Information For Parents
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2023-2024
Autumn term
Starts: Wednesday 6th September 2023
Half term: Monday 23rd October 2023 to Friday 27th October 2023
Ends: Tuesday 19th December 2023Spring term
Starts: Wednesday 3rd January 2024
Half term: Monday 12th February 2024 to Friday 16th February 2024
Ends: Thursday 28th March 2024Summer term
Starts: Tuesday 16th April 2024
Bank Holiday: Monday 6th May 2024
Half term: Monday 27th May 2024 to Friday 31st May 2024
Ends: Friday 19th July 2024Inset days: 04/09/23, 05/09/23, 30/10/23, 02/01/24, 15/04/24
2024-2025:
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INSET day 15th April
Term starts 16th April
St Mark’s Day celebration in Natland Church 24th April
Year 3 Collective Worship 29th April
‘Tails of the Ark’ KS1 Performance (Yrs 1,2 and 3) 30th April at 6pm
‘Tails of the Ark’ KS1 Performance (Yrs 1,2 and 3) 1st May at 2pm
PTA meeting 2nd May
Bank Holiday 6th May
Book Bus visit 8th May
Year 6 SATS 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th May
Year 6 to Jumprush in Morecambe 16th May
Reception and Nursery to the Wildlife Oasis 17th May
Feet First Active Travel Week 20th-24th May
Year 2 Collective Worship 20th May
Sports Day 24th May
Half Term 27th May-31st May
Back up Sports Day 7th June
Year 1 Collective Worship 10th June
Year 5 and Year 6 Residential 12-14th June
Year 6 Leavers Service in Kendal Parish Church 17th June
Class Photographs 19th June
Young Citizen event for Year 6 at Kendal Police Station 24th June
Open Farm Day tbc 25th June
Open Farm Day tbc 27th June
Year 6 parents and students evening at Kirkbie Kendal School 27th June
Year 5 to Moorforge 28th June
Summer Fair 28th June
Kirkbie Kendal School Induction day for Year 6 1st July
Reception Collective Worship 1st July
Year 3 Woodland Camp 4th-5th July
Year 5 to see Chicago at KKS 4th July
KS2 Production (Yrs 4,5 and 6) 9th July 6pm
KS2 Production (Yrs 4,5 and 6) 10th July 6pm
Year 2 trip to Beatrix Potter 10th July
End of Term 19th July
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09:00 Registration and session 1 10:10 Break
10:30 Session 2
11:45 Lunch break—Reception Class
12:00 Lunch break—all other classes
13:00 Session 3
14:10–14:25 Break—Reception, Years 1, 2 & 3
14:40–14:55 Break—Years 4, 5 & 6
15:00 Collective Worship
15:20 End of the school day—Reception class
15:30 End of the school day—all other classesDrop off
Children can be dropped off at school between:
08:50 and 09:00Pick up
Children are brought to the front of the school to be collected at:
15:20—Reception class
or
15:30—all other classes -
The work of the school based on this policy aims to:
• ensure the safeguarding, child protection and welfare of all pupils;
• improve pupils’ progress and development by ensuring high levels of attendance and punctuality;
• achieve an attendance for all children that is at least in line with the national average (96.1%), apart from those with chronic health issues.
• help create an ethos in which good attendance and punctuality are recognised as the norm and seen to be valued by the school and parents alike;
• raise the awareness of parents, carers and pupils of the importance of uninterrupted attendance and punctuality at every stage of a child’s education;
• ensure that our policy applies to Nursery and Reception aged children in order to promote good habits at an early age;
• work in partnership with pupils, parents, staff and the CCC Access & Inclusion Team so that all children are able to flourish, unhindered by unnecessary absence;
• promote a positive and welcoming atmosphere in which pupils feel safe, secure, and valued, and encourage in pupils a sense of their own responsibility;
• establish a pattern of regular monitoring of attendance;
• ensure consistency in recognising improvement in attendance and dealing with difficulties;
• recognise the key role of all members of staff, but especially class teachers, in promoting good attendance; and
• provide effective strategies for early intervention to ensure children are not deprived of educational opportunities due to absence or lateness.
Legal Framework
The framework set in Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 states:
“The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him/her to receive efficient full time education suitable:-
(a) to age, ability and aptitude and
(b) to any special educational needs he/ she may have
Either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.”[1]
This policy has due regard to statutory legislation, including, but not limited to, the following:
• Education Act 1996
• Education Act 2002
• Equality Act 2010
• Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 (As amended)
• Keeping Children Safe in Education (Sept 2022)
This policy also has regard to non-statutory DfE guidance, including, but not limited to, the following:
• DfE (2018) ‘School attendance’
We will also support parents to perform their legal duty to ensure their children of compulsory school age
attend regularly, and will promote and support punctuality in attending lessons.
