Parents are very welcome at Raysfield and we encourage active and positive partnership during the school year.

We remain highly committed to the well established belief that - "the value of good parental co-operation with a developing climate of trust, and the quality of relationships are seen as key elements in the maintenance of a good atmosphere in the school.” (Ofsted)

“Most parents are very supportive of the school’s work and few have any misgivings.”

 

We feel that it is very important to maintain effective and positive links with parents - to build up trust and confidence between home and school, so that parents feel that they are essential partners in the life of the school.  It is our aim to enable parents and teachers to work in harmony, so that the children feel a security and support, to achieve their best, in a happy and caring environment.

 

The Home School Agreement

A home school agreement has been drawn up after consultation with staff and parents. At the beginning of each year a copy of it will be sent home for you to read, sign and return. This can be seen below.

 

Parent Helpers

During the school year there are many opportunities for parents to come into school to provide active support and help in a wide variety of ways in the classroom and around the school.  Requests for volunteer help are sent out early on in the school year (September), and we are always very grateful for offers of help at any time during the year.  Such offers should be directed to individual class teachers, who will gladly discuss ways of accommodating volunteer help. (see Volunteer Policy)

 

Parent Meetings

There are organised opportunities for parents and teachers to meet together three times per year.   Information about these events is sent out via letters to parents from the school. Parents are asked to make appointments in advance so that staff can timetable their evenings. It is too late to ask for an appointment on the same day as the consultation evening. 

 

During the year parents may need to meet teachers to discuss something important relating to their child and their education. Appointments can be made to see class teachers either through the office or a note with your child. The teachers will see you as soon as is possible by arrangement before or after school. Brief messages can be communicated with the class teacher when they collect the children at 8.50am. However, longer discussions will need to be scheduled at another time.

 

Complaints

If you have any anxieties or worries about any aspect of your child's progress in school please do not hesitate to tell us about it.  It will be our aim to listen sympathetically, discuss the problem and do something about it in a positive manner.  Most problems can be resolved quite easily with a positive/co-operative relationship between the child, teacher and parents, and we expect that the majority of issues can be handled this way.

 

The first contact should be with the class teacher, who will advise the Headteacher and any other professionals if necessary.  Most day to day issues can be dealt with at this level, but enquiries concerning school policy issues, or issues not resolved with class teachers should be directed to the Headteacher.  There is an official LA Complaints Procedure, details of which are available on request.

 

 

Home - School Agreement

As a Parent/Guardian we will be responsible for:

• ensuring that my child attends school regularly, on time and properly equipped.

• contacting the school immediately if my child is absent.

• keeping the school informed of any issues, concerns or problems that might affect my child’s work or behaviour.

• supporting the school’s behaviour and discipline policy.

• supporting my child in homework and other opportunities for home learning.

• attending regular parent’s evenings and discussions about my child’s progress.

• informing the school of any change of address, telephone number and email.

 

As teachers we will be responsible for:

• caring for your child’s safety and happiness.

• encouraging your child to do their best.

• informing you of your child’s progress at regular meetings.

• letting you know of any concerns or problems that might affect your child.

• encouraging your child to show courtesy and consideration to others at all times.

• welcoming you into school and offering opportunities for you to become involved in the daily life of the school.

 

Together we will be responsible for:

 

• supporting your child’s learning to help them achieve their best.

• giving your child encouragement, boosting their self-esteem and developing independence

 

Homework

Our homework policy recognises that children are always learning and that parents play a vital role in enriching their children’s learning. Below are homework guidelines. Some activities will need your help and time to encourage your child to always do their best and to complete the tasks.

We also believe it is important that children have time to develop their own interests and social skills through clubs and groups such as brownies, guides, cub scouts, music, drama, swimming, football, netball, tag rugby, dance …etc. of which there are numerous opportunities in the local area.

We would also encourage you to develop an interest jointly in the world around your family.

GUIDELINES (from the homework policy)

Homework: The amount of homework set will increase as the children progress through the school, broadly in line with DFES guidelines.

Homework will consist of a focus on developing understanding in Literacy and Numeracy, along with opportunities to explore learning in other subjects, as follows:

 

• Maths homework will be set once every other week in years 3 and 4, with once a week in years 5 and 6. This should relate to the week’s numeracy topic. It will be reviewed in class and this will often take the form of a plenary session.

• Literacy homework will be set once every other week in years 3 and 4, with once a week in years 5 and 6. This should relate to the week’s Literacy. It will be reviewed in class and this will often take the form of a plenary session.

• We encourage children to take a "Reading Book" home. The children should read at home at least 5 x a week, for 10 minutes to an adult (preferably each day).

• Tests for TABLES / mental maths & SPELLINGS take place in every class and it is expected that children will make the appropriate effort (out of school) to learn their tables & spellings for these tests. Children are challenged to progress in their tables knowledge, through the ’55 Club’ (given timed assessments in class, to meet new challenges).

• Optional ‘topic work’ will also be given, to be completed over a number of weeks, aiming to inspire children to take their learning further, through their own research and a range of activities, including oral presentations, art, drama, written work, and physical hands-on activities. Good work will be rewarded in line with the rewards and sanctions policy.

 

In addition to the above homework, children should have ample opportunities to develop their social, personal, cultural and physical skills out of school, and we encourage activities, which aim to develop the "whole child".

• Parents can play a vital role in providing enrichment opportunities which might arise from work which has been going on in the classroom, and these might include visits to local library, places of interest, galleries, museums, sites of historical and/or geographical significance.

• Other work at home. Members of staff are willing to offer (to parents) professional advice about additional work that might support the work already being done in school-time.

• There are occasions when work set for the day is not completed by certain children, and if a teacher feels that this work should have been completed, it will be sent home with the child to be completed again. It is expected that full parental support will be given in such instances.

On certain occasions where there is need for a child to catch up or to move on to the next level with some particular piece of work, it will be suggested by the class teacher that a course of regular special work, for a limited/specific time, is undertaken.