FAQ
The school is deeply rooted in our local community, and most children and staff live within walking distance.
At Alexandra we welcome parents and carers into the school to support the learning of their child in partnership with our experienced staff.
We have a friendly atmosphere based on mutual respect where each family is made to feel very welcome. School will provide many opportunities to make lasting friendships with other children from the local community.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have a school uniform?
We expect all children to wear school uniform. This is a navy blue sweatshirt or navy blue cardigan worn with grey trousers or a navy skirt amd a yellow polo shirt/T-shirt. Sweatshirts and cardigans can be purchased from the school uniform shop PMG online. You can find the full uniform requirements here.
What if something gets lost?
Please make sure all clothing is clearly marked with your child’s name so that it can be returned if found. We collect lots of lost property each term. The lost property box is outside the school office. Unclaimed items are sent to a charity shop at the end of each term.
Can my child wear jewellery in school?
For safety reasons children should not wear any jewellery in school. However, they may wear a wrist watch and if your child has pierced ears, small studs may be worn. These will need to be removed for PE lessons and if your child goes swimming.
Tell me about PE
In Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, children come to school wearing their PE kit for PE days. Other year groups must bring a PE kit to wear, e.g. shorts or leggings and our school T shirts. Trainers or plimsolls are worn for outdoor games. We will respect special requests made for religious reasons. Please contact us if this applies to your child.
Is there any shade in the playground?
There is some shade in the playground. We recommend that during the hot weather your child brings a sun hat to wear in the playground and comes to school with sun cream applied.
What happens at lunchtime?
A school meal is available from ISS Catering. Please sign up and order your child’s food 2 weeks in advance. A copy of the menu is available for you to see online. All children of Reception, Years 1 and 2 are eligible for a free hot school lunch under the Universal Free meals scheme. Please follow the link to order your meals: http://www.feedinghungryminds.co.uk/ and tick the options you would like your children to have. Please remember each term.
Children in Year 3 upwards are required to pay for school meals unless entitled to Free school meals.
Can I get free school meals?
If you think that your child is entitled to free school meals, please speak to a member of staff in the office or go to the Royal Borough of Kingston Website.
Is drinking water available?
Water is available in the dining hall. Children are also permitted to bring water into school to drink in the classroom during the day. This water should be in a clear plastic container that has a securely fitting lid. It should be labelled clearly with your child’s name. Water bottles may not be taken into the playground unless it is very hot. We are a 'water only' school.
Attendance
We expect your child to attend school every day.
It is a parent’s legal responsibility to make sure your child gets a full time education when they reach compulsory school age. There may be an exceptional reason why your child has to miss school.
If your child needs time off, you must ask the school’s permission as far in advance as possible by completing a term time absence form available from the school office.
What should I do if my child is not well?
If your child is unwell then s/he should be kept at home. Please inform us via the Parentmail app giving details of your child's illness (eg fever, vomiting) or telephone the school on 0208 546 7176
IMPORTANT: After a bout of vomiting or diarrhoea, there MUST be a clear period of 48 hours at home, following a return to normal diet, before the child returns to school.
What happens if my child has an accident at school?
Unfortunately, sometimes children do have accidents or become unwell whilst they are at school and we need to call you. It can add to your child’s distress if we are unable to contact you. Please ensure that we have up to date contact telephone numbers for you and tell us straight away if these change.
Collecting children during the school day
Please make every effort to ensure that appointments are made out of school hours. However, if this is unavoidable, it is important that we have prior warning. Children should be collected from and returned to the school office where you can sign your child in and out.
What if my child needs medicine?
We are only permitted to administer medicine if your child requires it 4 times a day. Please hand to the office and complete a permission form.
What time does school start?
School begins at 8.50am - Children should be in the playground ready for doors to open up by 8.50 a.m. It is important to develop good habits by arriving punctually every day. Learning starts as soon as your child enters the classroom. If children arrive late they will miss valuable learning time.
