Frequently asked questions

Attendance & Timekeeping

Q: What are school opening and closing times?

A: School starts at 8:45 am each day and all pupils will be ready to pick up in the afternoon at 3:10pm each day.

Q: What do I do if my child is late to school?

A: Take your child to the main office and sign them in on the iPad and inform our school office manager, Mrs Howard. Your child can then go to class.

Q: What do I do if I am going to late in collecting my child?

A: There are times when parents are late collecting their child from school, if this is going to happen we ask that school is informed and the expected delay is given. If a child is not collected and no reason is given they will go to our afterschool club and be charged in accordance with their charging policy. If a child is still not collected, Children’s Social Care will be contacted.

Q: Can I send someone else to pick up my child?

A: If you need someone else to come to school to collect your children please speak to our office manager in the morning or leave a message in the office on the answerphone. Each child has a data overview sheet with people who are allowed to collect them.

Q: How do I report my child’s absence from school?

A: Telephone school on the day of the absence before 9.30am and inform Mrs Howard. A message can be left on the answer machine if she is not available.

Q: Can I take my child on holiday during term time?

A: The short answer is No. Attending school is a compulsory obligation that parents must adhere to and therefore you should avoid taking your child out of school. If you wish to have a special case considered then you are required to complete a request for leave of absence form which can be requested from the school office.

Q: How will I be informed if there is an enforced school closure?

A: On the very rare occasion that the school needs to close, we will inform all parents via text message and Class Dojo.

Education & Progress

Q: Who should I talk to if I am worried about my child?

A: Your child’s class teacher is always best placed to answer any questions you may have relating to any aspect of School life. They may consult other staff members involved with your child. You can also contact the School SENCo either via email or the school office if your concerns have not been answered by your child’s class teacher.

Q: What types of support will be available to my child? How will teaching be adapted?

A: There are many types of SEND support available at Dove Bank Primary School. These range from full time 1-1 support to short intervention sessions. Support for all children begins in the classroom with ‘Quality First Teaching’, where the class teacher plans differentiated activities in all lessons including a range of learning styles and outcomes. If a teacher feels that a child needs more support, they will share this information with you as a Parent/Carer and outline and deliver initial provision. If progress remains a concern, the class teacher and SENCo will follow the process outlined in the school SEND Identification Strategy.

Q: How will I find out about my child’s progress?

A: You can attend regular Parent’s Evenings throughout the school year. In addition, you can email the class teacher or call the school office to arrange an appointment to meet with the class teacher to discuss any concerns.

Q: How can I support my child?

A: Stay in regular contact with School – we want to work in partnership with parents and carers. Attend all parent meetings and support your child in following tasks and homework set by School. Encourage your child at all times and let us know of all successes outside of school. Always talk to your child’s class teacher if you have any concerns or worries about your child.

Health issues

Q: What do I do if my child is prescribed medication?

A: If your child needs to have medication at school you must complete a form at the school office. We ask that medication at school is kept to a minimum and if antibiotics are prescribed for less than four times a day we suggest this can be organised out of school time. All medication held on school premises is kept locked and secure.

Q: What happens if my child has a medical/dental appointment?

A: Please try to arrange medical appointments outside of school time. If this is unavoidable, we ask that you bring the appointment letter to the school office, or email it, so it can be recorded on the register.

Q: How long before my child can return to school after an illness?

A: We ask that children remain at home until they are well enough to return to school. Sickness and stomach bugs – we ask that children remain at home for 48 hours after their last bout of illness to ensure that infections do not spread.

Q: What happens if my child has an accident at school?

A: Most of our staff are first aid trained and can offer reassurance and first aid to pupils who are injured at school. If the injury is significant, we would inform parents and appropriate first aid would be given. For any serious injury, we would involve the medical services as soon as possible.

Q: What do I do if my child has headlice?

A: If your child has headlice we ask that you treat them quickly to ensure that they do not spread. If we notice that your child has headlice during the school day we may contact you to inform you. If you would like to collect them, treat the headlice and return them to school you are welcome.

General

Q: What should I do if my child is bullied?

A: We take accusations of bullying very seriously and any incidents are dealt with appropriately and with speed. Advise your child to speak to an adult in the school. This can be any member of staff that they feel comfortable with. You may also wish to support your child by talking to the teacher with your child. We would encourage that they report any incident to the class teacher as they can observe behaviour during lessons and advise lunchtime staff as necessary. We take accusations of bullying very seriously and any incidents are dealt with appropriately and with speed. If you are concerned about your child please speak to the headteacher and never approach another child or the parent.

Q: Can I park at the school?

A: We have a limited number of a car parking spaces on site. The school is situated on a residential road and we ask parents to park legally and with due consideration for our neighbours. We have one disabled parking space near to the school gates.

Q: Can my child walk to school alone?

A: No, children must be accompanied by an adult

Q: What should I put in my child’s packed lunch?

A: We encourage healthy eating and expect parents to choose healthily when creating a packed lunch. An example of a healthy packed lunch:

• A sandwich (no peanut butter)
• No crisps except baked snacks eg. Baked crisps, cheddars.
• A wafer type biscuit e.g. kit kat, blue ribband.
• Yoghurt and a piece of fruit.
• Bottle of water or juice.
• No sweets, fizzy drinks, nuts or chocolate (unless covering a wafer/biscuit)

Q: What do I do if my child has lost a piece of clothing?

A: Parents must either sew a name label into all clothing or write the child’s name in indelible ink. If an item goes missing, your child must inform the class teacher and class teaching assistant and look in the lost property. We will do our utmost to find lost items but we are unable to provide a replacement.

Q: Where will my child go when they finish Dove Bank in Year 6?

A: Due to our geographical location, our pupils go on to various secondary schools in the area. This includes Ibstock College, South Charnwood High School, The Market Bosworth School and Bosworth Academy.

Q: When will my child start in Reception?

A: This will depend on their age and parental preference, usually children join Reception class in the September before their 5th birthday. Please see the school prospectus under the Admission section and for further advice you can speak to the school office staff.

Q: Can my child bring toys and similar items in to school?

A: No, we normally discourage toys or collectables (e.g. football cards) being brought to school, unless the class teacher has specifically requested that they do. Please always check with the class teacher.