School Brochure
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School's Admission Policy |  |
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The LA has an admission policy for children applying to transfer from First to Middle School at the end of Year 3. Information is distributed by the First School at the appropriate time. Parents wishing to transfer to Pinner Park Middle School other than at the start of Year 4 should contact the Primary Admissions Officer at the Civic Centre Tel. 020 8863 5611. Pinner Park is fortunate to have two high schools in close proximity, Nower Hill and Hatch End. Please visit the Harrow Council website (http://www.harrow.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents.php?categoryID=13) for admission criteria.
Children from other schools and those that join during the school year are helped to settle in, and to feel that they belong, as smoothly as possible. Their class teacher ensures that they are looked after by a reliable and caring friend from their new class.
Prospective children and their parents are welcome to make an appointment to visit the school. |
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Contacting the School | |
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At Pinner Park parents are welcome into school. It is recommended that your first point of contact should be with your child's class teacher, or the year group co-ordinator, then the Headteacher or the Deputy Headteacher, where many of your enquiries can be dealt with speedily. Please come into school and discuss any issues or concerns which you think may impact upon your child’s learning. It is always helpful if we know. The teaching staff can be available before or after school but if you anticipate needing more than five minutes please make an appointment.
Prospective parents should contact the school to make an appointment to visit the school in action. |
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Travelling to School | |
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Part of the PPMS School Travel Plan is encouraging more children to walk to school. If it is essential that you drive, please do not park in the areas marked in yellow outside the school gate or by the junction of Headstone Lane or Melbourne Avenue.
There is a voluntary one way systemwhich operates in Melbourne Avenue when children are being brought or collected (see Road Safety Scheme and plan on the 'Contact Us' page). Road sense and care are required if children are not to be endangered.
Without prior agreement parents do not normally have access to the staff car park.
Outside visitors to the School should report to the school office where they will receive a visitor’s pass. The school building is protected by an entry phone system and visitors will need to go to the front entrance and request admission.
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Safeguarding Children | |
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At Pinner Park Middle School, we aim to ensure that all children are safe. The school follows procedures in the School’s Child Protection Policy. This is informed by DCSF guidance on ‘Safeguarding Children in Education’, the Harrow Area Protection Committee and the ‘All London Child Protection Procedures’.
Basic Child Protection training on these procedures was provided for staff in 2008. The designated teacher for Child Protection issues is Miss Mildner and Mr. Brown in the absence of Miss Mildner.
The procedures will be followed if an allegation or a disclosure is made in school and external services will be informed if appropriate, or guidance and advice sought.
Pinner Park Middle School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and all employees undergo child protection screening appropriate to their posts including checks with past employers and the Criminal Records Bureau.
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Supervision of children Before and After School | |
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In order to provide supervision of children on school premises, the following arrangements have been made:
A member of staff will be on duty in each playground from 8.45 - 8.55 a.m. and children should not arrive before this time.
On wet days children are allowed into the classrooms at 8.45 a.m., when 2 members of staff will be on duty.
Unless they are taking part in school activities, pupils should leave school by 3.40pm.
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Pastoral Care | |
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Children are encouraged to discuss problems with their Class Teacher, Year Group Co-ordinator, Deputy Headteacher or Headteacher, or any other member of staff. If parents or guardians feel concerned about something at home or school which might affect the child's behaviour or well-being they should contact the class teacher or Head teacher.
The children have access to a School Counsellor on Mondays and a Social Skills Programme with our Learning Mentor (see our leaflet for full explanation).
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Home - School Links | |
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We aim to foster effective links between home, school and the community. There are fortnightly Newsletters and letters to keep parents informed, a parents’ noticeboard by the Melbourne Avenue gates and our school website (http://www.pinnerparkjuniorschool.co.uk) .
Each pupil has a termly combined Link Book and Reading Log to take home every day. Any homework or messages from parents, pupils or staff can be written here. Please aim to sign the book once a week.
Learning Consultation meetings are held in Autumn and Spring terms. Autumn term is a chance to share early progress and any useful information between parents and teachers. The Spring meeting is for both children and parents to attend to share progress.
There will also be Parents’ Consultation Meetings for parents of children with Special Educational Needs, and Instrumental Open Evenings. At the end of each academic year you will receive a Pupil Profile on your child’s progress for the academic year.
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Attendance | |
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Children are expected to attend school regularly and to arrive promptly. We are required by law to keep accurate records of attendance. Please contact Mrs. Tucker in welfare (0208 863 7689) before 9.30 a.m. if your child is going to be absent that day. Upon their return, write a brief note to the Class Teacher to explain the absence.
