New Starter Information

St Austin’s Catholic Primary School is a school of faith, achievement, care, quality and opportunity for all. It is a community where we live, love, learn and laugh together in God’s presence, promoting Gospel values and the teachings of the Catholic Church.

A place where:

• through our faith and worship, and by living the message of Christ in our community, we will develop partnership between governors, staff, pupils, families and parishes.

• for many, through its clear and visual Catholic identity, Christ and his church are encountered.

• we aim to provide the highest standard of education, where every child matters and where safety, wellbeing, enjoyment, tolerance, respect and dignity are reflected in all aspects of school life.

• all are cherished for who they are as much as for what they achieve, and all achievement is recognised and celebrated.

Vision Statement:

Our School will be a place of innovation, with high expectations, high challenge, high support and a shared vision.

We will be innovative in our approach when creating the very best opportunities for all pupils and equally we will expect our children to be innovative – confident to learn by their mistakes, try new things and be resilient.

Our school will consist of a team of highly motivated, positive and enthusiastic adults who are relentless in their pursuit of excellence for all. All adults will have a thirst for knowledge – keen to learn and embrace new ways of teaching, new directions and initiatives and always thinking of ways for self-improvement as well as school improvement.

We will all deepen our relationship with God and with each other, with prayer and worship at the core of all we do.

Structure of the school day

• 8.40am 8.50am – Main gates open, a member of our Senior Leadership Team will be on the gates to greet parents and children
• 8.50am Gates close. Late entrance is via School Office.
  Registration and ordering lunch.
• 3.15pm – End of the school day.

Milk and Snacks

Milk – Milk cartons are available to pre order via www.coolmilk.com
Snacks – fruit and healthy snacks are provided free of charge to UFS and Key Stage 1 pupils during their mid morning break.
Water bottles – Please send your child each day with a filled water bottle clearly named. It is not permitted to send fruit juices, plain water only please.

School Dinners

Hot and cold meals are freshly prepared on site by Dolce catering company and are provided free of charge to all UFS and KS1 pupils under the Universal Free School Meals Scheme. Our varied menus change each term as seasonal produce is used. Children can order in class, or at home with you via the online order system. Visit www.dolce.co.uk for more information.

Important – ALL reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children qualify for free school meals under the Governments Universal Free School Meals scheme. From Year 3 onwards meals are charged daily, currently £2.40. For a number of parents free meals may continue if you meet certain criteria such as being in receipt of specified benefits. If this is the case please complete the enclosed Free School Meals form or speak to our Office Staff who will be happy to help you register. We would urge you to do this straight away as your child starts school as school will receive vital extra funding that will help your child.

Alternatively you can apply directly to Wakefield Council Free School Meals by clicking the link below

https://forms.wakefield.gov.uk/Forms/schools/freeschoolmeals.aspx

Uniforms

Winter Uniform – Greeh skirt/ pinafore, grey trousers, white collared shirt (not polo shirt), green jumper or cardigan , green tights/ white socks, grey socks, school tie and black shoes.

Summer Uniform* – green and white check summer dress, yellow polo shirt (no tie), green cardigan/ jumper , black shoes,
 *Summer uniform may be worn from September to October half term, then from the first term after the Easter holidays  

Purchasing your Uniform

Uniform with school Logo available from Trutex, Northgate, Wakefield or
Smart Uniforms, The Springs, Wakefield. It is not essential to have uniform with a logo. Plain green items are available from M&S, Sainsbury’s and Asda. School ties and book bags are available to purchase from the school office , please visit School Money – then Shop – to make a purchase for a uniform item. Purchases made before 9.30am will be delivered to your child’s classroom.

P.E kits

P.E lessons will take place both indoors and outdoors so please ensure you have ready all items of the kit for each session. White plain polo shirt, black shorts, black tracksuit bottoms, black plain zip up tracksuit top, trainers or plimsolls.

Coats

Please ensure your child’s school coat is practical and warm, waterproof with a hood.

Spare items of clothing

For children in UFS & KS1, please send your child with spare uniform and underwear each day in their bags in the event of accidents or spillages.

Jewellery

Children should not wear jewellery to school. Stud earrings only and must be removed for P.E.

Please label every item of your childs belongings using a fabric pen or name labels as biro pen usually washes out.

School to Home Communication

We are a paperless school and so the way in which we communicate with you is via our school app, Class Dojo. Please ensure you download this free app within the first week of your child starting school and that school are provided with the most up to date contact details. Lots of crucial information is sent via this app and it also acts as a text messaging service so it is essential that you use it in order to be kept fully informed.

***Please do not attempt to obtain the app until your child has started school****

Evidence Me

Another system we use to communicate with parents of children in Reception  is Evidence Me. Each half term we will email you aspects of your child’s learning journey. Again, please ensure we are provided with the correct email address.

School Office

If you wish to ask any questions, report an absence, discuss a school trip, or arrange an appointment to speak to a teacher, please contact the School Office on 01924 339435.

Attendance

Illness –If your child is unwell and not able to attend school, please telephone the School Office before 9.30am and leave a message with your childs name, class and description of their illness. If the absence is due to sickness or diahorrea then your child will need to be clear of symptoms for 48 hours before returning to school.

Family holidays – we are unable to authorise family holidays during term time. If you wish to take a family holiday this must be taken during the school holidays. The Local Authority may issue you with a fixed penalty fine if your child has unauthorised absences of 5 days or more.

Dropping off and collecting your child from School
Parking – our school is located within a residential area, please respect our neighbours and each other when parking your vehicles. Please do be mindful of permit holder only areas. We have introduced a Park and Stride scheme where parents can request a permit from the School Office that enables them to park at College Grove Sports Club car park at drop off and pick up times then walk the short distance into school.

Authorised adults to collect your child – Please complete the Authorised Collections form included in this pack to detail which adults can collect your child from school, this should include parent’s names as well. Children will not be released to any other person than those you have named on this list.