Children who attend school regularly are more likely to:
• build a firm and secure knowledge and understanding across all curriculum subjects;
• ensure they consistently meet and build upon expectations for their age group;
• develop good habits and important life skills;
• maintain friendships;
• be successful in achieving academically and gaining qualifications; and
• have access to a wider range of opportunities when they leave school.
Responsibilities
The Governing Body
• The Governing Body has overall responsibility for the implementation of the Attendance Policy and Procedures.
• The Governing Body has overall responsibility for ensuring that the attendance policy, as written, does not discriminate against any person with protected characteristics including, but not limited to ethnicity/national origin, culture, religion, gender, disability or sexual orientation.
• The Governing Body has responsibility for handling complaints regarding this policy as outlined in the school’s complaints policy.
• Attendance will be an agenda item at each meeting of the Community and Welfare committee, in the first half of each term. The Headteacher will report to this committee on all matters regarding attendance.
Headteacher
• The Headteacher is responsible for the day-to-day implementation and management of the Attendance Policy and Procedures
• The school has effective systems and procedures for encouraging regular school attendance and investigating the underlying causes of poor attendance
Staff
• Staff, including teachers, support staff and volunteers, are responsible for following the Attendance Policy and for ensuring pupils do so too. They are also responsible for ensuring the policy is implemented fairly and consistently.
• Staff, including teachers, support staff and volunteers, are responsible for modelling good behaviours relating to attendance and implementing the agreed policy.
The school makes parents aware of the school attendance policy by making it available on the school website.
Parents
• Parents and carers are responsible for ensuring that children attend school regularly and punctually. It is the parent’s responsibility to notify school if their child is unable to attend school or is going to be late.
• Under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996, parents are responsible for making sure that their child of compulsory school age receives efficient full time education that is suitable to the child’s age, ability and aptitude and to any special educational needs the child may have. This can be by regular attendance at school or by education otherwise (including the parent choosing to educate their child at home).
• Compulsory school age is defined as being the term commencing on or after a child’s fifth birthday. A child continues to be of compulsory school age until the last Friday of June in the school year that they reach sixteen. This applies to the parents of children of compulsory school age who are registered at a maintained school, a pupil referral unit, an Academy, or other state provided education.
• Section 576 of the Education Act 1996: Definition of a Parent – is as follows whether they are married or not; any person who, although not a natural parent, has parental responsibility (as defined in the Children Act 1989) for a child or young person; and any person who, although not a natural parent, has care of a child or young person. Having care of a child or young person means that a person with whom the child lives and who looks after the child, irrespective of what their relationship is with the child, is considered to be a parent in education law. Throughout this document, references to ‘parent’ mean each and every parent coming within the definition (whether acting jointly or separately) and should not be taken to mean that provisions only apply to ‘parent’ in the singular.
Expectations
We expect that all children will:
• attend school every day and strive for 100% school attendance;
• arrive on time and be appropriately prepared for the day; and
• discuss promptly with their class teacher or at the school office any problems that may affect their school attendance (age appropriate).
We expect that parents will:
• ensure their child attends school every day unless there is a genuine reason for absence;
• ensure their child is not late for school;
• contact school either by telephone, in person, via Teachers2Parents or via email before 8.45am on the first day of absence and regularly thereafter;
• provide the school with accurate and up to date contact details (minimum of 2 emergency contacts) and update the school if details change;
• endeavour to make health appointments, doctor, dentist, hospital etc. at the end of the school day, thus allowing at least half a day’s education;
• to not allow their child to be absent for a whole day when a medical appointment is only a short, local one;
• inform the school office of any reason or problem that may hinder their child from attending school; and
• avoid taking children out of school for non-urgent matters.
Registration
• Attendance is recorded via online registers in Scholar Pack every morning and afternoon. Registers will be taken punctually each day at 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m.
• The registers close at 9.30 a.m. and 1.15 p.m. Children will be marked as either present, absent or late. The office personnel record whether the attendance is authorised or unauthorised (see Appendix 2 for register codes).
Procedures
We will undertake the following procedures to support good attendance:
• maintenance of appropriate registration processes;
• collection, analysis and evaluation of appropriate attendance data;
• clear communication of attendance procedures and expectations to all staff, governors, parents and pupils as relevant and necessary;
• consistent and systematic daily recording of details detail of absence and lateness;
• following up absences and persistent lateness if parents have not communicated with the school in a timely manner;
• informing parents about what constitutes authorised and unauthorised absence;
• strongly discourage unnecessary absence;
• working with parents to improve individual pupil’s attendance and punctuality;
• referral to the Local Authority Access and Inclusion Officer, any child whose attendance causes concern and where parents have not responded to school initiatives to support improvements in attendance;
• reporting attendance data to the DfE when requested;
• school staff to raise any attendance or punctuality concerns (as per the escalation of intervention) to the Headteacher.
