Drighlington Primary School

Well-being

All members of staff are committed to the emotional health of your children.  The positive culture of praise and celebration supports our ambition to maintain children's self esteem.  The introduction of 'Superheroes' encourages children to take risks in their learning, learning from their mistakes rather than worrying about them. We promote growth mindset, we celebrate strengths, recognise differences and are extremely keen to promote our values of the importance of a safe and happy school.

Pastoral Care

We are committed to providing a safe, secure, happy, caring and supportive environment, recognised by Ofsted. All the staff, both teaching and non-teaching, have a responsibility for the children at our school and parents should feel secure that their children are in safe hands. The children remain with their class teacher for most of the time where a strong, secure relationship is fostered. Pastoral care is essential and is provided in a positive and sympathetic way by our staff, who take the pastoral part of their role very seriously. If children have concerns about work or relationships we have strategies for dealing with them in a sensitive and caring way. We work in partnership with parents and it is helpful if parents let us know of any changes in home circumstances that might affect their child. Personal information is, of course, treated sensitively and in confidence. 

We aim to create a healthy environment and children are not allowed to bring sweets to school. This includes birthday and family holiday treats. We do not give sweets as rewards for good behaviour or successful learning. We encourage children to bring their own fresh or dried fruit for morning break and to bring a fresh bottle of water into school each day in a labelled bottle. This ensures that children are refreshed and do not become dehydrated during the day. Children are encouraged to drink sufficient water and are allowed to wear sunhats and sunglasses during the summer months. 

As part of our approach to well-being, we frequently plan special themed days in response to the particular interests of the children that allow children to express themselves.

Early Morning Arrival and Supervision

Classrooms are open from 8.45 a.m. and we ask that children other than those attending Breakfast Club do not arrive before this time as we do not provide early morning outdoor supervision. Parents are responsible for their children before 8.45 am. Children may come to school on scooters, skateboards etc. but they must NOT ride them within school premises. We are sorry but we have no facility for storage, so these items need to be taken home by adults.

Lunch Times

Lunch time is an important social occasion. There are senior lunchtime supervisors and a team of midday assistants on duty to care for the children. We have a significant number of first-aiders in school and children are encouraged to play games and take physical exercise. Children may either have a school lunch or a home-packed lunch. All infant children are eligible for a free school lunch. School lunches are prepared in our kitchen and served in our halls. The meals are very popular, of a very good standard and offer a choice of main courses and desserts. We ask families, to inform school if their child has any special dietary needs or allergies. In home packed lunches children may bring fruit juice, but no fizzy pop and no sweets or chocolate bars. Families are asked to give a period of notice of at least two weeks if their child is changing from school lunches to home packed lunches or visa-versa, and this should preferably be in writing. Families can register to pay for school lunches through Parent Pay, an online service, and information about how to do this can be obtained from our school office. Families that think they may be eligible to claim free school meals can also contact the school for advice and support.

Medical Care

Many members of staff are trained to provide first aid to children and adults in our school. Pupils who are unwell should not be sent to school.

When a child has suffered diarrhoea or sickness it is imperative that they do not attend school until 48 hours without symptoms has elapsed.

For safety reasons, pupils must not bring medicine to school and staff are not permitted to administer medication unless there is a special arrangement - we can only do this with medication that is provided by a General Practitioner, is clearly marked with the practitioner’s label showing the child’s personal details and is obviously within use by date. Parents must always visit the main office and sign a medication form if their child is to be given medication as detailed above.

It is essential that we have a contact telephone number so that children who are unwell or have an accident can be collected by a parent, carer or relative. This must be kept updated. Children may bring lip salve to school but this must be used in emergencies only and kept by the teacher or in children's personal trays - children must be made aware that they cannot share lip salve with their friends.  

Our First -Aiders