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Alleyn’s School 
We place key importance on the pastoral care of our pupils, staff and parents.
Our school ethos aims to enable our pupils to develop self-esteem, confidence, independence and a sense of responsibility.
The school strives to provide a happy, caring and safe environment in which the spiritual, moral and physical development of each pupil is promoted. The pupils are encouraged to behave in a responsible manner, both to themselves and others, showing respect, courtesy and consideration at all times. They are also encouraged to respect the views of others and to obey the golden rules which are drawn up to ensure the good behaviour, safety and well-being of the pupils and the smooth running of the school.
Through its pastoral care provision, Alleyn's Junior School aims to demonstrate its continuing concern for the personal and social development of the whole school community, regardless of their age, race or religion to encourage each individual to feel secure and able to fully participate in the life of the school and its wider community.
We have a dedicated, qualified nurse based in the First Aid Room of the Junior School from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm. In addition, a Senior School Nurse is on site until 5.30 pm.
Many members of staff have first aid qualifications, including the school office staff, teachers and after school care providers.
Children with injuries or illness can be quickly assessed in our First Aid Room, or have somewhere quiet to rest if necessary.
If your child is attending school we expect them to be fit for all normal activities.
Pupils should not return to school:
Parents should telephone 020 8557 1519 or email the school office at [email protected] on the first morning of absence to inform us that your child will not be at school, and each morning of absence thereafter. An email or a written note giving the reason for their absence should accompany your child on their return to school.
All medication that needs to be brought into school should be clearly labelled with the pupil’s name and full instructions for use and handed into the office for safe keeping. Our Junior School Nurse or a nominated first aider will administer the medication if a request is made in writing stipulating the dose, the time, your child’s name and the duration of the treatment. If we do not have your written permission, we will not be able to administer your child’s medication.
Almost all antibiotics can now be prescribed on a twice-daily basis: it helps us if you would ask prescribing doctors for twice-daily prescriptions so that medicines need not be brought to school.
When they are older (Years 5 and 6), children who suffer with Asthma are encouraged to be responsible for their own inhaler themselves. However, we do ask that parents supply a spare named reliever inhaler to be kept in the first aid room.
All pupils’ medication including inhalers and EpiPens will be kept in the First Aid Room. They will be sent home at the end of the Trinity term. If these medications expire before the end of term we will inform you to replace them.
Children who are involved in accidents or taken ill at school are referred to the First Aid Room where the extent of their injuries or severity of their illness is quickly assessed by our Junior School Nurse. Any treatment that is needed is provided in our First Aid Room, this area ensures the children have somewhere quiet to rest if necessary. All illness or incidents are recorded on our school database and parents will be contacted if necessary.
Sometimes it may be appropriate to administer Paracetamol or Ibuprofen at school. Your permission will be sought before it is given and we will email to confirm the administration of any medicines given.
In the case of all head injuries (defined as any injury to the head area) parents will be informed by email on a standardised form with our head injury advice sheet. For more serious head injuries, as well as sending an email, we would telephone to provide additional information.
In accordance with Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) regulations, Reception class parents are informed of every injury or accident involving their child. In addition, for EYFS pupils, the school is obliged to seek written permission for each occasion that medication may need administering and so EYFS parents will always be consulted should medication be required. The only exception to this would be where to take time to consult with parents may endanger the child’s health, for example in the case of an EpiPen or reliever inhaler.
Please ensure that you declare all medical details and emergency contact numbers to the school on the appropriate forms, and advise the school whenever there is a change of details.
We take care of our school and other people.
All the children are encouraged to be responsible, right from Reception through to the oldest children in Year 6. As the children move up the school they take on greater responsibility. We hope that by doing this the children will be more aware of their surroundings and other people and take greater care of both.
Form Captains
Each form from Year 1 upwards has an elected Form Captain and Vice Captain for each term. Children are voted for by the class in a closed vote and the form teacher ‘adjudicates’. It is hoped that all children will have the opportunity of a position of responsibility as they move through the school. The form captains are responsible for running small errands and representing their form on School Council.