Monitoring and reporting of absence concerns
• Contact parents by telephone on the first day of absence if no reason has been received.
• School will contact regularly (daily if necessary)
• Our First Day Response is as follows:
- If, on the first day of absence, no reason has been obtained for the absence by 10.30 a.m., a member of the SLT will carry out a home visit.
- If no response, we may contact the Police to report the child as ‘Missing in Education’ (CME)
• We will follow the escalation of intervention procedure (see Appendix 3) and, where a pattern of non-attendance is emerging, parents will be invited to school to work with the Headteacher and a nominated member of the Governing Body to help resolve the difficulties.
• Termly attendance is monitored and letters for information are sent to parents:
- in cases of attendance below 96% expressing concern about the levels of absence
- in case of persistent absence (below 90%) informing them that attendance will be monitored during the following half term and if there is no improvement they will be invited to attend a formal Attendance Panel with the Headteacher and nominated member of the Governing Body to discuss support needed.
An appropriate action plan will be jointly agreed which may involve external agencies
A review will take place after a half term, and if there has been no improvement in attendance, school will consult with the LA Access and Inclusion Officer to determine the next course of action. This may be an Early Help assessment, a referral to another agency or referral to the Access and Inclusion Officer for formal involvement and consideration of legal action.
School will keep a detailed chronology of all interventions/action taken re attendance
Attendance Monitoring Procedures
• first day phone call protocol;
• follow-up phone calls;
• fortnightly attendance reports and individual attendance reports to be analysed for patterns and trends;
• disadvantaged children’s attendance to be monitored and compared to their non-pupil premium counterparts;
• regular attendance section on school newsletters, including comment on progress towards school target, which is set at 96% attendance;
• RAG letters sent to all parents at the end of every term;
• Pupil premium incentives: e.g. payment for MOSAICS Breakfast Club
Late arrivals and persistent lateness
If a child is late they must enter by the main entrance and let a member of staff in the office know. If a parent or other adult is present, they will be asked to enter the child’s details and reason for lateness on the appropriate form, if not, a member of the administrative staff will do so.
It is to be expected that very occasionally a child may be late for a genuine reason.
Our prime concern is in regard to any persistent late arrivals where there is no justifiable reason. If there are children who fall into this category, then the following procedures are followed:
• The parent is reminded by administrative staff of the importance of punctuality and support strategies discussed.
• The Headteacher contacts parents informally for discussion about persistent lateness.
• A formal written letter from Headteacher is sent explaining the schools concerns and reiterating the importance of punctuality.
• If the issue persists, a formal meeting will be arranged for the parents with the Headteacher and a nominated member of the Governing Body to establish the reasons for the persistent lateness and to agree an action plan for improvement.
• Regular monitoring of punctuality and, where necessary, further action following the escalation of intervention (Appendix 5) at the Headteacher’s discretion.
Medical and dental appointments
Missing registration for a medical or dental appointment is counted as an authorised absence; however, advanced notice is required for authorising such absences.
We strongly encourage parents to make medical and dental appointments out of school hours where possible. Where this is not possible, the pupil should be out of school for the minimum amount of time necessary.
Parents can inform the school of appointments in advance by letter, telephone, Teachers2Parents, email or in person.
Children Missing in Education and School Roll Procedures
All children, regardless of their circumstances, are entitled to an efficient, full time education which is suitable to their age, ability, aptitude and any special educational or disability needs they may have.
Children missing education are children of compulsory school age who are not registered pupils at a school and are not receiving suitable education otherwise than at a school. Children missing education are at significant risk of underachieving, being victims of harm, exploitation or radicalisation, and becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training) later in life. Effective information sharing between parents, schools and local authorities is critical to ensuring that all children of compulsory school age are safe and receiving suitable education.
Updating the school roll:
• All schools must notify the local authority when they are about to remove a pupil name from the School Admission Register under any of the 15 grounds listed in the Children Missing in Education Regulations 2016 annex A.
• All schools must also notify the local authority within five days of adding a pupil’s name to the Admissions Register.
• Schools must complete the “Pupils Gains and Losses Information Sheet” and send to the local authority at the end of each week if gains or losses occur in the school.
• If the child leaves the school and the destination is unknown, then schools must complete the CME1 form and forward to the CME officer as soon as possible following the guidance below.
• Schools must enter pupils on the admission register at the beginning of the first day on which the school has agreed, or been notified, that the pupil will attend the school. If a pupil fails to attend on the agreed or notified date, the school should undertake reasonable enquiries to establish the child’s whereabouts and consider notifying the Local Authority at the earliest opportunity.
