Welcome to Mickley Infant and Nursery School

We want our children to:

• Be safe • Be happy • Be healthy • Be adventurous and self-confident • Be friendly and polite, caring and helpful • Be excited to learn new things • Be willing to work hard and make good progress • Be able to think for themselves We would aim to put a smile on each child’s face every day. We want your child to be happy in school and enjoy being a successful learner. It is important that we work together to make sure that your child feels safe, special, self-confident and is well behaved. If you have any worries or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact me or any other adult in school who will try their best to ensure that any problems are dealt with as quickly as possible and as best we can. We do have a home/ school agreement, which we ask you and your child to sign. We look forward to working with you and your children.

Yours sincerely

Sara Street (Headteacher)

MICKLEY INFANT SCHOOL Milton Avenue, Stretton, Alfreton, Derbyshire. DE55 6GG Telephone: (01773) 832707 Headteacher: Miss S. Street

Governing Body members

Name Status Miss J Pickering Clerk to the Governors

Mr D Beaumont Chair of Governors

LA Representative

Ms K Rouse LA Representative Ms M Marshall Parent Governor Mrs J Thurnham Parent Governor Miss S Flint Community Governor Mr J Ray Community Governor Mrs M Parker-Williams

Parent Governor

Miss K Dale Staff Governor Miss S Street Headteacher

Staff Headteacher Miss S Street Early Years Teacher Miss K Dale Key Stage 1 Teacher Miss Savage Support Staff Teaching Assistant Miss J Nash Teaching Assistant Miss S Buxton Teaching Assistant Mrs L Hardy Clerk Mrs R Goodall Cleaner in charge Mrs B Newborough Cook Mrs V Saville Senior Midday Supervisor Mrs M Harrison Midday Supervisor Mrs S Lees Midday Supervisor Mrs N Morgan

General Information

The school day An adult will be in the playground at the beginning and end of the day. Please try to get the children to school promptly for a 9 o’clock start. Every child must be collected by an adult at the end of the school day. The times of the day are: 9.00 am to 12.00 pm morning session 1.00 pm to 3.15 pm afternoon session The children spend 23 hours 45 minutes per week in school, not including lunch times and playtimes, of which 21 hours 25 minutes is taught time. The remaining 2 hours 20 minutes is made up of Registration, Collective Worship/ Assemblies and Personal, Social Health Education.

Sunflowers A part-time ‘Sunflower’ session will be of 3 hours duration Times of Sunflower sessions are: 9.00 am to 12.00 am morning session 1.00 pm to 3.15pm afternoon session All children will need a PE bag containing PE plimsolls, T-shirt and shorts. These need to be named and will be kept in school. Please name Wellingtons and send a clothes peg to clip them together. Please ensure that children wear suitable clothing for the seasons as part of their school day will be spent outdoors.

Buildings and grounds Mickley Infant and Nursery School is a county, co-educational day school for children between the ages of 3 and 7. The school was built in 1957 and extended in 1975. There are two main teaching areas – one for children aged 3-5, known as the ‘Sunflower Unit’ and 1 class for children aged 5-7. We have a cooking kitchen providing nutritious hot meals for the children. In 2002 a conservatory was built which is used for group work and community events. The school has spacious grounds incorporating mature trees, playground area, logs, picnic tables, an environmental pond and an adventure playground / trim trail with safety flooring. There are ramps and barriers to enable disabled access. In 2005 parental fund raising enabled us to build an ‘outdoor’ classroom. A canopy has recently been installed to enable all weather access to outdoor space. The Sunflower Unit has its own outside play and garden area with access to an enclosed school field. There is also a covered play area with safety flooring. OFSTED 2010 ‘Pupils thrive in the very caring and supportive environment provided by the school and Early Years Foundation Stage. Achievement and most other outcomes are good. Good teaching, a broad curriculum and some outstanding elements of care, guidance and support are used effectively to personalise the learning of the large majority of pupils so that they make good progress in most areas’ The school has been awarded: Healthy School Status Basic Skills Quality Mark 4 The Initial and Intermediate Award for Good Practice – Anti- Bullying Professional Development of Teaching Staff We are always looking for ways to improve our knowledge and practices so that our children receive the best possible education. Our 5 INSET days are used to improve our knowledge and skills.

Admission policy From September 2005 all parents/ carers will need to apply for a place on the common LA admissions form. The forms need to be sent to the LA by January each year. All parents will be notified during May of each year as to where their child has been allocated a place. The standard number for admission is set at 20 for 2010/2011. Children can be admitted part-time to the Sunflower Unit the term after they are three years old. Children are admitted full time in September if they are five between 1st September and 31st August. Attendance It is important that children attend school regularly to ensure continuity and progression in their learning. Please try to ensure that they arrive in school punctually for a 9 o’clock start so as not to disrupt lessons. We do say ‘Better late than not at all’ The figures below show pupil’s attendance at our school. We would aim for 95% minimum. 2009 2010 2011 Authorised absence 4.8% 5.6% 5.0%

Unauthorised absence 0.8% 1.6% 0.3% Attendance 94.3% 94.2% 94% Absence If your child is ill we ask you to contact the school on the morning of their absence before 9.15 am. If the school does not receive an explanation for absence we will contact home to see of there is a problem that we can help with. Unauthorised absences will be reported to the Education Welfare Service. It is important that you let us have up to date contact numbers in case of illness during the school day.

