Please refer to the attachment below for the printable version which includes pictures:

 Welcome to

School Year 2022 – 2023

CONTENTS

GENERAL INFORMATION

Strategic Vision

Our school is:

a safe, supportive, stimulating learning environment;

a team of respectful, tolerant, open minded citizens;

a community where everyone aspires to be the very best they can be;

a community of resilient, lifelong learners;

a centre of excellence where all achieve success

Welcome to

ARBORETUM PRIMARY SCHOOL

The Head Teacher, governors and staff extend a warm welcome to all children attending Arboretum Primary School and hope that their time here will be happy and successful.

Our school is proud of its good teaching and we offer children a wide range of learning opportunities.  Whilst it is vitally important for children to be both numerate and literate, they will also need to be flexible, and able to work confidently with changing technology.  Children will require excellent communication skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. Our key educational aim is to encourage each child to aspire to achieve their full potential.  If children are to progress in tomorrow’s world they will need to be resilient and independent from an early age.

Our staff are determined to get the right balance between traditional British values and the demands of a rapidly changing world.  At Arboretum, we are passionate and determined to offer your child a high quality education and a range of opportunities to develop their life skills.

In addition to welcoming your child, we also extend a warm invitation for you to become involved in the life of the school.  Your support and co-operation is vital in creating and maintaining a stable learning environment and in ensuring that your child fulfils his/her potential in all the varied areas of school life.  We will support you to develop the skills required to enable you to provide assistance and encouragement to your child, and together we can build a strong partnership which will enhance your child’s education at Arboretum.

This prospectus is designed to give you information about the school.  However, you may have questions not answered here.  Staff are available to parents/carers at a mutually convenient time, if they have issues they wish to discuss.  Your first point of contact should be your child's teacher, who can be contacted by phoning the school office.  Senior leaders are always happy to speak to parents.

I trust that your child will quickly settle into life at Arboretum and that in partnership with you, Arboretum Primary School will give your child the very best possible start to the world of education and help them to ‘Reach for the Stars’.

Nigel Daintith – Head Teacher

OUR SCHOOL

The Normanton area of Derby is a lively, culturally diverse community of which we are proud to be a part.

Arboretum Primary School is a primary academy for children from 2-11 years, within the Derby Diocesan Academy Trust.  The school was opened in 1987 and, after a major refurbishment project and two extensions, is divided into four main teaching areas with classrooms and smaller group rooms:  Foundation Stage, Years 1 & 2, Years 3 & 4, and Years 5 & 6. 

Ofsted judged Arboretum as a good school in November 2017.

The school is set in extensive grounds with playing fields, playgrounds and a hard court sports area.

There is an administration block, library and two halls which are used for PE, assemblies, clubs and dinners.

ADMISSIONS

Two Year Olds Nursery

We have a 32 place unit positioned near the front entrance.  We can take up to sixteen children for either the morning or afternoon sessions who meet the Government’s criteria for funding. Places are allocated according to the Admissions Policy. 

Please note that a place in the unit does not guarantee a place in the main school, although we aim to provide a place in our Three Year Old Nursery within a term.  An application will need to be made to join both nursery and the main school.

Three Year Olds Nursery

We have a 78 place nursery set within the Early Years area of school.  We can take up to 39 children for either the morning or afternoon sessions.  There is a waiting list and places are allocated according to the Admissions Policy.  Children’s names can be placed on the waiting list at any time.

Please note that a place in the nursery does not guarantee a place in the main school.  An application will need to be made to Derby City Council to join the main school.

THE SCHOOL

All applications to join our school need to be made through the Local Authority based at the Council House, Corporation Street, Derby.  The total number of children we expect to have in school is 635 and the planned admission is 75 in all years.

SCHOOL TIMES

               Two and Three year old Nursery

               Morning session                                    8.30am to 11.30am

               Afternoon session                                 12.30pm to 3.30pm

               Reception to Year 6

               Registration                                          8.55am

               End of school                                        3.15pm

LUNCHTIMES:

               Reception - 11.30am to 12.25pm

               The Orchard - 11.55am to 12.50pm

               Years 1, 2, 3 and 4 - 11.55am to 12.50pm

               Years 5 & 6 - 12.20pm to 1.15pm

Please ensure that your child arrives at school on time.  In the Early Years Units we ask that you take the time to settle your child into school and remain with them for a few minutes. 

