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General description of the school
1.1	General description of the school
1.2	*Quality Assurance*
1.3	School name and address/LEA details
1.4	School Governing Body
1.5	Admissions
1.6	Normal school hours
1.7	Absences
1.8	School meals
1.9	Transport
1.10	Insurance
1.11	School fund
1.12	Behaviour and discipline
1.13	Rewarding achievement
1.14	The School Health Service
1.15	Illness in school
1.16	OSCARE Before and After School Club
1.17	Child Protection
1.18	Uniform

Oreston Community Primary School is situated in the village of Oreston 2 miles from the centre of Plymouth. The original school, which was built in 1873, has been altered considerably to cater for the growing needs of the children of the area. A full modernisation and development programme has recently been completed which now provides us with excellent facilities. The Governors of the school view it as central to the surrounding community that it serves. In the education of our children advantage is taken of the local environment, including the Oreston Quay area and Radford and Hooe Lakes. Studies are carried out within the village, on Dartmoor and in the city of Plymouth.

Outside there are a number of playground areas including an environmental area / pond used for educational studies. Children also have the use of a neighbouring playing field for games and athletics.

One of the most important aspects of any school is the quality of the staff. Both teaching and non teaching staff at Oreston understand the needs of the children. They are given considerable support by the governors and many parents, who provide invaluable support in the education of the children. Currently the organisation of the school is such that no class exceeds 30 and every class has a dedicated Teaching Assistant to support the teacher.

Community use of the school building and facilities is encouraged and adult classes take place on a regular basis.

Under legislation, all schools are required to be inspected by OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education) inspectors.

A team of inspectors visited our school from 5^th July 1999 until 8^th July 1999 to carry out an in-depth inspection into all aspects of our school. The key elements in the Ofsted Summary are enclosed as an appendix to this Handbook; the full report is available from the school (to loan or purchase).

A copy of the Newsletter that accompanied the Summary is also attached. As you will see, the Inspectors were very impressed by our school in all its dimensions. We were also pleased that our greatest emphasis, the relationships and ethos at Oreston, received the highest praise of all.

Following our inspection the school has been successful in its application for a number of awards. These are intended to ensure that all aspects of our work remain under constant independent review. Oreston is 'committed to education in the widest sense' and we believe that our current range of awards reflect this.

Two consecutive DFES School Achievement awards for standards achieved in SATs tests

A Healthy Schools award to reflect the importance placed on this aspect of children's education

A Sport England Activemark demonstrating our commitment to physical education

An Artsmark (pending) from the Arts Council of England demonstrating our commitment to the arts

A Chartermark from the Cabinet Office to reflect the quality of our 'customer service'

Recognition (and recent re recognition) as an Investors in People organisation; showing our commitment to quality training for all members of staff

Partnership Promotion status from the Teacher Training Agency to show our positive approach to working with students and our role in encouraging other schools to do the same

Training Schools status from the DFES which allows us to receive extra funding in order to invest in the latest technology, carry out research, explore new ways of training teachers and share our ideas with other schools

School admission policies are the responsibility of the Local Education Authority. Each school serves a particular area, but parents may apply for a place in any school. The LEA has fixed the planned admission level for this school at 43 for 2000/2001. In primary schools the admission priority is as follows:

Children living in the school's designated area with a sibling who will be attending the school (or the linked primary phase school) at the time of admission.

Children living outside the school's designated area, but with a sibling who will be attending the school at the time of admission.

If it is necessary to distinguish between children in a particular category, priority will be determined on the basis of distance between home and school along the shortest available walking route (i.e. the shorter the distance, the higher the priority) except that in the case of children below statutory school age in priority categories 1 and 2 priority will be determined by date of birth (i.e. the earlier the date, the higher the priority).

Priority may be given to the admission of a child for whom a particular medical or social justification is demonstrated.

Children who reach their 5th birthday on or between 1 September - 28/29 February

In keeping with National guidelines we ensure that the youngest children are in smaller classes, they also benefit from additional classroom assistant support. During the term before starting school parents and children are invited to spend time in the school, building the partnership between us from the very beginning.

