Welcome to DUCKS An introduction for parents
Contents
1. Welcome
• Welcome from the Head of DUCKS
Page 3
2. The School
• Contacting DUCKS
Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7
• School Hours
• Parent Complaints Procedure
• Safeguarding
3. DUCKS A to Z
Page 9
4. Welcome to the Early Years Foundation Stage
Page 32
5. Welcome to Key Stage 1
Page 46
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Welcome from the Head of DUCKS
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you and your family to DUCKS and I look forward to working with you to ensure that your child has the best possible start to their learning journey. Children here are happy; they are simply excited to come to school. This is directly attributed to the team of incredible professionals who understand what it takes to create a warm and caring environment for our youngest learners. Walk through our doors each day and you can be sure of a warm welcome where every child is known, valued and celebrated. Exploration, enquiry and high quality play based learning are part of the fabric of daily life here at DUCKS. We pride ourselves in creating a warm family feel where trust is built so that children have the room needed to ask questions, investigate answers and create worlds. Surrounded by green open spaces, we match the enthusiasm of our teachers and teaching assistants with the wonderful outdoor spaces and resources that Dulwich College has to offer across the campus. We even have our very own Forest School where outdoor skills are further developed and mastered. Children’s interests and passions lie at the heart of our robust, high quality Early Years curriculum. Our learning focused environment provides the space needed for children to direct and shape their experiences in partnership with our Early Years specialists. As our older children advance through DUCKS, we encourage greater links with our local community and increase the opportunities for leadership that help develop skills of confidence, communication and collaboration. We know that parents are the keystone to a child’s early learning experiences. At DUCKS, we hold true to the sense of belonging that is created by ensuring strong bonds between home and school. Enabling children to feel safe and secure while being challenged through enriched learning experiences leads to happy, safe learners. Morning chats and smiles, formal reports, open mornings, home-link books and Parents’ Evenings are key examples of the value we place on supportive dialogue that maintains the well-being and learning of all our DUCKS children. I am very much looking forward to working together with you and celebrating your child’s next steps in learning.
With warm regards
Miranda Norris Head of DUCKS
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Contacting DUCKS
School Address DUCKS
87 College Road London SE21 7HH 020 8693 1538
School Office Miss Emily Lynch
lynche @ dulwich.org.uk
Personal Assistant to Mrs Norris
Miss Jenna Begum School Administrator Mrs Emma Millett School Registrar
begumj @ dulwich.org.uk
millette @ dulwich.org.uk
Head of DUCKS Mrs Miranda Norris
norrism @ dulwich.org.uk
Deputy Head Mrs Joanne Parker
parkerjm @ dulwich.org.uk
Head of Key Stage 1 Mrs Lucy Shaw Head of Early Years Mrs Annette Dipré Head of Kindergarten Miss Sally Donaldson
shawla @ dulwich.org.uk
diprea @ dulwich.org.uk
donaldsons @ dulwich.org.uk
To contact your class teacher or key person you can speak with them at the beginning or end of the day, write a note in the home-link book or send an email.
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School hours
Kindergarten The children can attend the Kindergarten for the following sessions:
Full day
8.00 am to 5.00 pm
School day
8.45 am to 3.30 pm
Morning session
8.45 am to 11.45 am
Infants’ School Early Years
The school day begins at 8.45 am and finishes at 3.30 pm. It is usually divided into three sessions, although the specific times of morning break may vary according to timetable commitments.
Morning session
8.45 am to 11.45 am (Nursery) 8.45 am to 11.45 am (Reception) 11.45 am – 1.00 pm (Nursery) 11.45 am – 1.00 pm (Reception)
Lunch and playtime
Afternoon session
1.00 pm – 3.30 pm
Key Stage 1
The school day begins at 8.45 am and the day finishes at 3.30 pm. It is usually divided into three sessions:
Session 1
8.45 am – 10.30 am
Playtime
10.30 am – 11.00 am
Session 2
11.00 am – 12.30 pm
Lunch and playtime
12.30 pm – 1.30 pm
Session 3
1.30 pm – 3.30 pm
Wrap Around Care (available for an additional charge).
Before School Care is from 8.00 am - 8.45 am
After School Care runs until 5.00 pm
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Parent Complaints Procedure
Introduction DUCKS is one of the five schools of Dulwich College and has long prided itself on the quality of the teaching and pastoral care provided to its pupils. However, if parents do have a complaint, they can expect it to be treated by the College in accordance with this Procedure. Parents can be assured that all concerns and complaints will be treated seriously and confidentially. Documentation and Record-keeping A copy of this procedure can be found on the College website and is available to parents, pupils and staff. Correspondence, statements and records relating to individual complaints will be kept confidential except to the extent required by paragraph 6(3)(f) of the Education (Independent Schools Standards) (England) Regulations 2015 (as subsequently amended), by the Secretary of State or where disclosure is required by the Independent Schools Inspectorate under Section 162A of the Education Act 2002 (as amended), or under other legal authority. The College maintains a record of all parent complaints for regular review by senior management and for inspection purposes. The record states whether the complaint was resolved at the preliminary stages or proceeded to a panel hearing. In the case of a complaint relating to a child in the EYFS the record will state the action taken as a result of the complaint. The College will provide ISI or Ofsted, on request, with a written record of all complaints made during any specified period and the action taken as a result of each complaint. Complaints by EYFS Parents Parents of children in the EYFS may complain to the ISI and/or Ofsted: • ISI, CAP House, 9-12 Long Lane, London EC1A 9HA (telephone 020 76000 100). • Ofsted, Piccadilly Gate, Store Street, Manchester M1 2WD (telephone 0300 123 1231). The College must investigate a written complaint relating to its fulfilment of the EYFS requirements and notify complainants of the outcome of the investigation within 28 days of having received the complaint. The time limits specified in Part B of the Procedure (held on the web site www. dulwich.org.uk ) shall be adapted by the College in relation to such a complaint in order to comply with this requirement.
