Knockhall Primary School - Parent Handbook 2018/19 "Putting children at the heart of all we do"
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Knockhall Primary School
“Putting children at the heart of all we do”
Parent Handbook 2018/19Welcome to Knockhall Primary School
As a parent you will probably have many questions about your child’s life at school. This booklet aims to answer these
questions and give you other additional information. Our whole school community, children, parents, carers and staff are
immensely proud of our school and its successes. These are evident in both the academic standards achieved and the
excellent curriculum we offer to our children and your support in this process is essential.
All references in this document to “parent” also refer to carers/legal guardians and anyone with
responsibility for a child in the school.
Page Number
Welcome from the Head of School 3
Headship Team and Class Structure 4
The School Day:
Contact Details and School Times 5
Term Dates 2018-2019 6
Uniform and PE Kit 7
Attendance and Reporting your child absent 8
Medication in School and Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions 10
School Meals 11
School Trips and Charging Arrangements 12
Consent for using Images of Children 13
Security of the School 14
15
Communication:
Reading Record Books, Parentmail, Newsletter, Website and Social 16
Media
Adverse Weather and Emergencies 15
Pupil Code of Conduct and Parent Protocol 16
Parent/Teacher Meetings 16
How to address any concerns 17
Curriculum Information:
Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) Learning
Learning Outside the Classroom
Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Learning and Collective 18-22
Acts of Worship
British Values
Parental Involvement
Homework
Special Educational Needs 23
Internet Safety 24
Pupil Voice 25
Local Governing Body 26
Safeguarding and Child Protection 27
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 2Welcome to Knockhall Primary School
At Knockhall Primary School, we are never satisfied with anything but the best for our children
and we have them at the heart of everything we do. We foster a positive and caring ethos
where every child can be happy, safe and able to learn well. We expect all children to:
Achievement
Work hard to fulfil their potential and develop as confident independent learners.
Make good or better progress as a result of consistently good teaching.
Aspiration
Be provided with a broad and relevant curriculum to ensure that they gain in confidence and
develop the skills and knowledge required for the future.
Aspire to be the best they can possibly be.
Teamwork
Work confidently within a group, contribute their own ideas effectively and fully share
individual and collective responsibility.
Respect
Be polite and respectful to others in action and words.
Respect the environment, equipment and other people’s ideas, beliefs and differences.
Honesty
Tell the truth at all times and be fair and just.
Pride
Be proud of everything they do, have self-respect and a sense of personal worth.
Resilience
Learn that initial failure is a learning experience that with perseverance and determination
leads to future success.
At Knockhall there is a major focus on what are known as the STEM subjects. STEM stands for
science, technology, engineering and mathematics. STEM is important because it pervades
every part of our lives. Science is everywhere in the world around us. Technology is
continuously expanding into every aspect of our lives. Engineering is the basic designs of roads
and bridges, but also tackles the challenges of changing global weather and environmentally-
friendly changes to our homes. Mathematics is in every occupation, every activity we do in
our lives.
By exposing pupils to STEM and giving them opportunities to explore STEM-related concepts,
we hope they will develop a passion for it and gain skills that could see them pursue a career
in a STEM field. Occupations in STEM-related careers are some of the fastest growing and best
paid of the 21st century, and they often have the greatest potential for job growth.
Mr Jonathan Jay, Head of School
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 3SCHOOL STRUCTURE – STAFFING
Headship Team
Mr Jonathan Jay Head of School
Mrs Chloe Riley Deputy Head of School Curriculum
Mrs Vickie Desai Deputy Head of School Inclusion
Miss Victoria Lysaght Assistant Head of School Raising Standards
Mrs Ruth Brown Assistant Head of School SENCO
Mrs Karen Cooke School Business Manager
Class Structure
Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1
Class Name
Nursery Nursery
Reception Ladybirds
Bumble Bees
Butterflies
Year 1 Foxes
Badgers
Rabbits
Year 2 Woodpeckers
Owls
Robins
Key Stage 2
Class Name
Year 3 Squirrels
Deer
Kestrels
Year 4 Hawks
Hedgehogs
Otters
Year 5 Giraffes
Leopards
Monkeys
Year 6 Lions
Tigers
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 4CONTACT WITH THE SCHOOL
Knockhall Primary School
Eynsford Road, Greenithe, Kent, DA9 9RF
Tel: 01322 382053
Fax: 01322 624509
E-mail: office@khp.kent.sch.uk
Chair of the Local Governing Body: Mr J Rouncefield
E-mail: chair@khp.kent.sch.uk
School Office Staff
Office Manager Mrs Linda Walsh
School Admin Assistant Mrs Yvonne Unthank
School Admin Assistant Miss Alysha Mitchell
The school office is open between 8am and 4pm. You are most welcome to come in and
speak to the office staff at any point during the day. Please note that the busy periods are
prior to and after the end of the school day so please do bear this in mind.
