This section includes information on enrolment, attendance, school data, uniform and school routines. To get a flavour of life at Andreas school, follow and like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/localvillageschool/ or Instagram at AndreasPrimarySchool
ENROLMENT & ADMISSION
The first step to enrolling your son or daughter is to telephone the school administrator to make an appointment to come and have a look around. We want you to feel happy and secure in the knowledge that we will take the best care of your child and that, as a school, we make every effort to ensure that the children receive the best education and pastoral care.
Following your visit and our discussion, you will then be in a position to complete an admission form. Numbers of children starting school are submitted to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture in January before the September start date . These numbers determine staffing so PLEASE REGISTER YOUR CHILD NO LATER THAN THE JANUARY OF THE YEAR THEY ARE DUE TO START. Thank you.
If you are not resident in our catchment area you can get an out of catchment request which can be approved by the headteacher. Contact school for further details.
If your child is to enter the Foundation Stage we will contact you and invite your son or daughter to spend some time with us in school. There will also be an opportunity for you to meet the class teacher and the Headteacher for a more practical discussion on getting your child ready for school. We run weekly Pop in and Play sessions for our pre school children before they are due to start so if your child is due to attend, feel free to contact us for more information.
If your child is transferring from another school, it is generally best that following a short visit he or she start as soon as it is practicable.
We run a breakfast club between 8 a.m. and 9.10 a.m and have access to the Little Bears after school club. Just ask us for more details if you require this provision.
ATTENDANCE
Section 29 of the Education Act 2001 states, “It is a parent’s responsibility to ensure their child attends school regularly and punctually. Failure to do so, could result in legal proceedings against you.” The attendance of children at school is compulsory from the term after a child’s 5th birthday. Failure to attend can lead to prosecution and a court appearance. We would be grateful if everyone would follow these parental obligations. If your child is still 4 when they start school and you feel full days would be too much for them initially, please let us know and we can organise a period of part time attendance in order to support your child's transition to school.
ABSENCE
If your child is absent for any reason, please ring the school office giving a reason for the absence. Preferably, please telephone as soon as you know your child will not be attending school that day. It is also helpful if, on your child’s return to school, you send a note in to school to explain the absence.
THE SCHOOL DAY
Daily Routine
8.00 am - Breakfast club opens
9.10 am – Children go to their classrooms.
10.30 am – Mid morning break (15 minutes)
12 noon – 1 p.m. - Lunch break
2.15 pm – Afternoon break (15 minutes - unless it's a beautiful day and we may extend it!)
3.45 pm – Home time
TUCK 'n TOAST - Every Friday, Year 6 run a tuck shop. For 30p your child can buy something from the shop or a piece of toast.
ALLERGIES
We have some children in school who have severe allergies. Current advice is not to ban any items from school as this can lead to a dangerous complacency so we ask that you let us know if your child will have nuts and/or dairy in their lunch or as a snack. A sticker on the lunch/snack box indicating its' contents is really helpful and allows us to plan ahead and keep everyone safe. Alternatively, please let the School Administrator know via email or a phone call. Thank you.
BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS
We try to ensure that a member of staff is on the playground from 9 a.m. However, in our small team it is not impossible that we are all busy and are therefore unable to do this. If there isn't a member of staff outside and you need help or wish to speak to someone please don't hesitate to come in to school.
EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS
It is extremely important that you keep the school informed of any changes in home or emergency contact numbers. Changes of address and other details should also be advised as soon as possible.
SCHOOL UNIFORM
We would like all children to wear the school uniform, including shoes, because it gives us a sense of identity and belonging. Our uniform is practical and simple. A blue sweatshirt, jumper or cardigan with the logo on, trousers or skirts in grey or black and dark shoes that are comfortable and sensible. Children run around a lot at play times so heels must not be worn. Children can wear white polo shirts and summer dresses which are available in a variety of colours.