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding Everyone at DUCKS works together to ensure that we are all kept safe. The lead members of the DUCKS team for safeguarding are Mrs Miranda Norris (Head of DUCKS), Mrs Jo Parker (Deputy Head of DUCKS), and Miss Sally Donaldson (Head of Kindergarten). If you have any concerns in respect of safeguarding they can be contacted on 020 8693 1538. Contact Telephone Numbers for Southwark Safeguarding officers; • Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) (020 7525 3297) • Early Help Service (EHS) (020 7525 1922) • The LA Schools Safeguarding Coordinator is: Mr Apo Çağirici (020 7525 2715) • Ofsted (0300 123 1231) Our full safeguarding policy is available throughout DUCKS and on our website. Policies The following policies that relate to safeguarding can be found on the Dulwich College website.
• Achieving Positive Behaviour Policy
• Anti-Bullying Policy
• Code of Conduct
• Health, Safety and Welfare Policy
• Medication Policy
• Mobile Phone and Devices Policy
• Safeguarding Policy
• Supervision of Pupils Policy
• Wellbeing Policy
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An introduction for parents DUCKS A to Z
An A to Z of DUCKS
Arrangement of DUCKS’ classes Kindergarten: 6 months to rising 3 years, part of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Maximum class sizes in the Kindergarten are Babies 6, Toddlers 14 and Ducklings 26. Infants’ School: 3 to 7 years, covering the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) from 3 to 5 years and Key Stage 1 (KS1) from 5 to 7 years. There are five Early Years (EY) classes, two Nursery and three Reception and six KS1 classes, three Year 1 and three Year 2. In the Infants’ School the maximum class size is 22. Access to your Child’s Records Parents/carers who wish to view their child’s personal file must request this in writing to the Head of DUCKS. In providing access, DUCKS has regard to data protection legislation and the General Data Protection Regulations and in particular will take measures to safeguard records which refer to other pupils or third parties. Allergies and Medical Requirements If your child has any specific medical requirements, we ask that you give full details of these needs on the Entry Profile before your child starts at DUCKS. Any requirements can also be discussed during a home visit or at our New Parents’ Event. This will ensure that any adaptations to meal times or your child’s day to day requirements are in place ahead of them starting with us. We have a number of measures in place to ensure that medical and dietary needs are met, including: training on EpiPen use, allergy and medical alert information and a complete allergy plan with access to the Dulwich College Medical Centre staff for specific advice and support in meeting individual children’s needs. Please see page 17 for food allergen information. Arrival and Departure Staff will not hand a child over to anyone other than the known parent or carer. Parents/carers must fill out the Alternative Collection Arrangements Form prior to a child being collected by a different adult. We will accept email notification of a different person collecting your child if your arrangements change during the day.
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An A to Z of DUCKS
In the Kindergarten, we would like to have photographs of anyone who regularly collects your child. Please bring a photograph of the nominated adult(s) with you on the first day of your child’s attendance. Attendance If your child is away from school due to illness we request that you inform us by email on DUCKSabsence @ dulwich.org.uk on the first day of non- attendance and keep us informed as to when your child will be returning to school. If you are unable to email, please phone the DUCKS Office on 020 8693 1538 to confirm the absence. If you wish to take your child out of school during the term for any other reason than illness, you must submit your request in writing to the Head of DUCKS beforehand. We strongly recommend that parents avoid taking their children out of school during term time, even at the beginning or end of term as these few days are important in settling the children or rounding off a term together as a school community. Assessment and Record Keeping To support our planning of a rich and varied curriculum that reflects the children’s interests and learning, we carry out the following assessment and record keeping on Tapestry , our online record: • Observations of learning • Photographs that evidence learning This is available to parents via a secure login. Between the age of 24 and 36 months a report on the prime areas of development will be written and discussed with the parents. At the end of Reception, the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile is completed and shows each child’s progress in the seven areas of learning. This document ensures the teacher’s planning meets each child’s needs and that progress is monitored.
Other assessments and records include: • Work samples • Baseline assessment • Formative assessments • Reports • Standardised reading and maths assessments
Parents are welcome to make an appointment to view their child’s profile folder, assessment records or work books via their child’s key person or class teacher.
