Developing how we do things & Raising Expectations...Developing how we do things & Raising Expectations Dear Parents/Carers and Children, We are always trying to improve the things

Developing how we do things& Raising Expectations

Dear Parents/Carers and Children,

We are always trying to improve the things we do. As such, in this newsletter you will see that we want to raise the expectation of how children are dressed for school, as our uniform is compulsory. The second is about improving children’s dining skills, their manners and their ability to converse at lunchtimes. We need your help.

Thank you to all those parents who have come to us to express their gratitude for our teachers’ and teaching assistants’ efforts. I can honestly say that I’ve never worked with such a committed team; they work very hard and are here each day for 10 hours before going home. I hope you can see this in the smiling faces of your children!Kind wishes,James Biddulph and the UCPS Staff

Issue Autumn 0047: 2016

Safeguarding Corner:E-Safety and Anti-Bullying Week

We take bullying very seriously and will work with children and their families to ensure that any incidents do not repeat. Using the word bully is very serious and we ask that parents and children only use the word if it

really is about bullying. A child being pushed once or engaging in a disagreement is not bullying. Please see

some guidance which will help you understand how we would manage a situation:

Guidance for parents (click here)

Please also see our policy online (click here)

We are coming close to party season when parents decide which Christmas party to attend. Did you know what the law and guidance says about leaving children

alone? https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/leaving-child-home-alone

TWITTER @UniCamPrimSch

Attendance: We are having many request for extended holiday or to take children out of school because parents need to work abroad for a few months. We have a considerable waiting list for places in all classes. Now that your child is in full time education it is important to arrange holidays around school holiday times.

Attendance is currently: 96.59% with some 480 absences since we started in September (equivalent of 240 days off across the school)

TWITTER @UniCamPrimSch

If your child has been vomiting or has had diarrhoea they should not return to school until 48 hours after the last episode. This is to help us stop the spread of viral bugs to other children.

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Happy Guru Nanak to all our Sikh friends

Remembrance Assembly where

we had 2 minutes silence to think of those who have

died in war

We just love our board game

club

We are developing a

love of reading in our school

FOCUS comes together and elects

a new board. ALL parents are

members of the FOCUS team

because they are parents of children

in our school

Dismissal of children: agreed procedures 2016-17

Every member of staff and parents should follow this procedure for dismissing children at the end of the school day.

School closes at 3:15pm Parents wait outside their child’s classroom and are asked not to gather too closely to the door so that there is a clear line of sight for teachers. Children sit on the carpet.

A member of staff waits by the door. When a parent indicates their presence, the member of staff calls for the child and releases them to the child’s parent. They must see the child being received by the parent. No parents are allowed into the classroom during this time. No parents are allowed in the learning street.

Parents are asked to leave the school site quickly so that the school can be locked; this is because there are children on site attending clubs or Sherpa Kids. We understand that parents would like to chat informally with other parents or the class teacher; we hope they understand our need to safeguard children first and foremost.

What happens if a parent is not collecting their child (and this is planned)?If a parent is not collecting their child and this is planned the following procedure must be followed.

1. The parent informs the class teacher that another person will collect their child. If they cannot, they inform the office.2. A password is shared with the class teacher (e.g. Apples)3. The same password is shared with the person who will collect their child.4. At the end of the school day the person collecting the child will make contact with the member of staff, the person will share the password and if the password matches, the child is released.

What happens if a parent is not collecting their child (and this is unplanned)?If a parent cannot collect their child for an unplanned reason, the following procedure must be followed.

1. The parent calls the school office and informs the school that another person will collect their child.2. A password is shared with the office (e.g. Apples)3. The school office inform the class teacher who informs all other adults in the class.4. At the end of the school day the person collecting the child will make contact with the member of staff, the person will share the password and if the password matches, the child is released.

What happens if a parent wants their child to attend Sherpa because they cannot collect their child?1. The parent informs Sherpa that they would like their child to attend for that evening and informs Sherpa who will collect their child2. The parent calls the school office and informs the school that their child will attend Sherpa3. The school office inform the class teacher who informs all other adults in the class.4. At the end of the school day children will be taken to Sherpa. 5. Sherpa Kids will sign that they have received the children (on their attendance register)

Marks and Spencer’s now have a range of autism friendly school clothing – no labels, Velcro instead of buttons, elasticated trousers in larger sizes. The range was released in August. These are the links with information and the range available. Good for lots of our parents!

http://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/media-centre/news/2016-07-21-marks-and-spencer.aspxhttp://www.marksandspencer.com/s/kids/school-uniform/help-and-inspiration/easy-dressing-school-uniform?&mcptredirect

School Uniform

We would like to raise expectations and challenge children to take greater pride in themselves, their school and their learning. As parents have chosen to send their child to a school that has a compulsory uniform it is important to ensure that agreed expectation is met. There are a number of children who are being sent to school without the correct uniform and so for clarity please see below:

- children (mainly girls) are wearing boots. They should wear black shoes with no heal. In our observations in classes we noticed that these girls find it uncomfortable to sit on the carpet because the buckles on the shoes hurt them. Please only send your child to school with black shoes- no boots or trainers at all. See website for examples.

- children are forgetting their PE kits. They are not changing for physical education. This develops bad habits towards physical education and lack of awareness of hygiene related to sports i.e. When you run you sweat and should change out of clothes into fresh clothes. You will notice our teachers wear sports clothes during PE. Navy blue shorts and white t shirts and plimsoles.

- all items MUST be labelled. There is a shop load of lost property and this suggests that children are not taking ownership or responsibility of their own clothes. It is important that they develop this self-regulation behaviour. Help them by being able to identify their clothes.

- there should be no make up worn including nail polish. If a child is wearing nail polish and they are doing cooking lessons they will have to observe.

With this effort we hope children take even better pride in their appearance. This is part of learning that in one context you dress differently from another context - preparing them in small steps for a life at secondary school (where rules about uniform are often very strict) and life at work.

We appreciate your cooperation. The school will contact parents if the uniform expectation is not for correctly followed.

Dining Skills

We would like to help children learn how to use a knife and fork

correctly. We think this an important life skill. We will be

launching a Dining Skills award. Children will be challenged to

learn to use a knife and fork and practice at home, learning good

table manners and etiquette. When they are ready, they can

apply to sit at the Headteacher’stable where they will be

assessed. If they have developed the dining skills etiquette they

will receive a very special badge. We know that there will be some

children who have fine motor skill need but this is a good way to help. It may take longer for

these children but everything is possible. We would appreciate your support in practicing best

table manners at home.

Criteria for Dining Skills

1. Hold knife in right hand and fork in left hand

2. Engage in conversation with your friend

3. Try and not have too much food falling off your plate

4. Leave your space in a neat and tidy way, including pushing your chair

in.5. Say thank you to the chefs who

cook your food & anyone who helps you at lunch

Resources to help:Cookie Monster does it

(not!)

Another clip

Be proud

Many sports’ clubs now taking place.

Perhaps we will be called The

Eddington Eagles? Watch this space

Road safety is so important as is the need to understand

the dangers of building sites

Children exploring our installation.

Learning through the arts…

Year 3 found this. Ask them all about it

Gardening on Sunday. How great

to see so many families braving the storm and helping

us with the gardening.

Hundreds of blubs planted!

PGCE Teachers visiting our school

and loving this reading shed!

Children meditating and feeling their breath in singing

club

We feature in this magazine. SO many

lovely pictures. WHSmith has copies