House Captains
The two House Captains are voted in at the beginning of each term in the first House Assembly of the term. Each Year 6 pupil wishing to be House Captain prepares a speech in order to stand for election. House Captains assist the House Tutor in selecting entrants for house competitions and sometimes help with House Assemblies. They are also responsible for collecting house points at the end of each week and reading the results out in assembly.
School Captain
We choose two School Captains and two Vice Captains each year to lead the School Council and to help with various aspects of school life such as thanking visiting speakers or reading prayers in assembly. This is a great honour and the children chosen carry out the role with pride.
Monitors
There are a variety of monitors working throughout the school. Each class has its own monitors for jobs in the classroom. All Year 6 children ‘apply' to be monitors for various responsibilities such as helping with the Infant classes at break or in the library. There are two application points for them and the first set of monitors are in place from September until February half term. The second set applies for their positions before half term and are appointed until the end of the academic year. We ensure that all children who wish to be monitors have the opportunity to do so at some point during the year.
Our House system allows children to be part of a group made up of children from Reception through to Year 6.
Our House System is based on four 'big cats'. On entry to the school, all pupils are assigned to one of four houses:
Siblings are assigned to the same House so that the family tradition and loyalties remain constant. Each house is led by a House Tutor, and members of the teaching staff are also attached to a particular house. They meet regularly during the term for House assemblies, sharing work or organising House teams and events.
Houses meet together during an assembly time at the beginning of each term to elect Captains and Vice Captains for that term and all Year 6 children take on responsibilities in the House such as helping to organise competitors for House competitions.
House points are awarded throughout the school day for good work or progress, public service, community spirit, sporting prowess, effort or good behaviour etc. They are collected and counted by House Captains each week and announced in assembly. The house trophy, a cat called Edward, sports a ribbon of the winning house colour for the following week. House sporting competitions are held termly and other competitions run at various times throughout the year.
Children keep track of house points and the winning houses of competitions on the ‘House Board'. At the end of the year, all the competition points, and points from House points, are added together and the winning House receives the ‘House Cup’ at the final assembly of term.
Fun-filled lunchtimes and playtimes are crucial ingredients in any child's day.
It is our aim to maintain a stimulating and safe environment in which all our children can explore a host of social interactions, and explore a range of equipment with which they can develop their creative and physical spirits. Playtimes are generously staffed and children play happily.
Playtimes: Our pupils have access to a secure playground, the MUGA, adventure playground and a large grassed area when weather permits; plenty of space for the active amongst our pupils. Quiet spaces are identified where pupils can engage in quieter activities such as reading, drawing and conversation. Pupils have free access to water throughout playtimes, and fruit, biscuits or breadsticks are served at morning break.
Numerous lunchtime clubs are on offer and many pupils attend these. This leads to a large degree of fluidity in the friendship groups we observe at playtimes.
Infant pupils play three times a day:
| Morning break | 10.20 am - 10.40 am |
|---|---|
| Lunch break | 12.20 pm - 1.00 pm |
| Afternoon break | 2.40 pm - 3.00 pm |
Juniors play twice daily:
| Morning break | 10.20 am - 10.40 am |
|---|---|
| Lunch break | 12.20 pm - 1.00 pm |
We are proud of the School's pastoral care that helps support and nurture the children.
Our priority is ensuring that every child knows they have someone to talk to.
The Form Teacher is at the heart of such care and children might also access support from the Deputy Head, teachers in the Learning Support Department and the Chaplain. Children can request to see the Lead School Counsellor on a Tuesday lunchtime, as part of her drop-in service in the Junior School. The school counsellors are shared with the Senior School and children may be referred to them for more regular sessions by the Deputy Head, with the agreement of parents.
The School is a Church of England Foundation and warmly welcomes pupils and their families from all faiths (and none) and backgrounds. The Chaplain is here to provide a listening ear and to support everyone in the school community: pupils, parents, staff and alumni.
Reverend Liz Lander is our Chaplain. The Chaplaincy rooms are located in the Senior School opposite the entrance to the School's dining hall and all members of the school community are welcome to visit at any time.