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An A to Z of DUCKS
Bed Time All the children have a very busy day and so an early bedtime is strongly recommended to ensure a positive day for your child at DUCKS. Birthdays Due to an increase in allergies we do not recommend bringing food or cakes but please rest assured we celebrate together. Community Action and Prefects At the College prefects are voted into their posts every year. There is a DUCKS prefect who liaises with school ensuring the prefects provide support e.g. leading assemblies, supporting our Sports Festivals, helping at DUCKS and working with the children and adults during the school day. At the beginning of the academic year, Dulwich College boys from Year 10 upwards can volunteer for Community Action. This is a fantastic opportunity for them to work in the wider community and develop skills beyond those taught in a classroom and they are excellent role models to our children here at DUCKS. Curriculum The curriculum offered at DUCKS provides the children with a solid foundation for all future learning through a focus on characteristics of effective learning throughout the EYFS and a skills based curriculum covering the National Curriculum subjects. Our environment further supports the curriculum with enriched opportunities to learn through our Forest School provision, a strong Wellbeing programme and preparation for life based on British values through age appropriate activities. Positive relationships are nurtured and valued from the start of each child’s time at DUCKS creating a well-supported teaching and learning environment. Curriculum Evening At the beginning of every year we welcome all parents/carers to a Curriculum Evening. This offers you the opportunity to see the classrooms and meet the staff. You will also find out about the teaching and learning and organisational routines your child will follow during the year. Attending this evening is an essential part of your child entering their new school or class as every child’s journey is different, even if older siblings have previously been a member of the school.
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An A to Z of DUCKS
Data Protection In order to carry out its ordinary duties to pupils and parents, DUCKS (and Dulwich College) uses and handles the personal information (or data) of current, prospective and former Kindergarten and Infants’ school children and their parents/carers. At all times this is done in accordance with data protection legislation and the General Data Protection Regulations. Detail on how your data is used and safeguarded is set out in the DUCKS Data Protection Privacy Notice and other policies referred to in that notice a copy of which is available on the DUCKS website www.dulwich.org.uk/ ducks or can be obtained from the School office. DUCKSPost We use DUCKSPost, an electronic mailing system, to send all communications including: the weekly newsletter, questionnaires, class trip information and permission slips, academic and pastoral reminders, club information and invoices, Friends of DUCKS messages and circulars. Posts are sent via the email addresses recorded on your child’s Entry Profile so please ensure that these are accounts you access regularly. You can add email addresses, e.g. of an au pair or nanny or a work email account, via the mail box settings on DUCKSPost. When you join DUCKS we will send you an email with a link to a secure personal online ‘mailbox’. This is where you can view all the messages received from DUCKS, including any attached documents. By default you will not need your password to access your mailbox in this way, although you can request it at any time by going to http://duckspost.dulwich.org. uk . In an emergency situation, such as the school being closed due to snow, we use the same system to send text messages to the mobile phone numbers we hold for you. These will be automatically sent by email as well and will also be recorded in your online mailbox. Entry Profile We have a detailed electronic Entry Profile document which we ask you to complete prior to your child starting at DUCKS. The Entry Profile provides you with the opportunity to give us a fully comprehensive picture of your child and their development and learning to date as well as anything that you feel is important for us to know before they start at DUCKS. The Entry Profile is emailed to parents/carers prior to their child starting at DUCKS, we request it is returned as soon as possible. This ensures all relevant information is shared with the appropriate staff enabling your child’s successful start at DUCKS.
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An A to Z of DUCKS
First Aid Most accidents involving children at DUCKS need minor first aid combined with TLC and reassurance. A number of staff hold Paediatric First Aid certificates. If a child has an accident of a more serious nature, a First Aider will assess the situation and ensure the injury is treated appropriately. If your child has an accident whilst at school, this will be recorded on an accident form. We will inform you about the accident verbally, by phone or when you collect your child. We have procedures for emergency first aid as well as a procedure for transporting children to the Dulwich College Medical Centre (where trained nurses and doctors are available) or, if required, to hospital.
Golden Rules The Golden Rules underpin our values.
We believe the Golden Rules create a positive approach to developing the correct behaviour and attitudes to school life. We are gentle We are kind and helpful We look after property We listen We are honest We work hard The Golden Rules are displayed throughout DUCKS, they are discussed and modelled during school assemblies, taken with us whenever we are away from DUCKS and explored during class Circle Time in the Infants’ School. Lost Property Please label all items of clothing to help the staff return the correct uniform, clothing and belongings to the correct child. During the school day, children have many situations when they are taking off layers of clothing, e.g. to engage in water play, clothing being washed after a very messy activity, at playtime, PE, swimming or going for a sleep. If all items of clothing are labelled it ensures that we are able to quickly and efficiently return clothes to the correct child.
