Oaklands Primary Academy

The only entrance available to pupils is via the gate in Norheads Lane (opposite Kings Road). We have an electronic entry system fitted to the main gates and main entrance doors and therefore ask for your co-operation in using these entrances only when necessary and only when the playground gate is locked.

We appreciate that the start and end of the school day can be particularly busy, so to minimise the amount of people and traffic surrounding the school at the start and end of the school day, we have a soft start and close. This means that the children can be dropped off/collected at any point between the times set out below.

Morning drop-off at classroom doors: 8:30am to 9:00am

Afternoon pick-up at classroom doors: 3:00pm – 3:30pm

The school gate on Norheads Lane is unlocked at 8:30am and is manned and closely monitored by a staff member. The same staff member will lock the gate again just before all school registers close at 9am. Children are to be brought to their classroom doors where they will be met by their class teacher. (Arrival after 9am will mean a late mark will be given and the only entry into the school will be via the main gate on Oaklands Lane where a member of the office staff will let the child enter using the electronic entry system.) For safety reasons, bicycles, scooters and ball games are not allowed in the playground before academy begins. If you’re a parent or carer and you need to speak to the Headteacher or the Academy Office, you should make your way to the main reception entrance.

At the end of the school day, the Norheads Lane gate is unlocked at 3pm. This allows you to collect your child/children from their classroom doors at any point from 3pm to 3:30pm. Your child will not be allowed to be collected by anyone apart from parents/carers unless the class teacher has been given advance notice of this.

To ensure that this soft start/closing benefits all, please ensure that you vacate the school site as soon as you have dropped off/collected your child. It’s important that we keep the pathways and main driveways, both in and around the academy, as clear as possible at all times; we appreciate your co-operation in this matter. In the interest of safety, we ask parents not to use the staff car parks. The lower, drive-through car park is particularly hazardous and should never be used as a dropping off point. Please also respect our neighbours and do not block their driveways.

For the safety and security of all, we have CCTV recording in ALL areas of the site. As well as recording all entry and exits points and external building areas, the CCTV covers the play park and playgrounds.

Everyone working with pupils at Oaklands Primary Academy has undergone an enhanced DBS check and wears a photographic ID badge.

We follow the Safer Recruitment guidelines and pan-London child protection procedures developed by the London Safeguarding Children Board.

Oaklands Academy have more trained first aiders than is necessary. Procedures are in place to administer medication and to monitor and deal with our pupils’ specific medical needs. If a child becomes ill or is injured during the academy day we will take the appropriate action and contact parents and carers immediately.

All staff attend formal, annual child protection and safeguarding training and are clear about the academy’s child protection and safeguarding procedures. All staff also receive E-safety training annually to which governors are invited. Any issues or disclosures concerning child protection are treated with the utmost urgency and in line with the academy’s child protection policy.

Rebecca Sharp,Headteacher is the Designated Safeguarding Lead and is contactable via email admin@oaklands.bromley.sch.uk.

Our academy buildings comply with all health & safety regulations. The entrances are closely monitored by CCTV and all visitors are required to sign in and out of the Academy at the office and to wear a visitor’s badge at all times.

The main elements of the behaviour policy include:

• Golden Rules and Code of Behaviour, supported by children, parents, teachers and Governors.
• Activities for lunchtime break and a system for controlling and monitoring them.
• Circle Time, where children can discuss and resolve issues in a non-threatening environment. This is a whole class activity.
• A system of credits and rewards for behaviour and effort beyond normal expectation.
• Midday supervisors refer to Class Teachers, Head and Deputy Head Teacher according to the seriousness of the incident, to investigate situations and to administer further sanctions.

If your child is going to be absent from, or late for, school, please telephone the Academy Office, who will then notify the Class Teacher. We will need a written explanation when your child returns for official records.

Holiday dates are issued well in advance and we would ask that children are only withdrawn from academy during term time when it is unavoidable. Every academy day counts in a child’s education so it is crucially important that children miss as little schooling as possible.

Attendance for each child should be 96% and over in an academic year.

Class visits to educational centres, theatres, museums and other places of interest aren’t just fun for children – they’re an important part of their development. We place great emphasis on learning from first-hand experience in our academy curriculum. Visits could be as simple as a short walk along the lane to study local geography. Or they could involve a major trip, where pupils are away from home for a few days (Juniors only). All visits are carefully planned to build on and enhance the work being done in the classroom. Care of pupils is our highest priority and we follow the Safety Guidelines issued by the Education Authority.

Our Year 5 and 6 pupils have an exciting opportunity to stay at an approved activity centre.

Parents will receive a letter about any proposed visits that involve children travelling by public or private transport before the departure date. Rest assured that all bookings for coaches for academy trips request seat belts. We also make sure parents and carers informed of arrangements and details such as clothing, accommodation, transport, times and the number of helpers.

Because educational visits are a part of the academy curriculum, compulsory charges cannot be made. However, to continue to offer day and residential trips, we do require the financial support of parents.

We try to keep the cost of visits to a minimum, which means using of group party reductions and free entry facilities where possible.