Day to Day

Absence and Illness

Please take careful note of the following points for future reference:
- If your child is absent for any reason it is your responsibility to inform the School on the first day of absence, giving us an indication of when the child is likely to return. This can be done by phone, or by email to lowerschool@kingalfred.org.uk.
- It is very helpful in avoiding the spread of infections if children are kept at home for the first 24 hours after developing signs of a cold or "flu". In any case, no child should be allowed to come to school with a temperature.
- At the end of the holidays, please let us know of any infectious illness (such as mumps, measles, chicken pox, etc) the child has had during that time and enclose a doctor's certificate stating that he/she is free of infection.
- If you are going away from home and leaving your child with other people, please inform the school in writing (well in advance if possible) and send us details of your arrangements.
- We always send future dates out as far ahead as we can to help family holiday arrangements. If any parents wish to take their child out of School during the term they should write to the Head well in advance for permission to arrange this.

Buddy System and Reading Partners

There are no real boundaries between the different year groups. In fact children and students across the whole age range have enormous respect and appreciation for each other. This is fostered in the Lower School in a number of ways. Children in Year 6 become reading partners to Reception children and each week join the Reception children in their classroom in Ivy Wood. The older children also join in with their playtime and also help in their annual drama production. The same process happens between children in Year 2 and 5. There is also a buddy system between Year 6 and Year 3 and between Year 2 and 4.
Occasionally the 6th form get involved with football in the lower age groups. Young Enterprise activities, which are arranged in the 6th form, frequently involve Lower School children. In Middle School, students have a ‘choice’ session each week and can choose to work in the Lower School classes supporting art, music and other class-based activities.

Callover

The King Alfred School is a non-denominational school. However, we celebrate festivals throughout the year from many religious and ethnic origins.
Each Thursday we have what we call ‘callover’ in the Lower School Hall. This is when all the children and staff in the Lower School gather together and enjoy performances and presentations from children within the school, including older students in Middle and Upper School, visiting speakers and parents also get involved.
When children perform they do so because they ask to, they are not selected and so literally any child in the Lower School is able to perform. They either play a piano piece, sing, dance or present a play with a few of their friends. They are always well received by their peers and the experience really helps with developing self esteem and confidence.
Sometimes whole classes or year groups do a special presentation of the topic work they have been studying throughout the term. At other times the Lower School choirs or orchestra perform.
Callover is always a very lively, entertaining and positive experience that helps to enhance the community atmosphere within Lower School.

Help in the Classroom

Pupil-staff ratios are generous at KAS and each infant teacher has an assistant while Year 3 shares an assistant. Nevertheless, parental help is welcomed both in and out of the classroom. Offers of help in Art and Craft, Cookery and Reading are particularly useful and parents should initially approach their class teacher if they want to offer help. Any parent with a particular interest who would like to organise an after-school activity should contact the Head of Lower School.
Class teachers usually arrange at least one external visit a term for their class. Parental help for these events is much appreciated and the teachers will let you know when they occur.

Instrumental Lessons

Every class has regular music lessons and many parents take advantage of booking private instrumental lessons through one of our peripatetic music teachers. If you want to book private lessons, please contact either Anna Broad, the Head of Music, on 8457 5256 or Camilla Ovenden, the Lower School Music Teacher, on 8457 5259. These lessons are not included in the school fees and payment is made direct to the teacher.

The Library

Despite the increasingly technological world in which we live, books are highly valued and an essential part of learning at KAS. Our library facilities are excellent. The Lower School library has a full-time librarian who also teaches throughout the Lower School. The books are constantly upgraded and are supported by a reading programme that begins in Reception. All children have library sessions each week. Our topic based curriculum is supported by ample library time for research.
Each year a number of authors and writers come to talk to the children. We always support World Book Day and that usually involves all the children and staff coming to school dressed as a character from a favourite book!

Lunches

Lunch is freshly cooked and served on the premises. The children are encouraged to eat a healthy balance of food and all diets are catered for. There is a choice of meat, fish and vegetarian options, a help-yourself salad bar and pudding, cereal bar or yoghurt and fresh fruit. School meals are charged as an extra on the bill and the prices in September 2007 will be:
-Reception, Years 1 and 2 - £130 per term
-All other age groups - £160 per term
-Individual meal - £3.75
Children may bring a packed lunch if they prefer.

Collection of Reception Class and Years 1 and 2

All children must be collected by an adult.
- Please collect promptly and make contact with the teacher before taking your child. Once your child has been collected he/she becomes the sole responsibility of the adult even if they choose to remain on school premises.
- Again, we would like to remind you that teachers will not leave until all the children are collected. We understand that on occasion a parent/carer may be delayed unexpectedly and we would ask you to notify us if this is the case, so that we know when to expect you and can inform your child. In the case of a long delay teachers may hand over responsibility to the Head or another teacher. Please do not take advantage of this unless it is an emergency. Children get distressed if they are picked up late so be sure to contact the school if you are delayed so that your child can be reassured of the reason for your late arrival.
- Please give the teachers copies of any collection rotas and inform them of any changes in routine.

Collection of Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 (7-11 years)

To ensure complete safety, the same collection procedure should be followed for children aged 7-11 years. We realise, however, that you may have arranged to collect older children from the car park or, perhaps, asked them to make their own way home with brothers or sisters. Therefore, we would ask you to verify with the class teacher exactly which procedure you wish to follow.

Lost Property

Small valuable items (such as watches, jewellery, keys, etc) should either be left in the Gym 'valuables' box or handed in to Liz in the Reception office or to the Lower School office.
- Clothes, bags, etc, found in classrooms, cloakrooms, halls, or the gymnasium will be left neatly where they are found. They will be there for the owners to claim or for teachers to re-distribute.
- Property found on the field will be left for a few days after which it will be moved to an appropriate classroom or cloakroom.
At the end of each term there will be a display and clothes can be reclaimed or sold. Any items remaining will be given to charity. Again, it would be helpful if clothing could be labelled with the child’s name.