FAQ's

What will my child need at school?

School Uniform

We encourage all children to wear school uniform. It is practical and smart, and provides the children with a sense of belonging, community and pride in their school. Our school colours are red, white and grey. The children wear the following items.

Grey trousers, shorts, skirts or pinafore dress as appropriate
Red and white striped or checked summer dress
White shirt, blouse or polo shirt
White or red school polo shirt with school logo
Red school sweatshirt and/or red school fleece with school logo
Grey, white or black socks or tights as appropriate
Black flat sensible school shoes [no trainers please]

PE Kit

It is important for health and safety reasons that children change for PE sessions and we recommend that all children should have a PE bag containing the following items.

Black shorts
White school PE T-shirt with school logo
Black plimsolls [children in years 3 and 4 may wear trainers for outdoor games]
A spare pair of socks

The PE bag should remain in school throughout the week, but you are free to take it home at weekends or holidays for washing. However, please ensure the PE bag is returned to school on the first day back at school.

A Named Coat

It is a huge help if your child can be taught to manage their coat unaided before they start school. This means turning the sleeves the right way in, putting it on, doing it up/undoing it, and HANGING IT UP on a peg! The sooner they manage on their own, the more confident they will feel. This applies to their school clothes too: you will be helping your child if you choose uniform styles that they can manage on their own. Try to gradually increase their independence with dressing/undressing, turning inside out clothes the right way, and putting their own clothes away at home.

Book Bag

Parents are invited to purchase a school book bag which can be used to hold all of your child’s books as well as newsletters etc. At the Meet and Greet Sessions at the beginning of the school year, we will explain the most helpful ways you can encourage your child in their reading, and how we approach the teaching of reading and writing in school. Your child will bring home a library book which gets changed once a week. Please ensure that all books are kept in the book bag at all times and are brought into school each day.

Lunch Box

Please label your child’s lunch box in large letters to enable easy identification. We actively support the Healthy Schools Award and to promote a Healthy Lifestyle. please help us by providing your child with a lunchbox that is healthy.

What are the school start and finish times?

At John’s CE School session times are as follows:

Morning session 8.55 am - 12.15 pm

Afternoon session 1.15 pm – 3.15 pm

The children are allowed to enter the school from 8.45 am and go straight into class. The school day starts promptly at 8.55 am and children feel more secure if they arrive in time for the beginning of school and are collected promptly at 3.15 pm. Children are escorted into the playground at the end of the day to be collected by an authorised adult and are taught to return to a teacher if the authorised adult is not waiting to collect them. It is important to let the child and teacher know if there are any changes to collection arrangements. There is a short break in the morning session for all classes and children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 have an additional short break in the afternoon session. School staff supervise children during break times.

Where do the children have their lunch?

The children will go into the Hall for lunch. They sit at large lunch tables with between 6 and 8 children. The children sit with a lunch partner chosen from their class plus children from the other classes and the groupings for this change every term.

Does the school have any rules or guidance about lunches?

For lunch, parents are asked to provide a healthy lunch and non-fizzy drink in a non-breakable, leak proof container. Please ensure there are no foods which contain nuts. A named plastic lunch box is convenient for carrying and storage. Children will be given time during the midday break to both eat their food and have some playtime before the beginning of the afternoon session. A free school meal, in the form of a hot school meal, is available for the children of those parents in receipt of Income Support or Income Based Job Seekers Allowance. Further information and application forms are available from the school office in confidence.

We actively support the Healthy Schools Award and to promote a Healthy Lifestyle. please help us by providing your child with a lunchbox that is healthy.

Can my child have Hot school Meals?

Hot school meals are now available. See the section within the ‘Parents’ menu of our website for details and menu choices.

What snacks should my child have at break time?

Milk is available free for children up to their fifth birthday and can be purchased for all other children as part of the Cool Milk Scheme. For the mid morning break, children in Reception, Year 1 and 2 are provided with a free piece of fruit or vegetable, and older children may bring plain biscuits, fruit or raw vegetables for a snack. Cooled, filtered drinking water is available throughout the day.

What are Sparkle Points?

We aim to reward children for positive behaviour and follow an approach that involves all children taking responsibility for their own behaviour.