SCHOOL TIMES
Nursery (mornings) 8.30 – 11.30 am
Nursery (afternoons) 12.30 – 3.30 pm
8.40 – 11.30 pm Morning Lessons
EYFS (Reception) 11.30 – 1.00 pm Lunch
1.00 – 3.15 pm Afternoon Lessons
KS1 8.40 – 11.40 pm Morning Lessons
11.40 – 12.40 pm Lunch
12.40 – 3.15 pm Afternoon Lessons
KS2 8.40 – 12.00 pm Morning Lessons
12.00 – 1.00 pm Lunch
1.00 – 3.15 pm Afternoon Lessons
Children are allowed straight into school via the EYFS, KS1 and KS2 doors at 8.25am. Children
must not arrive unaccompanied before that time.
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 5SCHOOL TERM DATES 2018 - 2019
Autumn Term 2018
Open Wednesday 5th September 2018
Close Thursday 18th October 2018
Half-term Monday 22nd October 2018 – Friday 2nd November 2018
Open Monday 5th November 2018
Close Friday 21st December 2018
Staff Training Day (School Closed)
Monday 3rd September 2018
Tuesday 4th September 2018
Friday 19th October 2018
Spring Term 2019
Open Monday 7th January 2019
Close Friday 15th February 2019
Half-term Monday 18th February 2019 – Friday 22nd February 2019
Open Monday 25th February 2019
Close Friday 5th April 2019
Bank Holidays
Tuesday 1st January 2019 (school is also closed on Wednesday 2nd January 2019) Friday 19th
April 2019 (Good Friday) Monday 22nd April 2019 (Easter Monday
Staff Training Day (School Closed)
Tuesday 2nd January 2018
Staff Training Days (School Closed)
Thursday 3rd January 2019
Friday 4th January 2019
Summer Term 2019
Open Tuesday 23rd April 2019
Close Friday 24th May 2019
Half-term Tuesday 28th May 2019 – Friday 31st May 2019
Open Monday 3rd June 2019
Close Friday 26th July 2019
Bank Holidays
Monday 6th May 2019
Monday 27th May 2019
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 6SCHOOL UNIFORM AND PE KIT
Children are able to wear any combination from the uniform list below.
School uniform is available to order online from Brigade
www.brigadeuniformdirect.uk.com
While we would encourage the purchase of our uniform with our school emblem, uniform
from other retailers is acceptable.
Charcoal Grey cardigan/jumper with the school emblem, white polo shirt with the
school emblem or plain blouse/shirt (long or short sleeved).
Clip on or elastic tie with school emblem.
Charcoal Grey skirt/pinafore or smart grey trousers (not fashion trousers) and grey
socks/tights.
Black school shoes (no boots or trainers).
Plain hairbands.
Book bags with the school emblem.
Summer option
Smart grey shorts, green and white gingham school dresses with white socks, sandals (not
slip-on) and a sun hat
PE Kit (All)
White round necked t-shirt with the school emblem, black shorts, plimsolls for indoor PE,
trainers for outdoor PE. PE bag with a drawstring top with the school emblem. Black
tracksuits may be worn outside in Winter.
Jewellery
Watches may be worn in Year 3 and above.
One pair of stud earrings (which will be removed during PE by the child.
(Please note that staff are not permitted to remove earrings.)
Please label all items clearly
Mobile phones, tablets, ipads and all other mobile devices are not allowed in school.
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 7ATTENDANCE AND REPORTING YOUR CHILD ABSENT
Did you know that if a child misses 5 days every term, for every year they are supposed to
be at school, this adds up to an entire year of lost schooling?
Please do not let our children waste their potential. If your child is not in school then we cannot teach them!
We expect all pupils to attend school, punctually and in good health, every day. Children who attend regularly
benefit in the short and long term. They stay on top of their education and learn how to get on with people
better.
As a parent, you have a legal responsibility to make sure that your child gets a full-time education between the
ages of 5 and 16 years old. You can be fined up to £2,500 or imprisoned for 3 months if your child has a poor
attendance record. If you are prosecuted and convicted, you will have a criminal record. You could also be given
a Parenting Order which means that you have to attend a parenting class. If you are experiencing difficulties then
please do not hesitate to make an appointment to meet with your child’s class teacher. We are only too pleased
to offer support and help if it assists better attendance. Parents who take an active interest in their children’s
education and learning, and who make it known to their child that they must go to school, will find that any
excuses will soon disappear!
