School Governors 2009/2010

Foundation Governors

Mrs M Russell (Chair)

Mrs J Pinnington (Vice-Chair)

Rev Fr M J Lee

Rev P Meaney

Mr Churchill

Mr M Fletcher

Elected Parent Governor

Mrs J Karlson

Local Authority Governor

Mrs C Clancy

Elected Non Teaching Governor

Mrs P Clegg

Headteacher Governor

Mr R A Dunne

Elected Teacher Governor

Mrs J Tallon

Clerk to the Governors

Mrs. C Rush, c/o St Columba’s Primary School

Local Education Authority

Knowsley Education Authority

Education Office

Huyton Hey Road, Huyton

KNOWSLEY L36 5YH

Tel: 0151 489 6000

Director of Education

Mr Damian Allen

Staff - 2008/09

Teaching Staff

Mr RA Dunne Headteacher

Mrs M Fyles Acting Deputy Headteacher

Mrs C Jones

Ms R Ventre

Mrs P Lyons

Mrs J Smith

Ms D Donaghy

Mr V Rimmer

Mrs J Tallon

Miss Winstanley

Mrs V Oprey

Miss S Brassington

Nursery Department

Mrs J Heaton Nursery Teacher

Mrs P Clegg Nursery Nurse

Miss D Docherty

Mrs. D Cameron

Non-Teaching Staff

Mr P Wilson School Business Manager

Mrs. C Rush Administrator

Mrs M Potter

Mrs F Jones

Mrs C O’Donohue

Mrs S Warburton

Mrs J Murphy

Mrs E Connell

Mrs C Usher

Mrs C Brown

Mrs B Malone

Mentors

Mr R Murphy Learning Mentor

Ms L Kennedy Parent Mentor

Lunchtime Supervisory Assistants

Mrs. L Madine

Mrs. B McDermott

Mrs. J Wilson

Mrs. C O'Donohue

=========================================================================================================================================

Disability.

Through the school’s SEN (Special Educational Needs) policy

all pupils are provided for in terms of academic, social,

emotional, behavioural and special needs.

Careful assessments are made soon after entry and at intervals thereafter. Children with disabilities are firmly

included in these arrangements and

records are kept in the form of Individual Education Plans (I.E.P’s).

Access.

We have had new signs fitted to the exterior and interior

of the school. These are tactile and bright to assist the visually impaired.

Access developments.

For the future we aim to improve the access via ramps

to external classrooms and to provide disabled toilet facilities.

Special Needs Policy.

Is as required by the Act. There have been no significant

changes during the year.

Screening is carried out of children throughout the school, from Nursery to Year 6.

The Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) liaises with Class Teachers and the Local Authority and

supervises Individual Education Plans (I.E.P.s).

Parents can bring any concerns in the first instance to their child's teacher, who will refer any problems to the SENCO.

Child Protection.

The Headteacher is the Child Protection Co-ordinator.

Any concerns regarding a child’s welfare or safety should

be discussed with Mr Dunne immediately.

The Deputy Child Protection Co-ordinator is Mrs. Fyles.

School Child Protection Policy

Clothing grants and free school meals.

Parents should contact the Education Office, Huyton Hey Road,

Huyton, L36 5YH, 0151 489 6000 for all applications and enquiries

regarding grants towards school uniform and free school meals.

Attendance and absence.

Parents should contact the school in person, by letter, or

telephone if your child is absent even for one day.

An attendance officer will ring up parents of children who

are absent and have not informed the school. Attendance

awards are presented at the end of term and end of year. Weekly

attendance awards are given and children are entered for the Mayor’s Award.

All absences should be covered by a letter of phone call to the school on the first day of absence.

The school must record all unexplained absences as unauthorised, i.e.

truancy. We will phone home on the first day of absence if no message has been

received. Please do not take

holidays in school time. For the rare

occasion where there is an exceptional reason for this a form should be

completed and signed, which is available from the school office.

Dinner Money

Dinner money is collected in advance on Monday

morning or,

alternatively, on the first day back in school after a

holiday. (Dinners are £1. per day)

Money will only be accepted on another day if the child has been absent. If parents are not in receipt of

Income Support, 50p milk money is required for Infant and Nursery children on the first day of each new term.

Children may bring a packed lunch. Food must be brought in a

lunch box marked with the child’s name. Large sports bags or

plastic bags are not acceptable. Parents are encouraged to provide a healthy packed lunch for their child[ren]

Clothing, Jewellery and Insurance

All items of clothing and equipment should be marked with the child’s name.

