School starts at 9.00am and finishes at 3.30pm.
Please inform the school by telephone if your child is ill or absent for any other reason.
If you do not let us know when and why your child is absent then we are obliged to record it as an unauthorised absence.
Please do not take your holidays during the school term times. If you have to take your child out of school during term time please apply to the secretary for a permission form. The Headteacher is no longer able to approve leave for pupils unless there are exceptional circumstances.
All visitors and staff are requested to sign in.
We have entrance security and Assa one-way locks fitted on to school doors.
Pupils are closely supervised at all times.
The pupils are all taught about keeping safe and we help them to develop appropriate independence skills.
Thank you for your donations towards the costs of cookery, tuck etc. Each class will let you know the details of their requirements.
We are also pleased to receive the voluntary contributions towards the cost of educational day trips and holidays. These activities reinforce many of the skills taught in school in a practical manner.
No pupil will be disadvantaged because of parents’ inability to pay, but some activities may not be able to continue if insufficient funds are raised.
Pupils may wear any clothes to school provided they are suitable for the activities planned on the timetable. Class staff will let you know what is required.
We do have a school uniform which you may wish to purchase. It is available here.
Please label your child’s clothes and provide a spare set in case of accidents if necessary.
Class staff will let you know the details of PE kit required and when it is needed in school. We do encourage the consolidation of self-help skills through changing for PE and can support pupils to practise personal care and hygiene routines following PE lessons in our changing room facilities here. If preferred, you can send your child into school in their PE kit on PE days.
All pupils need at least shorts or jogging bottoms, a polo or t-shirt, a sweater or hoodie if preferred and pumps or trainers if appropriate.
A swimming kit is also needed if your child accesses the hydrotherapy pool as part of their physiotherapy plan, or the leisure centre for swimming lessons.
In addition, we ask that all pupils have a waterproof trousers, jacket and Wellington boots in school to enable outdoor sessions whatever the weather.
Please ensure that during summer, pupils have sun cream and a sun hat in school.
We take photographs of the pupils on a regular basis, usually as part of their curricular activities. Occasionally photos will be used to publicise events at the school and may involve the press.
We ask for photo and name sharing consent when your child starts school here. If your consent changes, please let the school office know.
The Governors have delegated the day to day responsibility for discipline within the school to the Headteacher, in line with policies issued by the LA (Local Authority) and DCSF (Department for Children.)
We adopt the Proact Scipr UK® philosophy and approach to positive behaviour support.
The positive and proactive approach in PROACT-SCIPr-UK® philosophy strives to understand and meet people’s unique behaviours, needs and preferences to provide an independent and fulfilling life for individuals with learning disabilities, Autism and behaviours that challenge.
It defines how we work with our pupils to ensure they have the best experiences in daily life activities and quality interactions with others.
Sometimes, a pupil might feel a need to use behaviours that challenge to communicate their needs and emotions. The proactive approach identifies distress early on, and our teams use positive behaviour support strategies to respond positively in a non-restrictive way.
Supportive physical interventions are used only when the safety of the pupil and those around them are concerned. The proactive approach is based on evidence and values following human rights, embracing the whole-person approach to caring for people with additional support needs.
There are multi-component aspects of PROACT-SCIPr-UK® methodology:
Positive Behaviour Support
Whole-person Approach
PROACT-SCIPr-UK® methodology has shown a multitude of proven benefits for people with complex needs and behaviours that challenge, including improved well-being and active social engagement for every individual in the community. By helping people engage in activities they love, we see a reduction in behaviour that challenge.
Benefits include:
Reducing physical interventions with a positive approach involves implementing strategies and techniques that promote positive reinforcement, good communication, and prevention to minimise the need to use physical intervention. The primary purpose is to create a safe and nurturing environment by promoting well-being, dignity and respect for every individual in need.
Your child may have an individual behaviour plan which class staff will share with you. This will state any appropriate physical interventions and if and when these may be used. Proactive strategies are prioritised and the Proact Scipr UK philosophy states that at least 70% of support strategies should be proactive (prevention), up to 20% may be active (in-the-moment) strategies and only up to 10% may be reactive strategies (such as physical interventions).
If you would like to talk through behaviour management with class staff, the behaviour team will be happy to provide a listening ear and support. We can also request further advice through the educational psychology service and the health service.
If the school needs to close due to adverse weather we will endeavour to send all parents and transport staff a text message. Please ensure we have up to date mobile phone numbers in the office.
If we need to close during the school day we will ensure that all parents are contacted so please make sure you can be contacted at all times.
School closures will also be announced on
https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/education/schools/school-closures/school-closures.aspx
Alfreton Park School
Alfreton Park
Wingfield Road
Alfreton
Derbyshire
DE55 7AL
T: 01773 483330