General Information for Nursery Parents September 2010
Nursery Unit
The Nursery Unit continues to be in big demand and there are presently no places available. Should this change during the year applications will be considered from the present waiting list at the school.
Car Park and collecting children
At the end of the school day, parents are asked to wait it the cloakroom area until their child is released by Mrs Higgins. No child will be allowed to leave the unit until they have been handed over to a parent/guardian. Please note that persons collecting children must be over 16. Please notify Mrs Higgins should there be a change to the person who normally collects your child.
In the interests of safety immediate entry and exit access to and from the school at all times is absolutely essential. No-one should obstruct the main school entrance at any time.
If you drop or collect your child by car, you can park in Edengrove when no legal parking spaces are available at the school.
For the new drop-off point to work it is vital that it is used for that purpose only. Parents should not park in this area for any reason. Should you need to accompany a young child to the nursery you should continue to use the church car park.
Access to the school continues to be via the pedestrian footpath and around the right hand side of the main school building. Please ensure that you or your child safety does not be at risk by walking through the staff car-park.
At the end of the school day vehicles should not park in the drop-off point as this will result in a build up of cars unable to gain entry or vacate the area.
Parents are asked not to let children stand on the railings at the front of the school for safety reasons.
Murray’s Terrace Entrance
Parents are asked not to drive into the Murray’s Terrace entrance as this is a restricted road. However, you may access the school on foot through this entrance. Should you feel you have exceptional circumstances which should be accommodated please contact the Principal?
Appointments with Teachers
If you need to speak to Mrs Higgins to discuss any issue concerning your child please contact the principal first and a suitable appointment will be arranged.
Home/School Links
To ensure that you are kept fully informed of how your child is settling in and progressing in the Nursery Unit parent will be invited along to meet with Mrs Higgins towards the end of each term.
Colleting a child during school hours
If your child has to get out of school early, whoever is collecting the child should go directly to the nursery where Mrs Higgins will get the child ready to leave. It would be appreciated if you could inform Mrs Higgins in advance should you wish to collect your child early so as to minimise disruption.
Explanations for children’s absences from school.
All attendance records are now computerised and every type of absence has its own unique code. Therefore, it is absolutely essential that an explanation for a child’s absence is given to the class teacher either by a note on the child’s return to school, by phone or through a personal call to the school.
Punctuality
Punctuality plays an important part in the education of all children. When children arrive late they can disrupt the rest of the class so parents are asked to make every effort to ensure that their child comes to school on time. Whilst we are sympathetic to those who are late because of medical or other appointments, we want to encourage others in the good habit of coming to school in time. Parents are also asked to be punctual when collecting their child at the end of their school day.
Snacks
Snack time is a very important part of the Nursery day and provision is made for snacks to be provided. Therefore, parents do not need to send food with their child.
To ensure that Mrs Higgins has as much contact time with the children it would be greatly appreciated if parents could provide snack money on a Monday.
Breakfast Club
The main school provides a breakfast club daily from 8.15am and pupils from the nursery are more than welcome to attend. Since this is funded from outside the normal school budget there is a charge of £2.00 per morning to pay for the supervision and food.
Emergency contacts
Parents are asked to inform the School Secretary should there be any change to emergency contact numbers
Medical Needs, Allergies, etc
It is very important that you complete the School Record Sheet for your child and include any medical needs, allergies, etc which your child might have. Please draw this to the attention of Mrs Higgins immediately so that appropriate arrangements can be put in place.
Earrings
Earrings are a major health and safety concern and it would be preferable if children coming to the nursery unit do not wear any earrings or studs in their ears. However, should you chose to have your child wear jewellery in their ear studs are recommended. Again this is for reasons of safety, particularly during Physical Movement lessons.
Administration of Medication
1.5.1. The Board of Governors and staff of Magheradroll Nursery Unit wish to ensure that pupils with medication needs receive appropriate care and support at school. The Principal will accept responsibility in principle for members of the school staff giving or supervising pupils taking prescribed medication during the school day where those members of staff have volunteered to do so. Please note that parents should keep their children at home if acutely unwell or infectious.