In our Reception classes, the children begin the day at 9am with a phonics lesson.
In Year 1 at 9am there is a spelling, handwriting and sentence structure focus.
In Year 2 upwards the children are focused with an English or maths task.
Please make sure you bring your children to school in plenty of time for this important part of the day.
Also please ensure that children are collected promptly, this prevents children becoming confused and anxious at the end of the school day.
How can I help my child settle into school?
Bring your child to school on time. Arriving late can mean that your child misses important information about the lesson. It can also be embarrassing for your child and is disruptive for the class.
What else can I do?
Please ensure that you attend parent/teacher consultation days and special events in school; help out with fund raising; offer to go on school trips; notify us of absences; read all the letters / Parentmails that your child brings home; support your child with homework; read together; give praise and encouragement. The whole school have been learning about growth mindsets together, to help us to create the right learning culture in our school. You can find details of this on our school website under the LEARNING tab. There are a number of videos and links to resources we would love you to access. Visit the Parents & Carers section of the Alexandra website.
Change in Circumstances
It is important that staff is aware of any events or changes in circumstances that might affect a child's well-being or progress (e.g. the separation of parents, birth of a sibling, bereavement). Parents/carers are welcome to discuss problems/changes at home with the class teacher.
What happens at the end of the day?
School finishes at 3.25 p.m. Children in Nursery, Reception, Years 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 must be collected by a known adult. Please let us know if someone different from usual is collecting your child. Our school gates are closed promptly at 3.35pm.
We have children from after school club and various sports clubs that need to be on the playground as soon as possible. These clubs cannot start outdoors until the gates are locked and a delay disrupts the running of the clubs.
If you would like your child in Yr5/6 to walk home alone please contact the school office to fill out the required forms.
Can I play football in the playground?
The ball court is unsupervised both before and after school. Please do not allow your children to play football/ ball games. There have been incidences of children getting hurt.
The ball court is open during playtimes and lunchtimes when there is an adult available to supervise.
Celebrating birthdays
Do not bring in any sweets or cakes to school to celebrate your child’s birthday. We suggest you donate a book to your child’s class - you could ask the teacher for a suggestion.
Medicines
Only medicines prescribed by a doctor with a named label and clear instructions can be administered by school staff. Medication should be handed to the School Office and a form must be completed and handed into the school office.
Medical Conditions
It is imperative that school is informed of any medical conditions affecting your child such as asthma, allergies etc. Photographs of all children with allergies are held in the classrooms, school office and lunchtime supervisors’ cupboard. Prescribed medication i.e. inhalers, epipens etc. are kept in the school office.
Stationery in school
Stationery in School
Although your child’s class teacher can provide stationery items such as handwriting pens, pencils, rulers etc., most children in Key Stage 2 bring in their own stationery for use in the classroom. We recommend this where possible because it encourages children to develop greater responsibility for their belongings as they grow. However, because of the wide range of items that can be brought into school and because of a lack of space for storage of items, this list of items has been devised to guide you on what is appropriate for your child to have in the classroom:
- Small pencil case (please avoid oversized large ‘Smiggle’ style cases
- 2 pencils
- 2 blue handwriting pens (for use only when pen license has been awarded- Year 4 and up)
These are available at school but if you wish to equip your child with these then choose a blue fibre tip. Also the Pilot ‘FriXion’ pen is a good, although expensive, option as it is erasable and equipped with its own eraser. - Rubber
- Sharpener
- Glue Stick
- Plain ruler (cm and mm)
- Children may bring in a set of colouring pencils
- No gel pens please
- No felt tips please
To re-iterate, these items are available in school and you are not obliged to supply your child with these, but please observe these recommendations if preparing your child with items for school. This will ensure better classroom organisation and better presentation too.
Can I park on the premises?
