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While your child is with us, he or she will study programmes of work including such issues as diet, exercise and rest, smoking, drugs, dental care, and how the body works. The inclusion of sex education in the programme has been decided upon by the school governors. Details of the school's sex education policy is available on request. We also include lessons on road safety, cycling safety, drugs and medicines, playing safely, on dealing with bullies, on dealing with approaches from unknown adults, safety in school, in the home and garden. This obviously influences school life. Practical aspects of the above mean at this school we do have rules (see separate page) and that also . . . Milk is available for all children. Please order milk a term at a time from the school office. Alternatively, children can bring a school water bottle filled with plain water from the tap (no flavoured waters please). They are allowed to drink from the water bottles during lesson time, as decided by the teacher. Children who wish to bring a snack to eat at break are allowed to bring either fresh fruit or vegetable pieces. Crips, biscuits and sweets are not allowed at breaktimes and are saved for school special occasions only, unless they are part of a child's lunch. We do not allow children to enter or leave the school by way of the
kitchen/staff car park road, because of vehicles reversing and delivering Parents are asked NEVER to park on the staff car park
when bringing We are concerned if a young child is brought to school (or collected)
by an older brother or sister. We feel most children of older primary
age are not capable of keeping a lively child safe by busy roads. Parents are advised that they should consider taking out a Personal Accident Insurance policy for their child which would include the child's school life. A proposal form for such a policy is available from the school office, but many other insurance companies offer a similar scheme. It is up to the individual parent to make such a choice, depending on individual circumstances. When children are unwell before coming to school . . . If your child is off-colour first thing in the morning, please do not send him or her to school. We will only have to contact you later in the day to ask you to come to collect your child, by which time they may have passed round whatever it is they have got, particularly tummy bugs! Children will have days when they are off-colour or ill, and it is very useful to have a plan of action for when this happens so that if you need to go to work etc. this is still possible. If we cannot get hold of you when your child is ill at school, your child will only feel worse, and we really have no facilities to look after sick children at school. If in doubt as to whether your child is really ill, give your child time to wake up properly, and see if he or she will eat a usual breakfast. If not, and your child is still feeling unwell, then it is unlikely that your child will cope with a full day in school. Medicines at school . . . If your doctor wants your child to take medication at regular intervals, please try to time this so that no medicine is needed during the school day. If this cannot be avoided, then you will need to fill in an Authorisation sheet for our Nursery Nurse (or a teacher) to administer the medicine on your behalf. This function is carried out only under your instructions, during the midday break, and although school will do its best to abide by your wishes, we cannot be held responsible if a child misses medication, etc. We will do our best, however, to get it right! Children who become ill at school . . . If your child is taken ill at school, or has an accident, we will carry
out whatever procedures are immediately necessary within our capabilities.
If we feel it necessary we will call an ambulance or transport your child
to the A & E department at Rochdale Infirmary. Please note that, because of Health and Safety rules, school is not permitted
to carry out more than the most basic first-aid treatment, because of
the risk of causing problems over allergies or reactions to even everyday
medications like children's paracetamol or antiseptic cream. Accidents at school . . . The Governors and Staff are well aware of their Health and Safety responsibilities towards all who use the school. However, even in the best-ordered circles, accidents do occasionally occur, and the Governors have insurance for such eventualities. We also advise all parents to consider very carefully whether they wish to take out a special insurance policy for their child which will cover him or her against any accident to your child at home or at school. The school can provide details of Insurance firms providing such a policy if required.
Please do make sure you have filled in a CONTACT SHEET to give us vital information in case we need to get in touch with you during the school day. If this information changes during your child's time at our school, please do LET SCHOOL KNOW as soon as possible. We would wish to avoid any delay in letting you know in a potential emergency.
There are occasional instances where the school is obliged by law to pass on information about a child to the appropriate authority, such as the Police, Social Services or Education Welfare Services. Whilst the school will normally inform parents or guardians that this is happening, there may be very occasional instances when we do not inform the parents or guardians, leaving this to the appropriate authority at a time which fits in with their investigation. Child Protection Issues ... There are occasional instances where school is obliged by law to pass on information about a child to the appropriate authority, such as the Police, Social Services or Education Welfare Services. Whilst the school will normally inform parents or guardians that this is happening, there may be very occasional circumstances when we do not inform parents or guardians, leaving this to the appropriate authority at a time which fits in with their investigation. Finding your way round school . . . Smithy Bridge School is an awkward building to get in and out of, or to and from the classrooms easily. From the parents' point of view, the doors are in the wrong places, and it is very tempting to take short cuts. PLEASE DON'T! Because we have over 470 children in school, it is important that each child and parent knows which doors to use. Otherwise we end up with human traffic jams first thing in the morning and at home time! When you call at school to bring or collect your child, at the start or end of the school day, PLEASE only use the route that your child uses. If you need to call in at school at any other time, please use the main entrance and ring the bell to gain entry. At start of school At finish of school Car parking Helping in School If you have a regular time that you cuold offer to help in school, you would be made very welvome. This need not be with your own child's class. Please talk with your child's teacher or the Headteacher and we will try to find something that you will enjoy doing and that will help the children. No special skills needed - just enthusiasm! Even if you can't come in every week, please let us know if you would like to help. Working in classrooms give parents a chance to see nursery and primary education today which is very different from that experienced by most adults, particularly in the areas of science and technology. Offers of help from relatives (auntis, grans and granddads) are also much appreciated. The School Health Service Our School Nurse can be contacted at Littleborough Health Centre (01706)
702300. The service is provided to ensure that no child is prevented from
obtaining the maximum benefit from his/her education, because of undiagnosed
medical problems. The service, therefore, is carries out a variety of
screening operations to look for the most common problems from an early
age. The service also follows through the Vaccination programme that your
child began as a baby. Vision Tests These are carried out in the first year of full-time school, and as necessary until school-leaving age. A colour-vision test is included during Primary School years to detect possible colour blindness. Parents are informed if their child's vision appears defective, and are advised on what action to take. Hearing Tests All children are screened for hearing problems during their Primary School years. Any child failing the simple test is usually asked to repeat the test to see if the reason for initial failure was nervousness or being too anxious to please. Again any problems are notified to parents, together with advice on further help or treatment. General Medical Check-ups All children are screened early on in their school career, in your presence if you so wish. If all is well, the child will not be seen again unless either school or the parent requests it. Health interviews are carried out from time to time by the school nurse with older pupils, covering hygiene, diet, exercise, avoidance of illness and any problems the child may want to raise in confidence. Everyday medical problems which do not concern your child's performance in school but are to do with your child's general health should be referred to your own family GP or hospital department. Head-Lice and Nits Routine checking of heads for lice and nits is no longer carried out, it being considered ineffective. Research seems to indicate that children are more likely to catch lice from close contacts who are either members of the family or close friends - head lice cannot fly but swing from hair to hair rather like Tarzan. If you have a problem with this unpleasant affliction, please contact your doctor for appropriate hair lotion, which should be used by the whole family! Verrucas or Plantar Warts These uncomfortable warts grow on the sole of the foot. At one time having such a wart meant exclusion from swimming and sports. However, medical opinion is now that a child with verrucas can swim and take part in P.E. etc. The infection can take 6 months to develop into a verruca and nobody seems clear where or how infection usually occurs. The only reason for wearing pumps or trainers for PE is if the verruca is sore. Dentist The children are offered a routine dental examination at school, with a letter home to parents if the school dentist feels that closer inspection is necessary, either at the local clinic, or at your own family's dentist.
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