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An A to Z of DUCKS
Home School Links • Best Work Books
When your child joins the Infants’ School, a Best Work Book will be started for them. Each half term a piece of your child’s work is added and by the end of Year 2, your child has a unique collection of work
reflecting their journey through DUCKS. • Curriculum and Pastoral Information
You will receive an overview of Nursery and Reception learning and activities at the end of every week through Tapestry. All Infants’ School children will receive a copy of the class timetable and Golden Rules at the beginning of each academic year. • DUCK of the week Each week in the Infants’ School a learner is chosen to be the DUCK of the Week. This gives every child in each class the opportunity to be complimented by their peers about aspects of their learning, their skills and their personality. This way of celebrating each and every learner helps to reinforce our wellbeing focus and our firm belief in improving children’s self-esteem. • Home-Link Books Home-Link Books are used in EY and KS1 to record comments about your child’s reading and to exchange short messages regarding academic or pastoral queries. Please ensure that this book is in your child’s book bag every day. Home-Link Books are an excellent way to organise a meeting with a teacher. • Show and Tell Every child enjoys bringing in artefacts, photographs or other mementos of a special time or significant importance to them. Class teachers will find time in the school day or week to ensure all children have the opportunity to share their “Show and Tell” object with the class. • Special Books Special books are an opportunity for Kindergarten children to share important things together with their friends at DUCKS. They are for recording significant events in your child’s life and to help us to build a bigger picture of your child’s life outside of school. • WOW Boards and WOW Trees At DUCKS we really value the important role you play in your child’s education and how much you know about them. This information in invaluable when assessing your child’s development. Throughout the EYFS we encourage you to help us celebrate your child’s WOW moments by recording significant achievements on our WOW boards or trees such as getting dressed by themselves or sharing toys with a sibling.
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An A to Z of DUCKS
Illness It is preferable for children to be at home when they are unwell. Staying at home helps to speed up recovery and supports the school community in reducing cross infection between the other children and staff. If your child becomes unwell whilst at DUCKS i.e. has a high temperature or shows other signs of infection for example vomiting, diarrhoea or developing a rash, we will contact you and ask for them to be collected as soon as possible. If we cannot contact you, we will telephone your emergency contacts, as given on the Entry Profile, and ask them to collect your child. It is essential that your emergency contacts are aware of their responsibilities in respect of this.
Minimum exclusion periods for common illnesses are:
Infection
Exclusion period and/or treatment
COVID-19
We encourage parents to check children’s temperatures at home and inform a member of staff if there is any change in temperature. Children with a high temperature, sudden onset of a persistent cough and/or a loss of smell or taste, should not attend school and will be sent home. Children will wait in a quarantine area for collection where strict infection control measures will be implemented. Parents should contact their GP to decide if a test to exclude COVID-19 is necessary before they return to school. Until vesicles have crusted over but a minimum of 5 days from the onset of the rash. Return when able to cope with a full day at DUCKS N o exclusion period necessary unless eyes are sore and weepy, however, antibiotic eye drops must be provided 48 hours from last episode of diarrhoea and/or vomiting, having eaten properly and having had a normal stool. Return to school only after 24 hours without a fever. When well enough to cope with a busy day at DUCKS
Chickenpox
Conjunctivitis
Diarrhoea and/or vomiting
Fever
Hand, foot and mouth
None
Impetigo
Until lesions are crusted and healed, or 48 hours after commencing antibiotic treatment
Measles
4 days from onset of rash
Mumps
5 days from onset of swollen glands
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An A to Z of DUCKS
Ringworm
Treatment required but exclusion not usually required
Rubella
4 days from onset of rash
Whooping Cough
48 hours from commencing antibiotic treatment or 21 days from onset of illness if no antibiotic treatment Covered in swimming pools, gymnasiums and changing rooms. Please inform your class teacher.
Verruca
All of these exclusion periods are the suggested minimum. If children remain unwell and unable to cope with a busy day at DUCKS, it may be necessary for them to have a longer period of time off school. This can be discussed with the key person or class teacher. Head Lice Anyone can get head lice no matter how clean and careful they are and we ask that you check your child’s hair regularly. If you find head lice you must treat them promptly and inform us immediately so we can alert other parents. Once lice infestation starts, it can spread rapidly. There is no need for your child to miss time at school; as soon as they have been treated they can return to their class. Jewellery Jewellery may not be worn except for watches, studs for pierced ears or jewellery relating to specific religious beliefs. Late Collection and Non-collection In the instance of a child not being collected from DUCKS after a reasonable amount of time, the following procedure will be initiated by staff: • inform the senior member of staff on duty if a child has not been collected • the office will again check for any information regarding changes to normal routines, parents work patterns or general information. If there is no information recorded, the parents/carers will be contacted on the numbers provided for their home or work. If this fails, the emergency contacts will then be contacted as per the child’s records; • the senior member of staff on duty and one other member of staff must stay behind with the child (if it falls outside normal operating hours). • if the parents/carers still have not collected the child, the senior member of staff on duty will telephone all contact numbers available every 10 minutes until contact is made. These calls will be logged on the full incident record; • in the event of no contact being made by 6pm, the person in charge will ring the Social Services Emergency Duty Team 020 7525 2696 for advice and Ofsted 0300 123 1231 to advise them of the situation; • two members of staff will remain in the building until suitable arrangements have been made for the collection of the child. The child’s welfare and needs will be met at all times.