A suitable PE kit must be worn for PE. This means shorts, t shirt and pumps. It is also advisable to provide warm clothing such as a tracksuit for winter as we like the children to be outdoors as much as possible. The correct swimming attire must be used for swimming or your child will not be allowed to swim. All children with long hair must wear a swimming cap. Jewellery is not allowed, this includes watches, earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Swimming shorts/ baggy swim wear are also not allowed.
Your child will also be asked to bring in old clothing on their forest school days. Your child's class teacher will let them know when this is.
Children also need a change of footwear so they can access the field at playtimes. They can either have slippers for indoors or another pair of shoes/wellies just for outdoors.
You will be informed before admission of your children’s ‘House’ in order that you can purchase the correct colour T shirt.
Please note that there are a number of optional items such as book bags which are also available for you to purchase if you wish, please ask our administrator for further details.
All items of school uniform are available from Promenade Shirts and Embroidery Ltd, Queen’s Promenade, in Douglas.
Please ensure every item, including PE bags, is clearly and securely named.
Second hand uniform is displayed the last week of each term for you to purchase items. We welcome donations of uniform no longer required. Profits go to school funds.
PRACTICAL MATTERS
If your child wishes to have a drink of milk in the morning, it costs 26p per third from September 2023 which needs to be paid half termly in advance so we can advise IOM creameries for the delivery. No refunds are given.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD HAS A WATER BOTTLE, WHICH IS NAMED, AND BROUGHT IN EVERYDAY - we cannot provide cups.
Please note that contact to school should be by phone or email. SMS is only used for school to send out messages - it is not for correspondence. If your child is absent or going to be late please inform school by phone or email.
Snow
In the event of heavy snow, or other extreme weather, it may be necessary for the Minister to close schools. The policy covering such emergency closures of schools is reviewed each year by the Department of Education Sport and Culture. Currently, if the decision is made to close a school, parents will be informed, by way of an announcement on Manx Radio and other local radio stations and/or by telephone, of the necessity to collect children from school. Such a decision will not be made lightly, and will be made solely out of considerations relating to the safety of children and for no other reason.
At such times, we would be grateful if parents would listen to Manx Radio and not ring the school, so that telephone lines can be kept open to enable staff to ring out. An “urgent” message will also be posted on the schools website. https://andreas.sch.im. A message will also be posted on our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pg/localvillageschool/.
BUSES
Some of the children attending Andreas School travel to school using the bus service provided by Isle of Man Department of Infrastructure. Staff endeavour to ensure that children are ready to travel on the correct bus at the end of each day. However, the decision to have your child use the buses to travel to and from school is yours. Apart from the driver of the bus, there is no other member of staff on board and thus journeys are unsupervised. Children who travel by bus continue to be the responsibility of their parents and remain under their care until they arrive at school and are again your responsibility as soon as they leave school premises at the end of the day.
MEDICAL SUPERVISION
There is a School Nurse who comes to school periodically to work with the staff and children. However, her expertise is sought in many instances and she can offer advice, support and help, not only to the children and staff, but also to parents. She is happy to discuss matters of a confidential nature with parents at a mutually convenient time and can be contacted through the School Office.
ROAD SAFETY
Please teach your child to cross with John our crossing patrol officer.
The Road Safety Team, from the Department of Infrastructure, visits the school occasionally to work with the children and encourage general road safety.
CYCLING
Cycling now begins in year 4 with level 1 training and level 2 training in year 5. If children pass these levels they can cycle to school provided parents are happy.
LOST/MISLAID PROPERTY
Parents are advised that if children bring valuable property to school, neither the Department of Education, Sport and Culture nor the staff at school will be responsible for any loss or damage to such property. Mobile phones must be handed in to the class teacher at the start of every day.
SAFEGUARDING
The Headteacher is responsible for implementing safeguarding procedures. However, the protection and welfare of children should be of concern to us all and therefore, if a teacher or third party has any concern about a child, they have a duty of care to report their concerns so that they can be investigated appropriately in accordance with the Child Protection Procedures adopted by the Department of Education, Sport and Culture and therefore by the school. In certain circumstances it may be necessary to report a situation to the Department of Social Services.