Handbook for Parents

At Portslade Community College we appreciate how difficult it can be for parents when their child moves on to secondary education. In an effort to ease the transition, we have produced an online ‘Handbook for Parents’.

The ‘Handbook’ is a compilation of responses to questions asked by parents over the years. We hope it will explain clearly the avenues of communication between home and College and the expectations of the College. Click on the links below:

Daily Routine
Homework
Personal Partners
Attendance
Special Educational Needs
College Libr@ry
Code of Conduct
Making Appointments
Reading Challenge
Personal Planners
Uniform

Printable Version (Word)

Daily Routine

How can I help my child be ready for school each day?

We suggest that you keep a copy of your child’s timetable and homework timetable in a safe and central place. You will then be aware of what lessons your child has each day and can help them to check that they have the necessary equipment. You will also know whether homework should have been set and can check that it has been completed.

Also, encourage your child to pack their school bag the night before so they do not have to rush at the last minute. It enables them, and you, to check that they have everything that they need.

Daily equipment

· Personal Planner
· Reading book
· Lesson / exercise books for the day
· Equipment such as PE or Dance kit, Food Technology ingredients.
· Completed homework tasks
· Pencil case: students benefit from having their own pen, pencil, rubber, ruler, sharpener and colours. All these items and more may be purchased from the College Libr@ry.

Attendance

If your child is ill, please telephone the College to let their tutor know what is wrong and when you expect them to return. You may leave your message with the College Receptionist or on the College answer-phone.

When your child returns to school a note is required explaining their absence. This is a legal requirement for the register.

What should I do if my child if my child has a medical condition and / or needs daily medication?

Notify the tutor about your child’s condition and any special treatment required. Subject teachers will then be informed. If medication is needed, make sure that the day’s dose is in a container clearly labelled with your child’s name, tutor group, the dosage and the frequency. The medication should be left in their Key Stage Office until requested.

What should I do if my child has a medical appointment at the beginning of the day?

Your child should come to school as soon as they can after their appointment. They will require a note explaining their lateness. On arrival, s/he must sign in at their Key Stage Office.

What should I do if my child has a medical appointment during the day?

Your child will require a signed and dated note or message in their planner that must be show to their Tutor in morning registration. Their Tutor will countersign and date it. It must then be shown to the teacher whose lesson they will be leaving.

What should I do if I know that my child is going to be late?

You should contact the College so that we know to expect your child. S/he should sign in at their Key Stage Office when they arrive.

100% Attendance Awards

Students who achieve 100% attendance and punctuality for half a term receive a certificate for their Record of Achievement. If they can maintain this for a whole term they receive another certificate and are entered into a Prize Draw for their Key Stage. This takes place each term.

All students who maintain 100% attendance and punctuality for the whole academic year are entered into the Grand Draw for a substantial cash prize.

What should I do if I want to take my child on holiday during term time?

Any absence from school interrupts your child’s education and will result in missed learning opportunities. Therefore a request for a holiday during term time must be made to the Principal in the form of a letter. The Principal will reply directly to you.

Code of Conduct

Positive behaviour is encouraged and students are expected to behave responsibly around the College. The expectations are described in the Code of Conduct printed in the Personal Planners and displayed in every classroom. Breaking the Code of Conduct will result in sanctions being imposed.

What are the sanctions?

In the first instance verbal warnings and / or reprimands will be given. For first offences or minor misdemeanours a student would be asked to return at the end of the day to discuss the matter briefly, no more than 10 minutes. No parental advance notification would be given but it would be noted in their Planner.

For more serious or repeated offences a detention of 20 minutes will be given, but with 24 hours notice via the student’s Planner. Should a longer detention be imposed, notice will still be given via the Planner but a letter would also be sent explaining the nature of the misdemeanour.

In serious cases students may be given in-school exclusion from lessons or even excluded from College. Should that occur, you would be informed as soon as possible, normally by telephone.

What rewards are given?