What happens if a school is concerned that a child is missing education?
Schools have a duty of care to ensure they have conducted ‘reasonable enquires’ to locate a child missing education before this is reported to the Local Authority CME officers.
Where a pupil leaves without advance notice or their destination is unknown, the school will:
• check possible whereabouts with staff;
• contact parents using last known number or e-mail;
• contact any emergency contacts held for the pupil;
• make a home visit to the last known address;
• check with neighbours and any known friends;
• contact any agencies known to be involved;
• if the pupil has an EHCP or has SEND, check with SEND services;
• if the pupil or family is known to social services, inform the named social worker;
• ask the pupil’s friends and their parents if they are aware of the pupil’s whereabouts; and / or
• check any social media sites e.g. Facebook.
If the pupil is still not located, the school should complete a CME1 referral and e-mail it to janice.ogilvie@cumbria.gov.uk; (07866 649 190).
This will enable the LA to make further enquires, as appropriate, to try and locate the pupil. The pupil should remain on roll for 20 school days and their absence should be recorded.
The school must contact the CME officer to agree the date that the pupil should be removed from roll before they actually remove the pupil from their roll. On this date the CME officer will forward a CME2 form. On the date agreed with the school, the school should ensure the pupil’s attendance data is up to date, and remove them from their roll with the correct leaving date.
Roles and responsibilities
Governing Body
• set and monitor progress towards annual targets for attendance
• agree, review and evaluate the effectiveness of the Attendance Policy.
Headteacher
• ensure that effective systems are in place to accurately monitor individual pupil, group and whole school attendance and punctuality patterns.
• provide the Governing Body with information to enable evaluation of the success of policy and practice.
• monitor individual pupil, group and whole school attendance and punctuality.
• work in partnership with key agencies if attendance and/or punctuality becomes an issue with a particular child or family.
• contact and work with parents regarding concerns about their child’s attendance.
• arrange meetings with parents to discuss support and agree actions and set targets for those experiencing attendance difficulties.
• monitor attendance data every half term.
• provide attendance “watch” lists to the school office for daily monitoring.
• co-ordinate daily punctuality checks with late children.
• process all legal documentation regarding attendance monitoring including penalty notices to the LA.
Class teachers
• take the class register promptly at the start of each morning and afternoon session.
• maintain an accurate record of the attendance of each child in their class.
• respond promptly to any issue raised in the weekly analysis of registers by administrative staff.
• organise work to be sent home for children in their class who are expected to be absent for an extended period through sickness or for any other legitimate reason.
• record the reasons for absence given to them on Scholar Pack.
Administrative Staff
• record children arriving late or leaving early on a daily basis.
• prepare, manage and co-ordinate the use of the attendance management system in Scholar Pack.
• monitor and track attendance patterns for all children and prepare relevant attendance reports when necessary.
• contact any parent who has not informed the school as to why their child is absent on the first day of absence.
• telephone or use Teachers2Parents to request a reason from absence from parents.
• ensure that a satisfactory reason for every absence has been established for each child at the end of each week.
• make a judgment in conjunction with the Headteacher whether an absence is authorised or unauthorised.
• prepare data, compile and send out RAG rated attendance letters to all parents at the end of each term
Local Authority Access and Inclusion Officer
• enforce the law regarding school attendance.
• support the whole school response to attendance through meetings and monitoring individual children’s attendance as necessary.
Leave of absence during term time
• Leave of absence during term time will only be granted under exceptional circumstances.
• The law does not grant parents an automatic right to take their child out of school during term time. The Department for Education allows a Headteacher the discretion to consider authorising a leave of absence in term time only in ‘exceptional circumstances’.
• No holidays taken during term time will be authorised.
• The law states that the provision for Headteachers to authorise absence purely for the purpose of a family holiday is not an exceptional circumstance.
• We define ‘exceptional circumstances’ as an event or problem which you did not expect.
• The school considers each application for term-time absence individually, taking into account the specific facts, circumstances and relevant context behind the request. A leave of absence is granted entirely at the Headteacher’s discretion.
Valid reasons for exceptional circumstances / authorised absence may include:
• Illness and medical/dental appointments or where an absence from school is recommended by a health professional as part of a parent or child’s rehabilitation from a medical or emotional issue.
• Service personnel returning from a tour of duty abroad where it is evidenced the individual will not be in receipt of any leave in the near future that coincides with school holidays.
• Religious observance – where the day is exclusively set apart for religious observance by the religious group to which the pupil’s parents belong. If necessary, the school will seek advice from the parents’ religious body to confirm whether the day is set apart.