Children in the rest of the school can come into school from 8.45am onwards and can be collected from the classrooms at 3.15pm.  Please do not send your child to school too early.  They should not be on the school premises until 8.45am unless they are attending Breakfast Club which takes place every morning at 8.00am. 

All children must be collected from the school by a responsible adult (over 16 years).  Children must be collected from school promptly at the end of the day.  If they are not collected on time, we may charge for childcare, or report it to the police or social services.

CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURE

The Local Authority requires that the Head Teacher reports any obvious or suspected cases of child abuse to Social Services.  This procedure is intended to protect children at risk.  The Head Teacher may have to make a decision which upsets some parents.  When suspected incidents or injuries prove unfounded, we hope that all parents will recognise that the Head Teacher will always be acting in what was believed to be the child’s best interest.

ABSENCES

It is very important that all children attend school every day

All absences must be accounted for.  Please notify the school of the reason for absence before 9:30am.  You may telephone the school or notify the Attendance Officer via Class Dojo. Under new Department for Education guidelines, extended absences are unauthorised but you must complete a leave of absence form in order that we are aware your child is safe.  Please note that your child’s name may be removed from the school register or you may be fined for taking your child out of school during term time.

If your child has a medical appointment which cannot be re-arranged for after school, we need to see medical appointment cards or letters before the appointment date so your child can have an authorised absence.

If your child has had vomiting or diarrhoea, they will normally need be kept at home for 48 hours.

When children become ill during the day or suffer as a result of an injury in school we will do our best to contact a parent/carer.  Emergency cases will be taken to hospital immediately.

We keep details of our children’s addresses and contact numbers in school for emergency use.

 PLEASE inform us if any details/telephone numbers change.

MEDICINES IN SCHOOL

Children should not bring any medicines into school.  Any prescription medicines should be given at home when possible and local doctors prescribe to make this possible.

In exceptional circumstances, if medication needs to be given at school then it must be taken to the office, where a form must be filled in.

If your child has a particular medical condition, please inform the school. Regular medication e.g. adrenaline pens and inhalers must be clearly labelled with your child’s name and taken to the office, where a consent form will need to be completed. 

Medicals for children are sometimes held in school by School Health; the school nurse also visits regularly.  You will always be told when medicals are to take place and be invited to be present.  If you would like to see the school nurse, please ask in school, we may be able to arrange an appointment.

PARENTS IN SCHOOL

We welcome parents and carers to visit our school.  It is good for the children to know that we are working together and that you are interested in the school.

There will be opportunities during the school year to join us for special events, assemblies, productions, sporting events, picnics, open evenings, and fund raising events.  We also hold regular information sessions and drop-ins for you to learn more about your child’s education.

We welcome parent volunteers to work in school, in the classrooms or on trips.  Regular volunteers will need to undergo safeguarding checks including a DBS check.

We will always contact parents and carers immediately if we are concerned about any aspect of their child’s welfare, progress or behaviour and we hope that parents will let us know of any problems or worries their child has which might affect them in school.

Staff will always try to be available to see parents immediately, but it may be necessary to arrange an appointment on some occasions. A senior member of staff is available to see parents on most days.

A Home School Agreement will be shared with all parents and children upon entry to the school.  Parents are asked to sign the agreement.

PERSONAL BELONGINGS

All personal belongings should be clearly marked with the child’s name.

Parents should note that the school cannot accept liability for the loss of or damage to personal property.  Please do not allow your children to bring expensive or sentimental items into school.

We encourage children to cycle to school, and we have a cycle shed where bicycles can be left during the day.  However, we cannot accept liability for any loss, and recommend that all bicycles are locked when left on the school premises.  Children should wear a cycle helmet at all times when riding to school.