The Highly Commended system rewards academic progress relative to the student’s ability. Many subjects use a Merit system that contributes towards a Highly Commended. As students attain 10s, 20s, 30s etc the Year Head is informed by their Tutor who passes the information to the Principal. A letter is sent home and a Certificate is awarded in the last assembly of the half term.

Letters may also be sent by subject teachers in recognition of achievement or progress in other areas.

What do I do if my child says they are being bullied?

The College does not tolerate bullying and the situation will be dealt with once it is reported. It is important that the details are clear as investigation can reveal that the ‘bullying’ turns out to be a falling out among friends that often resolves itself.

If you are concerned, talk to your child about the incident and find out who is involved, where it occurred, when it happened, how long it has been going on and who they have told. It is important that these details can be passed to the College.

Encourage your child to tell their Tutor about it the next day so that they can investigate the matter. It is important that s/he attempts to act independently. If your child is too worried to do this or after their initial attempts you find it has continued, contact the College yourself and inform your child’s Tutor who will investigate further. They will then inform you as to the outcome. Please allow time for these investigations to take place.

Personal Planners

A student’s Personal Planner is a very important organisational tool. It must be brought to school each day. It should remain graffiti free and in good condition.

At the end of each week, when you are satisfied that you have read all the comments from staff and that the homework has been completed, you should sign your child’s Planner. Please do not sign it in advance since you may miss important messages.

How should my child use their planner?

Your child should use it to record their homework. They should state the subject, the task and when it is due. If your child needs to leave a classroom for any reason, their class teacher will record their permission on the appropriate day. They can write in any reminders they are given, appointment times such as the school dentist, even the date their Libr@ry books are due. In addition, their College Libr@ry print credits are inside the front cover.

If eligible, your child’s free school meal pass will be recorded here as will your permission for them to be off-site at lunchtime.

May I use the planner?

Yes. You may wish: to communicate with your child’s tutor or a subject teacher or ask that they contact you, to comment on your child’s achievements or difficulties with class or homework, to indicate when they have medical appointments or to explain any temporary problems with uniform.

Do College staff use the Planner?

Yes. Staff will record rewards and sanctions. They may use it to express matters of concern for you to read or to make positive comments when progress has been made. Staff may also use it to respond to your queries or to ask you to make contact.

Homework

Homework is set daily and may take a number of forms, e.g. writing, reading, researching, drawing, designing, interviewing or collecting something.

How can I help my child with their homework?

Limit the distractions

· Television can be a distraction. Encourage your child to do their homework before their programmes start. If your child is studying in a communal family room, then ‘study time’ could mean ‘no TV time’. It will show the importance you place upon their homework.

· Many youngsters can work with background music. You may want them to wear headphones!

· You may want to remove / restrict their mobile during study time – even the family phone. Allowances could be made if they need to ‘phone a friend’ about a homework.

Study area

· Child’s bedroom? Do they have a large enough area to work on?
· Kitchen? Will they be disturbed by meal preparations?
· Dining room table? Are they in other people’s way?
· Lounge? Not on the floor!

Regular study time

Depending on their commitments it may be possible for them to do their homework or some of it before the evening meal.

Some children work better if they have a break after school. However, they should not start their homework too late or they will be too tired.

Most Year 7 children will find short, sharp sessions of about 30 minutes more productive. They could have a short break, maybe with a drink before continuing.

Timetable

Be aware of your child’s homework timetable. If none appears to have been set, contact the teacher or Tutor. When are the tasks due? Encourage them to plan their homework, especially at the weekend. Avoid tasks being left to the last minute.

Studying

Studying is more than doing homework. Encourage your child to:
· Take notes as s/he is reading.
· Learn to skim for the main points.
· Learn to study tables and charts.
· Learn to summarise what s/he has read in her/his own words.

Note-taking

This skill needs to be developed over time. Many children feel they have to write down every word. Encourage them to look for the key words and to express things in their own words. This shows they have understood what they have read or listened to.