We do understand that there will be times when your child cannot come to school e.g. if they are genuinely too
unwell to attend school, but taking time off for holidays and birthdays is not acceptable. Although booking
holidays during term time may be financially attractive, your child will be missing vital pieces of information in
their education which could mean that some later learning will be too difficult for them to understand – is it
really worth saving a few pounds but disadvantaging your child? The school will consider issuing a Penalty Notice
to each parent for every child taken out of school for a holiday during term time. The penalty is £60 if paid within
21 days of the date of issue, rising to £120 if paid between the 22nd and 28th days after date of issue. This is in
accordance with the Education (Penalty Notices) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013. Failure to comply
with the penalty notice could render you liable to prosecution. This is not a decision that has been taken lightly
as, of course, our school wishes to maintain excellent links with parents. However, our responsibility is to ensure
that every child has access to the full provision that is on offer and this cannot be taking place if the child is away
from school. The school authorises one day for Religious Observance.
Sickness
Children should remain at home if they are unwell. After diarrhoea and sickness a minimum of twelve hours
without symptoms should elapse before returning to school. All absences should be notified to the office by
telephone on the first day. A letter of explanation should be returned with your child on return to school. Please
note that this letter does not mean the absence is authorised.
Excellent attendance is awarded each term and annually with the presentation of 100% attendance certificates.
There is a weekly celebration in each key stage with the best attendance.
All parents are advised to read our Attendance Policy, available on our website.
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 8MEDICATION IN SCHOOL
In line with the recommended Code of Practice from the Local Authority, we are unable to
administer medicines such as antibiotics and cough mixtures. If your child requires
medication from the doctor, you should ask their advice before sending your child back to
school. If a midday dose is necessary, your child should either return home for this or you should
come into school to administer the dose required.
Please note that due to some pupils experiencing extreme allergic reactions to peanuts/peanut
oils, nuts of any kind are not allowed in packed lunches or in the school. If you have any queries,
please speak to our School Office on 01322 382053.
SUPPORTING PUPILS WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS
The schools aims to ensure each child can access and enjoy the same opportunities as any
other child and give parents and pupils confidence in the school’s ability to provide effective
support for medical conditions in school.
All parents are responsible for informing the school if their child has a medical condition and
arrangements must be discussed with the class teacher and school office.
With regard to the Children and Families Act 2014 and Statutory guidance for governing
bodies of maintained schools and proprietors of academies in England (September, 2014), our
four schools ensure that arrangements, as appropriate, are made for children diagnosed with,
not exclusive but including, medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and cancer.
Each school completes a Medi-Alert Handbook identifying children who have asthma,
diabetes, epilepsy, sickle-cell, allergies (leading to anaphylaxis) and dietary needs. The school
nursing team complete an annual review of the handbook as well as ensuring all relevant staff
(teaching and non-teaching) have up to date, bespoke training with regards to meeting these
children’s needs.
The Medi-Alert Handbook sets out procedures for named medical conditions: asthma, sickle
cell disease, epilepsy, anaphylaxis and diabetes.
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 9SCHOOL MEALS
If your child is in Reception, Year 1 or 2, your child is entitled to Universal Infant Free School
Meals. If your child is in Year 3, 4, 5 or 6, the cost of a school meal will be £2.30 per day /
£11.50 per week.
In line with our ‘No-Debt’ Procedure, payments must be made in advance, or on a weekly
basis, to avoid debts accumulating. Payments may be made online via Parent Pay -
www.parentmail.co.uk. If you are not yet registered to this online payment system, please
contact the school office, who will provide you with activation details. Alternatively, you may
send in cash or cheque payments via your child. If paying by cheque, please make payable to
‘Knockhall Primary School’. A copy of our ‘No-Debt’ Procedure can be viewed below.
If your child wishes to change their lunch time meal arrangement, please provide us with
ample notice. This enables us to notify our kitchen staff, who will ensure enough food is
ordered to cater for any additional children. Unfortunately, it is difficult to accommodate part
time meal patterns (e.g. – 2 days school dinners/3 days packed lunch). Children should have
school meals (or packed lunch) for all 5 days of the week - thank you for your anticipated co-
operation.
Finally, please remember to keep us updated with regards any food allergies or dietary
requirements your child has, so that we can pass this information on to our catering company
and kitchen staff.
If you have any further queries with regards school meals, please do not hesitate to contact
the school office.
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 10SCHOOL TRIPS AND CHARGING ARRANGEMENTS
There are opportunities for year groups to go on trips during school hours. Outings of this kind
not only extend curriculum studies but also enhance the personal and social development of
children. The school’s policy on educational visits states that payment is voluntary and an
assurance is given that no child will receive differential treatment if their parents are unable
to contribute. However, visits may be cancelled if sufficient financial support is not
forthcoming and the Head of School has the right to subsidise an activity at their discretion.
Where possible, and to contribute to the school’s Travel Plan, we use public transport for
trips. The school can only refund public transport costs for trips to parents who provide oyster
or bank receipts via the School Office.
Pupils or parents are not required to pay for any equipment in connection with education
provided during school hours. However, parents may be invited to voluntarily provide their
children with particular items therefore releasing school funds for other resources.
Where there is a residential trip during school time, alternative activities which cover
comparable objectives will be offered to pupils of the same year group who remain in school.
