Prospectus
Read about our School
Procedures
ENTERING AND LEAVING THE PREMISES
Children should enter and leave the school premises through the large green gates at the front of the school, not the car park gates. The car park can be a very dangerous area as many vehicles use this entrance and we ask parents to be particularly careful about supervising children near the car park gates.
If for any reason parents are delayed and unable to collect children from school on time, they should, if possible, contact school by telephone. Children are taught not to leave the school premises on their own. If no one arrives to collect them, children are instructed to return to the class so that we can arrange for them to be supervised and contact parents if necessary.
BIKE-IT SCHOOL
It’s official! We are the top school in Stockport for children and parents cycling to school. As a bike-it school, we encourage all children and families to ride their bikes to school. We have a bike weather shelters and have a safety code to ensure children wear helmets and cycle safely.
CAR PARKING
The school car park and approach road is restricted space and not available for parents to use when dropping of or collecting children, please keep clear at ALL times for access of emergency services, delivery vehicles and coaches. Parents are asked to park legally on local roads and drive slowly near school, please keep local residents' driveways clear.
PLAYTIME ARRANGEMENTS
Weather permitting, children go outside to play. One playground is restricted to junior children only, but there is mixing of ages on the second playground and on the field when it is in use. Members of staff are always outside with the children. Generally if a child is fit to be in school then they are expected to be outside at playtimes and lunch times. There is a high ratio of adults to children at playtimes.
LUNCHTIME SUPERVISION
During the lunch break the children are cared for and supervised by a team of Midday Assistants. They supervise the children washing their hands, take them to the dining room, oversee the meals, and then supervise the children in the playground for the remainder of the lunch period.
 |
 |
 |
ARRANGEMENTS FOR SCHOOL MEALS
Lunch is eaten in the hall between 12.00 and 1.00pm. Children eat together in a cafeteria type system but may either have a meal prepared on the premises or bring a packed lunch from home. Although we try to keep children's lunch boxes cool, we have no facilities for refrigeration so prepared meals should not contain food which will go sour or bad in warm conditions.
School meals are served on ‘airline style’ trays and there is always a choice of two main courses and desserts. Salad, fresh fruit and jacket potatoes are always available. A ‘homemade’ meal is prepared daily. The children are encouraged to try new items and to leave clean trays but they are not forced to eat foods they dislike.
The cost of school meals are reviewed annually, any increases taking effect from 1 April. Dinner money is paid in advance. It should be sent in a sealed envelope marked with the child's name, class and the amount enclosed. If a child is absent for one or more days then credits are given and the amount for the missed meals deducted from the next payment. Cheques are accepted (payable to SMBC) but they must be for the correct amount. Parents with more than one child may send all the money in one envelope with the oldest child. Some parents chose the option for their child to have school lunches only on e.g. Mondays /Fridays. This can be arranged via the school office.
Parents who wish to change their child's dinner arrangements (e.g. from sandwiches to a cooked meal) are asked to give two weeks notice to the school secretary.
Parents in receipt of Income Support can apply for free school meals and should contact the Education Department at the Town Hall (0161 - 474 - 3878). When children become entitled to free meals the school is informed by letter and this is confidential. At lunchtime no distinction is made between children who pay and children who do not pay.
FRUIT
Fruit is available for infant children daily, and the junior children have their own fruit tuck shop, with toast on Friday.
DRINKING WATER
Children from Year 1 to Year 6 are encouraged to bring a plastic bottle of water to school. It has been proven that if children have regular access to water during the day, they are more able to concentrate and make greater progress at school. Containers are kept in the classroom and children can fill these up from the two water coolers. Children in Reception also have access to chilled drinking water throughout the day.
SCHOOL UNIFORM
The school colours are bottle green and grey.
We prefer and encourage children at Brookside to wear school uniform as follows;
Grey/black trousers (Long or short as appropriate)
or Grey Skirt or Pinafore dress
or Green and white dress (Summer)
Bottle green sweater, cardigan or school sweatshirt
White or bottle green polo shirt or white shirt
White or grey socks
Shoes or sandals – please note trainers and many designs of ‘fashion’ shoes are not suitable for day to day wear in school.
School sweatshirts and polo shirts embroidered with the school logo can be purchased from the school office.
Make up is not allowed
 |
 |
CLOTHING FOR P.E. AND GAMES
All children need a change of clothing and footwear for physical activities. These should be clearly marked with the child's name and kept in a draw string bag and should include:
White shorts and white vest or T-shirt for PE and Games
A pair of pumps. Elastic tops are better than laces for young children although much indoor PE work is done in bare feet.
A band for long hair so that it can be tied back.
All junior children attend swimming lessons for some part of each year. They need a costume or trunks (not Bermuda style shorts) and a towel. Goggles are not normally acceptable and long hair must be tied back or worn with a cap.
Games lessons for junior children take place outside unless the weather is particularly inclement. Substantial trainers will be needed for these lessons. These should be a separate item as after all games lessons children are expected to change back into their normal school footwear. In winter an old sweater and jogging bottom or an old tracksuit can be worn over games kit and a spare pair of socks is often needed.
JEWELLERY
Jewellery should not to be worn in school. The accidental pulling and catching of earrings, rings and necklaces during play can cause severe damage to fingers and ear lobes! Stud earrings, are the only jewellery permitted in school and these must be removed or covered during PE.
It is accepted that many children wear watches to school, but the school does not accept responsibility for loss or damage to these items.
LOST PROPERTY
The children are expected to take responsibility for their own belongings as a great deal of teaching time can be spent looking for lost items. Please help your child by making sure that clothes, pumps, lunch boxes etc. are clearly marked with the owner's name. A strong hanging loop in outdoor coats is a great help in keeping coats on the correct peg. Lost items that are clearly marked can be returned to their owners but unmarked items are put in the lost property box in the junior corridor.
We ask parents to ensure that items of value are not brought to school. This includes expensive watches, personal stereos, Hand-held consoles, mobile phones etc.