Whilst this will not prevent loss, it can help when enquiries are being made about missing items.

Children should not wear jewellery in school for reasons of health and safety.

Parents should check that their own Household Insurance Policy (Contents) covers all items of personal property whilst in school. Neither the school nor the Local Authority has insurance, which will cover your child’s property in the event of it being lost or stolen, nor does the school have any official funds, which can be used to cover any loss that may occur. Similarly, neither the school nor the Local Authority has insurance to cover accidental injury to children and parents should ensure that their own insurance policy covers such eventualities.

Sickness and Accidents in school

If a child is taken ill in school or has an accident, it is

often necessary to contact parents in order to seek further medical

attention. In the interests of all parties it is essential for the school to be provided with the name and address, or telephone number, of a relative or friend in case parents cannot be contacted. The school will contact parents on the first day of an absence if no advance reason has been given.

School Day

Infant Department: 8.55 am - 12.00 noon

1.00 pm - 3.00 pm

Junior Department: 8.55 am - 12.15 pm

1.00 pm - 3.10 pm

The time spent teaching, excluding breaks, lunch, collective worship and registration is twenty-three hours for the Junior

department and twenty-one and a half-hours for the Infant department.

Lunch Times

Lunch times last from 12.15 pm to 1.00 pm for the Junior children

and from 12.00 noon to 1.00 pm for the Infant children.

St Columba’s Catholic Primary School

Admission Policy and Arrangements for 2010-2011

1 St Columba’s is a Catholic Primary School situated in the Archdiocese of Liverpool and is maintained by the Knowsley Local Authority.

2. The Governing Body of the school is responsible for determining and administering the policy relating to the admission of pupils to the school. It is guided in that responsibility by:

· the requirements of the law

· the advice of the Archdiocesan Trustees on the nature and purpose of its duties

· its duty towards the school and the Catholic community it serves

· the Catholic character of the school and its Mission Statement

· recognition of the Parish boundary

3. The school serves in the first instance baptised Catholic children living in the Parish of St Columba’s.

4. Having consulted with the LA and others in accordance with the requirements of the law, the Governing Body has published its admissions limit at 30 pupils for the school year commencing September 2010.

5. Parents must complete the Local Authority application form. The form should be returned to the school no later than Monday 30 November 2009.

Notes

The Governing Body has delegated responsibility for determining admissions to its Admissions Committee which will consider all applications made in accordance with the criteria set out over.

Pupils who are admitted to the school will enter the reception class September 2010.

As required by the law the Governing Body will not admit more than 30 pupils to any one reception or infant class.

St Columba’s Catholic Primary School

Over-subscription Criteria

Where the number of applications exceeds the number of places available the

Governing Body will apply the following over-subscription criteria

1. Baptised Catholic children who are in the care of the Local Authority.

2. Baptised Catholic children living in the parish of St Columba who have a brother or a sister at the school at the time of likely admission. (See Notes 1 & 2)

3. Baptised Catholic children living in the designated Parish of St Columba. (See Note 1)

4. Baptised Catholic children living in other Catholic parishes who have a brother or a sister at the school at the time of likely admission. (See Notes 1 & 2)

5. Baptised Catholic children living in other parishes. (See Note 1)

6. Children who are in the care of the Local Authority who are other than Catholic.

7. Children who are other than Catholic who have a brother or a sister at the school at the time of likely admission. (See Note 2)

8. Children from other Christian denominations. (See Note 3)

9. Children of other faiths. (See Note 3)

10. Children whose parents express a preference for a place at the school.

In the event of any over-subscription in the number of applications made under any of the categories above then the admissions committee will offer places first to children living nearest to the school measured in a straight line from the home address using the geographical information system employed by the Local Authority that carries out measurements using co-ordinate points. (See Note 4)

In rare cases where the distance tie-break does not assist, for example due to twins/triplets in the same house or where there are two or more children with an exact distance measurement, where to admit another pupils would have class size implications, random selection will be used to determine the allocation of places.

Places offered are subject to parents/carers providing proof of information stated on their application form and used during the allocation of places. The school may request, for example, evidence of baptism, date of birth and home address. Failure to provide proof documents requested may result in the place being withdrawn.

Note 1

For the child to be considered as a Baptised Catholic, parents/carers should answer the questions in Section 4 of the Knowsley Local Authority preference form. Proof of Baptism in the form of a Baptismal Certificate may be requested by the school if a place is allocated on these grounds. Definition of a Baptised Catholic is attached at Appendix 1 of this policy.