• Traveller pupils travelling for occupational purposes – this covers Roma, English and Welsh Gypsies, Irish and Scottish Travellers, Showmen (fairground people) and Circus people, Bargees (occupational boat dwellers) and New Travellers. Absence may be authorised only when a Traveller family is known to be travelling for occupational purposes and has agreed this with the school but it is not known whether the pupil is attending educational provision.
• Bereavement, unexpected personal or family problems or illness might be considered as an exceptional circumstance.
• To attend a wedding of a person close to the family – up to 1 day.
The school will identify pupils and families where attendance is poor and meetings, letters, closer monitoring may be considered as detailed above.
Evidence would be required in each case to support any application for leave. The school will not condone holidays taken during term time, permission for absences in term time may only be granted for exceptional circumstances. When a request is not authorised, parents have the right of representation to the Governing Body.
If a request meets the criteria for exceptional circumstance but falls within the following times, the Headteacher must be convinced that absence from school is the only option:
The first half term of any academic year (applies to all pupils)
Secondary school transition days (for pupils in Year 6)
End of KS 2 Assessment week (for pupils in Year 6)
End of KS 1 Assessment weeks (for pupils in Year 2)
• Parents and carers must complete a ‘Leave of Absence’ form outlining in writing the ‘exceptional circumstances’. The Headteacher may invite parents to attend a meeting to discuss their request. This must be done at least 2 weeks prior to the leave (except in cases of bereavement).
• All unauthorised absences, including holidays that have not been sanctioned by the Headteacher, are accumulated and parents who fail to ensure regular attendance of their children at school can be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996. The amount is £60 (per parent per child) if paid within 21 days and £120 (per parent per child) if paid between 21 and 28 days. Failure to pay a Penalty Notice will result in prosecution, except in limited circumstances.
Incentives and rewards
Pupils will be made aware of the importance of maintaining their attendance at the highest possible level and we will positively encourage and celebrate good and improving school attendance:
• We will share class attendance weekly during Wednesday celebration assemblies, including classes that have 100%. Classes who have had 100 % attendance for a week receive a certificate and the attendance trophy.
• Every half term we reward all of the children who have had 100% attendance.
Links with other policies:
This policy is linked to our:
• Child Protection Policy and Procedures
• Behaviour Policy and Procedures
• Children Missing Education
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Children’s success and opportunity to flourish in school often depend on the quality of the relationship between home and school. The school and parents are partners in each child’s education. Effective, timely and clear communication with parents is therefore a high priority.
Written communication
School Facebook and Instagram pages
for celebration of school events and activities. Parents can comment, like and share.Teachers2Parents
Text and email service. Texts are used for shqort messages and reminders; emails are used for more detailed messages, newsletters and attaching documents. If an email requires urgent attention a text will be sent asking parents to check their email account. Parents can reply to texts and emails. These are received in the School Business Manager’s email account.Printed letters
These are only used if consent or a written, signed response is required from parents. These are given to children to take home at the end of school day.Flyers and promotional material
From time to time we trail a school event or activity using printed flyers which are given to children to take home at the end of the school day. We are also sometimes asked to pass on material about local sports or cultural events not connected to school.Messages for teachers and support staff in each class should be addressed to:
Class1@st-marks.cumbria.sch.ukClass2@st-marks.cumbria.sch.uk
Class3@st-marks.cumbria.sch.uk
Class4@st-marks.cumbria.sch.uk
Class5@st-marks.cumbria.sch.uk
Class6@st-marks.cumbria.sch.uk
Please note:
Teachers will only be able to check these mailboxes at the start and end of the day. If you require an urgent response then please contact the school office on:
admin@st-marks.cumbria.sch.uk
Tapestry
Parents of children in the Reception Class are able to see and comment on their child’s learning via the Tapestry online platform.Face to face meetings
We usually arrange three formal meetings between class teachers and parents.
September
A short meeting for parents for the class teacher to introduce themselves and explain practical details for the new school year e.g. homework pattern, PE lesson days, topics to be covered, equipment needed in school.October / November
A meeting for introductions as necessary, discussion of initial concerns or issues and sharing of individual targets for each pupil in reading, writing, maths and personal development.February
An opportunity to look at children’s work and discuss targets for improvement and ideas for development.During the school year various meetings are arranged for parents covering aspects of the curriculum and particular topical issues.
Appointments
Parents are able to make ad hoc appointments to meet with the Headteacher, the SENDCo or their child’s class teacher via the school office.
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In the event of a pupil becoming ill or being involved in an accident it is essential that the school has on record each child's home telephone number, each parent's place of employment and mobile telephone number, and the name, address and telephone number of another named person with whom contact can be made immediately. A form is provided for this information. We have a text service (Teacher2Parents), whereby messages are sent to all parents via text, e.g. school closure due to weather conditions. It is important that the school office is kept informed of any change in a child’s circumstances.