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 11CONSENT FOR USING IMAGES OF CHILDREN
During a pupil’s time with us we will gather information about them which we will use for
various purposes. A Privacy Notice has been provided to your child in relation to the use of
this information, which is also available on the school website.
Please note this consent form links to the Pupil Privacy Notice.
There are some things that we cannot do unless you tell us that we can. We have set these
out in the tables attached. Please could you read this form very carefully and tick the
appropriate options. This will let us know which of these things you are happy for us to do,
and which you are not. Guidance advises that age 12/13 is an appropriate threshold at which
to seek consent directly from a child, the school is therefore requesting consent from
parents/carers.
If you are not happy for us to do any of the things in the tables attached then this will not
affect your child’s place at the School. You are completely free to refuse to provide your
consent to any of these things. You do not have to provide reasons for refusing your consent,
but we are happy for you to give us additional information if you choose to so that we
understand any concerns that you have and can take appropriate steps where necessary.
Why are we asking for your consent again?
You may be aware that there were new data protection rules from 25th May 2018. To ensure
we are meeting the new requirements, we need to re-seek your consent to take and use
photos of your child. We really value using photos of pupils, to be able to showcase what
pupils do in school and show what life at our school is like to others, so we would appreciate
you taking the time to give consent again. Please note that until we receive your updated
Consent form that the current Consent permissions will remain in force.
Photographs and Videos
Some of the information in the attached tables includes photographs and videos of your child.
We assure you that we take very seriously the issue of potential misuse of photographs and
videos of our pupils, and have the following measures in place:
All images/videos are stored securely with access controls in place.
The Trust operates a secure back-up system with complex password controls in place to
protect all media and data.
Data Collection sheet (contact sheet):
I confirm that I have sought the agreement of each of the named individuals on the Data
Collection sheet who are named as an emergency contact for my child/ren and their consent
before sharing their personal data as set out above with the School for this purpose.
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 12SECURITY OF THE SCHOOL
The school considers that the health and safety of children, staff, parents and all who visit the
school is of paramount importance. Security systems are installed on all entry points to the
school. Procedures are in place for staff to deal with any form of emergency and regular
practices take place which include evacuation of the whole building to the main assembly
point situated near the field.
The school request that parents exercise caution if driving children to/from school by car as
Eynsford Road poses a real hazard to both children and adults walking to and from the school
entrance. Please park with consideration for local residents. The area is regularly patrolled
by Civil Enforcement Officers (Traffic Wardens) to enforce parking regulations. Please note
that no-one should be stopping, parking or dropping off on the zig zags outside the school
gate.
Why not join the school in its campaign to encourage everyone to walk to school?
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 13ELEPHANT BOOKS
These are a home to school contact book and should be handed into the class teacher or
teaching assistant every day.
PARENTMAIL
“Parentmail” is a school to home communication system which sends information via e-mails
and text messages with an aim to enhance the good communication we have with our
parents. If you wish to sign up to receive Parentmail alerts, then please do contact the School
Office.
SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
The school produces a weekly newsletter which is emailed every Friday and also placed on
our website.
WEBSITE
https://www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk
Our website has lots of information about our school. If you would like a paper copy of any
of the information held on the website then please do contact the School Office who would
be happy to supply this free of charge.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For the safety of our children we do not allow any comments to be made on the page and no
children are named. Please search under “Knockhall Primary School” or use the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Knockhall-Primary-School/358229844367801?fref=ts
We also launched our school Twitter page in 2018 @KnockhallPrima1
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 14ADVERSE WEATHER AND EMERGENCIES
A decision to close our school would never be taken lightly and our main consideration is
always the safety of our children and staff. Schools are affected in different ways in relation
to an emergency situation depending on whether children come to school by bus or whether
staff live nearby or a distance away from the school. Hopefully, it will not be necessary to close
the school but it is always best to be prepared.
Emergency Closures outside of the school day (eg snow)
In the case of adverse weather, any decision whether or not to close the school will be taken
as early as possible. The Head of School will consult with our Premises staff at 6:30am and
make a decision as to whether the school can open. We will reassess the conditions of the site
throughout the day and on a daily basis.
If the decision is taken to close the school, we will notify parents and carers in the following
ways:
1. Website (if the website does not state that the school is closed then it is open as usual)
2. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Knockhall-Primary-School-182570762191006/
3. Twitter https://twitter.com/knockhallprima1?lang=en
4. Parentmail
School closure information can also be found on the Kent County Council website using the
link below:
https://www.kentclosures.co.uk
The school’s answerphone will remain the same and will not state whether the school is
closed.
Emergency Closures within the school day
Should weather conditions or other emergencies (eg lack of heating) deteriorate significantly
during the course of the school day, the decision may be taken to close the school. The staff
in the school office will contact parents in the same way as detailed above.
