Information For Parents
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3rd April Pentathlon swimming event for young leaders.
3rd April 2pm Easter Service in St Mark’s Church
3rd April Chocolate Bingo
4th April at 3:30pm End of Term
22nd April Start of Term
24th April Ski competition
25th April ‘Voices for Equality’ workshop for year 5
28th April Water Workshop for year 4
1st May PTA meeting 7pm
5th May BANK HOLIDAY
9th May Wheelchair basketball for year 5 and 6
12th-15th May Year 6 SATS assessments
21st May Year 6 to Windermere
23rd May Sports Day (tbc)
26th – 30th May Half Term
27th – 29th May Mini Lions Holiday Club
3rd June Nursery and Reception school trip (tbc)
6th June Back up Sports Day
11th – 13th June Year 5 residential
17th June Dick Viney athletics competition
27th June Summer Fair
30th June Year 6 Induction Day Kirkbie Kendal School
2nd – 4th July Year 6 residential
3rd – 4th July Year 3 Woodland Camp
8th July KS2 Performance (Y4,5,6)
9th July KS2 Performance (Y4,5,6)
10th July Year 5 Musical Matinee at KKS
15th July Open evening (tbc)
18th July End of Term
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09:00 Registration, Collective Worship and Session 1
10:25 Break
10:40 Session 2
11:45 Lunch break—Reception Class
12:00 Lunch break—all other classes
13:00 Guided reading/Spelling13:30 Session 3
14:30 Session 4
15:30 End of the school dayDrop 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: 15:30 -
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.Arbor
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.Flyers and promotional material
From time to time we trail a school event or activity using printed flyersMessages 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. All contact details can be updated by parents on Arbor. 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.
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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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.
• Choir
• Athletics / Sports Hall Athletics Club
• Football / Dodgeball Club
• Cricket
• 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 on the Arbor parent portal.
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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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Children 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.
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 Hardey.
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.
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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.
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