Nether Green Junior School

We are proud of the good attendance of our pupils at Nether Green Junior School and the support parents give us.

School starts at 8.50 am. Children arriving after the register is taken (9.00 am and 1.00 pm.) will be marked late/absent.

If your child is ill you should phone the school as early as possible. The telephone will be answered from 8.30 am onwards (0114 230 2461).  If you are late please ensure your child is registered at the office and a reason is given. If you return your child to school during the school day please ensure you inform the office staff.

Unexplained absences are classed as unauthorised absences. Home visits will be made by the inclusion officer where there are concerns regarding attendance or lateness.   If your child is having any difficulties affecting their attendance please let us know.

Under normal circumstances, we will not contact you if your child does not arrive at school. If you would like us to do so please inform the office staff.

For further information, including legal obligations of attendance, please read our Attendance Information for Parents and Carers or our Attendance Policy and Exceptional Leave During Term Time Policy.

Attendance Information for Parents and Carers

Attendance Policy

Exceptional Leave During Term Time Policy

Attendance Guidance

We have high expectations of the children’s behaviour. We believe that good behaviour, respect and good manners are all important in helping children begin to become good citizens.

 We work with children to promote, develop and recognise good behaviour. Our aim is to enable our pupils to learn how to communicate their feelings, set themselves goals and work towards them, interact successfully with others, resolve conflicts peaceably, control their anger and negotiate their way through the many complex relationships in their lives.

Our Vision and Values

Our values are at the core of everything we do and have been developed with the aim of preparing our pupils to be confident, happy and compassionate citizens. Our vision and values are:

• Effort and Resilience
• Independence
• Pride
• Behaviour and Attitude
• Teamwork
• Respect

We have reward systems in school to encourage and recognise good behaviour. We also have systems in place to deal with inappropriate behaviour. Serious incidents of poor behaviour are very rare at our school but will be dealt with appropriately if the need arises. Parents/Carers will be asked to become involved if necessary.

Pupils have the right to learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment without the fear of being bullied. Bullying can be physical, verbal or indirect. The school uses the following definition from the Local Authority put into child-friendly language: Bullying is hurtful behaviour which is all the following: Ongoing, Deliberate and Unequal. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at our school. It is WRONG and will not be tolerated.

If parents/carers have any concerns we ask that, in the first instance, you come and talk to the child’s class teacher, with an open mind.

Behaviour Policy 

At Nether Green Junior School we celebrate the children’s individuality and diversity.  It is our policy not to discriminate on grounds of gender and to respect and accommodate the dress of different cultures, races and religions.  We feel that children should be encouraged to take pride in their appearance and wear appropriate, suitable and safe clothing for school.

 We have a school sweatshirt and T-shirt, in a choice of styles.  This is not compulsory and is available in a variety of colours.

 With this in mind, we ask that:

1.  Children should come to school wearing clothing that is appropriate for working and playing.  Children should feel comfortable in what they are wearing.  We ask that sleeveless tops and crop tops are not worn. Shorts need to be at least mid-thigh length.

2. a)  Children should not wear items of jewellery and metal badges etc which could lead to safety issues.  Only watches and simple ear rings i.e. studs should be worn, these should be removed for PE and games.  Children will put their jewellery in a tray provided and collect them at the end of the lesson.  School cannot take responsibility for lost items.

2. b)  Inevitably at times ‘fashion items’ will become popular.  The school will decide on the appropriateness of the children being allowed to wear such items, taking into account health and safety issues and other important criteria. Decisions will be reported to parents/carers through school newsletters.

3.  Unless for religious reasons children should not wear headgear/scarves etc inside the school buildings.  Children will be encouraged to wear headgear in the playground which is appropriate for the weather.  For example, warm hats in winter and hats which offer protection from the sun in the summer months.

4.  Children should wear appropriate footwear.  Shoes with high heels and ‘flip flop’ type sandals are not appropriate as our buildings and playgrounds are not suitable for them.

5.  Children should come to school in cold weather with a warm coat or, in warmer weather, with a showerproof jacket.  Whenever safe and possible we do insist on outdoor play.

Our PE kit is a Nether Green T-shirt, black shorts or black tracksuit bottoms with no logo or black leotard.  All children should have black plimsolls with nonmarking soles for indoor use.  Children should always have a PE kit in school for appropriate lessons, otherwise, they will be asked to wear a spare one from school.  Long hair must be tied back for PE lessons.

It is useful for the children to bring in a large old T-shirt or shirt to wear over their clothes for art lessons.

Please label all clothes so we can return them.  School cannot accept responsibility for lost items.  The lost property bin is outside the medical room.  We keep lost property for 4 weeks; after this time the clothes will be displayed for the children to view and then given to a charity.

This dress code will be actively supported by all staff.

Dress Code

At Nether Green Junior School we believe that, through high-quality Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMS) provision and underlying ethos of the school, all children achieve their full potential as well developing a full understanding of their role within their community. This ultimately means that our children leave the school at the end

of Year 6 as well-rounded young people who are ready to make the transition to secondary school. Part of our role in this preparation is ensuring that we promote and reinforce key values to our students. These include:

• We are gentle
• We are kind and helpful
• We listen
• We are honest
• We work hard
• We look after property

The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy and considered them to be democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs. At our school, we feel these values sit well with our own key values and are consistently reinforced and respected within our school community. The examples that follow are an indication of some of the many ways we seek to embed British Values at Nether Green Junior School and are an indication of our

approach rather than an exhaustive list. Our assembly programme, Golden Rules and wider curricular teaching are key ways in which we develop our key values, including British values with our children.

Democracy

At Nether Green Junior School the principle of democracy is consistently reinforced.

Elections for School Councillors and the high-profile nature of their work as well as work throughout the curriculum and in assemblies ensure that our children have a good understanding of the democratic process, both in school and on a local and national level.

The rule of law

The importance of “laws,” whether they are those that govern the class, the school, or the country, is consistently reinforced throughout regular school days. Our

‘Golden Rules’ are high profile throughout school and are discussed and referred to in all classes. Our children recognise the importance of right and wrong and those consequences apply when rules are broken.

Individual liberty

Within our school, children are actively encouraged to make independent choices knowing that they are in a safe, secure and supportive environment. As a school, we

provide clear boundaries for children to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and an inspiring curriculum. Children are encouraged to know,

understand and exercise their rights, responsibilities and personal freedoms and receive advice about how to exercise these safely, for example through our

exploration of E-Safety. Children have an active role in steering the curriculum through generating questions to guide their learning.

Mutual respect

Respect is at the core of our school ethos and is modelled by children and staff alike. The school promotes respect for others and this is reinforced through our classroom and learning environments as well as our sequence of assemblies. In line with our commitment to democracy, children at our school are always able to voice their opinions and we foster an environment where they are safe to disagree with each other.

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

 Children are taught to understand their place in our culturally diverse society through our curriculum and SMSC provision. Our high quality RE curriculum introduces a range of religions and beliefs and enables our children to discuss and recognise different beliefs and faiths. Our MFL curriculum and Language of the Half Term further broadens the cultural understanding of our children. If you have any questions regarding our SMSC provision or promotion of British Values, please do not hesitate to contact us.