Children starting in the Foundation class start a little later on the first day. This gives the teacher an opportunity to meet all the new entrants when they arrive. Foundation children attend school for the mornings only for the first full week of the term.

Children are supervised in the school playground from 8.45 am. At 8.50 am children should start coming into the building, during which time the registers will be taken. 9 am is the start of actual teaching time in the classrooms. In the event of bad weather, children may come straight into school.

Children should enter and leave the school by the front side gate or the top field gate. Both will be locked each morning at 9.00 am and unlocked at 3.15 pm. The only time children should use the front door is when going home for lunch, or when leaving or arriving during the school day for a medical appointment. When this happens, please ensure that you report to the office so that your child's name is entered in the pupil signing in/out book.

During the year 2001/2002 there were 3890 authorised (½ day) absences (medical, holiday, etc.) and 68 (½ day) unauthorised absences. An absence is unauthorised when a child arrives after 9.30 am without an acceptable reason, or is absent without a letter of explanation from a parent. As a result of legislation, it is a requirement for schools to keep an accurate record of absences and the reason for absence.

1) If your child is away from school, please let us know by sending a note or telephoning the school secretary. We are required by law to enter in the register a reason for all absences (e.g. illness, holiday etc.).

2) Unless we are informed of a reason for any absences, the authority will assume the absence is due to truancy. A holiday form, available from the office, should be completed for each child who will be on holiday during term time.

3) As we are responsible for your child during school hours, if it is necessary for him/her to keep a medical appointment or for any reason be collected from school, please let us know. No child can be allowed to leave the school premises during normal school hours unless collected.

These are cooked at Hooe canteen and brought to us in insulated containers. The cost of a school meal is £1.30 per day, which children need to bring to school in a clearly marked purse. Payment needs to be made on the day as no credits can be given. Free school meals are provided for children of parents in receipt of Income Support or an income based Job Seeker's Allowance. An official application form (BR 351) must be completed, copies of which are available from the school or City Council.

Plymouth City Council has a policy on the provision of school transport. It provides, for example, for free school transport where a pupil of compulsory school age lives beyond the agreed statutory distance from the school serving the home address. The statutory distance is defined as two miles for children up to eight years of age and three miles for those aged eight and over. To qualify, the statutory distance is measured by using the shortest available route between the home and the school.

There are exceptions to this policy. Some pupils may be given free transport even when they live within the distance for special reasons – e.g. medical grounds – and free transport may also be offered to pupils who have a place at a maintained school that is not the designated school but which is closest to the home and beyond the walking distance.

It is a parent’s responsibility to arrange for children to travel in safety between the home and picking-up and setting-down points.

Where the Authority is not obliged to provide transport it is the parents' responsibility to make arrangements to travel between home and school. Where spare seats are available on contractors' vehicles, these may be occupied by children not entitled to free school transport on the purchase of a concessionary ticket. Adequate warning will be given to parents should the concession need to be withdrawn.

If parents were unhappy about the way in which the policy has been applied, the Director of Education would be willing to discuss any concerns.

Pupils/students are insured against injuries caused by building defects, etc., and accidents which occur as a result of negligence by a member of the Authority's teaching or non teaching staff.

1) consider taking out insurance against loss or damage of personal property for their children away from home.

Leaflets dealing with the insurance of pupils, provided by the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations, are available from the school office on request.

A voluntary contribution is requested to help provide extra educational needs of the school. Agreement has been reached that this contribution should be £1 per child per school year, payable each September.

We believe in an approach to behaviour and discipline which is positive and encourages children to work hard, play fairly, be polite, considerate and selfcontrolled; as stated in our Code of Behaviour.

This forms part of our Behaviour Policy, which aims to maintain and improve standards of behaviour through a consistent whole school approach.

By focusing on achievement and rewarding effort, in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust, we believe that this school achieves a very good standard of behaviour. However occasionally sanctions are necessary. If a child continues to be disruptive he/she may be moved to another classroom for a short time. Privileges may be withdrawn (including attendance at clubs). Extra tasks may also be given during playtime/dinnertime supervised by a member of staff. Where there is a particular difficulty parents will be informed. Severe behaviour would be referred to the Assistant Head or Headteacher and dealt with appropriately.

