Parents Handbook 2020-2021 RSS Parents’ Handbook Yrs 1-6 DRS Dear Parents I am delighted to welcome you to the Lower/Middle/Upper Years here at Ruckleigh. By the time you sit down to read this you will have already encountered something of the magic of Ruckleigh. This document is provided then, to fill you on the ‘nuts & bolts’ of life here at the school. It is not exhaustive but, should provide you with a quick point of reference where school rules and routines are concerned. Short though this Handbook is, we do require all parents to read it. We strongly believe that any success achieved is a result of a close partnership between the school and home. I hope that this handbook proves useful to you, and that we can lead and support your child through these first vital educative years. Dominic Rhys Smith MA Oxon Headmaster 2 RSS Parents’ Handbook Yrs 1-6 DRS POSTAL ADDRESS Ruckleigh School 17 Lode Lane Solihull West Midlands B91 2AB Telephone: 0121 705 2773 ​ Email: [email protected] ​ ​ Website: www.ruckleigh.co.uk ​ ​ Correspondence to Directors of the school should be marked for the attention of Charlotte Laurens. SCHOOL AIMS As a school we are unashamedly academic. In partnership with parents and pupils we aim to: ● Educate the whole child in a stimulating environment where kindness, care and sensitivity towards the needs of others is practised by all ● Develop each child to reach his/her full potential academically, physically, creatively, socially and morally ● Guide pupils into habits of self reliance, courtesy, clear thinking and with a willingness at all times to ‘have a go’ 3 RSS Parents’ Handbook Yrs 1-6 DRS RUCKLEIGH SCHOOL STAFF LIST 2019-2020 SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM Mr D R Smith Headmaster; DDSL Mrs J Finch Class Teacher; Deputy Head, DDSL Mrs R Chandler Class Teacher; Pastoral Lead, DSL, PSHCE Co-ordinator Mrs H Coleman Class Teacher; Early Years Co-ordinator, DDSL Mrs K Bullard Class Teacher; Curriculum Lead Mrs C Laurens Bursar TEACHING STAFF Mrs G Banks Teacher (Speech and Drama) Mrs J Brown Teacher (Science) Mrs L Burrell Class Teacher; First Aid Co-ordinator; Ms C Colquhoun Class Teacher Mrs R Chandler Class Teacher Mrs S Draper Class Teacher; Geography & RE Co-ordinator Mrs A Freeth Early Years Practitioner; Paediatric First Aider Mrs R Groen Teacher; Mathematics Co-ordinator Mrs S Harrison Teacher; Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator Miss J Lutwyche Early Years Professional Miss E Lynch Class Teacher, History Co-ordinator [Maternity Leave] Mr C Maclean Class Teacher Ms L Moya Teacher (Spanish) Miss K Pearce Class Teacher; Creative Arts Co-ordinator Mrs H Russell Class Teacher Mrs G Slatter Class Teacher; Health and Safety Coordinator Mr I Watson Sports Master Mr Whichello Class Teacher; Games Coordinator Mrs S Wilson Music, Learning Support, Computing Co-ordinator, Paediatric First Aid Mr S Woodward Class Teacher [Maternity Cover] SUPPORT STAFF Mrs T Miller Admissions and Administrator [furloughed] Mrs B Badham Assistant Bursar and Administrator Mrs K Cuffley Credit Control and Administrator Mrs V Lynch Librarian Mr D Laurens Facilities Manager Miss T Clarke EYFS TA Mrs V Collins TA Mrs A Shipway TA Mr M Mason Catering Manager Mr T Garbett Groundsman Mrs L Aldridge Lunchtime Supervisor Mrs L Crocker Lunchtime Supervisor Mrs L Simpson Lunchtime Supervisor Mrs J Taylor Lunchtime Supervisor ● All staff receive training in Child Protection and First Aid ● A list of peripatetic instrumental and singing teachers is available from the office on request. ● A whole school staff list, including temporary staff, along with a summary of their qualifications is available to view upon request from the office 4 RSS Parents’ Handbook Yrs 1-6 DRS 5 RSS Parents’ Handbook Yrs 1-6 DRS UNIFORM Uniforms should be purchased from the official school supplier: Early Years, Stratford Road, Shirley. https://www.earlyyearsschoolwear.com/c/1624/Ruckleigh-School Full details of the School Uniform are available from the school office, on the School website and from Early Years. Unless otherwise directed by the School, pupils are expected to arrive and leave school wearing the specified items of uniform, including caps and hats. ● A pupil’s clothing should be clean, regularly checked, repaired and renewed. Shoes should be cleaned and polished daily. ● All garments and other property must be clearly marked with the owner’s name. ● Kindergarten to Year 5 boys should wear short trousers all year. During cold weather, school tracksuit bottoms may be worn during break and at lunch time. ● Boys in Year 6 have the option