In some emergency situations it may be necessary for staff and children to move to an
alternative site in order to keep them safe. If this situation does arise, we will escort the
children from the school to St Mary’s Church, 131 Mounts Road, Greenhithe, DA9 9ND and
parents and carers will be contacted in the same way to arrange for them to collect their
children.
Please could parents and carers ensure that that the school office has their up-to-date
telephone number and e-mail address so they can be contacted swiftly.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our parents as carers, as always, for their
support and understanding.
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 15PUPIL CODE OF CONDUCT
Each class follows the Going for Gold behaviour system.
We believe we, working with our children’s parents, help to set our pupils on a positive
road to becoming good citizens.
There are clear procedures for dealing with occasions when the Code of Conduct is
broken. Details of these can be found in the Behaviour Policy, a copy of which can be
obtained from the school office or viewed on our website.
Class teachers are responsible for the management of behaviour of their class and will
ensure that parents are kept informed of incidents, good or otherwise, as necessary.
However, there may be occasions when contact (a telephone call or letter) may be
made directly by the Key Stage Leader or a member of the Strategic Leadership Team.
Class teachers will be informed of any incidents that involve a child in their class which
occur during the break sessions.
The class teacher is also the main link with parents regarding their children’s progress
and parents are encouraged to discuss any concerns they may have with their child’s
teacher in the first instance.
The school regularly receives compliments praising pupils’ behaviour both on site and
when out on trips.
We ask parents’ support so that by working together we are able to maintain these
high standards.
We emphasise a positive approach to behaviour. Pupils are expected to maintain a
high standard of work and behaviour for which they are regularly rewarded. We
believe in praise for good work and behaviour as well as improvement and effort in
these areas. We also acknowledge and encourage the development of worthwhile
social skills.
This approach is used consistently throughout the school thus promoting a good self-
image and respect for other people. For this reason, bullying of any kind will not be
tolerated under any circumstances.
PARENT PROTOCOL
Our school is dedicated to ensuring that all pupils achieve their potential and we work with
parents to achieve these aims. Unfortunately, a small minority, through inappropriate
actions, can sometimes pose a threat to the harmony within our school. There are disruptive
behaviours, which can be verbal or otherwise, that can have a detrimental effect on the good
order, safety and well-being for children and/or adults within our school. We have a duty of
care for all who attend our site. This can include pupils, staff, visitors, parents and carers. Our
parent protocol outlines some of the behaviours that are unacceptable on, or near, the school
sites and what sanctions are available to use in order to restore our harmonious community.
The protocol can be viewed on our website or a copy available from the school office.
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 16PARENT/TEACHER MEETINGS
Meetings between parents and teachers are held each term.
Autumn These take place in the classrooms in October with one early and one late
evening: 3:30pm to 7pm and 3:30pm to 5:30pm. Focus: learning and
progress and any ongoing issues.
Spring These take place in the classrooms in February with one early and one late
evening: 3:30pm to 7pm and 3:30pm to 5:30pm. Focus: learning and
progress and any ongoing issues.
Summer Open afternoon between 3.30pm and 5.30pm. Focus: end of year report
and looking at provisional targets for the coming year.
Parents can be seen on an informal basis at any time as long as they make an appointment.
Teachers are happy to be approached before and after school but please do bear in mind they
may run before or after school clubs voluntarily or be with another parent.
HOW TO ADDRESS ANY CONCERNS
At Knockhall Primary School, we aim to maintain a relationship of mutual trust with parents.
If you have any concerns at all, then please do raise them first with your child’s class teacher
followed by a member of the Headship team.
The Head of School is available, by appointment, to discuss with parents any issues that may
arise concerning their child.
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 17CURRICULUM INFORMATION
At Knockhall Primary School, we strongly believe in capturing the children’s imagination. We
provide a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum that meets the needs of each
individual child.
In our Early Years curriculum play underpins learning in our nursery and we extend and
develop the children's learning through carefully planned experiences to enable them to
develop an understanding of themselves and the world around them. A safe and caring
environment ensures that the children grow in self-esteem and fulfil their potential.
Carefully planned indoor and outdoor provision using the Early Years Foundation Stage
guidance (www.foundationyears.org.uk) encourages children to extend their development
through first-hand experience in a wide range of situations. Communication and interaction
between adults and children plays a vital role in these experiences.
Learning becomes more structured as children as children progress and at Knockhall we follow
the National Curriculum to ensure that every child receives an equal entitlement and all
children are taught the Core Subject, the foundation subject through IPC (International
primary Curriculum), Physical Education and Personal, Social, Health Education (PSHE).
HOW THE CURRICULUM IS STRUCTURED
We base the curriculum around the attributes of learning which include:
Confidence and independence
Personal and shared values
Skills and abilities
Knowledge
Empathy
Challenge
Collaboration and teamwork
We place a strong emphasis on the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science.
