The School Day


We offer a breakfast club for children between 8.00am - 8.30am.
We think that it is important that children should make a prompt start to school and we ask that they are brought to school between 8:50am - 9:00am.
Breakfast Club 8:00am - 8:30am
Children arrive 8:50am – 9:00am
Registration 9:00am
Collective Worship 9:05am – 9:30am
Morning Session 9:30am - 10:30am
Morning Break 10:30am - 10:50am
Morning Session 10:50am -12:00pm/12:15pm
Lunchtime F. Phase: 12:00pm – 1.15pm
Juniors: 12.15pm – 1.15pm
Registration 1.15pm
Afternoon Session Nursery: 1:15pm – 3:20pm
Reception-Year 6: 3:30pm
Extra-curricular Activities 3:30pm - 4:30 pm
(Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday)
a timetable of all extracurricular clubs are available from the school office.

Preparing Your Children for School

From an academic point of view, it is important that you talk to your children, listen to them, and read them stories. Young children can help with cooking and other domestic tasks. Puzzles, drawing, painting, and other creative activities will help to stimulate your child’s developing mind. When something has been made, encourage your child to talk about it. Always praise your child, praise works wonders with young children, particularly when it comes from the most important people in their lives. You can boost your child’s confidence and help them to make a smooth start by letting them do things for themselves, e.g. dressing and putting on shoes, using a toilet and washing hands, using a knife and fork and tidying up toys.

P.E., Games and Swimming

We are proud of our children’s sporting achievements and through our physical education curriculum and extra-curricular activities we aim to develop the skills of co-operation, a sense of fair play and a sensible attitude to competitiveness. We also want our pupils to discover the positive effects that exercise has on the body and mind, and want to embed a love of physical activity, which will become lifelong.

Physical activities form an essential part of the curriculum for every pupil and we strongly encourage all pupils to participate. If there is a medical reason why a child cannot take part, we require a note of explanation from the parent.

All pupils need to have shorts and T-shirt in a P.E. bag and all items should be named.

We offer swimming lessons on termly basis to years 2- year 6 a swimming costume and towel will be required.

Fruit and Water Bottles

Every morning at 10.30am, we have our morning playtime. The children are allowed to purchase from our healthy tuck shop or bring in a piece of fruit to eat at this time. We do not allow crisps, biscuits or chocolate. The Foundation Phase children are provided with a selection of fruit and a carton of free milk at their Snack Bar in the morning.

We strongly promote the drinking of fresh water in school and children are encouraged to bring in water bottles at all times. A water fountain is provided in the Foundation Phase and Junior areas.

Behaviour and Discipline

We feel confident that all parents share the expectations that children behave well at all times, including during the journeys to and from school. Children should realise that a high standard of behaviour is expected of them.

We aim to create an environment in which children’s self-esteem is nurtured and misbehavior becomes a less attractive way of obtaining attention. Good behaviour is necessary so effective teaching and learning can take place. The rules of the school are kept to a minimum but children are encouraged to care for their environment, the building, furniture, equipment, books, and most importantly, each other.

Our aim is to praise rather than criticise, to celebrate their successes and endeavours, and highlight their good behaviour. However, if children choose to break rules they must realise that it is only fair that they must face up to the consequences of their actions.

The guidance they receive in school and the examples they are set by adults at home will help to develop good behaviour. If we continually reinforce this then cases of serious misbehaviour will be rare.

The co-operation of parents is of course vital, and we will seek your support in dealing with any incidents of misbehaviour that are causing problems in school.

Health/Safety Issues

Child Protection and Pupil Welfare

School has a duty of care, and the right to take reasonable action to ensure the welfare and safety of its pupils. If a member of staff has cause to be concerned that a pupil may be subject to ill treatment, neglect or any form of abuse the school will follow the school’s Child Protection Policy and Procedures. This may mean that we have to liaise with other external bodies. The school’s Child Protection Officer is Mr T Baxter and the Deputy Child Protection Officer is Mr M Buckley the Safeguarding Governor is Mrs E Wilce.