Dictionaries

Using a dictionary is essential. They need to be encouraged to look up the words they cannot spell. Maybe give them the first 3 letters to start them off.

What can I do if my child hasn’t recorded their homework or I cannot read it?

They may be able to contact a friend in the same class who can tell them what it is. You could send them to school the next day to see their teacher and ask what the homework was. You could contact the College and leave a message for the teacher, particularly if it is becoming a regular occurrence.

What should I do if s/he says they have no homework?

Write a note in their Planner for the subject teacher or for their Tutor asking whether homework was actually set.

What if my child cannot do the homework?

You know your own child. If they have looked at the homework, thought ‘I can’t do that’ and rejected it immediately, encourage them to persevere. They may need to spend some time on a task.

If, however, they have made a genuine attempt but the homework is too difficult or too long try to identify the problem. It is no good spending hours and not getting anywhere. They will not learn from a negative experience. If necessary, stop them and write a note in their planner. You may wish to consult the teacher or your child’s tutor if this happens on a regular basis.

Should I help with the actual homework?

Yes if it is clearly productive to do so. For example helping with spellings, testing them on French or German vocabulary, checking a maths problem, having them read work through to you to make sure that it makes sense, or having them explain something to you so that you understand.

No if it is something they will benefit from learning how to do or that they can do themselves.

Also, enable your child to find the information they require – do not find it for them. If they need to go to a library send or take them – do not go yourself without them.

Is there homework help available at the College?

Yes. The Curriculum Support Department holds a Homework Club every Monday after school.

If your child prefers a less formal arrangement, the College Libr@ry facilities are available before and after school, every morning break, lunchtimes except Friday and even Saturday mornings. IT clubs also offer facilities at lunchtime and after school.

How useful is the Internet?

As a research tool it can be excellent but time consuming. Information that your child needs could take them over an hour to find on the Internet compared to 5 minutes in a book. Also, it is tempting but of little value if s/he just prints out pages of information. Their work needs to be in their own words to demonstrate their understanding.

Useful Internet sites

You may find the following ‘homework helper’ sites of use:

· Ask Jeeves Uk
· Brighton & Hove City Libraries
· HomeWork Elephant
· Homework High
· Refdesk

Departmental Homework Tips

General

· Information should be written in a student’s own words not just copied straight from a book or electronic source.

· If a student does not understand a homework, they should see the teacher concerned before the homework is due in.

· Written work should be read aloud to identify mistakes.

Art

· Encourage them not to rush work.

· For drawing homeworks they need a 2B, 3B or 4B pencil not an HB.

· Presentation techniques, e.g. title, materials used - coloured pencils rather than felt tips.

Design Technology

· Catalogues, e.g. Argos or Index, are useful. Students can cut out the products to evaluate in their own words.

· Explanations are important. Why are they doing it? Why are they including a particular feature? Lots of relevant notes.

English

· Written homeworks should be in exercise books unless directed otherwise and labelled H/W in the margin.

· Reading homeworks are at least as important as written ones and should be entered in the student’s reading log and signed by the parent.

Modern Foreign Languages

· Parents can help with vocabulary homeworks by giving them the English word and recognising the French or German word from the list.

· Students could teach their parents what they have learned.

Science

· Use science revision guides to help with homework.

· Use key words to link with units.

· Use any spare time to revise work already covered.

Special Educational Needs

The College has a SEN policy, copies of which may be obtained from the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator or SENCO. It is designed to assist students in various ways, whatever their needs are.
Students’ needs are identified through liaison with our partner schools and a 3-week observation and monitoring programme in the September of Year 7.

The aim is for students to achieve their full potential whatever their ability. Work is differentiated and most subjects are setted. There is in-class support available, while some students may be withdrawn for individual help or to work in small groups. There are spelling and reading programmes during morning registration. Students can also attend Homework Club.