If your son or daughter has an appointment with the dentist, optician or similar, will you please send us the appointment card before the absence occurs, with a letter confirming that you accept responsibility for your child during the visit.
Please remember it is compulsory for children to attend school. Government legislation on school attendance states that “time off school for family holidays is not a right”, that permission must be sought from the Headteacher and only in exceptional circumstances should absence over ten school days be authorised.
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Assembly | |
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We have assemblies every day for all the children. The assemblies may take the form of class assemblies, lower and upper school assemblies and whole school assemblies. They are very much related to developing in the children a sense of community, respect for others, caring attitudes and moral values which underpin the Christian traditions and those of the major World Religions. Opportunities are taken to celebrate success and a gold certificate system is used to highlight achievement .
If parents have any questions or queries regarding the content of assemblies please contact the school and make an appointment to see the Headteacher or Deputy. |
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School Lunch Arrangements | |
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Pupil voice is an integral part of the ethos of Pinner Park Middle School. Pupils have the opportunity to be voted, as a class representative, onto the School Council. Pupil representatives from each class in the school meet regularly to discuss initiatives and ideas to improve life in school. They have a budget and recent impact has been the playground, charity fundraising and the environment. |
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School Council | |
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Pupil voice is an integral part of the ethos of Pinner Park Middle School. Pupils have the opportunity to be voted, as a class representative, onto the School Council. Pupil representatives from each class in the school meet regularly to discuss initiatives and ideas to improve life in school. They have a budget and recent impact has been the playground, charity fundraising and the environment. |
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Welfare Care at School | |
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Please notify us immediately of any medical problems, or personal problems which could affect your child at school.
If a child sustains a slight injury or becomes ill at school, he/she will be seen by our Welfare Assistant for first aid. If further medical treatment is considered to be required you will be contacted and asked to make arrangements for this treatment.
We have a number of trained First Aid members of staff.
If we cannot contact you, or urgent treatment is necessary, then we will call an ambulance for hospital treatment. It is essential that you provide us with an up to date telephone number to be used at such times.
If the injury is of a degree that warrants your attention, but is not considered to require immediate medical treatment, you will be notified at the end of the day by way of a note brought home by your child.
Children should not return to school ill. If a child is not well enough to take part in physical education in the playground in warm clothing, or to go out at break time wearing a coat, then he/she should be kept at home until a full recovery has been made. Special cases will be considered by the Headteacher on receipt of a letter from the parent/s.
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Medication and On-going Treatment | |
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If it is necessary for a child to take prescribed medication during the school day, the medication should be sent to the Medical Room clearly labelled with the child's name, the time it should be taken and the dosage. There should be an accompanying letter or note from the parent/guardian delivered to Mrs. Tucker to confirm the child's need for medication. No child should keep medicines in their desk or bag.
If your child suffers from Asthma of any allergies please make contact with the class teacher and welfare to ensure an action plan is in place to support your child most effectively at school.
You should not send your child to school when he or she is unwell or suffering from an infectious condition. If in any doubt concerning the above guidance, please consult your Doctor.
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Pupils with Disabilities | |
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The school staff have always made every effort to ensure that we accommodate, to the best of our ability, any physical or medical needs of pupils in our care. We strongly support the policy of inclusion and we are working towards DDA requirements. The ground floor, D&T hut and Music hut are accessible via ramps. |
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Special Needs | |
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There is a Special Needs Policy in line with the Code of Practice for learning needs, and an Inclusion Co-ordinator (or SENCO) within the school who is responsible for co-ordinating this area. Children are seen as individuals at Pinner Park and we have a network of support for children within the school. We also have regular visits from the Educational Psychologist, the Education Welfare Officer. There is also support available in school from the Borough Support Services as well as through the School’s own provision.
We aim to foster regular contact with parents of children with special needs and involve them in their child’s progress. |
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School Discipline | |
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We focus on children developing responsibility for their own behaviour as well as understanding the impact of their behaviour on others. Pupils are expected to follow the school rules set out in the ‘Rules and Responsibilities’ brochure included. These are designed to enable the school to function safely, happily and efficiently as a learning community.
We expect all members of the learning community to behave in a polite, respectful and responsible way. Unacceptable behaviour is dealt with promptly with clear and levelled consequences applied. We rely on the support of parents in maintaining positive behaviour in school and involve them if behaviour becomes a concern.
Exclusion is possible in extreme cases with the approval of the Chair of Governors.