SCHOOL CLOTHING

Our dress code has been introduced to encourage children’s pride in their appearance and to increase their feeling of belonging to a caring school.  Please note that we expect all our children to have natural coloured hair, without any shaved patterns.  All children, including nursery, should come to school dressed in accordance with the code below:

Polo shirts, sweatshirts and cardigans with the school logo can be purchased from the school office, or ordered online via the ScoPay App.

Shoes - these should be of a traditional nature with heels no greater than 2cm. For health and safety reasons flip flops, sandals, backless shoes and heels higher than 2cm are not allowed.  Plain black trainers are allowed.

Jewellery - the wearing of jewellery (unless of special religious significance) is not allowed, with the exception of a single pair of stud earrings, and a watch.  Earrings must be removed for PE, so it is recommended that if you wish to have your child’s ears pierced it is done at the beginning of the six week holiday to allow time for them to heal.

We may telephone parents of children wearing unsuitable clothing to ask for appropriate clothes to be brought to school for children to wear.

Please note: denim and trainers with colours and patterns are not to be worn. 

All children need to bring a coat to school when the weather is cold for playtimes and outdoor activities.

Please make sure that all clothes are labelled.  Book bags are available at £4.75

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

All children take part in PE lessons and they should come to school in their PE kit on the days they have PE/Games lessons. Earrings/studs should not be worn on PE days.  Long hair should be tied back.

No jewellery should be worn for any type of P.E.

SUNHATS - It is recommended that all children wear a suitable protective sunhat in the summer.  We also encourage you to apply sun cream to children before they come to school on sunny, summer days. Arboretum sunhats are available from the school office for £4.35.

SCHOOL FOOD

Meals are cooked in the school kitchen and eaten in the school hall. There is a choice of meals to suit all diets, including Halal meat and vegetarian options.  The cost of a school meal is £1.80 per day or £9.00 per week. You are able to pay online for school dinners using the Scopay app – please see the office staff for information about how to set this up. Information is also available on our school website.

If you still want to pay in cash then payment for meals should be put in to a named envelope with the class number on too and paid at the start of each week.

If you feel your child is entitled to a free school meal please ask at the school office.

Due to new legislation the school are required to provide allergen information on all food provided by the school. The school cannot be responsible for allergen information for food that has been prepared outside of the school and brought in for consumption by pupils or staff.

Packed lunches should be brought in by the children at 8.45 am.  Sweets should not be brought into school unless they are to be handed to the teacher to be shared for a special occasion.  All children are provided with free fruit.

Please note that we are a nut free school, which includes products that may contain traces of nuts.

Water bottles costing £1 can be purchased from the office.

Chilled water is available from water dispensers.

THE CURRICULUM

All children in the school have access to a broad and balanced, differentiated and relevant curriculum.  We follow the National Curriculum guidelines, including the use of daily Literacy and Mathematics.  Alongside Literacy and Mathematics, we teach Science, Religious Education, History, Geography, Music, Art, Physical Education, Design and Technology, Personal, Social and Health Education and Computing.  Our Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 children also learn French.  We believe in preparing our children for lifelong learning, therefore personal skills as well as academic skills are nurtured to encourage the development of confident children.

We aim to promote each child’s self-esteem and self-expression through a curriculum, which is active, productive and values the individual.

Our curriculum is carefully planned by the teaching staff and taught through topics which link the subjects together in an interesting and focused way.   

Children are assessed informally by their teachers using Assessment for Learning in each lesson and by observing children, listening to them and marking books; we use some standardised tests to help inform teacher assessment.  We also assess pupils’ progress using the national guidelines.

If you have any questions, suggestions or complaints about our curriculum please speak to the Head Teacher.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND COLLECTIVE WORSHIP

Religious Education at the school follows the agreed Derby syllabus, which is non-denominational and multi-faith in character.

We acknowledge and celebrate the diversity of faiths in Britain today and offer assemblies sympathetic to this.

We have been granted a dispensation to allow us to set aside the part of the Education Act which states that the majority of acts of worship should be “wholly or broadly of a Christian nature.”