Children are taught to read from when they first enter Knockhall Primary School with an
emphasis on reading for pleasure; they receive at least an hour of Literacy each day. In the
Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 children follow the letters and sounds phonic
programme and are set for phonics. The letters and sounds programme is an integrated
synthetic phonics programme that teaches decoding and blending of words. Progress is
assessed every half term. During daily guided reading teaching sessions, children are taught
to apply their phonic knowledge to books as well as learn the skills of inference and deduction.
Once children have progressed through the phonics programme, they then concentrate on
spelling. Children are taught using the, PiXL programme and learn different spelling rules and
patterns. They are then encouraged to apply these rules in a range of spelling activities where
they have to use the words they have been investigating in context. Children are taught a
range of strategies and techniques for remembering spellings and spelling rules, which
continues throughout Key Stage 2.
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 18During KS2 pupils will develop their skills in reading, writing, grammar and spelling through a
structured programme (scheme of work). The programme will provide opportunities for
pupils to develop their word reading as well as comprehension and higher order skills such as
inference and bias. They will have opportunities to discuss the structure of texts and identify
the actions and motives of characters within their reading. In writing, pupils will be taught the
transcription skills (handwriting, spelling, punctuation and grammar) and composition
skills. They will have opportunities for writing each day and produce an extended piece of
writing at least once each week. This extended piece of writing might relate to a book they
are reading or be drawn from topics in their other subjects (such as History, Geography and
Science).
Maths is taught, using the Maths Mastery approach, for 1 hour 20 minutes every day in Key
Stage 1 and for one hour 20 minutes in Key Stage 2. All classes also take part in a Maths Meet,
following the Maths Mastery approach. The recall of all number facts and bonds to 20 are key
to making children strong mathematicians. Pupils will develop their skills in mental and
written calculation, shape and space and measures (including time) through a scheme of
work. These skills will be taught and developed through the use of investigative real life
contexts and problem solving activities wherever possible. Pupils will be expected to learn
common numbers facts and their times tables to 12 times.
The new national curriculum states the importance of children in the UK being 'computer
literate’ and at Knockhall Primary School all our classrooms have interactive whiteboards. Our
pupils also have access to an ICT suite and iPads are deployed across our classrooms to aid
learning. We aim to equip our young people with the skill-set and knowledge of computing
that they will need for the rest of their life’s to enable them to participate in a digital world.
SPIRITUAL, MORAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL (SMSC) UNDERSTANDING
The school aims to develop the children’s SMSC through direct teaching in the curriculum
through the ‘Jigsaw’ scheme and also through the wider opportunities such as assemblies and
the ethos and values that the school promotes. This includes the development of the
children’s understanding of other cultures and what it means to be British.
LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
The school understands the value of learning outside of the school environment and this
supports its vision of developing learners for life. Teachers are encouraged to maximise the
opportunities available to take the children outside of the school to learn and trips are
carefully planned. Additionally, the school encourages the children to attend residential
opportunities in order to develop both their academic and social development. Each year
group will have a number of experiences within an academic year and there will be at least
one external trip which will be pertinent to the curriculum.
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 19PSHE AND COLLECTIVE ACTS OF WORSHIP
All pupils follow a structured and age related Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)
programme covering such things as hygiene, safety and personal development. Personal
safety is also addressed through a range of activities including Healthy Schools and Personal
Safety awareness. This ensures children revisit these topics regularly.
Children take part in weekly PSHE sessions with their class teacher during which issues such
as relationships and feelings can be explored in a safe environment. Year 5 pupils participate
in a series of lessons covering puberty, physical, emotional and social change. During Year 6,
lessons cover sex education and human reproduction. Parents of these children will be invited
to discuss these lessons before they occur and will be given the opportunity to withdraw their
child if they wish. The Trust uses the Jigsaw scheme of work.
The school has no religious affiliation. The school follows the ‘Cornerstones’ programme for
R.E. Worship is ‘of broadly Christian character without being distinctive of a particular
religious denomination’. Through classroom teaching and school assemblies, there is a
presentation of basic Christian ethics linking with children’s everyday life. Knowledge of the
Bible is included along with celebration of major Christian festivals. Children also learn about
other faiths and are encouraged to develop awareness of and respect for different cultures to
their own.
Children may be withdrawn from collective worship at their parents’ request but prior to
doing so please do come into school and discuss this with the Head of School.
BRITISH VALUES
The school actively promotes British Values which we believe will prepare pupils for life in
modern Britain. To achieve this we use our curriculum and assemblies to enable the pupils to
relate experience to learnt knowledge. In particular these values are woven into assemblies
and many more aspects of personal, social, moral and cultural development. We promote
democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths
and beliefs.
The school's positive and inclusive atmosphere ensures that pupils experience these values
on a daily basis. We teach these values through our PSHE curriculum, assemblies, school
council, debates and discussions. This is also taught through the PSHE Jigsaw scheme of work.
