Summer School 2021
Information for Parents
1. Why a Summer School?
We believe many children have missed out significantly over recent months and we believe we can help by providing two weeks of catch-up, consolidation and progress especially in the core subjects of English and Mathematics. Our 2021 Summer School is not primarily a “holiday club” or glorified child-care! Instead, we will be focusing on real work and, although children will have lots of fun and enjoyment, we hope that at the end of their time with us (be it one or two weeks) they will have begun to make up for lost time.
2. When does Summer School happen?
Summer School runs from Monday 9th to Friday 20th August, from 9 am to 3 pm (weekdays only).
3. What will happen during Summer School?
Children will be divided into two groups, younger and older. Each class will be led by a teacher and a teaching assistant. Mornings will be busy with English and Maths. Afternoons will be more informal but still purposeful, with a combination of topic work, creativity and physical activities. Children will remain on the school site for the whole of their time at Summer School unless parents are advised otherwise in advance (e.g., mini trips or outings might be possible).
Teachers will spend some time on children’s first morning carrying out assessment in English and Maths and this will inform planning for each child for their time at Summer School.
4. What about Coronavirus?
Things may have eased up recently, but we still maintain sensible precautions. IGS: Durham has a Coronavirus Policy, which can be found on the school website (www.igsdurham.com). Two “bubbles” will be established (at least during week one – we understand that that will not be necessary from 16th August) and social distancing encouraged as much as is reasonably possible in a school setting. Parents and others will not be able to enter the building other than by prior arrangement. Regular cleaning with recommended cleaning products will be carried out, and regular hand-washing insisted upon.
5. Drop-off and Collection
Parents may drop children off between 8.40 and 8.55 am. We have agreed with the council that we may issue parents with a parking permit, which provides free parking along Claypath (this is attached together with a map showing the area covered). Most parents, however, will prefer to use the loading bays directly opposite the school which are available to parents, again by agreement with the council, as long as the 5-minute rule is observed, which should be easily achievable. Children will be met by a member of staff at the gates at the end of the side passage and escorted safely into school. Parents are asked not to accompany children into school at that point.
Collection is from 3 pm. Younger children (Year 3 and younger) may be collected at 3 pm, older children at 3.05 pm. This gap has been shown to be effective in easing any congestion which might otherwise occur. Children will be supervised in the main hall and parents should collect them from the main church doors (a few yards further up Claypath). Again, the 5-minute rule should be observed.
6. Safeguarding & Health and Safety
IGS: Durham has a robust safeguarding culture, and this is reflected in the way we propose to operate the Summer School. All staff will have the appropriate clearance and training.
At least two trained fire marshals, trained first aiders and an experienced School Nurse will be on site at all times. Parents must let the school know of any conditions or allergies before the Summer School begins, and we will make contact to discuss specific requirements.
Parents are asked to let the school know if a child is being kept off school. If a child is not present in school by 10 am, and we have not been informed of any reason for absence, a courtesy call will be made.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead at IGS: Durham is Mr C J Gray (Principal) and if parents have any concerns they could contact him on 07984 619739. If anyone has a safeguarding concern about Mr Gray, they should contact Professor James Tooley, Chairman of Directors, on 07946 403113.
7. Lunches
Children should bring a packed lunch every day. This should be healthy and we would ask you not to bring sweets, chocolate or fizzy drinks. In particular, please note that all food brought in to school must be NUT-FREE and SEED-FREE. Teachers will check lunches daily to ensure that this last point is observed, as we will have children in school with related allergies.
8. Rules and Expectations
These are the principles and rules we will adopt, and parents are asked to support them.
a) The fact that this is Summer School does not mean the normal standards of school life will be relaxed. Courtesy, good manners, respect for others and for property, will be insisted upon. For example, children will stand up when an adult enters the room, be encouraged to greet others politely etc.
b) The norm will be silent working (children may speak if and when invited to do so by the teacher, either individually or in groups). There are clearly exceptions in this respect for very young children and in afternoon activities which may be more informal. But the general rule is calm, orderly, well-managed classrooms in which real learning is taking place.
c) As last year, we again suspect that children will have had their fill of screens and computers over recent months, so have decided that the Summer School 2021 will a computer-free zone. That does not mean that teachers may not use a computer with a projector at times.
d) Hand-writing is extremely important and often neglected. A major emphasis will be placed on neat hand-writing and presentation. Each child will receive an exercise book at the start of the week and a prize will be awarded in each class for the neatest book at the end of the two weeks. This exercise book will be used for all subjects. Books will not normally go home apart from at the end of the child’s time at Summer School.
e) To encourage neat work and presentation, work sheets will be kept to an absolute minimum. Children will be encouraged to set out questions, sums etc. neatly in their books, not just “fill in the blanks”.
f) Clearly pupils will not be wearing uniform. Dress should be suitable, modest and fit for purpose. As children will have PE several times a week, they should come dressed in such a way that they can do physical activity without the need for changing.
g) Children are encouraged not to bring mobile phones in to school. If they must do so, phones must be handed in at the start of the day and collected at the end of the day and they will not be allowed to be used between those times. Staff mobile phones must be switched off during the day and left in the staff room. Secure storage is available if required. Mr Gray’s phone remains the main contact number for the school, so he will carry it with him at all times and will always be contactable.
h) Each child will have his/her own named water bottle and these must be kept at the water station in each classroom. No child will be allowed to have their bottle on their desk during lessons.
i) Chewing gum is absolutely forbidden and if a child is found to be chewing gum, his/her parents might be asked for a contribution to the likely cleaning costs.
9. Behaviour
In a positive atmosphere, most children will behave well. At times a child might misbehave, and in such circumstances the following principles and steps will apply.
· At all times, staff will have the full support of the Principal in dealing with poor behaviour.
· Teachers are experienced in dealing with minor issues (chattiness, distraction of others, calling out without hand up etc.).
· Where such behaviour becomes excessive, or reminders are ineffective, the child will be referred to the Principal. In a Summer School context, we obviously cannot use the full range of sanctions (detentions, lines etc.) and we do not want staff to be occupied in dealing with individual children at the expense of others or of their limited free time (e.g., by keeping children in at breaktime).
· Poor behaviour will not be allowed to affect the learning or enjoyment of other children, or indeed of the staff. Therefore, we will have a clear and firm approach – if a child is sent to the Principal and warned about his/her behaviour and then fails to respond, parents will be contacted, asked to encourage the child to improve and told about the consequences if that does not happen.
· If an immediate improvement does not follow, parents will be asked to collect the child, who will be excluded from the Summer School. The school is not obliged to provide any refund of fees paid.
10. Administration of Summer School
The contact for administrative matters in relation to Summer School is Mrs Louise Edwards who can be emailed at admin@igsdurham.com.
11. Payment
Payment must be made in full and in advance to the following:
Bank Sort Code: 40-02-01
Account Number: 41410431
Account name: The Education Partnership (UK) Ltd