Holidays in term time Please try not to book a family holiday during school term time. If you have no option it is necessary to fill in a holiday request form, obtainable from the school office, and a points system will be used to work out whether the holiday can be authorised or not. We are unable to authorise holidays for longer than 10 days under any circumstances. If holidays are unauthorised they will be referred to Derbyshire County Council for penalty notices to be issued. Data Protection We need to keep certain details about your child when they start school. Any information that you give us is kept under restricted access and is subject to the Data Protection Act. Information will only be disclosed to the Education Authority, Health and Welfare Agencies or where there is a law or emergency which necessitates disclosure. Health Information Throughout their time in school your child will be examined by the school medical officer or nurse. You will be invited to be present at the examination. A check will be kept on your child’s sight, hearing and hygiene. If any problems are detected you will be told confidentially. Regular dental checks are also held. Medicine in School If your child requires medicine to be given during the school day we would prefer that the parent comes into school to administer it. Prescribed medicine may be administered on completion of a medical form. If your child needs long term medication, such as asthma inhaler, please come and discuss this with staff and fill in a consent form. It is important that staff know when and how the treatment is to be given. It is also important if your child has asthma that an inhaler is kept in school at all times. Head Lice Head lice like clean heads and are a nuisance at times. We ask that you examine your child’s hair regularly for head lice and treat them appropriately. Your local clinic will advise on the current treatment. A battery operated comb is available for loan in school priced 50p or the school sells plastic nit combs at 20p.

School meals Good quality hot meals are served daily in a group situation. The children are served at the table by an adult. They are encouraged to try new foods but are not pressed to eat anything that disagrees with them. Children with special dietary needs can be catered for after consultation with Mrs Saville the school cook. Dinner Money Dinner money is payable on Monday mornings to the school office. At present diners cost £1.90 per day, £9.50 for a full week. Please send the correct amount in an envelope with the child’s name on it. If you wish to pay by cheque please make them payable to Derbyshire County Council. Mrs Saville needs to know dinner numbers by 9.30am each day so please let us know before this time if your child is going to be late. If you wish to change from school dinners to packed lunches or vice versa we do need a weeks notice to enable food to be ordered correctly. Free School Meals If your child is eligible for free school meals, forms are available from the school office. Free meals authorisation does need up dating regularly, so please get any paperwork completed in good time and returned to the school office. Free meals cannot be provided without authorisation. Packed Lunches Children may bring packed lunches to eat on the premises. Please make sure that any containers are named. No glass bottles please. Break Times All our children will be offered a piece of fruit at morning breaktime. Snacks, sweets, biscuits and crisps are not allowed. Cold water is available for regular drinks throughout the day.

Child protection Parents should be aware that the school will take any reasonable action to safeguard children. In cases where the school has reason to be concerned about the welfare of a child, through ill-treatment, neglect or abuse staff have no alternative but to follow County Council Child Protection Procedures and inform Social Care of their concern. Accessibility We are able to accommodate children and staff with wheel chairs or who have difficulty in walking both inside and outside the building. Ramps and hand rails are provided. In accordance with the 2001 SEN and Disability Act accessibility for all will be monitored and if necessary improved in line with Derbyshire County Council recommendations. Security Access to the school is monitored via the Reception Office in the main entrance. Doors to the outside of the building do not open unless opened from the inside. The main gates are closed after 9.00am, when all children are safely in class. Please use the pedestrian gate when coming into or leaving school on foot. School alarms are maintained and checked regularly and regular fire practices are undertaken. The doors in the Sunflower Classroom have safety locks, at adult height. Adult volunteers are supervised and CRB checked. All visitors are asked to report to the office and sign the Visitor’s book. Security lighting has been installed around the school. Health and safety issues are reviewed annually and risk assessments undertaken. If you need to take your child out of school during normal school hours you will be asked to sign them in and out. Please collect your child from the school office on such occasions.

Special Educational Needs We aim to provide a curriculum suitable to the needs and abilities of all children. All children with individual needs are fully integrated into the classroom situation. Parents are kept informed and individual programmes of work may be drawn up. No child will be refused admission into school because of disability. To provide a curriculum for children whom we consider to have Special Educational Needs we work through a process of identifying which children this will include and what specific difficulties they have. The identification process can include:

• Observations made by school staff or specialists from external agencies. • Assessments such as school records and teacher assessments. • Identification by and referral from outside agencies, speech therapists,

G.P, school doctor, hospital paediatrician, audiometrician, Social Care, sight impaired services, optician or health visitor.

• Parental observations or concerns shown by parents as to the progress of their child in school or any problems they have discovered at home.

• On occasions parents/guardians may be asked for their permission for an Educational Psychologist to assess their child with a view to giving the school advice on how best to teach that particular child.

• If a child is on the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice register their progress will be monitor regularly by the Special Needs co-ordinator in conjunction with the Headteacher and class teacher. Parents will be kept informed of progress.