1.5.2. Parents are responsible for providing the Principal with comprehensive information regarding the pupil’s condition and medication.
1.5.3. Prescribed medication will not be accepted in school without complete written and signed instructions from the parent. (An AM2 form is available from the school and should be completed)
1.5.4. Staff will not give a non prescribed medicine to a child unless there is specific prior written permission from the parents.
1.5.5. Only reasonable quantities of medication should be supplied to the school (for example, a maximum of four weeks supply at any one time).
1.5.6. Where the pupil travels on school transport with an escort, parents should ensure the escort has written instructions relating to any medication sent with the pupil, including medication for administration during respite care.
1.5.7. Each item of medication must be delivered to the Principal or Authorised Person, in normal circumstances by the parent, in a secure and labelled container as originally dispensed. Each item of medication must be clearly labelled with the following information:
Pupil’s Name.
Name of Medication
Dosage
Frequency of administration
Date of Dispensing
Storage requirements (if important)
Expiry date
The school will not accept items of medication in unlabelled containers.
1.5.8 Medication will be kept in a secure place, out of the reach of pupils. Unless otherwise indicated all medication to be administered in school will be kept in a locked medicine cabinet.
1.5.9. The school will keep records, which they will have available for parents.
1.5.10 If children refuse to take medicines, staff will not force them to do so, and will inform the parents of the refusal, as a matter of urgency, on the same day. If a refusal to take medicines results in an emergency, the school’s emergency procedures will be followed.
1.5.11 It is the responsibility of parents to notify the school in writing if the pupil’s need for medication has ceased.
1.5.12 It is the parents’ responsibility to renew the medication when supplies are running low and to ensure that the medication supplied is within it s expiry date. The school will not make changes to dosages on parental instructions.
1.5.13 School staff will not dispose of medicines. Medicines, which are in use and in date, should be collected by the parent at the end of each term. Date expired medicines or those no longer required for treatment will be returned immediately to the parent for transfer to a community pharmacist for safe disposal
1.5.14 For each pupil with long term or complex medication needs, the Principal, will ensure that a Medication Plan and Protocol is drawn up, in conjunction with the appropriate health professionals.
1.5.15 Where it is appropriate to do so, pupils will be encouraged to administer their own medication, if necessary under staff supervision. Parents will be asked to confirm in writing if they wish their child to carry their medication with them to school. (An AM3 form can be obtained from the school and must be completed and returned).
1.5.16 Staff who volunteer to assist in the administration of medication will receive appropriate training/guidance through arrangements made with the School Health Service.
1.5.17 The school will make every effort to continue the administration of medication to a pupil whilst on trips away from the school premises, even if additional arrangements might be required. However, there may be occasions when it may not be possible to include a pupil on a school trip if appropriate supervision cannot be guaranteed.
St Patrick’s Primary School and Magheradroll Nursery Unit,
Ballynahinch
HOLIDAY LIST SEPTEMBER 2010/11
(All dates are inclusive)
Term 1
31st August 2010 (School Starts)
20th September 2010 (School Development Day)
28th Oct – 2nd Nov 2010 (Mid term Break)
8th Dec.2009 (School Development Day)
23th Dec -6th Jan 2011 (Christmas Holidays)
Term 2
7th January 2011 (School Restarts)
14th Feb – 18th Feb 2011 (Mid term break)
17th- 18th Mar. 2011 (St. Patrick’s Day Hol)
22st April – 2nd May 2011 (Easter Holidays + May Day Hol.)
Term 3
3rd May 2011 (School Restarts)
30th May 2011 (May Holiday)
6th June 2011 (School Dev. Day)
Parent Hotline
There are occasions when the school may need to close at short notice e.g. Snow, heating failure. If this occurs and you are unsure as to whether the school is open or not information can be obtained by calling the hotline number
The hotline number is 08447 70 75 76
Our school ID is: 75 43 8
To listen to an announcement
- Call the hotline at 08447 70 75 76
- Enter ID number 75 43 8
- The message will then be played
Website
If the school should be closed at short notice information will also be posted on the school website.