If a child becomes sick or is injured at school, parents will be contacted and asked to collect them. Only very exceptionally will a child be escorted home or taken to hospital or the address of another named person and then only with the parent's knowledge.
Children who are ill or have genuine symptoms of illness should not be sent to school.
In the event of absence for any reason, please ring or text to inform the school before 9.00am. Please follow this with a letter of explanation for our records.
In the interests of children's safety, a known adult must collect a child from school if he or she is to attend a doctor or dentist during school time or has to leave early for some other reason.
Parents are asked to inform the school office when such visits are to be made and if the collecting adult is going to be someone other than the child's parent. Please note that we will not allow a child to walk home or to another destination during school time.
A note of explanation is required if a child is to miss a P.E. or swimming lesson.
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Flourishing in life requires opportunity for activity and the challenge of learning new skills, sports and crafts.
We try to offer a good range of extra-curricular activities, some of those offered in recent years are listed below. These will be offered at different times for different groups of children over a school year.
Extra-curricular activities take place either during lunch breaks or after school.
Some activities are run by school staff, volunteering their time. Others are commercial activities for which parents pay an external provider.
• Chess Club
• Choir
• Athletics / Sports Hall Athletics Club
• Football / Dodgeball Club
• Cricket
• Hockey
• Bikeability - Cycling Proficiency (Autumn term Y6)
• Craft Club
• Instrumental tuition: woodwind, guitar and keyboard (Key Stage 2)
. Speech and Drama
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Boys
Grey / black trousers or shorts (not jeans or track suits); Blue or white polo shirt; Royal blue jumper.Girls
Grey / black skirt, trousers or pinafore dress or blue summer dress; Blue or white blouse or polo shirt. Royal blue jumper or cardigan.All
Black outdoor shoes (not trainers, although children may change into outdoor shoes or wellies for break times). Plain black, grey or white socks.Royal blue jumpers, cardigans, white or blue polo shirts and PE hoodies, embroidered with the school badge, are available online from a local provider. Please call into the school office if you would like to look at a sample.
PE kit
All children need the following kit for P.E. and games lessons:
• Plain dark non-branded shorts
• Plain T-shirt (in child’s house colour)
• Gym shoes
• Older children require trainers for games lessons
• Appropriate kit is also needed for swimming as necessary
• Warm clothes for lessons outside (e.g. joggers or tracksuit, school or other hoodie)
Please note: all items of uniform and kit need to be clearly marked with your child’s name.
New school uniform can be ordered at: https://www.conistonshop.com/St-Marks-CE-School-uniform-shop_421
We also have a second hand uniform shop: https://app.uniformd.co.uk/items/127
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Parents have the option each day of purchasing a school meal or providing their child with a healthy packed lunch.
Meals are produced and served on the school premises by Orian Catering Services. There is always a choice of hot meal, the option of a jacket potato or filled baguette and a salad bar is provided daily. The menus run on a three-week cycle.
Information about Orian’s ‘School Hub’ online ordering and payment system is available from the school office.
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 entitled to receive ‘universal free school meals’ (UFSM).
If you feel that you are entitled to benefits related free school meals (FSM) for your child, please ask for further advice at the school office. As the school receives extra funding based on the number of children registered for free school meals it is important to register even if you do not intend your child to take the meals or your child (in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2) already receives free school meals.
‘Ever 6 FSM’ is additional funding to help children from low income families who are eligible for free school meals. This now includes any child who has been registered for free school meals in the past 6 years. If you fall into this category, activities such as school trips will be met from this funding. If you are not sure if you are eligible for this funding please check at the school office. This funding can also be used to support extra- curricular activities and any school events or trips for which a voluntary contribution is requested.
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The admission of a child to St Mark’s School, and the formal curriculum offered will not be subject to charge or the willingness of a parent to make a voluntary contribution.
The Governing Body wishes to see the curriculum enriched as far as possible for the benefit of all pupils. We recognise that whatever public funds are made available they will never be sufficient to fund all desirable activities at the required level. (Please note: Pupil Premium Grant money for Ever 6 FSM children can be used to fund such activities).
The Governing Body reserves the right to:
• seek voluntary contributions from parents to fund activities either within or outside school hours and to provide incidentals, e.g. books and equipment;
• charge parents at cost, or in kind, for materials if parents have agreed in advance to own a finished product;
• request parents to voluntarily provide incidental equipment, e.g. pens, rulers;
• draw to the attention of parents, activities organised by a third party, thereby giving parents the opportunity to request leave of absence for their children during the school day to join these activities. In such circumstances, charges may well be levied by the third party;
• reclaim from parents (or children, where appropriate, with parents’ permission) the cost of willful breakages and damage;
• charge for activities offered as an optional extra, wholly or mainly outside school hours; and
• if and when any such activity is organised, all parents will be advised that anyone in receipt of working family tax credit or income support is entitled to claim remission of charges for board and lodging on residential trips that are not optional extras.
