Safeguarding:
At Greatstone Primary School, we are committed to ensuring the welfare and safety of all the children in our school. We believe that children have the right to learn in an environment that is safe, caring, inclusive and supportive. This includes being protected from all types of abuse, in both the children’s physical and virtual environments. Online Safety is an important aspect of safeguarding our children; you can find more information about this in our Online Safety Policy.
Adults in our school recognise when children need additional support and are confident in applying our safeguarding procedures. The children are given the opportunity to learn about how to be safe through their curriculum and through daily interactions with adults and children.
The best interests of the children will always be our priority. As such, there are times we will need to record, monitor and share information with other agencies. More information and our policies relating to safeguarding can be found on our policy page.
If you are ever concerned about the safety or wellbeing of someone at our school, please ask at the office to speak to our Safeguarding Lead;
Hannah Ferris – Safeguarding and Pastoral Director (spd@lightyear.kent.sch.uk)
or one of the Deputy Safeguarding Leads;
Jaclyn Kay – Head of School (kayj@greatstoneschool.co.uk)
Fiona Roberts – Deputy Headteacher (robertsf@greatstoneschool.co.uk)
Matt Rawling – Executive Headteacher (exechead@lightyear.kent.sch.uk)
Louise Summers – Inclusion Director (inclusion@lightyear.kent.sch.uk)
Kate Bovingdon – Early Years Lead (bovingdonk@greatstoneschool.co.uk)
If you believe a child is at risk of imminent harm, call the Integrated Front Door on 03000 411 111 (outside office hours – 03000 419 191) or the Police on 999.
Attendance
At Greatstone Primary School, we recognise the positive link between regular attendance, punctuality and high academic achievement. We want all of our children to achieve their full academic potential and we believe this is only possible if they attend school regularly and on time. We actively promote 100% attendance for all our children.
Going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education. Pupils learn new things at school every day – missing school simply puts them behind and can hinder their life chances. Children with good school attendance generally;
- make better progress, both socially and academically,
- find it easier to follow school routines,
- have an easier transfer to secondary school.
Illness and School Absence
If your child is absent for any reason, it is essential that you inform the school. If your child is absent due to illness, please contact the school office on 01797 363916 between 8.30am and 9.30am, explaining why they will not be with us. Please call us on each day of your child’s absence.
Should your child have a sickness bug, they should not come into school until 48 hours after their last symptom to reduce the risk of spreading the illness.
If you have not informed us of your child’s absence, we have to contact you as part of our safeguarding process.
Medical appointments
If your child has a medical appointment coming up, please notify us in advance with a copy of their appointment confirmation. You can email this to office@greatstoneschool.co.uk.
If your child is going to be in late after an appointment, we ask that you inform us as to whether your child will need a school dinner.
Punctuality
Being on time to school every day is really important for your child. Not only is it important for your child to begin their learning with the rest of their class, but it is also vital for your child to be in school to meet and greet their peers and teachers and to settle into their school day effectively. Being late makes this transition into school difficult for many children.
The gates are open to pupils at 8.45am and children are expected to be sitting in their classrooms ready for registration at 9.00am, whereby the gates will be closed. All pupils that arrive late (after 9.00am) must report, with their parent, to the school office where the reason for lateness is recorded.
Further information regarding school attendance can be found in out Attendance Policy.