Information for Parents

We aim to work in partnership with parents so that we may support each other to the benefit of our students.

Class information:  

ClassDojo / Newsletters / Facebook etc

The school uses an on-line app called ClassDojo for two-way communication between home and school. Staff will respond to any queries, questions or information provided by you via ClassDojo.  Staff will write to you via the app if they have information or a query or questions for parents.  Our teachers’ of more complex students tend to write an entry every day.

A monthly newsletter will be sent out and our Facebook page is updated every week to show the students from each class who have received an Achievement Award in assembly and photos of activities from the week.                                                                                    

Communication with parents:  

We aim to keep parents informed about activities in school through regular letters and newsletters from the Head Teacher.

If parents wish to speak to the Head Teacher or Class Teacher, they should phone or send in a note to the school and we will endeavour to contact them as soon as possible. Meetings between parents and staff can be arranged if there are any issues / concerns parents wish to discuss. 

The School uses a texting service to inform parents/carers of important whole School issues eg School closures.  In event of an emergency situation, information is also posted onto the School website. 

Meetings with parents:  

During the course of the school year there are two meetings planned between parents and school staff;  

• a review of the students Individual Learning Plan and targets with the class teacher
• an Annual Review of the EHCP. Parents are invited to attend the Annual Review with the Head of School, Class Teacher, School Nurse and any other Professionals who support the child. A copy of the new targets and any suggested amendments to the EHCP is sent out to parents in advance of the meeting and parents are invited to make their own contribution to the Review.

School Uniform: 

We expect all children from Year 7 to Year 11 to wear Walton Leigh school uniform.

Wearing school uniform helps the children to understand that it is a school day and makes them part of the school community. Burgundy sweatshirts and grey polo shirts with the school logo are available to order – see our ‘Forms’ page. Black trousers/joggers or skirts are worn with the school polo shirts and sweatshirts.

Students in Years 12 to 14 (Post 16) can choose to wear home clothes or continue wearing their uniform.

Jewellery: 

Jewellery should not be worn in school. In accordance withSurreyCounty guidelines, pupils will not be able to participate in P.E. if they are wearing ear-rings or studs. 

PE kit: 

Parents are asked to provide their child with PE kit as their child is required to change for PE (this does not include students with PMLD). The kit consists of black shorts and white T-shirt and trainers for the summer and additional black tracksuit bottoms and black hoodie/sweatshirt for the winter

Swimming:

Teachers will inform parents which day their child will swim. Parents are asked to provide a swimming costume/trunks, towel, goggles, hairbrush, and shampoo and shower gel.  These will be kept in school and sent home at the end of each half term.

Names on clothes / equipment:

Parents are asked to name all clothes (including underwear and socks), swim wear, towel, bags, coats and any other equipment students bring to school.

Attendance:

If children are to achieve their maximum potential, it is essential that they attend school as much as possible.

Many students at Walton Leigh have additional health problems and may have to be off school if they are not well enough to attend or have medical appointments. Parents must let the school know, either through a phone call or a note, if their child is going to be away from school either for an appointment or if they are sick. Parents are also asked to inform their child’s escort on transport if they are not coming into school. 

Unauthorised absences:

The school is required to record any absence which has not been notified as an ‘unauthorised absence’.

If no member of school staff has been informed about the reason for a pupil’s absence, a letter will be sent to parents asking them for an explanation: if this is not returned then the absence will be recorded as ‘unauthorised’. Pupils should not miss School for birthdays or shopping trips: if there are issues with a pupil not attending school regularly without proper reason, then the Welfare Officer for Special Education will be contacted by the school to provide support to improve attendance. 

Family holidays:

Following changes in legislation, Headteachers are no longer permitted to grant a pupils leave of absence during term time for the purpose of a family holiday ‘unless there are exceptional circumstances and the application has been made in advance by the parent with whom the pupil normally resides’. The Welfare Officer for Special Education, acting on behalf of Surrey County Council, may issue a penalty notice.

Illness:

Parents are asked to provide the school with emergency contact numbers in case their child becomes unwell or has an accident at school. 

The emergency contact must be someone who could take care of the child in the event of the parents not being contactable. If a child has sickness or diarrhoea they should be kept at home for at least 48 hours after their sickness or diarrhoea has ceased. When a child is prescribed anti-biotics for an infection, the Doctor should be asked how long the child should remain at home to recover.

Parents should inform the school immediately if their child contracts a contagious disease such as chickenpox or measles.  Parents are also asked to inform the School Nurse if their child has been in contact with a contagious disease, including glandular fever, as these infections are dangerous for some pupils in the school. 

Please see the Government guidance for keeping your children healthy and when to keep them at home https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2024/01/03/a-parents-guide-to-keeping-kids-healthy-this-school-year/  

Medication:

The School Nursing team can administer prescribed medications during the school day provided there is signed consent from parents and the medications are provided in their original container with the pharmacist’s label. Special arrangements are made for children requiring emergency medication for epilepsy. Parents should give medicines to the Escort on transport. 

Full information can be found here and in our school policy.

School Clubs:

• Tuesday 3.30pm - 5pm:  Cookery Club
• Thursday 3.30pm - 5pm:  Sports Club

For more information on any of our clubs please contact Debbie Rogers in the school office.

School Fund:

Parents are invited to make voluntary contributions to the ‘School Fund’. This money is used to pay for petrol for the minibus for outings, for ingredients for cooking and many other day to day expenses to support the children’s work. We suggest a donation of £10 per month or £40 per term but would gladly accept any donation large or small.

Parents' Concerns:

If parents have a query or worry about any aspect of their child’s schooling they may follow these stages as detailed in Surrey’s Guidance ‘Responding to Parents’ Concerns’. Copies of this guidance can be obtained from the school office or from the Education Department.

• Discuss the concerns with your child’s Class Teacher: most difficulties can be resolved at this stage.

If this is not the case:

2. Contact the Headteacher and ask for an appointment, giving details of the concern: parents are welcome to bring a friend to any meeting if only one parent is able to come.
3. In the unlikely event that the Headteacher has been unable to resolve issues, parents can contact the Chair of Governors.  The Chairperson or nominated Governor will investigate and respond.

As a school we aim to deal with all concerns quickly and effectively. 

Safeguarding Children:

The school staff have a responsibility to raise any concerns they have about a child’s welfare with the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, who is the Head of School.   The school follows the guidance from the Local Authority: this will usually involve discussion with parents about the concern and any other agencies may be involved if necessary.