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An A to Z of DUCKS
Lunch and Snacks DUCKS is committed to offering children healthy, nutritious and balanced meals and snacks which meet the individual needs and requirements of each child. All food allergies or special dietary requirements will be taken into account and, in discussion with the parents/carers, catered for. Please do not provide your child with additional snacks or drinks as these may pose a risk to any children with allergies. Please speak to any member of staff about the ingredients in any meal if you need any further information about allergens. During the school day, all children are offered a mid-morning snack and access to water at all times. We ask that all infants’ school children bring a named, filled water bottle with them each day. In the Kindergarten, children attending for a full day are offered breakfast and afternoon tea. In the Infants’ School, children booked into Before School Care are offered breakfast. A snack is provided to those children attending after school clubs and/or care. Lunch is a two course meal and is provided on site by our own chef and kitchen assistant. We offer beef, halal chicken and vegetarian options and do not serve any nut products. The lunch menu is attached to the weekly newsletter, available on the school website. Mealtimes are a happy, social occasion for staff and children to eat together in each of the rooms. Positive interactions are shared and enjoyed at these times. For our younger children a record of what your child has eaten for lunch is displayed outside the rooms.
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An A to Z of DUCKS
Medication If your child needs to have prescribed medicine administered whilst at DUCKS, the Medication Request Form must be completed. This is available from the Kindergarten rooms, or Infants’ School foyer by the Parents’ Notice Board and on the DUCKS parent portal www.dulwich.org. uk/Ducks/login . Medication given at DUCKS must be prescribed and the prescribing label must state the child’s name and date of birth. We remind parents/carers that DUCKS staff take on the additional responsibility of administering medication on a goodwill basis and will do their best to ensure that medicine is given when a parent/carer has requested. However, there may be instances where events beyond staffs’ control means that this is not possible. If you want or need to guarantee that medicine will be administered at an exact time then we request that you come and administer the medicine yourself. Paracetamol or ibuprofen medication If a child has a raised temperature when at DUCKS, we will take the following measures based on our knowledge of your child and how we observe them to be at that time. For a temperature up to 38.3°C, current medical advice is not to give paracetamol or ibuprofen. We will, however, closely monitor any child who does have a mild temperature. We would be more concerned if a child also appears unwell and fractious. If a child is suffering from a temperature of more than 38.3°C before 12 noon, we will contact you before administering any medication. After 12 noon we will check that you have given us permission to administer paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce the temperature, especially if they appear to be unwell and are fractious. In general, if a child quickly recovers with paracetamol or ibuprofen, it is fine for them to stay at DUCKS, however, if a child remains unwell, develops other symptoms or is very lethargic, we feel the best place for them is at home. Our decision will be based on our knowledge of the individual child. Mobile Phones and Cameras At DUCKS we do not allow the use of mobile phones and cameras beyond the front door and we would ask parents/carers not to use their phones when they are on the DUCKS site, whether inside or outside. Staff only use their mobile phones at the times and in the areas designated by the Mobile Phone Policy. Newsletter Each week we publish a newsletter via DUCKSPost. Our newsletter keeps parents/carers informed about the weeks’ events, as well as special features such as DUCK of the Week in the Infants’ School and important dates. The newsletter covers the whole of the week at DUCKS in the Kindergarten and Infants’ School.
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An A to Z of DUCKS
Online Safety At DUCKS, we acknowledge the huge importance and positive opportunities that computing provides the children as learners and that increasing numbers of digital devices will be part of children and young people’s lives in the future. DUCKS staff are well placed to help establish boundaries and good practice guidance, in partnership with parents. Our commitment is to provide children with an excellent education extending to the digital environment. Our DUCKS ICT Acceptable Use Policy is available on the website. Our acceptable use policy for the children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 at DUCKS is as follows; • I will look after property, laptops, mice, headphones, cameras, tablets and all other equipment and when turning the computer on and off • I will share equipment • I will use kind language when talking to others through the computer • I will only use websites or play games which my teacher/parent/carers have allowed me to use • I will tell my teacher/parent/carers if anything or anyone makes me feel uncomfortable or if there is a problem • I will remember to leave mobile phones and tablets at home • I will remember not everything I read on the internet may be true • I will remember that sometimes attachments can contain viruses so I will only open attachments from people I know • I will not give out my personal details, such as my name, address or school on the internet • When joining DUCKS you have access to the Safer Schools App. The Safer Schools app focuses on safeguarding particularly in the online world and also provides information and messaging on a full range of safeguarding and child protection issues. This App will give you access to up-to-date age-appropriate guidance on staying safe both on and offline. You can download straight from the App Store or Google Play by searching ‘Safer Schools’. Login to your App 1. Select our school. DUCKS Kindergarten & Infants’ from the drop down menu and click ‘continue’. 2. Enter the four digit entry code 7440 Outdoor Activity As you know, DUCKS is situated in a wonderful location, with a variety of outdoor spaces on our doorstep. Staff plan activities and lessons to incorporate these into the curriculum as well as using them for daily routines. The spaces we use regularly are: • The Kindergarten garden for daily outdoor opportunities • The Early Years and Key Stage 1 playgrounds for free flow learning, play times and clubs
