PARENT FAQS
ADMISSIONS:
Please see our admissions page:
Nursery & Infants - https://www.smcsc.org.uk/admissions-infants.php
Juniors - https://www.smcsc.org.uk/admissions-juniors.php
If your child is leaving St. Mary’s Catholic Federation, Carshalton, you will need to request Mrs Hulme to complete the midterm transfer school form, when you have completed your sections this needs to be given to Mrs Hulme to also complete. You will need to write in with the full details of the school your child is transferring to and the date on which this will commence.
ATTENDANCE & PUNCTUATION:
Year Groups |
Entry time into school |
Drop off and collection point |
Time for collection |
Nursery |
8.35 am (morning session 12.15 pm (afternoon session) |
Gate 5 |
3.15 pm |
Reception |
8.35am to 8.45am |
Gate 4 |
3.15 pm |
Year 1 |
8.35am to 8.45am |
Gate 3 |
3.15 pm |
Year 2 |
8.35am to 8.45am |
Gate 6 |
3.15 pm |
Year 3 |
8.35am to 8.45am |
Lower Playground |
3.15 pm |
Year 4 |
8.35am to 8.45am |
Lower Playground via ramp |
3.15 pm |
Year 5 |
8.35am to 8.45am |
Door entry via ramp |
3.15 pm |
Year 6 |
8.35am to 8.45am |
Lower playground via ramp |
3.15 pm |
If a child is absent the school must be advised by 9.30am by calling the school office on 020 8647 5711 (Nursery & Infant School) or 020 8647 4342 (Junior School). A note of explanation must be emailed to the school office on his/her return even if you have already called the school.
If your child will be late the school must be advised by 9.30am by calling the school office on 0208 647 5711 (Nursery & Infant School) or 0208 647 4342 (Junior School). On this occasion, the pupils need to be brought to the school office to be signed in with the reason given. Confirmation regarding school lunch is needed prior to 10am.
If your child needs to leave school early for an appointment, the school must be advised in advance by email to the main office email, explaining when you will need to collect your child, the nature of the appointment and when they will return, we will also need a copy of the appointment letter/text. We do ask that all appointments are booked out of school time, where possible.
The Headteacher may only grant authorisation for absence, however leave of absence will not be granted during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Family Holidays will not be authorised as these are not counted as exceptional.
Although we sympathise with a number of requests, it is the duty of the school to ensure all children receive the maximum access to learning achieved by good attendance. Obviously, this takes into consideration those times when a child needs to be at home due to illness. In the interests of safeguarding, children need to be in school to enable all children to have the best outcomes. “Keeping children safe in education” DfE September 2021
No parking is available at either Infants or Juniors. At the Junior school there is also the Safer Streets initiative in action, operating in Alma and Shorts road.
Scheme operation area: Alma Road, Alma Road to its junction with Shorts Road; Shorts Road.
Hours of operation: between 7.45am and 8.30am and between 2.45pm and 3.30pm on Monday to Friday inclusive.
BREAKFAST/AFTERSCHOOL CLUB
Yes, we have both a breakfast club and afterschool club run by Orchard Childcare. Orchard Childcare information is available at https://www.orchardchildcare.co.uk/st-marys-catholic-nursery-and-infants-school
CLUBS:
There are a range of before / after school clubs for students. These may vary each term. Details for the clubs are released at the end of each term for starting at the next term, the clubs timetable is sent out via the Google Classroom. For more information, please visit the School Clubs page on our website.
COMMUNICATION:
Once I have contacted my child’s class teacher – how long would it be for me to receive a response.
GOVERNORS FUND:
Parents are invited to make voluntary contributions of £35 or £50 per annum to the Governors’ Fund. In a Catholic Voluntary Aided School, Governors are responsible for 10% of the cost of most repairs and improvements to the school buildings. As you may imagine with ever-increasing costs, this becomes quite a burden. We, therefore, ask for your support in helping to maintain the excellent standards at St Mary’s by making a donation of at least £35.00 per family, per school. Payments can be made on line at www.parentpay.com
HOMEWORK:
PROGRESS AND ATTAINMENT:
Put a request via the school office and the class teacher will contact you by calling or arrange a meeting.
SCHOOL MEALS / MILK:
Please see our School Meals page on our website - https://www.smcsc.org.uk/school-meals.php.
Please note that all infant school children are entitled to a Universal Free School Meal as part of a Government initiative. We highly recommend that you take the opportunity of the school provide a hot school meal for your child on a daily basis. The meals consist of a meat/ fish or vegetarian option, vegetables, a salad bar and bread. All the meals are planned to be nutritionally analysed to ensure they meet and in most cases exceed The School Food Standards.
Two options are available for your child if they wish to have hot school dinners. The options are to either
- Take a school meal every day from Monday to Friday or
- To take a school meal on Roast day Wednesday and Fish day Friday only
The option must be selected for the whole of the half term period and cannot be changed for alternative days or patterns. If packed lunch is provided this must be a healthy lunch with no sweets, fizzy drinks or items containing nuts.
Pupils in year 3 – year 6 will now receive a Free School Meal as part of the current 2023-24 government initiative.
How do I apply for Free School Meals for Pupils in Year 3 – Year 6?
Pupils in Year 3 – Year 6 will need to make an application via the Sutton Council website - https://www.sutton.gov.uk/-/free-school-meals-and-pupil-premium-eligibility-and-how-to-apply
For more information regarding ‘School Dinners’ please take the time to read the School Meals page on our website.
For more information regarding ‘Packed Lunches’ please take the time to read the School Meals page on our website.
School milk is available for all children. Children under 5 and children eligible for Free School Meals can apply for free milk. If you wish your child to have milk you must register with Cool Milk - https://www.coolmilk.com/parents/
SCHOOL TRIPS:
You may write a letter to Mrs Hulme, Executive Headteacher, explaining the situation, alternatively contact Ms. Nicol asking for Mrs Hulme to call you. This will be considered to see whether it is possible to offer support through our hardship fund.
ST. MARY’S PTA:
Working in partnership with parents and carers is key and you are warmly invited to join the St. Mary’s PTA. You can also give your details to the School Office to volunteer for parent reading, helping out of school trips and walking the children to and from swimming sessions.
UNIFORM:
We expect all children to wear school uniform. A full list of uniform can be found on our website:
Nursery - https://www.smcsc.org.uk/school-uniform-nursery.php
Infants – https://www.smcsc.org.uk/school-uniform-infants.php
Juniors - https://www.smcsc.org.uk/school-uniform-junior.php
The PTA holds uniform sales that includes pre-owned uniform at a very affordable cost at regular intervals.
At St. Mary’s Catholic Federation, Carshalton we have very high expectations about school uniform.
It may be possible for your child to borrow spare uniform items from the school office for a particular occasion / alternatively if this is not possible parents/carers may bring in the correct uniform item. Only medical notes from a GP are accepted as a reason for not wearing correct school shoes.
WELFARE / BEHAVIOUR:
If you have any concerns at all about any aspect of your child’s education or progress, then we encourage you to call us / write an email to the school office detailing your enquiry. Below is our ‘who to contact’ flowchart.
Procedure to resolving concerns and complaints |
|
Stage 1 (informal) |
Class Teachers |
Stage 1 (informal) |
Leadership Team |
Stage 2 (formal) |
Form B completed Head Teacher |
Stage 3 (formal) |
Complaint heard by Chair of Governors (if not the subject of the complaint) |
Stage 4 (formal) |
Governing Body Complaints Panel |
Both parent’s information is added to our communication system and will be contacted via email.