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Parents’ Information

Communication

We believe in developing a strong partnership between home and school and as parents/carers you are a vital part of our school community. A positive relationship between parents and school has a crucial bearing on a child’s progress and we will work together to ensure your child has the best educational experience possible whilst .

We ask for contact details of parents/carers to enable the school to communicate with you – weekly newsletters and letters home are sent via email. Phone numbers are essential in case of illness or emergency for at least two contacts per child.  We do not share these details with anyone else, except for legal reasons.

We also ask you to sign the Home School Agreement which outlines the expectations and commitments from us both in your child’s time with us at Abbey School.

School Day

The school day starts at 8:50am and finishes at 3:20pm. This amounts to a total of 32.5 hours in school in a typical week. Parents/carers can bring their children to school, accessing the school site through pedestrian gates on Grove Road, Lady Spencer Grove and The Abbey Orchard.  Please do not arrive on the school site before 8.45am.  Children are brought to their classroom door where the teacher or TA will greet them. Any communication you feel important for the school day may be shared with the member of staff at the classroom door.

There is a morning break, lunch time is from 12 noon, where children eat, either a hot prepared school lunch or a home packed lunch, in the school hall. Key Stage One children then have an afternoon break as well.

Pupils are collected from the classroom door at 3:20pm, dismissed by their class teacher. Please arrive promptly at the end of the school day and also when collecting children from after school clubs.

If your child attends the Morning Club (7:55-8:55am) you drop them off at the Grove Road pedestrian gate where the children are met by the Morning Club staff.  After School Club runs from 3:20-6pm and pick up is from the Grove Road pedestrian gate where Fizzbug staff will bring your children to you.

Volunteering

We pride ourselves on having strong, productive relationships with our parents/carers and welcome them, and other members of the local community, into school as volunteers.  Our regular volunteers provide support in a variety of areas of school life, such as changing the library/reading books, reading with children, cookery, walks in the local area, trips, handwriting and gardening. For further details please see our Volunteer page.

Parking

Parking is not available on the school site. Please walk to school where possible as parking is not freely available around the school. The school office does issue parking permits to al parents for the short duration around pick up and drop off times to allow you to park safely on Holywell Hill. Please note, the layby in Grove Road has parking restrictions.

Absence

If your child is absent please call the school office, press 1 for an absence and leave details of your child’s name, class and reason for absence. Planned absence will require you to complete an Authorised Absence Form and obtain the Head teachers permission in advance of the absence. Holidays should be taken during the school holiday periods and we strongly discourage families from taking holidays during term time; in exceptional circumstances leave may be authorised by the Head teacher, please complete a form two weeks in advance of the time requested.   Medical appointments should be made, where possible, during holidays or outside of the school day.

Medicines in School

If your child requires medicines to be kept in school please provide these clearly named and in date. If staff are required administer any medicines a form will need to be completed for approval by the Head teacher.

Mobiles, Smart Watches and Walking Unaccompanied

If your child is in Year 5 and Year 6 and you wish to allow your child to bring their mobile phone to school and/or walk to and from school unaccompanied please fill in the form below and return it to the school office.

Please note that, although we encourage children to wear watches in school, we do not allow children to wear a ‘smart’ watch, or any watch that has the same functionality as a mobile phone or PC, on the school site.

Music Lessons

If your child wishes to learn a musical instrument lessons take place during the school day with the Herts Music Service (HMS). You need to book and pay for lessons with HMS directly.

Herts Music Service website