of wearing long trousers all year. ● Years 1-6: On Physical Education [PE] days children must come to school dressed in school tracksuit and trainers. Children should also wear their school green shower proof overcoat. Hats and caps are not needed on P.E. days although Children should wear the school green fleece hat, scarf and gloves in colder weather. ● Children participating in the various clubs that take place after school must change, if necessary, into clothes suitable for the activity. ● Summer uniform should be worn from the start of the Summer Term. ● In the interests of safety, no jewellery should be worn in school, the Kara being the only exception to this ​ ​ rule A full list of approved shoes is available at Clarks in Solihull town centre, Cooshoo, York Road, Kings Heath and Bruga, Stratford Road Shirley. HAIR ● Girls should wear their hair trimmed in a neat, sensible style. Girls with hair longer than collar-length must wear it tied back. Hair accessories should be plain bottle green. ● Boys should have their hair trimmed in a neat style above the shirt collar. ● Tram lines/shaved heads are not acceptable. ● Coloured, highlighted, gelled hair is not permitted. 6 RSS Parents’ Handbook Yrs 1-6 DRS 7 RSS Parents’ Handbook Yrs 1-6 DRS SCHOOL ORGANISATION Age Ruckleigh Year Groups National Curriculum Key Year Groups Stage (KS) 3 to 4 Nursery Early Years Nursery Early Years 4 to 5 Kindergarten Foundation Stage Reception Foundation Stage 5 to 6 Year 1 Lower School Year 1 KS 1 6 to 7 Year 2 Year 2 KS 1 7 to 8 Year 3 Middle School Year 3 KS 2 8 to 9 Year 4 Year 4 KS 2 9 to 10 Year 5 Upper School Year 5 KS 2 10 to 11 Year 6 Year 6 KS 2 SESSION TIMES Early Years Foundation Stage: 8.30 a.m. for 8.55 a.m. – 3.15 p.m. Lower School: 8.30 a.m. for 8.55 a.m. – 3.20 p.m. Middle and Upper School: 8.45 a.m. for 8.55 a.m. – 3.40 p.m. PUNCTUALITY Punctuality is an important aspect of school life. All children should arrive in school by 8.45 a.m. in order to be ready for registration at 8.55 a.m. A ‘late’ mark will be recorded for children arriving after the Class Teacher has closed the register. BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL DAY ● Whilst members of staff are on the premises before the start of the school day, there is no official supervision until 8.10 a.m. ● Children may be dropped off at school from 8.10 a.m. ● Between 8.10 and 8.20 a.m. the children will remain in the dining room. ● At 8.20 a.m. supervising staff will advise children in Years 3 to 6 as to whether they should go on to the playground or to their classrooms. ● At 8.30 a.m. Years 1 and 2 pupils will go from the dining room to their classrooms where they will be greeted by their teachers. ● The school bell will be rung at 8.50 a.m. to prepare children for the start of the school day. ● The Touchwood Hall Close gate is locked at 8.50 am. Parents and children arriving after this time must use the main entrance to the school on Lode Lane. ● Children in Nursery and Kindergarten arriving in school after 8.50 a.m. should be escorted by a parent/guardian to their classroom. ● Pupils in Years 1 to 6 arriving in school after registration must report to the school office to be marked present; a LATE mark will be written in the class register. ● In the interest of security, when entering or leaving the school building please do not hold the door open. ​ ​ 8 RSS Parents’ Handbook Yrs 1-6 DRS END OF THE SCHOOL DAY ● Touchwood Hall Close gate will be opened at 3.10 p.m. ● Please be aware that the playground may be used by classes for recreation, as an outdoor classroom or for P.E. lessons. We ask that the children in your care are supervised when crossing the playground and that activities are not disrupted. ● Pupils may only leave school in the company of a parent or guardian. School will not release a child to ​ ​ another parent or guardian without written instructions directly from the child’s parent. ● Parents or guardians who are unable to collect children at the usual time should inform the school of the alternative arrangement by letter ​ ● Parents or guardians who are delayed and are unable to collect their child/children at the usual time should contact the school office as soon as possible with, if necessary, alternative arrangements. Office staff will, if appropriate, pass on a message as children often become worried and distressed when not collected at the expected time. ● Children in Years 1 and 2 should be collected from the doors at the rear of the school building at 3.20 p.m. ● Children in Middle and Upper School may be collected from the playground between 3.40 p.m.