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St Mark’s is a safe and happy school where everyone has something to share, is willing to serve, appreciates what they have and is able to enjoy learning. To keep it that way we all have to play our part.
We expect everyone in school to please remember to:
• Speak politely, at the right time, in the right way, ask yourself: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
• Listen when someone is speaking to you, looking at them without fiddling or talking.
• Share with others, get involved and use the skills and abilities you have to help others
• Keep your hands, feet, arms and legs to yourself
• Leave a good space between you and other people
• Offer help willingly to anyone who needs it
• Follow instructions immediately and without arguing
• Take responsibility for your words and actions; be prepared to put things right
• Knock at closed doors and wait to be invited in
• Walk on the left hand side along corridors
• Move around school calmly and quietly, with arms by your sides
• Treat others, the building and school equipment with care and respect
• Come to school ready to learn, expecting to work hard and learn from your mistakes
• Try your best in everything!
• Celebrate other people’s successes
We ask parents to reinforce these expectations, and the principles behind them, in a positive and consistent way with their children.
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For children to flourish in a school setting they need to feel safe and that they will be listened to by trusted adults. Rules and expectations therefore need to be clearly stated and rewards and consequences consistently applied. Actions relating to breaches of the Code of Conduct are dealt with as soon as is reasonably possible, with the expectation that each school day begins with a clean slate for all children. The bible teaches that God forgives and forgets, and we seek to deal with behaviour within a similar framework of grace and forgiveness.
We seek to maintain high standards of behaviour and conduct. Discipline and good order and maintained by good relationships between children, staff and parents and reinforced by a clear system of rewards and consequences based around the Code of Conduct and developed in our Behaviour Strategy.
The behaviour strategy works on a colour-coded system of levels used throughout the school to ensure consistency, with criteria for consequences clearly expressed and understood by all involved.
Wherever possible, time is given by adults to listen to children involved in particular incidents so as to ascertain the truth of what happened and apply the behaviour policy fairly and accurately. In most cases we are able to encourage children to work out a way in which justice can be positive and restorative i.e. working with those who have been harmed to make up for the harm caused and healing damaged relationships.
We always seek the co-operation of parents in resolving problems where children are involved in harming individuals, damaging property or continually breaching the agreed expectations in the Code of Conduct.
The Governing Body’s agreed Behaviour Principles and the school’s policies on Behaviour and Discipline (including bullying) and details of the Behaviour Strategy are available on the school website.
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Our SENDCo is Kirsten Harvey.
For children who have particular difficulties in their learning or physical disability, provision is made for them to receive extra help. Many children need extra support at some time during their period with us. Where possible we provide additional help and resources for children with such difficulties from within the school’s allocated budget. Where needs are more severe or long term we are able to assess the needs more formally and apply for extra funds.
Links with parents are maintained through informal meetings, meetings to prepare Individual Pupil Plans (IPPs) and more formal review meetings. Some pupils who need further help may be referred for statutory assessment with a view to receiving support in school. This process may take some time. Some may be assessed by the school and other professionals, as having particular difficulties, and receive an Educational Health and Care Plan (EHCP) often resulting in additional resources and extra support in school.
We work closely with external agencies: Specialist Advisory Teaching Service, Educational Psychology, Speech and Language, Early Years, Emotional and Behavioural Support, English as an Additional Language, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, the Hearing Impaired Advisory Service, CAMHS, Action for Children and the Primary Mental Health Worker Service.
You can view our School SEND information report and contribution to the Cumbria local offer here.
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Our commitment to achieving equality of opportunity for pupils with disabilities, their families, school staff, and other school users has a number of objectives:
We will promote equality for people with disabilities by:
• removing barriers to the accessibility of education, employment, services, information and buildings;
• encouraging good practice along with our partner agencies by giving relevant advice and signposting services;
• ensuring we take particular needs into account when procuring goods and services from our providers;
• promoting positive images of people with disabilities;
• challenging patronising or discriminating attitudes;
• making the environment as safe as possible for and challenging antisocial or bullying behaviour against, or harassment of pupils, staff or other school users with disabilities.
We plan to increase access to education for disabled pupils by:
• increasing the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the full school curriculum;
• increasing the inclusion of positive images of disabled people across the curriculum;
• improving the environment of the school to increase the extent to which disabled pupils can take advantage of education and associated services;
We welcome the requirements of the Disability Equality duty and this section sets out our commitment to meeting the duty. Our Scheme shows how we promote disability equality across all areas of the school, to disabled pupils, staff, parents, carers and other school users.
