Home - School Partnership

At St. Joseph's we strive to enhance our partnership by encouraging a shared commitment to the success of the individual child.

 

Together we must encourage the children to develop attitudes and values upon which both school and society are based. These include self-respect, respect and concern for others, self-discipline and moral qualities such as truthfulness and honesty.

 

The school will use the fortnightly newsletter, website, homework diaries and other communications to keep parents informed about activities in the school and about their child's progress and behaviour. Good communication between home and school is absolutely essential and will positively impact on pupil progress and behaviour

 

We believe that it is important to involve parents as soon as possible when concerns arise about their child, rather than as a last resort. Like all schools we have a home-school agreement which is signed by staff, parents and children annually. The agreement is printed in the homework diaries.

 

We have created what is hopefully a welcoming environment and we have an 'open-door' policy which does not restrict contact with the school to the annual parents' evening. We believe that meetings with parents are a integral part of school life and we can discuss issues in an atmosphere of mutual support.

 

There will be parents' consultation evenings during the following months:

Year 5 September 09; March 10
Year 6 November 09
Year 7 February 10
Year 8 January 10

 

The school profile which has replaced the annual governors' report is available on request or online at http://schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk/ .

 

Term time holidays

Under currently regulations a headteacher has discretion to grant leave of absence for the purpose of a family holiday.  Where there are special circumstances, a headteacher can approve up to a maximum of ten days in any one school year.  Only in exceptional circumstances will more than ten days be allowed.

 

Leave of absence must be applied for and the decision to authorise absence for holidays rests entirely with the headteacher.

 

Guidance to parents

• Wherever possible family holidays should be taken during school holidays.
• Parents should avoid taking children on holiday when there are national tests.
• Parents should not expect the school to agree to a family holiday during term time.  The school will carefully consider the request and may take the child's attendance record into account.