If you feel that your child is experiencing difficulties or is underachieving, please contact their subject teacher or Tutor. (see: Making Appointments below )

Making Appointments

There may be occasions when you have a concern about your child or would like advice from the College. Whoever you wish to talk to you will need to make an appointment. They will not be able to see you immediately.

Who do I need to talk to?

If it is a subject specific issue, you need to speak to the subject teacher or Head of Department.

If it is a general concern about your child, you should first speak to your child’s Tutor.

What do I do?

Write a letter or a note in your child’s Planner stating your concern and when you would like the member of staff to contact you.

Alternatively, ‘phone the College, preferably between 8:30am and 4pm, and leave a message for the teacher concerned. If you are put through to an answer-phone simply leave your message, including your name and your child’s name.

In either case please remember that due to teaching commitments the teacher or the tutor may not be able to get back to you immediately or between a set time. Several contact times would be helpful.

Uniform

The College uniform consists of the College sweatshirt, black trousers or skirt, white shirt - not aertex T-shirts or polo shirts, plain black shoes, we recommend that heels are no more than 5cm high. The College tie is optional in that it does not have to be worn under the sweatshirt but must be worn if the sweatshirt is removed for any reason.

If you have a temporary problem one day with an item of uniform, send your child to school in the nearest equivalent with a signed note in their Planner explaining. This will be counter signed by their Tutor. Return your child to full uniform as quickly as possible, normally the next day.

Is there a PE kit?

Yes. Boys and girls are expected to have the following:
· Plain white T-shirt or white polo shirt.
· Navy or black shorts.
· Black or white sports socks.
· Black or white training shoes.
· Tracksuit, preferably black or navy.
· Shin pads, essential for soccer and hockey.
· Towel.

Football boots are optional but recommended.

If students do not wear the correct kit on a regular basis, sanctions may be applied. If for any reason there is a problem providing the correct kit, a note should be written in their Planner so that the PE teacher is aware of the difficulty.

Is there a College policy on hairstyles?

Yes. Hair should be of a natural colour and there should be no close shaving or under-cutting. Any stepped styles should go no further than the top of the ears, not above. If you are uncertain, please contact the College before visiting the stylist! If a student comes to school with an unacceptable hairstyle, they will be withdrawn from lessons or in extreme cases sent home.

How much jewellery can my child wear?

For reasons of security and Health & Safety, jewellery is limited to: one stud or small hoop earring in each ear, one necklace / chain to be worn inside their shirt, one ring on each hand. No nose studs or bracelets are allowed.

If students wear unacceptable jewellery, they will be asked to remove it. If they continue to do so, it may be confiscated. All jewellery must be removed for PE lessons.

What about mobile phones?

For reasons of safety and security students may not bring mobiles into College. They will be confiscated if seen.

This restriction extends to the following: personal stereos / CD players, laser pens / key rings etc., pagers, cyber pets, penknives, chewing gum, cigarettes, lighters, matches or other unnecessary / inappropriate equipment.

Personal Partners

The Personal Partners Scheme has operated for several years. It involves partnering Year 10 students with Year 7 Tutor Groups.

Aims

· To develop relationships between Year 7s and older students.
· To provide Year 7s with a network of support.
· To develop the community spirit of the College.
· To enable all students to respect and understand each other.
· To promote the College ethos of ‘Caring for Achievement’.

Selection

At the end of Year 9, students are introduced to the Personal Partners concept and the commitment it needs. They are then encouraged to apply. In discussion with the Year 9 tutors and the Key Stage Managers the students are selected, 2 per Year 7 tutor Group.

Training

In liaison with the Youth Service, training is completed with a Youth Worker over 4 sessions and is certificated. The training focuses on:

· Listening skills
· Confidentiality
· Communication skills
· Confidence building
· Assertiveness

Responsibilities

The students are allocated a Year 7 Tutor Group. They are not placed with younger siblings. They begin their involvement in September. The Personal Partners go into their Year & Group 2 mornings per week in Registration, 1 PSE lesson per half term, plus breaks and lunchtimes when they can.

