Home – School Links

We strongly believe that the positive relationship with our families and the importance of  maintaining good contact with parents / carers. Much of what is done in school will only be effective if it is continued in the home.

We are always open to suggestions as to how we can better improve links between home and school so please contact any of your phase leaders to discuss these.

The Parents / carers and family, and the school staff will be the main influences upon the development of the child, so it is important that we all share the  aims, needs, priorities.

Information is passed between school and home in a number of ways:

• Contact books (now trialing Class DOJO) pass regularly between school staff and home. Entries are completely informal, and may include anything which one feels that the other should know. The school does not regard this book as confidential. Any message of a private nature, to or from school, should be enclosed in an email,  sealed envelope or made by telephone direct to the school.
• Information sheets and Newsletters are sent out regularly.
• Parents / carers evenings. The child's targets are sent home at the beginning of each term for parents / carers to consider, and consultation evenings are held in the Autumn and Summer terms. Additional evenings and/or coffee mornings may be  held during the year to pass on specific information. 
• School Reports: a detailed report of progress through the year is prepared and sent home at the end of the Summer Term and parents / carers are invited to discuss this with the class staff at the Parent Consultation evening which follows.

• Annual Review of Educational and Health Care Plan. All students will have, or be in the process of converting to, an EHCP.  This will be reviewed annually and all relevant parties will be invited to contribute to the review.  The annual meeting gives opportunity for consideration of progress and recommendation for any necessary changes and amendments.

• Parents / carers are invited to attend the regular annual medical checks, when the Doctor (Community Paediatric Consultant) is at the school, and can request a more frequent check if they have concerns about their child.

Absence from School

If your child is away from school due to illness or for any other reason, please let us know as soon as possible before the start of the first school day of absence and not later than 9.15am.  Parents/carers should also telephone their child’s transport provider as early as possible to let them know. On return, please ALWAYS let us know in the home/school book, or by letter, the reason for your child’s absence. 

If your child has had a sickness or diarrhea bug they should be off from school for 48 hours after the last episode.   Family holidays should not be taken during term-time. Any requests for a child to be absent from school (other than illness or medical appointments) must be put in writing and sent to the Headteacher for approval.

Parent Governors

All parents / carers participate in the election of Parent-Governors, and we are entitled to four who hold office for 4 years. All parents/carers will be given the opportunity to be elected when a vacancy arises. The Full Governing Body meets at least 6 times per year.

Partnership between Home and School

It is extremely important, if the children are to make the best possible progress that we all work together.  

Parents/carers who wish to call into the school are made very welcome, but it would be helpful if you would  telephone first to make an appointment whenever possible, and must also report to the School Secretary on arrival. Staff plan their teaching programmes very thoroughly and sometimes interruptions to the classroom during work periods can be disruptive. However, if a parent/carer wishes to join the class for a session to see the work in progress, we would be pleased to arrange it.

Out of School Clubs

There is a bi-weekly club for the teenagers (13 – 25) at Uckfield, Hailsham, Eastbourne and Heathfield, called Youthability on a Saturday afternoon. They are run by ‘Care for the Carers’ and each has a maximum of 20 members, some with learning difficulties and others with mobility problems. A young person with any disability is able to be referred, contact number 01323 738 390.

Funky Teens also runs Saturday afternoons, call for more information 01273 335130.

Uckfield Phab Club runs a Saturday Club and anyone interested should phone 01825 749826.