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An A to Z of DUCKS
• The Eller Bank fields (at the front of the school) are used for clubs, Sports Day, nature walks and outdoor PE in summer • The orchard is used for Forest School for all ages. We are delighted how this area of the school has grown and as a learning environment it is an area we will continue to develop. Outings All the pupils at DUCKS will go on outings related to a topic, a story theme or a place to enjoy at no extra cost. At the beginning of each academic year you will be contacted via DUCKSPost and your permission requested for your child’s attendance on trips/outings. Any photographs will be published in the weekly newsletter and displayed on the foyer screen. These outings range from a walk to the College, a half day visit to a nearby place of interest or a full day outing. College mini buses, hired coaches and on some occasions public transport may be used. Every trip is risk assessed and the trip leader will organise the correct ratios of adults to pupils. Parents will be informed if we require extra adult supervision. Parents and Carers Parents and carers are a hugely important part of the DUCKS community. We want to make you all feel welcome and included. We hold talks throughout the year on topics that we feel will be useful and relevant to parents with children at DUCKS. There are lots of opportunities for parents and carers to work with their children in school and these are advertised in our newsletter each week. We believe that children benefit most when parents/carers and staff work together in partnership to ensure quality care and learning for the children. DUCKS staff welcome parents/carers as partners and this relationship needs to be built on trust and understanding. It is important that we support parents/carers in an open and sensitive manner. A two way sharing of information, knowledge and expertise is key to this. Parents and Carers Week Parents and Carers Week is an annual event at DUCKS. This is an opportunity for you to participate in school life and special events including: • stay and play classroom sessions • joining in Forest School sessions • open classrooms • shared reading We hope you can join us during this fabulous week and experience learning with your child/ren.
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An A to Z of DUCKS
Parents’ Meetings In the Kindergarten, parents/carers are invited in to meet their child’s key person to discuss their child’s progress either face to face or online. In this meeting we look at each child’s learning journey and discuss their development and learning. In the Infants’ School, parents’ meetings are a time when you can meet the class teacher to discuss your child’s progress and attainment. The specialist teachers are also available to talk to Infants’ School parents/carers during these meetings. The dates and appointment request forms will be sent out via DUCKSPost. You will receive a written confirmation the week prior to the parents’ evening. Policies DUCKS and Dulwich College have policies and procedures that cover all areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. Some of our policies are available on the DUCKS website www.dulwich.org.uk/ducks and you are welcome to request a paper copy from the School Office. In addition to our policies we also have the following forms: • Medication Request Form • Alternative Collection Arrangements Form These are available from the office or Kindergarten and Infants’ School reception areas.
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An A to Z of DUCKS
Reporting Timetable In the Kindergarten each child receives an end of year report. Access to each child’s learning journey is available through Tapestry – our online learning journal. In the Infants’ School your child will receive a written report each term following the schedule set out below. The end of year report is a summative celebration of your child’s learning journey over the academic year.
Michaelmas
Lent
Summer
Nursery Pastoral ‘Settling in’ Report. Progress Meeting Reception Pastoral ‘Settling in’ Report. Progress Meeting
Progress Meeting
End of Year Report
Progress Meeting
End of Year Report Parent ELG Meeting
Year 1
Pastoral Report. Progress Meeting
Progress Meeting
Parents Transition Meeting. End of Year Report End of Year Report
Year 2
Pastoral Report. Progress Meeting
Progress Meeting
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An A to Z of DUCKS
Security We take the security and safety of the school community at DUCKS very seriously. We work hard to maintain a welcoming environment for everyone who comes to our school. DUCKS has a robust visitor procedure to ensure we know who is on site at all times. This is essential, in case of fire, for example. These measures include; • All staff wear ID badges on black staff lanyards • All visitors sign the visitors book and wear a visitors badge with a red lanyard • We always politely challenge anyone not wearing a visible ID card • Asking parents to use the correct entry and exit points to our school at all times To maintain the security of our buildings and site it is very important that only DUCKS staff open the main entrance doors and gates to the buildings. This ensures that visitors are welcomed by DUCKS staff and they are directed appropriately. If you see anyone acting suspiciously on site, please inform the School Office immediately. Kindergarten Entry to the Kindergarten is by video entry phone and we ask that parents do not let other people ’tail gate’ when they come into the building. Internally, the blue door is kept locked throughout the day. If your child attends the Baby Room, please use the Baby Room entrance to the right hand side of the building. The Baby Room staff will let you in at 8.00 am when the room is ready to receive children. Infants’ School All visitors will be signed in and issued with a visitor’s badge on a red lanyard by the School Office staff, this must be worn visibly. Entry to the Infants’ School during the day is through the video entry gateway.
