three alternatives for their children:-
- · A school meal Unless your child is entitled to a free school meal, all dinner money should be paid on Monday mornings or on the first day back after a holiday or illness, even if the child is staying only one day. The correct money should be put in a sealed envelope with the child’s name, class and days staying written on the outside. This is to aid administration and security. Please inform the school office before 10 am if your child will be absent for the first part or all of the morning session, but requires a cooked meal at lunchtime
- A packed lunch
- Go home for a mid-day meal.
- Children will not be allowed to ‘chop and change’ from cooked meals to packed lunches but must keep to a set pattern.
- We ask for notice given to the office, if parents wish their child/children to change from cooked meals to packed lunches or vice-versa. The reason is to avoid waste and to allow time for the catering department to organise food.
- Children may bring their own drink with a packed lunch (water or cardboard cartons only, no fizzy drinks).
- We are a Healthy School and encourage children to eat healthy meals whether having a hot lunch through school or a packed lunch from home. We do not allow crisps or chocolate as a break snack and encourage them not to be included in the packed lunch, having a piece of fruit etc. as an alternative.
- Packed lunches should be in a suitable air tight container which is clearly labelled on the outside with the child’s name and class.
- In no circumstances can a child be allowed to go out of school during the lunch hour to collect or purchase sandwiches or any other foodstuffs.
- A child on free meals is entitled to a packed lunch provided by the school when engaged on a visit outside school, provided notice of the request is given in advance.
CHILDREN NEEDING GLASSES OR OTHER AIDS IN SCHOOL, INCLUDING INHALERS
Parents of children wearing glasses or needing any other aid should inform the class teacher of the fact and check that they are being used.
It is important that we work together as a school with parents to identify and support children who suffer with asthma. Individual child’s record cards, stating type of inhalers and instructions for use, are kept in boxes in every classroom as is the child’s inhaler. A register of asthmatics is regularly updated. Please inform school if your child is diagnosed as asthmatic ASAP.
EMERGENCY CONTACT DETAILS
Each child in Rice Lane is required to have a completed and up-to-date Parent Information Form, giving details of parents’ place of work and the names and contact details of people who can be contacted in the event that you are not available. If you change your address, work or any detail on the form, especially mobile numbers, please inform the school office of the new details as soon as possible. A form is included in this prospectus.
RESIDENTIAL AND NON-RESIDENTIAL VISITS
The children have many opportunities to go out of school on a variety of educational visits. The visits are usually half or full days and depending upon the availability of staff, also residential. We make every effort to keep costs to a minimum and ask that where we recommend a pocket money limit, that you abide by it.
During the residential visits the children pursue a wide variety of environmental work and outdoor pursuit education and I would urge you to encourage your child to take advantage of these opportunities as they encourage independence and team building.
Meetings between teachers and staff are always held prior to any residential trip.
CHARGING FOR SCHOOL ACTIVITIES/
EDUCATIONAL VISITS
Under the Education Reform Act 1989 the Governors of every school are required to formulate a policy with regard to charging for school activities. The policy set out by the Governing Body of this school is:
No charge will be made for the education or transport elements of educational visits which take place mainly during school hours. However, it may be necessary to ask parents for a voluntary contribution to cover the cost of transport, insurance, entrance fees or the like, if the activity is to take place.
There will be no obligation to contribute and no pupil in the group will be omitted from the activity, but it will be necessary to have substantial voluntary parental contribution if many of the activities arranged are to take place.
The full cost of educational visits taking place outside school hours may be a charge upon parents.
If an activity involves a residential element, the cost of board and lodging will be a charge upon parents. Residential trips require a non refundable deposit and there is a sliding scale of charges for cancellations, depending on how close this is to the date of the visit. This is not a charge from school but is levied by the residential provider.
PROPERTY
· The Governing Body of Rice Lane Junior School does not accept liability for the loss, damage or theft of personal property.
· Jewellery must not be worn by pupils (however, if ears have been pierced – stud earrings only may be worn).
· Toys and valuable articles should not be brought into school except with the permission of the class teacher.
· Parents are advised to have private insurance cover in respect of their own or their child’s property which may be on the school premises.
· Pupils are expected to take care of the school’s property. Reimbursement will be sought from parents for any articles damaged, lost or not returned at the appropriate time
· There is a lost property box in the school. You are welcome to look through it at a mutually convenient time to yourself and the school. All belongings must be clearly labelled with the child’s name.
· Children are only permitted to bring mobile phones onto the school premises with permission from their parents and after liaison with the school. Phones must be switched off during the day and kept in the office until home time.