Accessibility Plan
• Building and Grounds
o arrangements made for some families to access the car park for school drop off and pick up when mobility is difficult
o plans to open up access to the school field and Hidden Haven (school garden) with the laying of a wide path
• Curriculum
o successful access for pupils with SEN and disabilities currently on roll
• Information
o development of a whole school communications strategy to address and improve all aspects of communication with and between all stakeholders
o design and development of a new school website to enable better communication more interactivity and data sharing
o school social media presence, via Facebook, now well established
• Involvement of people with disabilities in the development of the Single Equality Scheme.
o We have made changes to access (drop off and collection of pupils) at the request of parents who are disabled or temporarily incapacitated.
o We would revisit and review sections of the SES should a pupil, parent or member of staff become disabled or join the school and present a need based on a disability.
• Plan to increase access to education for learners with disabilities as detailed above.
o Improve access to the school field and Hidden Haven (school garden) with provision of a new path
o Provision of welfare and changing facilities for children and staff in the Nursery
• Plan to improve equal opportunities for employees with disabilities.
o Provision of welfare and changing facilities for children and staff in the Nursery and at the other end of school.
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We aim to help children to learn and grow as individuals in a complex society by enabling them to experience the love of God in a Christian community. Our times of collective worship are an essential part of this and are a special part of each day.
We want to help children to think for themselves, reflect on their own experiences and grow spiritually with an awareness of life beyond the physical. We are keen that in their time at St Mark’s children will hear the whole of God’s story as recorded in the bible. It is our hope that children will learn to share our understanding of God and His goodness. Ultimately, by ‘finding strength in God’, they can go on to ‘soar on wings like eagles’.
At St Mark’s children are made aware of the Christian heritage in British society and the Governing Body has a specific responsibility to see that education and worship are provided according to the principles and practices of the Church of England. There is, however, insufficient bias to give offence to other Christian denominations.
The children attend and participate in some form of collective worship every day. The Vicar and Curate of St Mark’s Church, representatives from outside agencies, leaders from local churches and the Diocese of Carlisle and the children themselves may sometimes lead acts of worship. Regular celebrations e.g. Harvest, Christmas and Easter are held in St Mark's Church.
Each class is asked to lead an assembly and act of collective worship once a term. Parents are invited to join with us on those occasions.
Parents who do not wish their children to receive Religious Education or participate in Christian Collective Worship have the right to withdraw their children from such lessons and activities. In the event of such cases arising, arrangements will be made for those involved to be supervised.
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We maintain close links with all the secondary schools in the area. Children normally leave primary school at the end of Year 6. The majority from St Mark’s transfer to Kirkbie Kendal School in September. Details of other secondary schools in the area (the Queen Katherine School, Queen Elizabeth School, Settlebeck, Lancaster Royal (Boys) and Girls’ Grammar Schools and Dallam School are made available during the children’s final primary school year.
There are many opportunities for children to visit the two Kendal secondary schools while at primary school. Each will offer activities and events to older primary children, along with invitations to their main musical productions, usually staged at the Brewery Arts Centre.
Parents of children in Year 6 are asked to submit a form detailing their three preferences for secondary schools by the October half term of their child’s final year.
Early in the Autumn term each year, the local secondary schools hold information evenings for Year 6 pupils and their parents. Details of these meetings will be provided to parents in good time.
The Local Authority allocates places and parents are informed during the Spring term of the year of transfer.
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Formal Complaints Procedure
The Governing Body and Local Authority have a duty to ensure that Religious Education, Collective Worship and the full National Curriculum are provided and made accessible to all children. Parents have the right to complain if they feel that these duties are not being fulfilled.
The Governing Body and the Local Authority have to:
• ensure that all pupils are provided with a curriculum which is balanced and broadly based and relevant to their needs, both as young people and as future adults;
• ensure that the requirements of the National Curriculum are met;
• ensure that Religious Education and Collective Worship are provided in accordance with the law;
• comply with regulations regarding the operation of policies for charging;
• comply with regulations regarding the operation of policies for safeguarding; and
• comply with regulations regarding the information provided for parents and others.
Parents concerned about particular matters should first discuss these with the Headteacher and staff at the school. In the majority of cases, this will be the most effective way of dealing with concerns. Should any matter need to progress further, the Governing Body has a formal complaints procedure, copies of which are available on the school website or from the school office.
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Ofsted Parent View gives you the chance to tell Ofsted what you think of your child’s school, including:
- how happy your child is at the school
- how the school manages bullying or challenging behaviour
If your child has special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), we will ask how well the school supports them.
The questionnaire can be completed at any time - you don’t have to wait until the school is being inspected.
Click here to have your say.