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An A to Z of DUCKS
Safer Recruitment We operate the following procedures to ensure the safeguarding of children at DUCKS: • we provide adequate and appropriate staffing resources to meet the needs of children • applicants for posts at DUCKS are clearly informed that the positions are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Candidates are informed that appropriate checks will be carried out before posts can be confirmed. Where applications are rejected because of information that has been disclosed, applicants have the right to know and to challenge incorrect information. • we abide by Ofsted and ISI requirements in respect of references and police checks for staff and volunteers, to ensure that no disqualified person or unfit person works at DUCKS or has access to the children. One person on every interview panel has completed safer recruitment training. • volunteers, including students, do not work unsupervised • we abide by the Protection of Children Act 1999 requirements in respect of any person who is dismissed from our employment, or resigns in circumstances that would otherwise have led to dismissal for reasons of child protection concern • we have procedures for recording the details of visitors to DUCKS and take security steps to ensure that we have control over who comes into DUCKS, so that no unauthorised person has unsupervised access to the children. All visitors must wear a visitor’s badge on a red lanyard. • the deployment of staff within the setting allows for constant supervision. Where children need to spend time away from the rest of the group, any intervening doors will be left ajar. Social Networking Sites At DUCKS we are aware of how social networking sites allow you to share messages, images and videos instantly after an event and that many of our families have friends and relatives across the world with whom they want to share their child’s school achievements. However, we need to ensure our Safeguarding Policy and procedures are upheld. We request that any messaging, images or videos that you want to share with friends is done through a social networking site that is password protected such as flickr. Please do not post any DUCKS messages, images or videos on websites such as Facebook that have privacy settings but are not password protected. We ask that you do not share any photographs or recordings of children other than your own on social media unless you have each parents’ permission.
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An A to Z of DUCKS
Special Events At DUCKS we share the children’s achievements and reflect on events and festivals through performance and experiences in the school and wider community. You will be invited to attend many of these events and we hope you can join us to support and celebrate the children’s achievements. Children will take part in a Christmas party, an Easter egg hunt and Fun Day. Ducklings will also join our Sports Festival and have a celebration of learning at the end of the Summer Term when the children showcase their achievements made during the year. All children are also involved in focused weeks such as Book Week and STEAM Week. Each year the children in the Infants’ School will present a class celebration of learning based on their current learning. In the Summer Term Year 2 use the Edward Alleyn Theatre for their final play and also present their leavers Assembly to parents/carers. These are fantastic opportunities for the children to develop the confidence required to express themselves to an audience. The children also participate in the following events, to which parents/ carers are invited: • Harvest Festival Service at St Stephen’s Church • Christmas Service at DUCKS • Easter Service at St Stephen’s Church • Inter-school swimming galas • Inter-school sports days • String and piano concerts Full details of all events will be communicated via the newsletter sent by DUCKSPost on a Friday.
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An A to Z of DUCKS
Transition Through DUCKS We believe that all children should feel comfortable and as emotionally secure as possible when entering a new phase or year group at DUCKS. All staff aim to build on the work of the family and take steps to ensure that the child is valued as an individual within the setting. We understand that children enter school from a variety of backgrounds and settings and with a range of experiences. We welcome all children as individuals and will meet their needs accordingly. We value close links between practitioners and families as this ensures that children and their families know what to expect when starting a new phase. We aim for smooth transitions for each child from their home into DUCKS, between each room and moving into and throughout the Infants’ School. This is achieved through clear communication and information sharing during handover meetings and settling in visits. In addition home visits enable your child to begin to develop a relationship with their key person. Throughout the EYFS, information about a child’s learning journey is available to the staff in the next room or class and then later to KS 1 teachers. This ensures continuity in your child’s progress and supports smooth transitions. Transition from Baby Room through to the Nursery Class In the Baby Room we plan the settling in to be flexible and responsive to the individual baby and their parents/carers. When moving to the Toddler Room parents/carers will be formally introduced to the room and to their new key person. Children generally move from the Toddler Room to the Duckling Room with the same staff team so they maintain the relationship with their key person through their time in these rooms. The journey from the Duckling Room to the Nursery classes is a significant transition as the children are moving to ‘big school’. We aim for the children to have a gentle introduction to their new Nursery class through visits in small groups during the Summer Term. This allows each child the opportunity to play in their new environment and become familiar with the Nursery. The Duckling Room children have sessions with the Infants’ school PE and music teachers and visit the school library. They have other visits during the year to use the outside space and join in assemblies and productions. Nursery class teachers visit the Duckling Room to see children within the Kindergarten setting during the Summer Term and we also meet as a staff team to discuss the children’s individual needs. Parents/carers are sent letters informing them of which class their child will join in the Summer Term. Parents/carers and children are invited to a New Children’s Afternoon in the Infants’ School in the Summer Term. All of the above helps introduce children to the staff, the environment and bridges the transition facilitating a smooth settling in. Transition from Nursery to Reception to Year 1 and Year 2 (Key Stage 1) The transition from Nursery to Reception and Year 1 is a process rather than an event. Reception children visit the Key Stage 1 classes and playground weekly during the last half of the Summer Term and meet their new teachers. Parents are invited to meet their new teacher in the Summer Term. 26
