PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

The school values the assistance given by parents, carers and volunteers helping in the classroom with a range of curriculum areas. These may include reading and mathematics workshops, small group work, cooking, art & craft activities, swimming and sporting activities.

We take safeguarding seriously and as such parents and carers help will be required to complete a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check and adhere to the Trust policy for Volunteers. This complies with legal requirements to ensure the safety of children. The DBS check can be completed through the school office.

FREE SCHOOL MEALS

Pupil Premium is additional Government funding given to schools to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and close the gap between them and their peers. 

In our Inspiring Primaries Academy Trust (IPAT) schools this special money is spent directly on supporting our children. 

We use the majority of this money to pay for additional support staff in the classrooms to enhance pupil’s attainment & progress. Some money may also be used to subsidise visits and trips, for music lessons & instrument hire, sporting activities, and after school clubs depending on each school’s needs. 

In 2017-18, £2.4 billion of Pupil Premium funding was allocated in respect of around 2 million pupils. For the coming year 2024-25 schools will get additional funding of between £340 and £2570 per child for those in the categories listed below.

Please let the school know if any of the following apply to yourself or your child:

• My child is eligible for Free School Meals (please see the leaflet attached which explains more, and details of how to check your eligibility below)
• My child was adopted
• My child has previously been looked after by a Local Authority
• My child has been subject to a Residency Order (RO)
• My child has been subject to a Special Guardianship Order (SGO)
• I am in the Armed Forces

FREE SCHOOL MEALS (FSM)

Families who receive certain benefits may be eligible for free school meals. Are you receiving one of the following?

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under part 6 of the immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for the four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
• Child Tax Credit (with no Working Tax Credit) 
• Universal Credit 

To check you can either call 0116 305 6588, 0116 305 7093 or 0116 305 2740 or use the Parent Portal as detailed below.

Leicestershire County Council now has a Free School Meals online eligibility checker via Parent Portal

Following the launch of their new Parent Portal in 2023, parents and carers are now able to access the portal at their own convenience to check their child’s eligibility for free school meals. 

This provides parents and carers with an alternative to contacting Leicestershire County Council or their school for an eligibility check.

The Parent Portal can be accessed via this link https://leicestershire.cloud.servelec-synergy.com/Synergy/  – those accessing the portal for the first time are required to register. 

Further information including “how to guides” can be found on our Free School Meals webpage https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/education-and-children/social-care-and-supporting-families/free-school-meals

ABSENCE, ILLNESS, TERM TIME HOLIDAYS

The school needs to know the reason for a child’s absence. Parents and carers are requested to inform the school as follows:

Notification of absence by telephone message or letter before 9:15 am on the first day of absence. This includes notification of absence due to medical or dental appointments. We will also need to know if your child will be arriving in time for lunch and if a school meal is required. 

For fire safety purposes, we ask that you sign your chid in on arrival and out on collection.

All unexplained absence is classified as unauthorised.

HOLIDAYS IN TERM TIME

Parents and carers are legally responsible for ensuring that children of compulsory school age receive full time suitable education. All leave of absence requests for holidays during term time will be refused unless there are exceptional circumstances. This means absence due to holidays will be classed as unauthorised; parents and carers may be referred to the Local Authority to instigate fixed penalty fines.

The rigour of National Curriculum means that time lost and work missed during such holidays is difficult to make up. It is not the policy of the school to provide the children with work to take with them while absent on holiday.

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL

The school writes regular newsletters to keep parents and carers informed of school activities and items of interest. These will be emailed to parents or a paper copy given to the eldest child if this is not an option.

Parents and cares are advised to routinely check reading bags for letters, notes and leaflets so as to avoid any child missing out on an event or activity.

The school will regularly provide information and opportunities for parents to assist their child’s learning through newsletters, on-line updates and various meetings. Information will also appear on this website.

Each term, parents and carers are invited to attend an interview with their child’s teacher to discuss progress at school. At the end of the Summer Term each child receives a detailed annual report.

Where relevant, for children requiring additional educational support,  parents and carers will be invited to a meeting to discuss how best we can help to ensure that their child continues to make progress.