Keeping the charter, trying hard and generally ‘sparkling!’ will earn the children individual Sparkle Points (sparkly stickers) which are kept on a sparkle chart
For every 10 points a child will be given a Certificate by their teacher (named after gemstones)
50 points will be announced in assembly
100 points mean that children receive a Diamond Award in a special assembly where friends and family are invited
Every time a child receives a sparkle point, they also put a gem stone up on their class chart. The class have to collectively earn 100 sparkle points each week to enjoy 30 minutes of sparkle time at the end of the week where they get to choose from a range of activities e.g. scooters, sports, crafts, ICT, Nintendo DS’s.

What will happen if I don’t keep to the school charter?

If a class does not reach 100 points, they will get less Sparkle Time

Any child who does not keep to the school charter and class charter will:

Be given a reminder
Given a warning and their name moved off the ‘sun’
Their name will be moved to the cloud and they will lose 5 minutes of their Sparkle Time
If a child loses all of their sparkle time, up to half of this lost time can be earned through an ‘earning back sparkle time contract’
A fresh start is made every session

How do I find out what I need to know?

If you feel you need any additional information then please come and see your child's Class Teacher, as they will be more than happy to answer your questions. We look forward to working with you to provide a happy and effective learning experience for your child.

Where is the Lost Property Located?

The Lost Property is located in a box next to the Welcome Area

When can my Child Join an After School Club?

A variety of clubs are run for our children both during the school day and after school. A list of current clubs is featured on our website within the ‘Parents’ section

Is there a Breakfast club?

We are aware that some parents start work early. To support this we offer Breakfast club session each morning beginning at 7:30am in the school hall. Please contact the school office for further details.

What is KS1/KS2 or Key Stage1/Key Stage 2?

As the children move through the school they will enter the different key stages of their learning. The youngest children (ages 4-5) start at the Foundation Stage. This only lasts a year. The children then move into Key Stage 1 (KS1) which is for children in Years 1 and 2. At the end of Year 2 the children move into Key Stage 2 (KS2). Our children will only complete two years of this key stage at St John ’s First, as the children transfer to Middle Schools at the end of Year 4.

Can Children bring Scooters / Bicycles Into School?

Any scooters or bicycles which are brought into school must be clearly named and left in the bike and scooter racks at the front of the building. NO BIKES OR SCOOTERS SHOULD BE RIDDEN ON THE PLAYGROUND AT ANY TIME!

What if my child has Special Educational Needs?

It is our aim at St John’s First School that all children should make progress in their learning.

Children with either academic, behavioural, physical, social or other particular needs will be assessed with direct consultation and agreement with the child's parents/guardians, to consider any extra assistance or provision required.

Many children have some difficulties in learning, emotional needs or behaviour at some stage in their school life. Most children will overcome these difficulties through a strong partnership of parents and school working together.

With parents' help, we aim to identify children with difficulties (whether learning, emotional or behavioural) as early as possible in their school life. Working within the national framework for supporting pupils with special educational needs, we strive to give individual or group support appropriate to their needs. Mrs West is our Special Needs Coordinator and is responsible for advising class teachers and helping devise Individual Educational Plans with which parents and class teachers can give a child support, and this support is of course also extended to highly able children when appropriate.

If a child has needs which cannot be met from within the school's expertise, then the school or parents may request a referral to another agency (such as speech therapy). At all stages parents are kept fully involved and informed.

Does the school send Newsletters?

Newsletters are sent as and when they are needed to maintain communication with parents/ carers. Paper-less newsletters are available for those who would prefer to receive their letters via e-mail. Please ensure the school office has your e-mail address should you wish to make use of this scheme.

Not Coming to School?

If your child is unwell, please phone the school and let us know as soon as possible. Alternatively you can send a note. It is important for our records that we have notification from you when this happens: the telephone is the quickest and easiest way.

Arriving at School Late?

Any child who arrives in school late must be brought to the School Office and signed in by an adult into the Late Arrivals Folder, situated on shelf outside the School Office.

Have to Leave School Early?

If you have to take your child out of school for a dentist or doctor's appointment, for example, firstly you need to tell your child's Class Teacher. Then, when you collect your child, please fill in the details of the early departure on the clipboard outside the school office.

Is jewellery allowed?

Earrings must be of the stud variety. We only encourage jewellery if it is for religious purposes. Watches may also be worn, but the school takes no responsibility for any loss or damage or accidents that occur through them being worn. Staff will inform parents of the days children are doing PE and we request that they do not wear earrings on those days.

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