Note 2

“Brother or sister” includes half or stepbrothers and sisters, adopted and foster brothers and sisters who are living at the same address and are part of the same family unit. This does not include cousins or other family relationships.

Note 3

Parent/carers who wish to be considered under criterion 8 or 9 should answer the questions in Section 4 of the Knowsley Local Authority preference form. Proof of Baptism in the form of a Baptismal Certificate or confirmation in writing that the applicant is a member of their faith community from an appropriate Faith Leader may be requested by the school if a place is allocated under these criteria.

Note 4

Home address is considered to be the address where the child normally lives during the school week. Where care is split and a child moves between two addresses, the household in receipt of the child benefit would normally be the address used. Parents/carers should not state a childminder’s or other relatives address.

St Columba’s Catholic Primary School

Admission Arrangements

1. All applications received by the published closing date will be considered by the Admissions Committee at the same time and after that closing date.

2. Late applications (received after the published closing date) will be considered in accordance with the Knowsley primary co-ordinated admissions scheme).

3. Parents/carers will be informed of the decision of the Admissions Committee, by letter from the Local Authority, as stated in the Knowsley Primary Education Admissions booklet. If their application has been successful the school may request that parents confirm acceptance.

4. If the application has not been successful, the refusal letter will give reasons for the decision, will inform parents of their right of appeal and give guidance on how that appeal should be made.

5. A waiting list for children who have not been offered a place, ranked according to the Admission Criteria, will be kept. Should places become available they will be reallocated from the waiting list strictly in priority order. The waiting list will close in accordance with the Knowsley primary admissions scheme.

6. Applications received after the notification date (after places are offered) will be added to the school’s waiting list in admission criteria order.

PARENTS MUST COMPLETE THE LOCAL AUTHORITY COMMON

APPLICATION FORM

ETHOS STATEMENT

“The ethos of this school is Catholic. The school was founded by the Catholic Church to provide education for children of Catholic families. The school is conducted by its Governing Body as part of the Catholic Church in accordance with its Trust Deed and Instrument of Government and seeks at all times to be a witness to Jesus Christ. We all ask parents applying for a place here to affect the right of parents who are not of the faith of this school to apply for and be considered for a place here

NOTE

Where an application is made for a reception place for a child who does not reach compulsory school age (compulsory school age = the beginning of the term following 5^th birthday) by 31^st August 2010, it is possible to defer entry until later in the school year. The parent, cannot, of course defer entry beyond the beginning of the term after the child’s fifth birthday. However, this provision is possible only within the academic year – the pupil must take up a place within the reception year. If parents wish to defer entry to a later school year, they must re-apply during the appropriate admissions round.

St Columba’s Catholic Primary School

Nursery Admission Policy

Applying for a nursery place at St Columba’s Catholic Primary School.

For 2010/11 applications the following procedures apply:

The nursery application form, available from the school should be completed and submitted to the school.

Some parents/carers may already have asked for their child’s name to be placed on an “interested” list. This, however, is not a formal application. Parents/carers must apply during the stated period.

The school will inform you by letter of the outcome of your application:

Where a place can be offered, the letter will give a start date.
Where a place cannot be offered, names may be kept on a waiting list in line with the below criteria and if places become available will be offered from the waiting list. There is no right of appeal. Parents/carers may wish to consider other Knowsley school nursery classes in the area with a place available.

Please note that any offer of a nursery place is subject to parents/carers providing proof documents of information given on the form

Nursery Policy

Priority will be given in the following order:

Children who are in the care of the Local Authority (see note 1)

Children aged 4 with an older brother or sister expected to be attending that nursery class or primary school at the time of the younger child’s admission (see note 2)

2. Baptised Catholic Children

Other children aged 4 (see note 2)
Children aged 3 with an older brother or sister expected to be attending that nursery class or primary school at the time of the younger child’s admission (see note 3)
Other children aged 3 (see note 3)

Where there are more children in any one category than places remaining, the following tie-break will be used:

a) Knowsley resident children, with the oldest child having highest priority. Where more than one child has the same birth-date, those living nearest the school, as measured in a straight line, by the computerised measuring system employed by the Local Authority, will have priority. Where a further tie-break is necessary, random selection will be used.

b) Children resident in other boroughs as stated in (a).

Note 1 Children who are in the care of the Local Authority at the time of the closing date for applications.

Note 2 “Children aged 4” is defined as children who will have reached the age of 4 by 31^st August at the end of the school year for which they are applying for a nursery place (i.e. they are in the year previous to admission to reception class.)