Illness and Medicines

If children are ill at school, we do our best to make them comfortable. Our policy is to contact parents promptly so that the child can be taken home immediately. We encourage full attendance at school, but when children are ill, it is usually better for all concerned, if they are cared for at home until they have fully recovered. In our experience, children who feel unwell rarely work effectively and can become distressed. If your child is absent, please send in a note or telephone the school to explain why, as soon as possible.

Although it is better for children to be kept at home if they need regular medication, there are circumstances when it is necessary to give treatment in school. If a child needs continuous treatment, you will need to come in to school and give the medication yourself.

Do not send your child to school with over-the-counter medicines, as we are not allowed to administer these.

School Nurse

The School Nurse, calls at school regularly to discuss health problems. She undertakes hearing, sight, weight, and height tests with the children. She also talks to pupils and parents about various health issues.

Asthma

Increasing numbers of children suffer from asthma and it is our policy is to ensure that asthma sufferers lead a full school life, whilst controlling their illness. If your child suffers from asthma in any of its forms, please use our medical information sheet to register them as an asthma sufferer. We monitor children carefully, particularly during physical activities and allow them immediate access to their medication, when necessary. It is essential that your child has extra medication that can be kept in school permanently. If a child has an attack, which does not respond to treatment within a reasonable time, we call the emergency services.

First Aid

The children are supervised throughout the day and their safety is always of prime concern when we are organising activities. If an accident occurs, a member of staff will administer first aid. In the case of minor injuries, no other action is taken, but if it is thought that medical treatment is needed, you will be informed so that your child can be taken to the doctor or hospital immediately. We are particularly concerned about injuries to the head or back. If you cannot be contacted, we will take the child for treatment or call in medical help.

Health and Safety

The school has a detailed Health and Safety Policy, which outlines the measures that the Governing Body, Headteacher, class teachers and all staff take, to ensure that all pupils, staff, visitors and contractors are safe whilst on the premises.

Regular safety checks on equipment, fire drills, appliance testing are carried out routinely throughout the year. Activities that require additional safety measures, such as extra-curricular activities, visits or using specific equipment, are subject to detailed risk assessments.

School Security

All visitors to the school should enter at the main entrance to be greeted by the School Secretary or another member of staff. We ask you not to try other entrances, as these will be locked. Visitors are asked to sign the visitors’ book on arrival.

Nutrition and School Meals

Nutritious school meals are cooked on the premises and are available, at £2.10 per meal (for all aged children). All money should be sent to school in a named envelope daily.

The choice usually includes two choices. We encourage children to eat school meals, not only because we think they are good value, but because we regard lunchtime as an important social meeting place where table manners, learned at home, can be reinforced amongst peers. Children can bring a packed lunch to school, but we do not allow children to bring sweets, chewing gum or fizzy drinks to school.

Holidays

A list of school term dates is included at the end of this prospectus, and is sent out to parents annually. We strongly encourage families to take holidays during the official school holidays. Parents do not have a legal right to take children out of school on holiday and consequently any absence due to holidays during term time will not be authorised by the school and could end up in prosecution.

Attendance/Absence

It is the duty of the parent to contact the school if a child is going to be absent for the day. We would ask parents to ring the school secretary or leave a message on the schools absence line before 9.10a.m so that the child’s teacher may be notified of the absence. If a child is not present in school and cannot give a valid reason for absence, we must mark the child as an “Unauthorised Absence” in the register. Numerous unauthorised absences may result in a visit from the Education Welfare Officer to discuss the reasons for repeated absence.

Governors have an ongoing target of 95% attendance; we also work closely with the Welsh Government to monitor attendance under the Callio Attendance Scheme. The scheme looks at three bands of attendance i.e. Red – under 92%, Amber 92-96% and Green 97% and above. Letters are sent home termly to families advising parents which category their child falls into.

Friends of the School

The Friends of St Mary’s RC Primary School are a group of parents, friends, and teachers who raise extra funds for the school and organise social events for the children and their families. Events include an annual Christmas fayre, an annual summer barbeque and fete, bingo, various raffles to name but a few.

The Friends usually meet once a term and warmly welcome new recruits.