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 20PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
We wish to stress the importance of parents’ involvement and support in their children’s
learning. We believe each child’s success is enhanced when they are able to build on their
classroom learning at home. There are many ways in which parents can help their children
including:
• Ensuring punctual and regular attendance.
• Support and engagement with homework particularly listening to your child
reading.
• Encourage your child to talk to you about their day and listen to them.
• Visit different places together to broaden their experiences eg coast, library,
nature parks, woodland walks etc.
• Read a bedtime story to your child every night as research shows that this is
one of the most effective ways to help a child become a reader themselves.
Additionally fluent readers are more successful in securing employment.
• Be aware that social networking sites, such as Facebook, are only deemed to
be appropriate for children aged 13 years and upwards.
The curriculum for each year group is readily available for parents to access via the school’s
website. This meant that parents are fully aware of what their child will be covering in the
academic year and can support this at home.
Parents can also be involved in the life of the school and we encourage parents to attend the
school through workshops, adult learning courses, stay and play sessions in EYFS, parent
workshops, accompanying school trips or using their practical skills around the school and
grounds, including the nature areas. Offers of help are very welcome so please do contact
the School Office if you would like to volunteer your services or join the PTA.
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 21HOMEWORK
This year homework expectations are as follows:
Reading each night for at least 10 minutes. You will receive a leaflet with question
ideas, similar to those we ask in school, to support your child’s comprehension skills
at parents evening.
Number facts practice each night e.g. number bonds and times tables.
Spellings each week – your children will receive a weekly spelling list. Please discuss
the meanings of the words and spelling patterns as well as practicing how to spell
them.
Prodigy at least once per week – your child has a prodigy login. This is an online
platform that teachers will set tasks for your child to complete.
PiXL timestables app at least once per week – your child has a login for this. It is an
easy to use app and keeps those all-important times tables skills ticking over.
LGFL (London Grid for Learning) – there are a number of games and apps here for your
child to engage with.
If you require the logins for Prodigy or the times tables app again, please speak to your child’s
class teacher and they will be happy to help.
If you would like to support your child further, you can find the curriculum jigsaw on our
website which gives you an outline of what your child will be learning throughout the term.
https://www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk/our-childrens-learning/curriculum-overviews/
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 22SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
What are Special Educational Needs?
Under the new Code of Practice, a child is deemed to have Special Educational Needs (SEN) if
he or she has ‘significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same
age’, or his/her disability ‘prevents or hinders him/her from making use of facilities of a kind
generally provided for others of the same age in a mainstream school’.
Broad areas of need are identified as: communication and interaction, cognition and learning,
social, emotional and mental health difficulties and sensory and/or physical needs. They may
be for a short period or throughout a child’s educational life. They may be identified before a
child has even entered school or they may come to be recognised at a specific point in their
education.
The school is proud of the work it does with our children and values the individuality of all of
them. We build self-esteem with positive learning experiences and successfully involving
children in whole school life. We celebrate the fact that all children are different and have
diverse needs and we make sure that we tailor learning opportunities to meet the needs of
individual children. We aspire to enable children with SEN to access and engage with all
aspects of the curriculum, and develop the skills and knowledge to achieve, succeed and even
excel beyond their potential across all areas of the curriculum.
The School’s Special Educational Needs Policy is in line with the Code of Practice and where
possible pupils with special educational needs are catered for within the classroom. When
appropriate, facilities are available for children to be withdrawn in small groups for specialist
teaching and support. Where it is felt necessary and after consultation with parents, advice is
sought from the Early Intervention Team and other relevant, external agencies.
The school operates an equal opportunities policy and, as far as it is possible, welcomes any
child, providing the need written in their Statement or EHC Plan can be fulfilled. The school
is already easily accessible for wheelchairs and has appropriate toilet facilities. We will also
make any necessary adaptations to the curriculum in order to ensure equality of opportunity
for a disabled pupil. In line with legislation, we have drawn up an accessibility plan for
increasing disability access to the school for staff, pupils and visitors and we work closely with
the school’s allocated surveyor, to ensure that health and safety and accessibility issues are
regularly discussed. The school fully complies with the Disability and Discrimination
Legislation.
We are proud to be an inclusive school and any individual requirements for pupils should be
discussed with the Head of School or SENCO.
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 23INTERNET SAFETY
Parents are requested to sign an e-safety agreement for their child to have access to use the
Internet and ICT facilities at school. Our pupils sign up to the following codes:
EYFS & KS1 Pupil Acceptable Use Agreement
Think Before You Click
I will only use the Internet and email with an adult.
I will only click on icons and links when I know they are safe.
I will only send friendly and polite messages.
I will look after any equipment the school allows me to use.
I will not tell anyone my user name or password.
If I see something I don’t like on a screen, I will always tell an adult.
KS2 Pupil Acceptable Use Agreement
I will only use the school’s computers for activities set by the school.