Note 3 “Children aged 3” is defined as children who will have reached the age of 3 by 31^st August at the end of the school year for which they are applying for a nursery place (i.e. they are 2 years previous to admission to reception class.)

Disability Discrimination Act Applicants who have a disability will be considered no less favourably than other candidates in the allocation of places. Schools may make reasonable adjustments to ensure that pupils are not at a substantial disadvantage.

ETHOS STATEMENT

Levy

Parents have been fully supportive of the system

of raising funds for the maintenance of our

Catholic schools. Every half-term we have a

disco to raise funds to support this.

Philosophy and Ethos

It is our Faith which gives ultimate meaning and purpose to all of the school’s activities. We are concerned to develop the academic, social, physical, moral and spiritual activities of our children within the family of the school community. We try to see each child as an individual and aim to match our expectations to their needs and abilities.

Religious Education

This is a Catholic school and the religious

education it provides is in conformity with the doctrines of the Catholic Church.

Religious Education is provided within the Timetable according to a

syllabus authorised by the Archbishop

of Liverpool. The aim of the school is to

interpret

human knowledge to its pupils in the light of the Gospels, with the school community contributing to the spiritual and moral formation of the pupils, as well as to their intellectual and physical development.

Parents of children who are not Catholic may request withdrawal from

R.E. lessons and Services.

The Religious syllabus is called “Here I Am”. This is in use in all

Catholic Primary schools in the Archdiocese.

Consultation with Parents

Parents are invited to meet the Headteacher, Parent

Mentor and Class Teacher prior to the child’s

admission. Arrangements are made for Parents’

Evenings during the year. Invitations are

extended to parents to attend events during the year such as Open Days, School Plays and Concerts, Class and School Masses, Sports Days

and Organised Games.

The Headteacher is happy to see parents regarding

their child.

Similarly, all the staff are pleased to see parents but, in the interests of the safety and security of children and adults on the school site, parents are asked to make an appointment through the Headteacher. If an urgent

matter arises and a parent wishes to see a Class Teacher, they should first

contact the Headteacher when arriving at the school.

Security

To ensure the security of all those on the school site, parents and visitors are reminded that they should not go directly to classes but should always report to Reception via the main entrance.

Reports

Written reports are issued to parents in the Summer term.

School Uniform

It is a compulsory requirement that children wear the agreed uniform.

This can be purchased from the School Office and is of a quality and from a supplier

approved by the School Governors.

This is:

· Black shoes (no trainers)

· Pale Blue Polo Shirt with school badge

· Maroon sweatshirt with school badge

· Girls may wear white, grey, or school-colour burgundy socks

· Grey Trousers

· Grey skirt or grey slip

· PE/Games kit, i.e. maroon shorts, maroon/blue top.

· Cardigan (Optional)

· In Summer girls may wear any pink check dress and plain white school shoes

All uniform, other than summer dresses, is ordered on a form available in the school

office.

Parents who have difficulty in meeting these requirements should speak in confidence to the Headteacher

St Columba’s Catholic Primary School

DETERMINED

Admission Policy and Arrangements for 2010-2011

1 St Columba’s is a Catholic Primary School situated in the Archdiocese of Liverpool and is maintained by the Knowsley Local Authority.

2. The Governing Body of the school is responsible for determining and administering the policy relating to the admission of pupils to the school. It is guided in that responsibility by:

· the requirements of the law

· the advice of the Archdiocesan Trustees on the nature and purpose of its duties

· its duty towards the school and the Catholic community it serves

· the Catholic character of the school and its Mission Statement

· recognition of the Parish boundary

3. The school serves in the first instance baptised Catholic children living in the Parish of St Columba’s.

5. Parents must complete the Local Authority application form. Parents who wish their application to this Catholic school to be considered against the priority faith criteria should also complete the supplementary form. If the school is oversubscribed, failure to complete the supplementary form may result in your application for a place in this school being considered against lower priority criteria, as the Governing Body will have no information upon which to assess the application on the basis of the applicant’s baptism and/or membership of a faith community. Both forms should be returned to the school no later than Monday 30 November 2009.

Notes

The Governing Body has delegated responsibility for determining admissions to its Admissions Committee which will consider all applications made in accordance with the criteria set out over.

Pupils who are admitted to the school will enter the reception class September 2010.

As required by the law the Governing Body will not admit more than 30 pupils to any one reception or infant class.

St Columba’s Catholic Primary School