Welcome to DUCKS - An introduction for parents

Welcome to DUCKS - An introduction for parents

Welcome to DUCKS An introduction for parents

Lovely blues Nicholas, Age 6

Contents

1. Welcome

• Welcome from the Head of DUCKS

Page 3

2. The School

• Contacting DUCKS

Page 4 Page 5 Page 6

• School Hours

• Parent Complaints Procedure

3. DUCKS A to Z

Page 8

4. Welcome to the Early Years Foundation Stage

Page 34

5. Welcome to Key Stage 1

Page 46

2

Welcome from the Head of DUCKS

Dear Parents,

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. As the first educators of your child, we know that parents are the keystone to a child’s early learning experiences. At DUCKS, we hold true to the sense of belonging 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

3

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

Mrs Emma Millett

millette @ dulwich.org.uk

Infants’ School Registrar

Mrs Polly Twisk

twiskp @ dulwich.org.uk

Kindergarten Registrar DUCKS Executive Assistant

Head of DUCKS Mrs Miranda Norris

norrism @ dulwich.org.uk

Deputy Head Mrs Joanne Parker

parkerjm @ dulwich.org.uk

Early Years Co-ordinator Mrs Annette Dipré Head of Kindergarten Miss Sally Donaldson Deputy Head of Kindergarten Mrs Tracey Greenwood

diprea @ dulwich.org.uk

donaldsons @ dulwich.org.uk

greenwoodt @ dulwich.org.uk

To contact your class teacher you can speak with them at the beginning or end of the day, write a note in the contact book, leave a message with the school office or send an email.

4

School hours

Kindergarten The children can attend the Kindergarten for the following sessions;

Full day

8.00 am to 4.30 pm

School day

8.45 am to 3.15 pm

Morning session

8.45 am to 11.45 am

Infants’ School Early Years

The school day begins at 8.55 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.

Drop off

8.45 am – 8.55 am

Morning session

8.55 am to 11.50 am or 11.55 am

Lunch and playtime

11.50 am – 1.00 pm (Nursery) 11.55 am – 1.00 pm (Reception)

Afternoon session

1.00 pm – 3.30 pm

Key Stage 1

The school day begins at 8.55 am and the day finishes at 3.30 pm and it is usually divided into three sessions.

Drop off

8.45 am – 8.55 am

Session 1

8.55 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).

Breakfast is from 8.00 am - 8.45 am

After School Care runs until 5.00 pm

5

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 at least three years 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.

6

An introduction for parents DUCKS A to Z

Field of flowers Sebastian, Age 5

An A to Z of DUCKS

Organisational Terminology used at DUCKS 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 18 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 four Early Years (EY) classes, two Nursery and two Reception and four KS1 classes, two Year 1 and two 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 or Head of Kindergarten. In providing access, DUCKS has regard to >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51

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