Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Lateness

All children should be in school on time. Children and classes who manage this regularly are recognised and rewarded for their efforts. Please make every effort to ensure that your child arrives on time.

If your child arrives late in the morning it is vital that they come to the SCHOOL OFFICE to be marked in. Once the children are marked in they are sent to class with a green token; this is given to the class teacher and advises the teacher they have been to the office. If a child arrives without a green token they are sent back to the office to collect one.

Please do not let your child into school any other way. Registers are checked every day and the school needs to know the exact amount of children in every day. This ensures your child’s safety and will ensure they are counted in for lunch numbers.

Absences

If your child is unwell or unable to attend school for any reason, please contact the school office as soon as possible. You can do this by telephone, e-mail, letter or by contacting the Children’s Attendence Officer – Mrs L Powis.

If a child needs to attend a medical appointment during term time in school hours, it is important that you contact the school before hand. A member of staff is required to see an appointment card or letter. In these situations please come to the school office and a member of staff will collect your child from their class.

Behaviour and Rewards

At Castle Hill we have very high expectations of behaviour. We strongly believe that without good behaviour children will not be able to learn and achieve to their full potential. We have a very clear policy concerning the behaviour of all children; this is based on positive reinforcement and praise. Click here to view the Behaviour Policy.

Good behaviour is always celebrated through the ‘Merit’ system and children are rewarded for their good behaviour. Children who continually behave well are recognised in ‘Achievement Assemblies’ and certificates are given out to celebrate their achievements. We understand that the vast majority of children are well behaved and our school supports them in their efforts to learn.

The children are also given the opportunity to earn ‘Golden Time’. This is a time during the week when they can choose their own activity in recognition of their positive behaviour and attitude during the week.

Children who are experiencing difficulties with their behaviour are given appropriate support and guidance to help them understand what is acceptable. We use a clear system of sanctions, and the children are made fully aware of the consequences of their actions. Children not achieving an appropriate standard of behaviour will be placed in detention at lunchtime, this is supervised and recorded by a member of the Senior Management Team. Your child’s class teacher will contact you if they end up in detention more than twice in one week.

We place great emphasis on communication and working with parents to ensure appropriate behaviour. We will contact you very early on if your child needs further support in their behaviour, and ensure that you are fully informed of the actions that we have taken.

If you have any concerns about your child in school, or wish to discuss anything that has happened, please contact the school immediately to arrange an appointment.

Parent Helpers

We are always looking for parents to come in to school to help out. If you have some time available we would be delighted if you were able to hear some children read or volunteer for a school trip. You may also have a particular skill or interest that you would like to share with the children.

If you are interested then please let us know using the direct email form below!

Arriving by car

We encourage all children, who are able, to walk to school. As well as providing children with regular exercise, this also reduces the congestion outside the school gates during the school run.

If you bring your child to school by car, please be aware that you cannot park on the zig zag lines in front of the school. The lines provide the children with a safe place to cross and immediate access for emergency service vehicles. Your co-operation with this is greatly appreciated.

There is no vehicular access via Denmark Street and this entrance should be used by pedestrians only.

Holidays

The school will not authorise holidays during term times.  Any absence, due to holiday, will incur a penalty fine. If you wish to take your child out of school during term time please speak to the Headteacher.

Medicines

If your child is unwell and needs to take medicine, they may not yet be fit enough to return to school. If your child is on antibiotics the school will be unable to store and administer this.

Your child should be given their medicine before and after school; however if they require four doses during a 24 hour period you are welcome to come to school to administer this.

If your child requires medicine on a regular or long term basis, it is vital that you come into school to fill in a medical form. The medical form gives details of the drugs being used, the dosage and timings. All these drugs must be administered by a qualified First Aider and will be recorded.

If your child suffers from Asthma and uses an inhaler you are advised to keep one in school. Please bring this in to the school office and fill out a medical form. The inhaler will be held securely for use when required.

Homework

At Castle Hill we believe that homework is important as it reinforces the learning that has taken place in the classroom. However at primary age homework should not be too time consuming, and something that older children are able to do by themselves. If you have any concerns over homework, you should make an appointment to see your child’s class teacher.

Children in Reception and Key Stage 1 are encouraged to read at home every night with an adult. In addition, children in Years 1 and 2 will be given weekly tasks to complete at home, such as learning words or simple sums.

Children in Key Stage 2 will receive three to four pieces of homework a week, this is not expected to last more than 20 minutes. By Year 6 children will be receiving some form of homework every night.

​Paper Copies

​If you would like paper copies of any information detailed on the website please ask at the school office. These are provided free of charge.

Contact Us

If you have any other questions, queries or wish to make a complaint, please email or telephone us for details via the direct email form below.