The Farmhouse School Staff

Useful Numbers

The Farmhouse Office          01444-893300

Headmistress                        01444-893300

The Nursery                           01444-893304

Pre-Nursery                           01444-893303

Main College Office              01444-893000

Junior School Office             01444-893200

Uniform Shop                        01444-893080

The Farmhouse Website

The information in this handbook is available on our website, along with much more.  There are reports and photographs of our children’s work and activities.  It is worth regularly accessing just to see what we have been up to!  Our website address is:  www.ardingly.com

Pre-Nursery and Nursery session options

The Pre-Prep is open five days a week during school term time.

Morning only	8.45 a.m. – 12.00 noon
Morning + Lunch	8.45 a.m. – 12.45 p.m.
Lunch + Afternoon	12.00 noon – 3.15 p.m.
Afternoon only	12.45 p.m. – 3.15 p.m.
Full Day	8.45 a.m. – 3.15 p.m.

Minimum admission requirement:

Pre-Nursery – two sessions per week

Nursery – four sessions per week

Arriving and leaving

If someone other than parents are collecting your child, please sign the sheet on the Nursery notice board.  If you are going to be unexpectedly late, please telephone the school office or the nursery.

The extended day

Before School Club – is available for any child from 8.00 a.m. in the Friends’ Barn.  If you arrive in the playground before 8.45 and need to leave your child on the premises please do not leave them unattended in the playground. We would ask that you take your child to the Friends’ Barn.

After School Club – is available from the end of the school day to 4.30 p.m.  This is an opportunity for children to play and relax.  Children will be given a drink and snack.  There will be a fee for this provision.

Things I need to provide

·      a named bag of spare clothes in case of accidents

·      named Wellington boots

·      a small blanket (if they stay for rest time after lunch)

·      named coat with hook for hanging

·      named mittens (rather than gloves)

Available from the School Uniform Shop:

·      a green nylon painting apron, named and  with a hook

·      a summer and a winter hat

·      a named green school book bag

Swimming on Tuesday morning (Nursery only):

We encourage the children to dress and undress themselves so clothes that are the simpler the better are best. NO TIGHTS PLEASE. They will need to bring

·        their swimming bag hat (both available from the Uniform shop)

·        a costume

·        a large towel

·        arm bands (we will be keeping the arm bands in school so please ensure they are clearly named)

(Handy hints: a little talc in the hat helps to put it on; girl’s hair should be up; please use indelible ink to name hats)

PLEASE NAME ALL CLOTHING

Independence:

Children wear their own clothes to Nursery. Please send the children in simple clothes as we do encourage independence – dungaree buckles and belts can be VERY frustrating when you need the toilet at the last minute!

With regards to shoes – NO LACES please, Velcro is best.

Please do not send your child in the latest designer outfit, we cannot guarantee the state it may come home in as no matter how secure the apron, paint, glue, flour, sand or water always finds a way in!

While all children should ideally be toilet-trained before starting Nursery, accidents do sometimes happen. In the event of your child wetting or soiling him/herself during the school day a member of the Farmhouse staff will attend to him/her. We ask you provide a bag of spare clothes but at times we may need to dip into our school supply. Please wash and replace any clothes promptly.

Book bags:

We would ask that children bring in their bag each day. We are prepared to act as a post box for party invitations, etc and can supply lists of names for parties. On a Thursday they have the opportunity to exchange their library books.

Learning in the Nursery: a typical session

The curriculum is delivered through well planned play opportunities to enable children to practice ideas, skills and concepts, explore and make sense of the world, work with other children, negotiating, taking turns, trying out and making mistakes without fear of failure. The activities available will have been planned around a broad theme or topic. In the autumn we will begin with Nursery Rhymes.

The curriculum is divided into 6 broad areas of learning:

·        Personal, social and emotional development: encouraging caring, sharing, responsibility, getting on with others, respect for others, independence and a love of learning

·        Communication, language and literacy: including speaking and listening, taking turns and being an active listener, a love of books, word and rhyming games, pre writing skills to develop grip and muscle strength. (Please note - we use sounds NOT names of letters, lower case NOT capitals letters)

·        Mathematical development: learning and reciting number names, counting objects reliably, developing maths language (more, less, long, short), shapes…as with all the areas so much is learnt/taught through play, in this case games, rhymes, sand and water play

·        Knowledge and understanding of the world: the basis for future learning in science, history, geography, design technology, communication technology. Very hands on … exploring, manipulating, investigating, using the senses.

·        Physical development: developing both fine and gross motor control, manipulation, coordination and movement

·        Creative development: this includes art, dance, music and role play. It is about developing children’s imagination and creativity

A typical session:

The children self register finding their name and putting it on the tree.

Activities to promote each of the six areas will be on offer, some adult directed, others self chosen. These may include role play, a book corner with listening centre, the computer, puzzles, construction, small world painting, collage, cutting, a writing/drawing area, sand and water.

During the session there will be:

·     a break for water/milk and fruit

·     an outdoor session with a variety of equipment

·     a carpet session to share a story, sing songs and rhymes and exchange news.

There may also be a trip to the Barn for dance, music or physical activity. 

Snacks and meals:

Throughout the Farmhouse we have a healthy eating policy. The children are offered a drink of milk or water and a fruit snack during each session. Water is available throughout the day. The lunch menu consists of a hot meal and a pudding, often fruit or cheese and biscuits. It is supervised by members of the Pre-Nursery and Nursery staff in the Friends Barn. The termly menu is on display on the parents notice board in the Nursery cloakroom.

For special occasions, for example birthdays, parents often like to bring in a cake to share with the class. If your child has a particular dietary requirement or restrictions you may like to provide a number of treats your child can have in place of birthday cake.