Duties

· Collating Highly Commendeds
· Listening to students read
· Chatting to the students, e.g. about settling in
· Reviewing their progress with interviews
· Helping resolve homework issues
· Giving advice on peer difficulties
· Relaying worries or concerns to the Tutors
· Involvement in Poetry Day and Sports Day, in negotiation with class teachers
· Involvement in Assembly preparations
· Devising and leading PSE topics in negotiation with Year 7 Tutors
· Helping to organise the Year 7 disco

To Date

The School Nurse has reported that the Year 7s have spoken well of the Personal Partners and that they felt it improved their relationships with the older students. The younger students developed positive relationships with the Personal Partners. The only problem is the selection process - Year 9 students are very keen to be involved.

College Libr@ry

When may my child use the College Libr@ry?

College students may use the Libr@ry from 8:15am throughout the day, after school and as Public Library Members.

May they use their public library card?

Not during the 'school' day. They have to join as College Libr@ry Members.

How do they become a College Libr@ry Member?

By filling in a Student Membership Form, having it signed by you and returning it to the Libr@ry. Until they have done this they cannot borrow books, although they may use the library facilities for reference and study needs.

How many books may they borrow?

They may borrow up to 4 books and 1 story tape on their College Libr@ry card. The exception is those students with long overdue items who are placed on a 1 item only status.

What may they borrow?

Younger students are encouraged to choose their fiction books and story tapes from the Children’s or the ‘Teen Reads’ sections, depending on their reading levels and interests. They are not permitted to borrow unsuitable fiction on their College tickets.

For information purposes, students are directed to whichever types of non-fiction library materials that will best serve their needs.

For how long may they keep the books?

The usual time is 3 weeks. However, some may be issued for 7 DAYS or even 1 DAY depending on the subject or type of book. Also, items may be issued for longer to cover a school holiday period.

What happens if their books are not returned on time?

Responsible borrowing is encouraged, as in most libraries, by fines levied on overdue items. Also, until they are returned and the fine paid the student may not borrow any more books. Please note that the rate is higher than that charged by Brighton & Hove Libraries on children’s overdue books because they are on site each day.

How do they avoid having fines?

By returning their books on time or renewing them. If they are not sure when their books are due back, they can check their details on the public access terminal or ask a member of staff.

May they borrow Public Library videos?

Not on their College Libr@ry card.

Is it correct that students can buy basic stationery from the College Libr@ry?

Yes. This service is available to throughout the ‘school day’. Please note that for legal reasons this service is for College students only not family or friends.

For further information, please see ‘The College Libr@ry: Information for Students’ pack issued to all new students or contact me on ( 01273 416300 / 296916

L. Morgan, College Librarian

Key Stage 3 Reading Challenge

Research has shown that students who read a variety of fiction authors across a range of genres perform better in all aspects of English. To encourage our students in this aim the KS3 Reading Challenge wasintroduced across KS3 in September 2003. It gives an added focus to their weekly reading homework, plus parents and teachers are able to keep track of and reward their progress via their Reading Logs.

There are 3 levels per year group: Bronze, Silver and Gold. All students are expected to complete the Bronze Level and then progress according to their ability.

In the first instance, and depending on how many books they read, students select a proportion of their reading materials from the authors on the Challenge.

Reading Challenge Rules:

· Students have to choose a book to read by an author from one of the categories on their Challenge Card.
· When finished, they must complete their Reading Log - giving it a star rating.

· On the presentation of their Challenge Card and Reading Log, their English teacher will stamp the Challenge Card and give a Highly Commended for the successful completion of the book.

· When 10 stamps have been collected a Bronze Reading Certificate will be awarded for completing the Challenge.

· They may then progress to Silver, then to Gold …

Good luck and happy reading to all!

L Morgan, College Librarian, G Steel, Head of English