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Documents | |
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Parents have the right of access to their child’s records, with notice. All the National Curriculum documents as they are published are available for parents to see, as are the Local Education Authority Curriculum Statements and School Policy documents. National documents can be found on the Internet at www.dcsf.gov.uk. |
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Complaints Procedure | |
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There is an agreed procedure in the School’s Complaints Policy.
Information is available in the front entrance and from the School Office. |
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Homework Policy | |
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Homework plays a valuable part in a child's education by:
offering the opportunity to develop the self discipline needed for independent learning and the development of study skills
enabling access to sources of information and ideas not always available in the classroom
reinforcing and extending skills acquired in class
involving the home in supporting and understanding the nature of the work done in school and appreciating the achievements of the children.
Homework set should:
form an integral part of curriculum planning supporting progression in learning
relate clearly to work done in class
involve a range of tasks which includes reading, which should be undertaken regularly
consolidate and reinforce skills and understanding, particularly in literacy and numeracy - science and other subjects will be added to the programme as the children move through the school.
be appropriate to the ability of the child
be consistent across the Year Group
be progressive in quantity and quality through the school.
Year 4 will be expected to undertake about one and a half hours of homework a week, Years 5 & 6 two and a half hours a week and Year 7 up to three and a half hours.
Pupils should:
record work set in their home-link book
complete homework and return it to school by the set date
seek help from class teacher/parent/homework if it is needed
Teachers should:
have high expectations of pupils completing homework by the set date - if not sanctions should be applied and the home informed in the case of regular non-completion
explain homework clearly in class
give prompt and clear feedback on completed homework
indicate the likely weekly timetable for homework in order to help with the development of a regular pattern and a familiar routine.
Parents should:
read and sign the link-book on a regular basis
encourage the development of study skills by organising a reasonably peaceful place for their children to do their homework
give appropriate support with their child's homework - the involvement of parents and carers in joint activities is valuable in promoting children's learning.
support the school by valuing the homework set, explaining to their children how it can help the learning process and encouraging timely completion
discuss any difficulties encountered with the class teacher.
make a note in the home-link book if exceptional circumstances have prevented homework being completed. |
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The School Health Service | |
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The aim of the School Health Service is to help children benefit fully from their education through good health be that physical, emotional or social well-being.
The School Health Service in Harrow is part of Children's Services within Northwick Park Hospital. Our school doctor is a Senior Registrar in Paediatrics. Routine health surveillance, immunisation, health education, advice on health issues and support and advice for parents and teachers of children with special needs is all part of the school nurse's role.
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The School Nurse | |
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The school nurse can be contacted at Belmont Health Centre on 020 8424 2897. |
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Road Safety | |
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With your co-operation we are trying to improve the safety of the children and traffic in the vicinity of the school. There is in operation a voluntary one-way system during the time the children are entering and leaving school.
As motorists, it is the responsibility of us all to protect these children who, although given training in the use of pavements and roads, are unpredictable and easily distracted from their purpose.
For years the accident statistics have shown that stationary cars are a great hazard to children. This problem becomes acute at the time of entering and leaving school. Bearing this position in mind, we would like to offer the following suggestions to help lessen the risks for all the children attending Pinner Park Schools.
DO NOT USE THE CAR TO BRING OR COLLECT THE CHILDREN GOING TO OR COMING FROM THE SCHOOL UNLESS IT IS ESSENTIAL.
DRIVE SLOWLY in the vicinity of the school.
KEEP TO THE CIRCULATORY SCHEME please remember it is a school voluntary one way system - expect traffic coming towards you.
NEVER STOP IN THE SCHOOL ENTRANCE ZIGZAG MARKINGS, or near to the school crossing patrol.
SET DOWN AND PICK UP CHILDREN ONLY FROM THE ALLOCATTED PARKING AREAS.
SET DOWN KERBSIDE only
IN BAD WEATHER you may be anxious to keep your own child dry but remember this is when other
CHILDREN ARE LIKELY TO BE MORE CARELESS so thoughtful parking is more important.
We are sure you will wish to co-operate in the scheme to improve the safety of the children at Pinner Park. |
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Charging Policy | |
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We do ask parents for voluntary contributions to cover the costs of a variety of school educational activities arranged for their children. Unfortunately, if we do not receive sufficient money to cover the cost of a specific activity, that activity will have to be cancelled. No child will be excluded from an activity because her/his parents have not made a voluntary contribution. Children that are eligible for Free School Meals and are on the schools official Free School Meals register will not be expected to pay for day trips unless they wish to pay.
We do our best to keep costs to a minimum and to ensure the activities are a valuable part of the curriculum.
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