To make it as easy as possible to report student absence, we have set up a dedicated page with information here.

My son or daughter is going to be late. How do I report this to the academy?

If your child will be slightly late, please phone the school office or send a dojo message to the class teacher. If there will be significant lateness, please report it here. We appreciate your support in ensuring that children arrive at the academy on time.

If you know your child is going to be absent, for a dental/doctor's appointment, for example, please contact the school office or let the class teachers know in advance. If you can provide a letter with the appointment date in advance, please take this to the school office. 

Please let us know about any medical conditions your child may have and remember to inform us of any changes. We are able to administer prescribed medicines at the academy, providing that the child concerned is otherwise fit enough to be at school. These can only be administered if a consent form has been signed, which is available from the office. Please ensure that you:

1. Label the container clearly with your child’s name and the time and size of dose.
2. Leave the medicine and form with a member of staff at the academy reception

Children suffering from asthma can keep inhalers close at hand – please name the inhaler, and make sure we have some details about the circumstances when your child may need to use it.

As you may be aware, new Government guidelines have made it clear that head teachers may not grant leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Exceptional circumstance may be:

• Families of armed forces personnel returning from a tour of duty
• Police or other service personnel whose leave has been cancelled during academy holidays, such as occurred during the London Olympic Games
• A family funeral

Please be aware that these guidelines are set by the Government, not schools and if you decide to take your child out of the academy during term time unauthorised, you may receive a penalty notice from the Local Authority.

If you wish your child to be considered for a leave of absence, then please send a letter to the Principal – for more information please see the Nelson Academy policies.

Reception to Year 6

The gates on the field open at 8.30am for the children to enter and make their way to class. All children should be in class by 8.45 for the register. Anyone arriving after this time will be registered as being late.

The school day finishes at 3.15pm. The gates will open at 3pm to allow parents/ carers to enter and wait for their child/children.

All children have a 15 minute break in the morning. Children in Reception and KS1 also have a 15 minute break in the afternoon. All children get 45 minutes for lunch. 

Nursery

The morning session is 9am-12pm.

The afternoon session is 12pm-3pm. 

During the day, the car parks are for academy staff who are working and official visitors only.

Car parking is only permitted within the academy grounds for disability blue badge holders, taxis, buses or by prior arrangement with a member of the academy leadership team. 

Access to the main academy grounds is via the electronic gates, both vehicular and pedestrian.  Please press the intercom on arrival and speak to the office staff to gain access.

Parents wishing to park must do so on roads bordering the academy, giving consideration to all neighbouring residents.

If you are on foot, please wait for your child inside the academy gate.

Children in Nursery and the SRB should enter and exit school via the main school electronic gates. All other children should enter and exit school via one of the two gates on the main school field.

If parents wish for their child to walk home on their own, please confirm this to us in writing.

On average, 30 minutes per night. 

We aim to ensure that you receive the fullest information about your child’s progress and development. The academy has a pre-enrolment consultation with parents of new pupils and also makes an initial assessment of each child’s stage of development on entry to ensure we provide the appropriate curriculum. Children are also assessed at 7 and 11 through the statutory testing procedures, Standard Assessment Tasks (SATs); the results of the SATs will be given to you in writing.

The academy also uses assessments and tests to monitor both individual and school performance at the end of every year. These are the national QCA test materials which allow us to monitor against national expectations.

In the autumn term, we hold a ‘meet the teacher’ evening, during which parents can speak with the class teacher and support staff and receive an information pack about routines, expectations, homework and targets. Parents and teachers meet again in the spring term to review targets. Parents are given the opportunity to indicate a convenient time for these meetings on given dates. If the dates are not suitable for parents, they can negotiate with the class teacher for a mutually convenient time. Likewise, if the time allocated is not sufficient for discussion on the evening, another time slot can be agreed for a further appointment.

In the summer term, you will receive a written report on your child indicating his or her progress in the National Curriculum. This can be followed by a parent/teacher consultation, if parents wish to talk to staff.

At any other time, you are very welcome to see either the class teacher or the Principal to discuss general progress or any specific concerns you may have. These consultations can be either casual or by appointment. Please be aware that, as staff are involved in after-school clubs and staff meetings, they may not be available every day.

Ofsted’s Parent View website allows you to give your views and read the results of previous parent questionnaires.
If you have any feedback that you would like a response to, please contact us.