Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Reception
- Hours: 8.55am – 3.20pm
- Lunchtime: 12.15pm-1.15pm
- 32 hours and 5 minutes per week
Year 1
- Hours: 8.55am – 3.25pm
- Lunchtime: 12.30pm-1.30pm
- 32 hours and 30 minutes per week
Year 2
- Hours: 8.55am – 3.30pm
- Lunchtime: 12.30pm-1.30pm
- 32 hours and 55 minutes per week
Parents are expected to call or email the school on each day of their child’s absence before 9am. Please ensure you notify the school with the illness your child has e.g., high temperature, are throat and not just ‘illness’. This ensure that we can track any illnesses and infections across the school. The attendance register will be marked accordingly with the appropriate absence code. Office staff will check each class register and a phone call will be made to those parents who have not contacted the school regarding their child’s absence.
The curriculum pages on the website detail the curriculum for each year group, as well as progression of knowledge and skills through each subject. In addition, a year group newsletter is sent every week to inform parents/carers what will be learnt the following week in that year group. This includes links to additional learning on the internet and homework opportunities.
We have a whole school Code of Conduct which promotes the value of ‘Respect’. Respect for self, others and our environments. This is on display throughout the school and referred to by staff, as and when appropriate. We also have our characters for learning which are embedded across everything we do. These are:
Bullying is not tolerated at Darrick Wood Infant & Nursery School. We have a strong anti-bullying policy which has been developed by the school and school community.
We have several ways of ensuring that children are able to report problems of bullying and of making sure children know we will take action. We always respond to reports of bullying, and we work in partnership with parents to make sure we are a bully-free zone.
We have an e-safety policy which is available to read on the website. We provide support for children through e-safety workshops and remind parents that the recommended age for Instagram and Facebook accounts is 13.
Our school lunches are cooked on the premises. A menu is on the website, displayed in school and a copy sent home. We provide a choice of meals, and a vegetarian option is always available. We also cater for children with allergies or specific dietary requirements that are medical.
You may prefer for your child to bring a packed lunch. We teach and encourage children to eat healthily and this is followed up in the dinner hall. We ask that parents and carers support the school by providing healthy packed lunches. We ask that you don’t send in sweets, chocolate, chewing gum, juice, fizzy drinks, glass bottles or cans. Children are encouraged to only drink water in school.
Children in all classes have access to a range of different play areas during lunchtime and throughout the day. We have midday supervisors who support fun activities during the lunch hour; for example, football, basketball, skipping and team games.
If the weather is poor then the children stay indoors and are encouraged to read, draw or play quiet board games.
If your child has a medical condition which prevents them going out to play, they can stay inside with a buddy. Please ask the class teacher or the school office team if you think your child needs to stay in at playtime so that supervision may be arranged.
As many children are allergic to nuts or nut products, we request that you do not send into school nuts or nut products for your child, or any other child to eat.
There is a before and after school club which is run by Junior Adventures Group (JAG), the UK’s leading Breakfast, After School and Holiday Club provider, offering fun and affordable childcare in a safe and supervised environment. Their staff are expertly trained, DBS-checked to an enhanced level, and first aid qualified and experienced in and passionate about their activities. To find out more click here.
Once school has started each morning the gates are locked and entry to the school can only be obtained through a controlled entry system. Visitors to the school must sign in at the school office and they will be issued with a visitor’s badge. We do not allow free access to the classrooms or other areas of the school building or grounds without prior arrangement and permission.
Children are not allowed to leave the school grounds during the day, unless they are collected by an adult. Parents and carers deliver children to the playground at the beginning of the school day and collect children from the playground at the end of the school day. Children cannot be collected by an adult other than their known and named parent or carer without the school staff being informed in advance.
All staff employed at the school, plus voluntary helpers, including parents, are subject to rigorous vetting procedures including Disclosure and Barring Service checks. We have close links with the police and our local community and any concerns relating to safety and security are always reported and promptly acted upon. If you would like further information, please view our Child Protection & Safeguarding policy.
There are a number of criteria for admission to the nursery and school. This information is published in our admissions policy available from the school office or website via the Admissions page.
If you need further guidance about the school, please follow the link for useful guides translated into multiple languages.
And finally. . .
We hope that this has given you the information that you need about our school.
If there are areas or aspects of the school about which you would like to know more please do ask. We welcome your interest, questions and comments. We look forward to working with you and welcome you to our partnership.
