Our Relationship with You
It is essential that parents/carers and teachers work together if children are to achieve their best. Home and school both have their part to play in the education of our children and it is important that this partnership should be close and harmonious.
The school operates an open-door policy and staff can usually be seen with very little delay or formality. A suitable time before or after school can be agreed by talking to the relevant member of staff or telephoning/emailing the school to arrange a meeting.
Formal parent/carer consultation evenings, at which you may discuss your child’s progress with their class teacher, take place in the Autumn and Spring terms. A written report on your child’s progress is sent home in the Summer term. Twice a year there will be a brief progress report predicting what your child is on track to achieve by the end of the year.
At the start of each academic year, parents/carers will be invited to attend a Forum which will provide parents/carers with the opportunity to meet their child’s new class teaching team and to familiarise themselves with the class arrangements for the year.
Parents/carers are very welcome in school and we are delighted that many assist us regularly by, for example, volunteering to help with individual reading, art and technology lessons or accompanying children on school trips.
A strong partnership between Home and School is essential to fully support pupils in every aspect of school life. Parents/carers and teachers both have a part to play in the education of children and by close communication and co-operation, we can work together to give children the best chance of achieving their full potential.
Homework
Each term, parents/carers receive a Curriculum booklet outlining the programmes of work to be studied by their child. This booklet also outlines the patterns of set homework that children will be expected to undertake during the term, so that parents/carers are aware of our expectations. Teachers try to ensure that homework instructions and expectations are made clear to both children and parents/carers and that amounts of set homework are by no means over-burdening for pupils. However, parents/carers should be aware that the amount of set homework will increase as children progress through the school. All children are encouraged to undertake extension work on a voluntary basis to supplement work covered at school.
Parents/carers are requested to:
- take an active interest in their child’s homework
- give appropriate advice and assistance
- encourage good standards in presentation
- ensure adequate time is set aside for regular homework in a quiet uninterrupted space
- ensure tasks are completed in a suitable environment where pupils can work independently or together with a parent/carer
- show that they value the homework set and support the school in explaining to children how it can help them learn
- ensure work is returned to school on time
- ensure the home school diary is filled in correctly and signed weekly
- give praise for their child’s efforts
Staff will be pleased to discuss any concerns arising from a child’s set homework. If requested, teachers willingly give guidance on activities children may do during the school holidays. However, staff will not set homework tasks for children whose parents/carers take them out of school for family holidays during term time. A copy of the Homework policy is available on the website.
Home School Diary
Each child has a home school diary in which to write down their weekly reading and times tables. It is a two-way means of communication that may be used by teachers or parents/carers to write messages. Parents/carers are requested to check their child’s diary daily and to sign it each week. Parents/carers may also wish to send messages into school via the home school diary. Please ensure when this happens, your child shows the relevant teacher, as diaries in school are generally only checked once each week. For something more personal or that you do not wish your child to read, please email our Admin Team (admin@oaklands-jun.wokingham.sch.uk) or send in a letter to the teacher inside a sealed envelope.
Our Expectations of Pupil Behaviour
We believe children achieve their best in school when they are taught in a lively and friendly atmosphere within an orderly and well-structured environment.
By developing their self-discipline, based on a sense of responsibility and care for others, rather than a fear of punishment, pupils learn their duties and obligations towards others.
On the rare occasions when a child misbehaves, teachers exercise the kind of control that would be administered by a caring and responsible parent/carer. Punishment, where necessary, will be by a variety of sanctions and withdrawal of privileges. Parents/carers will be notified if problems are of a particularly serious or persistent nature. However, we prefer to encourage good behaviour by many positive rewards.
Our school rules are based on common sense and are communicated to the children orally in class and through assemblies at intervals during the school year as appropriate. Parents/carers are notified of major changes by letter.
The school has Behaviour and Anti-Bullying policies and a Behaviour Statement which are all under our School Policies section of our website.