Raglan Infant School
Wellington Road, EN1 2NS
Tel: 020 8360 5121
Fax: 020 8360 2813
Raglan Infant School
Parents partnership policy
We recognise that parents/carers are the most important influence in a child's life and that education can only be fully effective if there is a partnership between parents, children and providers.
"Parental involvement in a child's education can be a more powerful force in learning than family background and parents education level, and contributes to no less than 10% of variation in achievement." DFES 1999
"It's what parents do rather than who they are that counts."(Charles Desforge)
Our school aims
Highest Quality Education
Caring Environment
Thriving children
Some of the ways in which we try to meet these aims are :
- Promoting a partnership based on mutual respect between parents, children and all those working within our school.
- Developing the parent's role as co-educators
- Sharing educational practice
Objectives
Raglan Infant School will provide training and enrichment opportunities.
We aim to ensure that all groups of parents/carers associated with the school are aware of training and enrichment opportunities available at the school and in the community. These include courses or sessions to help parents support their children's learning and develop their own lifelong learning e.g. share, keeping up with the children. The school actively promotes attendance of parents at many different courses or training both at Raglan and in the community. Raglan Infant School helps parents to be involved in lifelong learning activities and recognises successes for instance by giving certificates and/or inviting parents to share in our "golden assemblies" on completion of their course.
Raglan Infant School will be welcoming to parents and visitors
Raglan Infant School aims to be a welcoming and friendly environment for parent/carers. Children's work and photographic records of family events are effectively displayed. A parents' notice board advertises forthcoming events and general information. Our office staff are approachable and aim to respond to the needs of the caller/visitor. Parents/carers are asked to sign our comments book and asked about the reception they receive.
Information and updates are made available to parents/carers about events open to them such as review and consultation dates, SATs, sports events, fundraising and social events. We aim for high parental involvement in consultation events. We will ensure that parents are actively involved in the celebration of success.
We will ensure there is welcoming and supportive induction for all new families
Our dedicated admissions officer is responsible for induction and clear procedures are in place. Office staff, in conjunction with Year group co-ordinators, produce and distribute induction information packs. During induction the home school agreement is clearly communicated. Raglan Infants hold pre-decision days and prospective parents/carers are encouraged to arrange visits to the school.
We will provide parents/carers with relevant and user-friendly information about the work of the school and its curriculum events.
Curriculum guidance letters are provided each term giving ways to support their children. High quality newsletters are produced weekly, and keep parents/carers informed of current events and important news and information. Our school website also gives regular information and has a link especially for parents. Our school profile is available for parents to access and we will ensure that it is clear and valued.
We will produce and implement parent/carer friendly policies to establish effective home/school links and improve pupil attendance, punctuality and positive participation in school and insure that :
- Appropriate jargon free school policies are easily read by parents/carers. They are invited to give feedback on these.
- Our Home-school agreement is clearly written and available in community languages.
- Our parent partnership policy/complaints procedure/behaviour/ antibullying policy/medicines policy are all in place and available.
- Parents/carers are given the opportunity to consult with teachers. Parents/carers receive meaningful information about their children's progress.
- We have positive behaviour management strategies in place and parents/carers are given information about these.
- Parent/carers are invited to give feedback on appropriate policies.
Reporting to parents
In the Autumn Term, teachers will meet with parents to discuss the child's progress. Targets for the coming term will be agreed between the child, parents and teacher. These will be reviewed at subsequent consultations. Teachers draw upon their records of both formal and informal assessments (summative and formative) and prepare short notes on the child's progress (individual profiles). These are shared with parents and provide the basis for consultation. Reporting takes place annually in the Spring Term and meets statutory requirements .A written report is given to parents before the Spring Term consultations.
Raglan Infants will provide user-friendly support resources for parents/carers and pupils so that they can make informed decisions about choices and transition to other institutions.
The SENCO is able to provide links to allied support services. Parents/pupils are given access to information and impartial guidance on both transitional and progression routes and support services e.g. through meetings, visits and letters. Updated leaflets and information is displayed in the school reception area.
Raglan Infants will hold and actively promote enrichment activities opportunities or events that promote joint parent/care child participation
We will provide a programme of enrichment opportunities which encourage children and parents to appreciate their own and others' cultural traditions. Community diversity is celebrated and reflected in programmes and practice. Parents/carers are encouraged to take part in off site school educational visits, participation in sports, arts, and other interests and work experience.
Raglan Helpers and Volunteers policy
The school benefits from people who regularly give their time and talents. We are able to enrich and increase educational opportunity for our children because of the additional support of such volunteers. The volunteers who come into school on a regular basis must be given an induction by a senior member of staff .
In order to help regular volunteers work comfortably and effectively an induction will include :
- Issues around confidentiality and Child Protection
- A tour of the school
- Health and Safety regulations
- Being made aware of relevant policies
- Being shown where toilet facilities and refreshments are.
- Being introduced to staff and children they will be working with.
All regular volunteers will need CRB checks.
In addition, Parents/Carers may be invited into school by their child's teacher on an ad hoc basis to help with class events or particular pieces of work.
Protocol for becoming a volunteer/helper in school
Our expectations:
- Volunteers need to be reliable and punctual.
- Volunteers must let supervising staff know of any behavioural incidents so that supervising staff can deal with them.
- Volunteers must discuss any worries or concerns with supervising staff.
- Volunteers are responsible for their own belongings, and advised not to bring valuables into school.
- Volunteers agree to abide by the school's practice and protocols outlined in training sessions.