Rest Time:

Children who stay for lunch and/or the afternoon session will have a rest period in a quiet room. It is an opportunity to be quiet and still, listen to recorded stories and share picture books with a supervising member of staff.

Everything we do has a purpose but above all we want the children to have a positive attitude to learning and experiences of school. We want to make it fun, where children feel safe and secure enough to take risks, in a safe and stimulating environment.

Separation can be a little difficult for some individuals. If you feel your child may have difficulties please come and talk to us. But be assured, for the majority it is just the moment, once you are out of sight (and ear shot) they soon become engrossed in some activity or another!

Trips:

As a rural school we often don our Wellington boots and explore the local environment. At times we may go a little further afield, taking advantage of the college minibuses. All staff who drive our minibuses have received full minibus training and you will be given advanced notice if we plan a trip.

Contact with Teachers

Useful things to know

If someone else is collecting your child please sign the sheets on the Nursery notice board. If you are going to be late please telephone to let us know. If you are picking up an older child from The Farmhouse, please collect your Nursery and Pre-Nursery children first.

Jewellery and watches are not permitted to be worn in school.

Although we do not permit toys in the Nursery (unless requested for a particular topic) we are aware that comforters and security items (blankets, cuddlies, etc) are often necessary in the early days to aid transition from home to school.

In the interests of safety, younger brothers and sisters should not be allowed on any apparatus whilst waiting in the school playground.

Children should not open the school gates.

We will seek re-imbursement for lost or damaged library books.

Your child's health

It is important that your child is fit and well when s/he comes to school.  If s/he has a high temperature then it is better for them to stay at home and recover. Please phone the school office if your child is absent.

We follow the guidance on infection produced by the Health Protection Agency.  The full version is displayed on the parents’ notice board, but included below are some of the most common ailments:

Diarrhoea and/or vomiting            48 hours from last episode of 

                                                         diarrhoea/vomiting

Flu                                                    Until recovered

Chicken pox                                    5 days from onset of rash

Warts and verrucae                        None

Molluscum contagiosum                None

Please notify us of any cases of infectious diseases.

All prescribed medicines coming into school must be handed to a member of staff for safe-keeping. The details will be recorded in the medicine book which provides a permanent record of when children have been given medicine. We are unable to administer any medication that is not prescribed by a doctor.

Should your child become unwell at school, you will be notified immediately and asked to collect him/her as soon as possible.  If we are unable to contact either parent, your child will be looked after by qualified medical staff in the College Medical Centre.

If your child bangs their head at school we will send home a letter informing you of the circumstances and what symptoms to look out for.

Please ensure that the school is notified of any medically endorsed allergies from which your child may suffer.

Sun Protection

We recommend P.20 as it provides all day protection.  We request that this is applied before children come into school.  Since some children have nut allergies, we do not allow suncreams with this ingredient in our school.  In sunny weather, the children wear their school sunhats when outside.

Special Educational Needs

Our aim is to identify pupils’ learning needs so that we may provide appropriate levels of challenge within the classroom.  Our specialist teacher will carry out assessments so that we may plan for each child’s differing needs in the most appropriate way. Parents will be kept fully informed.  For some children, extra help from Mrs Ricketts, our specialist teacher may be required.  Such lessons will incur an extra fee.

Expectations of Behaviour

Staff of The Farmhouse are committed to the idea that good, positive behaviour should be reinforced by praise and recognition. Reinforcement and clearly defined acceptable limits of behaviour, coupled with an emphasis on good manners, quickly establishes an excellent code of conduct.

Children are taught to care about each other, to take a responsibility for the feelings of others and to value their environment and resources not only in the world at large, but within The Farmhouse.

Our procedures are simple.  Normally an incident can be prevented by a quiet word or by diverting attention.  Occasionally a child may need to be temporarily removed from an activity until he/she is ready to join in with a more positive attitude.  On the very rare occurrence of a child biting or causing a physical mark on another child, a reprimand is given to the aggressor, an apology must be made and the parents of both children are informed.

Bullying

Our aim is to provide a supportive, caring and safe environment in which children may learn without fear of being bullied.  Behaviour that is deliberately hurtful and repeated over time will not be tolerated.  We have a strong P.S.H.E. curriculum (Personal, Social and Health Education), which encourages all children to reflect on behaviour and helps to develop social skills and strategies to deal with these experiences.

Health & Safety

Ardingly College is committed to promoting a safe and healthy environment for both children and staff

All staff recognize their duty to take care of their own health and safety and the health and safety of others affected by their actions.

Health and safety procedures are followed closely, according to College regulations.

We undertake to safeguard and promote children’s welfare

Equal Opportunities

Regardless of race, gender, attainment, special educational needs or language difficulties, we provide the education and opportunities that will help all children fulfil their potential and the aims of our school.

The Farmhouse Friends

The Farmhouse Friends is the parents' social committee for The Farmhouse School.  Our aim is to encourage parents to get to know each other and hopefully make new friends. The Farmhouse Friends is very informal and is composed of a committee of parents plus one member of staff. Usually at the beginning of each term they organise a coffee morning for parents after they have dropped their children at school, and there is a range of social events during the year. 

Some events are organised in conjunction with the Junior School and Senior School Friends.

They do not aim to make large sums of money but any surplus funds raised  are used to subsidise future events and to purchase any particular item requested for the School.  There is an AGM.

Parking

Only use the car park designated for Farmhouse Parents. Remember to manoeuvre with care as children will be around.  Parking is at the owners’ risk.

 Children should not open any school gates and should walk when in the car park area.

The School Prayer

Father in heaven hear my prayer

Keep me in thy loving care

Be my guide in all I do

Bless all those who love me too

Amen