School information
OUR SCHOOL SECTION
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The school
Whitehall Primary School is a two-form entry primary school.
There are two nursery classes, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. The nursery unit is adjacent to the main school building. Thereafter, there are two classes of up to 30 children in each year group, making 14 classes in all. The school also benefits from a resourced provision for deaf pupils.
There is a school run Breakfast Club and an After School Club on site.
The school enjoys spacious grounds including a large playing field and a number of other facilities such as a computing suite, a comprehensive children’s library, a multi-use games areas (MUGA) and a science garden.
Our governing body
The governing body of Whitehall Primary is representative of its parents, staff and local community. Members of the Governing Body have a responsibility to help raise standards at the school through strategic planning, systematic monitoring and by acting as a critical friend to the Head Teacher and her senior staff. Governors meet several times a term as a corporate body, both during the school day and in the evenings. Details of the composition of our present Governing Body can be found on the school’s website. The Clerk to the Governors and the Chair of Governors can be contacted via the school office.
Our staff
Our staff consists of a dedicated team of teachers and support staff who are passionate about the welfare and progress of all children who attend the school.
They have very high expectations of our children both in terms of their behaviour, co-operation with others and their work.
Our children
The school has around 485 pupils ranging from 3-11 years of age.
We take every opportunity to celebrate our diversity and see this rich tapestry of life as a significant strength of the school.
The school day
Nursery times are as follows:
Morning nursery starts at
8.45am
Morning nursery finishes at
11.45am
Afternoon nursery starts at
12.30pm
Afternoon nursery finishes at
3.30pm
Reception – Year 2:
School starts at
8.45am
Lunchtime is between
12.00pm and 1.00pm
School finishes at
3.15pm
Years 3 and 4:
School starts at
8.45am
Lunchtime is between
12.50pm and 1.50pm
School finishes at
3.15pm
Year 5 and 6:
School starts at
8.45am
Lunchtime is between
12.00pm and 1.00pm
School finishes at
3.15pm
The total hours provided in a typical week are 32.5hrs
School uniform
The school expects every child to wear school uniform.
School uniform can be purchased from the school’s on line suppliers at PMG Schoolwear. Uniform can also be purchased more widely, including from supermarkets and second-hand retailers.
Children can wear the following:
- White shirt or white school polo shirt
- Grey shorts or long grey trousers (Jogging pants permitted in Early Years Foundation Stage only)
- Grey skirt or pinafore dress
- A blue and white checked dress
- Ink jumper or school sweatshirt either plain or with school logo
- Black shoes or black trainers
Shoes
Must be low heeled and enclosed at the toe. Flip flops, mules, peep toes, sling backed or croc type shoes are not suitable for school. Jewellery must not be worn to school. A watch and a single stud in the ear lobe may be worn but all jewellery must be removed for P.E.
A sun hat or cap
Necessary in hot weather. Please note that, for health and safety reasons, we are not permitted to apply sunscreen to children’s skin. Therefore, adequate sunscreen should be applied by parents before children come to school.
A Book bag
Book bags are available from the school’s uniform shop. Please note that as book bags are stored within the classroom, large rucksack style bags, handbags and holdalls are not permitted for health and safety reasons.
P.E. kit
- A pair of black shorts or black jogging bottoms
- A white T-shirt or polo shirt
- A pair of black plimsoles or trainers.
Swimming
In Year 4, pupils have swimming sessions. For this they will require a one piece swim suit or trunks and a towel. All pupils will also be asked to wear a swimming hat.
Attendance and punctuality
If Whitehall pupils are to be the best that they can be, they must attend school regularly, arrive punctually and be collected on time at the end of the day. The school works hard to encourage good attendance and punctuality and encourages children to form good attendance habits.
Attendance
If your child is going to be absent from school, you must telephone the school office. This enables us to accurately record the reason for absence in the school’s attendance register.
Attendance registers are legal documents which can be used as evidence in a court of law. This is why they must be completed with the utmost accuracy. As part of our safeguarding procedures, the Attendance Team carries out ‘First Day Calling’ for all pupils who are absent but for whom no reason for absence has been received.
The school has a zero tolerance policy regarding leave of absence in term time. We expect families to take their vacations during school holiday times and thus, do not authorise leave during term time. Only in very exceptional circumstances, and at the discretion of the Head Teacher, will leave in term time be authorised. Parents who do take leave in school time are liable to a fixed penalty notice, issued by the Local Authority.
Persistent patterns of absence from school could lead to prosecution by the Local Authority. Periods of unauthorised leave could result in your child’s name being removed from the school roll.
Punctuality
The School Attendance Team run regular late gate patrols and works in partnership with families to encourage and support punctuality.
Pupils who arrive after the gates have been closed at 9am will need to report to the school office where their name and reason for lateness will be recorded. The school monitors lates closely. Pupils who arrive after the registers have closed will have their late arrival recorded as an unauthorised absence in accordance with DfE regulations.
Parents should collect their child(ren) punctually at the end of the school day. Children who are not collected on time can often become distressed and upset. Failure to collect a child in a reasonable time can be construed as neglect. The school follows the Local Authority policy for uncollected children. This means that we may need to involve contact with Social Services or the Police if deemed necessary.
The school will work with and support families to secure good levels of punctuality. However, The Local Authority may take steps to prosecute the parents of children who are habitually late to school.
Other information
Parent staff association
Parent staff association
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The Whitehall Collective
The Whitehall Collective
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