Religious Education

Religious Education is taught following the Derbyshire Agreed Syllabus. The main content is non-denominational Christianity. We also consider other world religions with the aim of trying to understand, accept and respect each other’s similarities and differences. Moral and Social issues are also discussed at this time. We also have a daily assembly, which may include assemblies delivered by visiting clergy. If you wish your child to be withdrawn from assemblies or R.E lessons please make your wishes known to the school so that alternative arrangements can be made.

Homework Policy Homework done regularly helps the children to develop good work habits. We realise that it is not always easy but please try to spend about 15 minutes per night on ‘homework’ as outlined below to benefit your child. Sunflower children Sunflower children will be expected to learn one rhyme, chosen by the school, from memory per week. ‘Homework’ for the Sunflower children consists of the everyday tasks of:

• Teaching your child to un/dress him/herself independently. • Sharing books/ stories regularly from a selection in the Sunflower Unit. • Counting by rote. • Using a knife and fork correctly. • Recognising their name when written down.

Key Stage 1 children Each child will be provided with a Reading Diary. Staff will make comments as appropriate in the diary which must be brought to school every day. Parents are encouraged to make helpful comments in the diaries if they wish. Every child will be expected to:

• Share their reading book with an adult/older child each evening. • Learn one rhyme / poem, chosen by the school, per week. • Learn a small number of spellings to be tested each week. • Learn to say a small number of words/ sounds per week. • Complete a Maths activity every week •

Homework should be a fun activity which you can share with your child.

Code of Conduct As part of our Home-School Agreement we ask parents to discuss our school rules with their children and sign to say that this has been done. We want the best for all our children in school. Teacher time is better spent teaching than sorting out bad behaviour. Each day is a fresh start School rules

• Always listen and do as you are told first time. • Always keep your hands and feet to yourself. • Always talk and move around school quietly.

Consequences of not following the rules • Each child will be given three chances. • After the third chance timeout takes effect, ranging from 1-5 minutes

sitting away from the other children. An apology will be expected. Extreme circumstances Once the child has been removed for thinking time to consider their behaviour parents will be notified. This is not as a complaint but as a means of ensuring school and home work together to improve behaviour. Should any child behave in an unacceptably abusive or aggressive way to either an adult or child parents will be contacted and asked to take their child home immediately and make an appointment with school to discuss the behaviour and what further action would be needed. Rewards Smiley faces, certificates and stickers will be given as awards for good work and good behaviour. Good behaviour and work will be celebrated at the weekly ‘Gold Assembly’ where a certificate and ribbon will be presented. Parents of the children receiving the awards will be invited to the assembly. Children will also work towards ‘Bronze, Silver and Gold’ awards for continued effort and good behaviour.

School Results

Key stage 1 school and national level data This table shows the percentage of eligible children at Mickley Infant School achieving each level, compared to national end of key stage 1 teacher assessment levels. The lighter shaded sections of the table represent 2010 national teacher assessment data for core subjects. The darker shaded areas of the table are not a requirement for schools. Figures may not total 100 per cent because of rounding.

'W' represents children who are working towards level 1, but have not yet achieved the standards needed for level 1. At Mickley Infants for this cohort each child represents 10% Number of eligible pupils: 10

2010/11 teacher assessment results

Percentage at each level W 1 2 2C 2B 2A 3 or

above Disapplied

children Absent children

Speaking and listening 0 10 40 50 o o

Speaking and listening 2 11 66 21 0 0

Reading 0 10 0 20 30 40 0 0

Reading 3 12 12 23 24 26 0 0

Writing 10 0 0 20 30 40 0 0

Writing 4 15 21 28 20 12 0 0

Mathematics 0 10 0 20 20 50 0 0

Mathematics 2 9 16 26 26 20 0 0

Science 0 10 40 50 0 0

Science 2 9 68 21 0 0

Complaints procedure Complaints relating to the school curriculum must initially be made to the Headteacher. If they are not resolved the Headteacher will follow the procedures laid down by Derbyshire County Council. The Head will inform you of these procedures. Area Education Office telephone number is 01246 204851 Term Dates 2012/201

2012/2013 academic year

• 3 September to 26 October • 5 November to 21 December • 7 January to 15 February • 25 February to 28 March • 15 April to 24 May • 3 June to 23 July

5 INSET Days

3rd September and 4th September

21st December

2 INSET days to be confirmed

Uniform and Jewellery Policy The Governing Body have adopted the policy that no jewellery is to be worn in school with the exception of wrist watches, which must be removed for P.E activities. This decision has not been taken lightly and has been made to reflect our duty of care towards all children. If you would like your child to have their ears pierced please consider doing this at the beginning of the Summer holidays so that they are able to remove them before the start of term. Uniform is non- compulsory at Infant age, although we do like the children to where school uniform wherever possible. Our uniform consists of grey trousers / skirts / shorts and white polo shirts with a blue sweatshirt. Uniform is available to order from the school office on a termly basis. We order uniform 3 times a year, Summer term for September, Christmas and Easter. We also offer ‘previously loved’ good quality uniform at a reduced rate.