No. There is no parking available for parents and carers. Please park your car away from the school gates and never park on the yellow zig-zag lines. The area outside school becomes very congested and is then unsafe for children arriving and leaving school. School Streets have now been implemented on Alexandra Road and Princes Road and you are not permitted to drive down these roads between 8.15-9.30am and 2.30-3.30pm with out a permit. You risk receiving a fine if you do so.
I have some free time. How can I help?
We welcome parents and carers in school. If you would like to help, please let us know. Helping in school allows you to understand what your child is learning and how you can encourage your child to learn. It also extends a helping hand to a busy teacher. We can help you with DBS clearance.
Can I buy a book bag?
Book bags and satchel bags can be purchased from the school uniform shop PMG School Wear online. This bag will help to protect your child’s book from the weather and accidental damage.
What else is my child allowed to bring to school?
Children should not bring toys, sweets, valuables or money into school. We cannot be responsible for children’s property. Children will sometimes be asked to bring items to school for special projects or collections; as a general rule, however, we ask that toys should not be brought to school. Please do not bring anything of value or of a sentimental nature to school as it can cause distress if these items are lost or damaged.
When can I talk to the teachers?
Teachers are busy settling their classes first thing in the morning and can only receive the briefest of messages at that time. They are more easily available at the end of the day when they have dismissed their classes. Teachers are happy to make appointments to see you if you would like a longer chat. Teachers also meet parents and carers informally at coffee mornings and more formally at parent/teacher consultation days. One of the ways we communicate with parents on a daily basis is through the boards outside our classrooms. We aim to give our parents a brief overview of the day’s activities and include any important messages. Class reps have offered to take a photo of the board for the parents who are unable to see it. Please ask your class rep if you would like them to send you an image of the board.
Do you have after school activity clubs?
Recently we have offered football, Art, Tennis, Multi-sports, Athletics, Drama, French, Spanish, Art, Karate , Basketball, Yoga, Zumba clubs. Sometimes these are aimed at particular year groups. After school clubs are not available to children in Nursery. The clubs are available each new term on a first come first served basis via the ParentPay website approximately 2 weeks before the end of term. Please click here for more details.
Do you offer wrap around care?
We offer full wrap around care to children attending Alexandra School, our experienced and friendly play workers provide a safe and supportive environment. Our staff team all work within the school so the children know them and this provides a stable environment for the children. Breakfast club starts at 7.45am and costs £6.00 per child, this includes breakfast. After school club starts at 3.25pm - 6pm daily. The children enjoy a wide range of activities and enjoy dinner at 4.30pm. Dinner times are sociable and enjoyable, and the adults sit to eat with the children, making a lovely family atmosphere.
Our standard daily charge is £13.00 per 2.5 hour session. We also offer a sibling discount of £12.00 for a sibling attending the Beehive on the same night. Please see the web site for more details.
If your child attends an Afterschool Activity club before the Beehive club we offer a reduction to £9 on the day they attend both clubs.
If you require the club at short notice/ in an emergency please contact Mrs Higgins.
Do you have a school council?
Yes. Children are elected to the School Council by their classmates. The School Council meets regularly and discusses a range of issues.
Are children given homework?
We expect children to read at home every day. Children should bring their book in their bag every day as they read with adults at school as often as possible. Depending upon your child’s age, other tasks will be set, such as a maths activity, a topic to research or spellings to learn.
What if my child has special needs?
We can meet a variety of special needs in school. Please discuss your child’s needs with the teacher. The Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) will be happy to meet with you to discuss specific concerns. Please look at our SEN Report.
What if my child can’t speak English?
We have many children in our school who are learning English. We have some specialist staff who are available to help children in their acquisition of English as an additional language.
The website has a translate button at the top of each page.
What should I do if I am worried about my child’s progress?
Ask for an appointment to talk to the class teacher about your concerns. If you are still anxious, please ask to see the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator, the Deputy Headteacher or the Headteacher.
If you have any other questions please contact the School office Team who will be happy to help.
Tel: 0208 546 7176
Email: Alexandrasch@axi.rbksch.org