An A to Z of DUCKS
Transition from Year 2 to Year 3 DUCKS children go on to join a variety of local independent and state schools for Year 3, and we have excellent relationships with all those schools to ensure that transition at the end of DUCKS is a positive experience for the children. Each Junior School is different and our aim is to find the right next school for each child. We will work with you in preparation for the 7+ assessments and help you to choose your child’s next school based on academic ability, personality and interests. Children are prepared for 7+ throughout their time at DUCKS and parents are guided through the process, from a 7+ talk in the Lent term hosting a schools’ fair, specific parents’ meetings with Mrs Norris in Year 1 and 2, and visiting Heads of local Junior Schools. Once schools for Year 3 are determined, smooth transition is supported through a mixture of school taster days and visits from Year 3 teachers to DUCKS to see the children and talk with their teachers. Travelling to DUCKS DUCKS is involved in a number of local initiatives to support safe and sustainable travel to school. We are active members of the Dulwich and Herne Hill Safe Routes to School group and our Travel Plan is Gold Accredited by TfL. Walking, cycling or scooting to school We actively encourage sustainable travel to DUCKS. If you walk, cycle or scoot, please use the marked pathway to either the Kindergarten or Infants’ School. We have bike and scooter racks avalaible and a shed to store prams and buggies. Please ensure that all items are clearly labelled. Items left in the scooter or bike racks and shed are left at your own risk. We would also ask that parents do not park illegally on the zig zag lines by the zebra crossing or the double yellow lines by the school gates, and that parents respect all private residents’ parking. The safety of your children is paramount and we urge you to drive safely and park legally and considerately. Anti idling When parked, please turn off your engine - we have young lungs at work.
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An A to Z of DUCKS
Uniform Children in the Kindergarten do not wear a uniform. We do suggest the following considerations to be made in respect of what your child wears when they are at the Kindergarten. By the nature of our curriculum, many of the Kindergarten activities include a degree of mess and although we do provide and encourage children to use aprons, these do not always protect their clothes fully, especially when they are deeply engaged in play. We actively encourage children to explore everything we offer them. Please dress your children in clothes that allow them to explore the environment and do not matter if they become stained and are easy to wash. The Kindergarten is more high-street than high end-fashion! Indoor Wear During Michaelmas and Lent Terms, could you please provide your child with a pair of indoor shoes with a rubber sole e.g. plimsolls. We would be very grateful if you could put these on your child when they come into the Kindergarten. Outdoor Wear Children will be encouraged to make full use of the outdoor areas all year round. We would ask that you provide wellington boots and a waterproof coat. We supply warm, all-in-one suits, sun hats and sun cream. We will inform you of the particular brand of suncream that we will be using. If you wish to use your own sun cream, please label your bottle carefully and leave with your child’s class teacher/key person. Winter clothing The following winter clothing is required from the beginning of the Michaelmas Term through to the end of Lent Term: • wellington boots • gloves attached to ribbon • warm coat/rain coat • hat We also hope to encourage your children to develop independence skills and these can be very well supported by ensuring your child is wearing clothes suitable to their stage of development; for example, shoes that fasten with Velcro are more suitable than shoes with laces; trousers with an elasticated waistband are more suitable than those with belts, buttons and/or zips. All children at the Infants’ School wear a smart, comfortable uniform which is available from the Commissariat (Comm) at Dulwich College. Please ensure that all items of clothing are named, using a label or an indelible pen. When children join the Infants’ School, they are provided with a DUCKS book bag, which we use daily.
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An A to Z of DUCKS
DUCKS Uniform Requirements:
Uniform
Nursery Reception Year 1 Year 2
Crested DUCKS Blue Sweatshirt * Crested DUCKS Blue Cardigan * Plain Navy Trousers Plain Navy Shorts Navy pinafore or skirt Gingham or Striped Blue & White Summer Dress White Plain Short Sleeved Polo Shirt Navy/Black Sock Navy Tights / White Ankle Socks with Summer Dress Black or Navy Shoes with Velcro Fastening Waterproof Raincoat with a Hood Warm Winter Coat Wellington Boots or Snow Boots Black, Navy or White Closed Toe Sandals Warm Hat, Scarf and Gloves Sun Hat (to cover back of neck)
PE, Games and Sport
Nursery Reception Year 1 Year 2
DC PE T-shirt * DC PE shorts *
DC Crested Tracksuit Jacket * DC Crested Tracksuit Bottoms Trainers with Velcro Fastening DUCKS Swimming Trunks/Swimsuit * DUCKS Swim Cap * DUCKS Yellow Backpack (for swimming) * Swimming Goggles DUCKS Blue PE Backpack *
From Summer Term From Summer Term From Summer Term From Summer Term
For spare clothes
* Only available at the Commissariat
Pupil must have this item
Dulwich College Commissariat Tel: 020 8299 5343
E-mail: the.commissariat@dulwich.org.uk www.dulwich.org.uk/about/school-shop
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