I will only edit or delete my own files and not look at, or change, other people’s files
without their permission.
I will not talk about any logins or passwords.
I will not bring files into school without permission or upload inappropriate material
to my workspace.
I am aware that some websites and social networks have age restrictions and I should
respect this.
I will not attempt to visit Internet sites that I know to be banned by the school.
I will only message people I know, or a responsible adult has approved.
The messages I send, or information I upload, will always be polite and sensible.
I will not open an attachment, or download a file, unless I know and trust the person
who has sent it.
I will not give my home address, phone number, send a photograph or video, or give
any other personal information that could be used to identify me, my family or my
friends, unless a trusted adult has given permission. I will never arrange to meet
someone I have only ever previously met on the Internet.
If I see anything I am unhappy with or I receive a message I do not like, I will not
respond to it but I will show a teacher/responsible adult.
I will look after any equipment the school allows me to use.
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 24PUPIL VOICE
Article 12 of the UN convention for children’s rights states that
“Every child has the right to have a say in all matters affecting them,
and to have their views taken seriously”
The school aims to achieve this through our wide range of pupil voice groups. We believe
strongly that the right to participate in a democratic process, and to contribute positively to
the lives of those around them, are fundamental British Values that all children should be
taught to uphold.
Through participation in our pupil voice groups our children gain an understanding of how
citizens can influence decision making. For children not directly elected to a pupil voice role,
they learn how a representative body makes decisions in their best interests. We have the
following pupil voice roles:
School Council: discuss issues that the children around the school raise with them
which have included raising money for good causes and forming an Eco-Committee to
work towards a green flag award for our school.
Year 6: Our oldest children are given positons of responsibility to look after younger
members of the school and to keep them safe during breaks and lunchtimes.
Ambassadors: Our Year 6 children have the opportunity to apply to be a school
Ambassador. They are the pupil face of Knockhall and will represent us in a variety of
ways throughout the year.
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 25LOCAL GOVERNING BODY
The school is governed by a Local Governing Body and the Chair is Mr J Rouncefield who can
be contacted via e-mail chair@khp.kent.sch.uk.
In order to comply with the Academies Financial Handbook, please see on our website the
details for each Governor who has served at any point over the past 12 months, their full
names, date of appointment, term of office, date they stepped down (where applicable), who
appointed them, and relevant business and pecuniary interests including governance roles in
other educational institutions. The document also details the attendance records of
Governors at Local Governing Body meetings during the last academic year.
https://www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk/our-school/governing-body/
Please do contact the school for more information if you are interested in becoming a
Governor.
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 26SAFEGUARDING AND CHILD PROTECTION
We take safeguarding and child protection extremely seriously.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs R Brown, Assistant Head of School and SENCO.
The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs S Tanner, Pastoral Manger.
In the event of their absence the nominated contact is Mr J Jay, Head of School.
Our mantra is that Child Protection is similar to a jigsaw puzzle and you may not see the whole
picture but your piece of the puzzle could be vital – do not be in doubt, report! No child ever
came to harm because someone reported something. Unfortunately, the opposite is true…
All relevant staff have received training to the appropriate level in line with the Local
Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) requirements. If you have a concern, no matter how
small, make a note of your concern using our schools’ yellow concern sheet and speak to the
Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead in their absence. The
same process is to be used if a child or an adult makes any Child Protection disclosure. (If the
disclosure involves a member of staff then the procedures for this are laid out in the policy).
We will follow the procedures set out by the Local Safeguarding Children Board and take
account of guidance issued by Ofsted and the Department for Education to:
Ensure we have a Designated Safeguarding Lead, and a Deputy, who has received
appropriate training and support for this role.
Ensure we have a Trustee with leadership responsibility for the Trust’s safeguarding
arrangements.
Ensure we have a nominated governor responsible for child protection in our school.
Ensure every member of staff (including temporary and supply staff and volunteers)
and governing body knows the name of the DSL and Deputy DSL.
Ensure all adults understand their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse
and responsibility for referring any concerns to the DSL.
Ensure that parents have an understanding of the responsibility placed on the school
and staff for child protection by setting out its obligations in the school prospectus.
Notify Children’s Social Care immediately if there is an unexplained absence of a pupil
including those who have a child protection plan.
Develop effective links with relevant agencies and co-operate as required with their
enquiries regarding child protection matters including attendance at case conferences
and Core Groups.
Keep written chronological records of concerns about children, even where there is no
need to refer the matter immediately.
Please refer to the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 27DID THIS BOOKLET COVER ALL YOUR NEEDS?
We hope as a school we have provided all the information you need. If there is any area you
feel we should cover in this booklet for the benefit of other parents, then please do let us
know. Thank you.
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Would you like to share your views about our school with Ofsted and comment upon our
many successes? If so please follow the link below:
https://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk/login?destination=give-your-views
www.knockhallprimaryschool.co.uk 28You can also read