Parents who wish to exercise their right to withdraw their child from religious activities are asked to make an appointment to see the Head Teacher.

RELATIONSHIPS AND HEALTH EDUCATION

At Arboretum Primary School, we recognise that the personal development of pupils; personal, social, health and economic understanding, plays a significant part in their ability to not only learn and achieve, but to also become successful, contributing citizens in today’s society.  We therefore aim to provide an education that provides pupils with opportunities to explore and develop their own values and beliefs, spiritual awareness, high standards of personal behaviour, a positive caring attitude towards other people, an understanding of their social and cultural traditions and an appreciation of the diversity and richness of other cultures.

SPECIAL NEEDS

For children who are experiencing difficulties with their work or behaviour we offer extra support as required.  We will work very closely with you to ensure any difficulties are overcome simply and quickly.  We may wish to place your child on the special needs register to help us to meet your child’s needs.  We will always talk to you first about this and what it will involve.

LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN

Arboretum Primary School recognises its responsibility as corporate parent and wishes to promote and support the education of our looked after children and young people; asking the question ‘Would this service be good enough for my child?’

Key principles of the policy on the Education of Looked after Children:

• A permanent commitment to meeting the educational needs of looked after children.

• Participation of young people in decisions about their education.

• A commitment to effective communication and to working in partnership across all agencies to support the education of looked after children, through the development and use of joint working practices and protocols for sharing information.

• A commitment to work in partnership with outside agencies including the Health Service, Social Services, other local authorities and educational establishments and the voluntary sector to improve educational outcomes.

DATA PROTECTION

Basic information about children is kept in school on computer, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018.  Our Privacy Notices can be found on the school website. The academy trust is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office and there are restrictions placed on the school in regard to who we can give information to.

BEHAVIOUR AND DISCIPLINE

Good behaviour is vital for a school to provide an atmosphere in which teaching and learning are successful.  The school has a Behaviour Policy.

We take a positive attitude to discipline and have three rules which are followed throughout the school:

                                 Ready

                                 Respectful

                                 Safe

For good work or good behaviour your child will collect ‘dojo’ points. Each class will have a target and when this is reached they will enjoy a treat that they have decided on, for example a themed party.

The class teachers or adults on duty will deal with children who misbehave. Serious misbehaviour is recorded and dealt with by the Head Teacher, Deputy or Senior Phase Leader.  Parents/Carers may be asked to visit the school to discuss any issues.

BREAKFAST CLUB

Breakfast club takes place every morning at 8.00am.  All children are invited to Breakfast Club.  Currently we ask for a 50p donation towards costs, but children who qualify for Pupil Premium do not have to pay.

CHARGES FOR SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

The Governors support the policy that within the resources available education should be free and to that end will use all available funds to the full.

However, there are occasions during the school year when children are taken to events, or places of interest, or when theatre groups and curriculum events visit school.  We may ask for a contribution towards the cost.  No child will be stopped from taking part in a curriculum activity through an inability to pay.  However if the contributions collected do not cover the cost, the school may be forced to cancel the event.

Children who are eligible for Pupil Premium are not required to pay for day trips.

CARING FOR OUR SCHOOL

The school and its grounds are a valuable resource to the community and we hope that you will support us in encouraging your children to care for our building and its surroundings.

If you should see an incident involving vandalism, please report it to the police at once. You will be helping us to spend money on your child’s education and not the costs of vandalism.

SCHOOL RESOURCES

School resources, both at school and those sent home for children to use, must be treated carefully.  Parents will be expected to replace damaged items by paying the cost of a new replacement.

We provide a sturdy bag for each child in school to carry reading books home.  However, we will not be able to replace any lost or damaged bags.  Therefore, all children will be held responsible for their own bags, which must be paid for at £4.75 each if they need to be replaced. 

EXTENDED SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Mr. Malooq organises clubs and activities for the children after school and during the holidays throughout the school year.  After school clubs may include: archery, football, athletics, hockey, rounders, cricket, basketball, multi-games, dance, dodgeball, circuit training and cycling,

There are also family trips available during selected holidays.

CHILDREN’S THOUGHTS