The Chaplain helps organise school assemblies which cover a broad range of religious, social and moral issues. Special school services are also either held at St Barnabas Church or in Christ's Chapel in Dulwich. Reverend Lander also runs an informal lunchtime Chaplaincy Club for Junior School pupils.
Reverend Lander is available during and outside term-time and can be contacted by email or by telephone on 020 8557 1520 or 07591387201. She looks forward to meeting you!
At all points of entry, the settling in process begins before our new pupils officially start.
New pupils join us at 4+ (Reception), 7+ (Year 3) and 9+ (Year 5). Sometimes an occasional vacancy may arise and a child will join us in other age groups.
During the summer term before joining us, each new pupil receives a letter from a current pupil given the responsibility of becoming a ‘buddy’. This pupil will invite the new child to our New Pupils’ Event which takes place in June. On this occasion, both current pupils and new pupils spend time together with their new Form Teacher, tour the school and start building friendships.
Finally, after a week, the Reception pupils attend school full time, until 3.30 pm.
In Year 3 there is something new for all, both the existing children moving up from the Infants and the new joiners: new school uniform, classrooms, subjects, clubs and teachers and many new friends to make. In order to ease transition each new Year 3 pupil is assigned an existing child moving up from the Infants as a buddy. The two Year 3 classes share a number of activities, such as the team building day, in order to assist the settling in of all. Year 5 pupils are ‘buddied up' with a class member who is given responsibility for ensuring that their new friend is happy, finding their way around and beginning to settle.
While there are shared values ethos in Junior and Senior Schools, this transition offers the chance for a fresh start.
The Golden Rules
In order to support the children in their behavioural choices, we have the following Golden Rules:
The Golden Rules are fundamental to a happy school community. They are frequently referenced by staff and children and are written in their Day Books.
Behaviour Policy
Our behaviour policy is based upon positive discipline, praising good behaviour.
A key component to nurturing a sense of togetherness, shared values and community are the regular assemblies held in the beautiful Junior School Hall following morning registration and before lessons commence. The school aims for its assemblies to be welcoming and inclusive to all children.
We have whole school assemblies three times a week on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Assemblies are led by the Head, members of the teaching staff or visiting speakers. The pupils themselves, notably those in Year 6, frequently present to the peers.A hymn may be sung, followed by a presentation and a prayer which affords the children time to reflect upon an issue of significance to the community as a whole or one which will extend spiritual or moral awareness. General notices are given out. Every Friday we have our celebration assembly to recognise those individuals and teams who have achieved something special over the week. The school collectively sings ‘Happy Birthday’ to children and staff celebrating their birthday within that week, the house point tally is announced by house captains, commendations read out, Top Tabe announced and a whole host of certificates and praise distributed.
Once a year, the Year 3 to 5 classes prepares an assembly for the School and class parents. Every term we also have a Language Assembly when those children with links to a particular country, culture and language present to their peers and parents. Our termly Alumnus Assemblies have brought current children face to face with former Junior School pupils who talk about their lives and passions. Our musical ensembles also use assemblies to share and celebrate their music making with the wider school.
On Wednesdays , the Infants have an assembly on their own whilst older children in the Juniors enjoy 'Our Time' with their Form Teachers. ‘Our Time' sessions give regular opportunities for classes to explore issues of common concern, reflect upon our Learning Dispositions and values to build trust and confidence in each other. They might also explore some common themes to support our PSHE curriculum.
House assemblies are organised throughout the term. This is a time for House Tutors to see their House and organise activities where all children of different ages can participate.
Every Tuesday morning the whole school has a session of DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) when the children, within their classes and with all the staff joining in, have a period to read and celebrate books, whether it be through individual reading, in pairs or small groups.
This pattern of assemblies provides the school community with a quiet contemplative and shared start to the day. It gives a forum for communication across the community and a pause for reflection before the day starts.
Church Services
Each year we host several services at our local church of St Barnabas to which all parents are invited. Year 5 lead our Harvest Festival and then the choirs and readers play a key role in the Christmas Carol Service. Year 4 lead our reflections at the Spring Service and then, at the end of the academic year, Year 6 lead a Leavers' Service at Christ’s Chapel in Dulwich Village.