Parents are encouraged to raise any behavioural issues that they become aware of with the class and/or Headteacher. This would include any suggestion of bullying. We firmly believe in early intervention and action to prevent problems developing.

We have a general policy of motivating children through praise and celebrating success both in the classroom and during assemblies. Children may be awarded team points, stickers or stamps as well as certificates (presented weekly) for this purpose; to encourage them in all aspects of their school life. Our guiding principle is to always reward the best that each individual child can achieve.

A Courtesy Cup is also awarded each half term to two children who in the opinion of the staff deserve to be awarded for their polite behaviour.

The School benefits from the services of a trained School Nurse (Yvette Lester). She is supported by our School Doctor (Dr. D Elliott) who is a member of the specialist paediatric service based at the Child Health Department, Scott Hospital, Plymouth.

The School Health Service provides advice on the health of children as it relates to their educational needs. The School Nurse will refer children to the School Doctor when necessary. Tests of hearing and vision, also immunisation against Rubella and B.C.G. are offered at the appropriate times.

In all the above the School Health Service works closely with General Practitioners and other health professions. It also supports teachers in those parts of the school curriculum concerned with health education.

Simple injuries in school are dealt with in the first instance by the trained school staff, who have the support of the School Health Service so far as advice and training are concerned. The majority of staff hold current first aid certificates with some having attended more extended courses.

The School Nurse is your point of contact with the School Health Service. Parents and children are encouraged to contact her if they have any concerns regarding their health at school.

Minor accidents are dealt with as soon as possible. If it is thought necessary to send a sick pupil home, parents will be contacted first.

If your child suffers from asthma, please ensure an asthma card, available from the office, has been completed by your doctor so we have all the necessary details of medication.

Any parents of a child taking prescribed medicine during school hours should:

b) Leave the tablets or medicine with the administrator who will keep them in a safe place. With the exception of asthma inhalers, no medicines are permitted in the classroom.

Please do not send your child to school if he/she is unwell as we do not have facilities, or staff coverage, for sick children. Children who have been suffering from sickness and/or diarrhoea should not attend school until 24 hours after the last bout of illness. Similarly, children who are prescribed any new medication or antibiotics, which could have side effects or an allergic reaction, should not attend school for at least 24 hours after the first dose. Please check with your doctor as to whether or not an illness is contagious.

This is an independently run before and after school club for Oreston School pupils between the ages of 4 and 11. The morning session runs from 8 am until 8:50 am and the evening session from 3:20 pm until 6 pm. Further details (including costs) are available from Mrs Paula Goutcher, who runs Oscare, or from the school office.

It is a legal requirement that each school should have a named school Child Protection co-ordinator and in our school it is Mr Ackers. The Co-ordinator follows the guidance laid down in the City of Plymouth Multi-Disciplinary Child Protection Handbook covering all aspects of child abuse, neglect and non-accidental injury.

From time to time the school is involved in media publicity concerning our achievements and events. Whilst parents and children usually enjoy appearing in the news, please make the school aware if you would prefer your child not to be included in any publicity.

*BOYS*	*GIRLS*
Oreston navy blue sweatshirt	Oreston navy blue sweatshirt or navy blue cardigan
Oreston navy blue fleece	Oreston navy blue fleece
Oreston white polo shirt (A white shirt may be worn as an alternative)	Oreston white polo shirt (A white blouse may be worn as an alternative)
Grey trousers	Navy skirt, pinafore dress or tailored trousers (of similar style to those worn by boys)
Suitable school shoes (not trainers)	Suitable low-heeled school shoes (not trainers)
	White socks (or navy tights in winter)
	Blue and white check dress for summer

There is a shop, run by the PTA, which is held every Tuesday afternoon between 3 pm and 3.20 pm. It is an opportunity for you to purchase items marked # on the list above and navy school book folders. If you are unable to be at school on a Tuesday afternoon, an order form may be obtained from the office. When the order is ready, a note will be sent to invite you to collect it from the office at your convenience.

All children need a shoe bag. Due to restricted cloakroom space, please keep all bags as small as possible!

For safety reasons the only items of jewellery allowed are ear studs and watches