CHARGES AND REMISSIONS
The Governing Body recognises the valuable contribution that the wide range of additional activities including clubs, trips and residential experiences can make towards pupils personal and social education. It thus aims to promote and provide such activities both as part of a broad and balanced curriculum for the pupils of the school and as additional optional activities. However, this will only be possible with the aid of voluntary contributions. For pupils whose parents are in receipt of certain Benefits, the Governing Body will remit the charges made in respect of board and lodging for any residential activity that it organises that is deemed to take place during school time. Any Application for remission of charges should be made in confidence to the Headteacher, who will refer the matter to the Governing Body.

HOME-SCHOOL AGREEMENT
The Governors have drawn up a Home-School Agreement to help the school and families to work in partnership with each other for the good of the children’s education. Parents are invited to sign this agreement as they play a crucial role in helping their children learn. The Governors recognise that children achieve more when schools and parents work together and actively encourage the development of home, school and parish partnership.

HOMEWORK
Key Stage 1 children are set weekly spellings and take home activities which can be shared at home with parents.

Maths and English, Tables and Spellings are set homework for Key Stage 2, whilst in Years 5 and 6 any subject may be set.

All children take reading books home and parents are encouraged to talk to the children about the stories and hear them read.

PARENTAL VISITS & COMPLAINTS
There are two Open Evenings which are formally set aside for you to discuss your child’s progress. There is a parent workshop evening once a year focusing on various curriculum areas; we also have occasional open days. If however, you have any concerns about your child’s education you are welcome to have an informal discussion with the Class Teacher by appointment.

If further discussion is necessary you are welcome to meet with the Headteacher. Should the discussion fail to allay your concerns, you may then approach the Chair of the Governing Body in writing about your concerns.

DISCIPLINE
The purpose of school discipline flows from the Catholic philosophy or idea of education. Therefore, discipline is an aid to the spiritual and moral development of the child. It is administered in such a way as to help the child eventually and freely to choose right rather than wrong, order rather than chaos, virtue rather than vice. It is expected that all St. Teresa's children have a fundamental respect for authority and the rules of the school. If serious misconduct arises, the school will take immediate steps to inform the parents and trust that there will be cooperation between the school and home.

HEALTH AND SAFETY
Illness: If a pupil gets ill during school hours and it becomes necessary that s/he is sent home, parents are contacted and child is kept under supervision until parent arrives.

In case of accidents, parents are again contacted and asked to accompany child to Casualty or meet the member of staff in charge at the hospital. Parents are required to fill in information sheet giving details of home address, parents' work and telephone numbers, emergency numbers, name of child's doctor.

Fire drill is held once each term when children are instructed in the proper procedure to be followed in case of fire.

CHILD PROTECTION
If anyone has any concerns about the welfare of any children attending the school they should raise these with the designated teacher for Child Protection. Notices are posted around the school identifying who is currently undertaking this role.

SAFETY BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL
The school assumes no responsibility for children on the premises before 8.45 a.m. or after 3.20 p.m. Children are forbidden to leave school grounds at any time without permission. In the morning children should be accompanied by parents to the school door and then should proceed to the playground, or in very bad weather to hall. This rule does not apply to the Early Years Unit.

There is an after-school care club run on the premises by the 'Catz' organisation (Children's After-school Time Zone) and forms for your child to attend are available from the school office.

DRUGS AND MEDICINE IN SCHOOL
All medicines should be handed in to the school secretary, not to the teachers.

If it is considered medically necessary for a child to receive medication during school hours it is recommended that:-

Clear written instructions are provided by the parent/guardian, requesting that medication be given at school. Details of the drug, the dose, the time and the method of taking the drug should be given. Verbal instructions from the child alone should not be accepted.

The medication should be supplied in a container clearly marked with the child's name, the name of the drug, the dosage and the time it should be taken.

Any changes to the medication regime should be notified to the school in writing by the parent/guardian.

It may be appropriate in the case of older children who need inhalers for asthma, for the pupil to retain possession of the inhaler and use it as required. This should be agreed between the parent/guardian and the Headteacher.

HEALTH RECORDS
These are kept in Health Offices. The Community Health Team monitor the health of pupils during their stay at St. Teresa’s. Parents are invited to medical examinations and a follow-up on problems encouraged. The Audiomatrician visits at regular intervals and the school nurse makes regular visits to the school.

SCHOOL MEALS
Hot lunches are provided from a central kitchen each day. Pupils are expected to eat what they take on their plate and to observe good table manners at all times. All dinner monies are paid in on Mondays, for the week. This should be enclosed in an envelope on which is written child's name and class. Cold lunches may be brought to school - no cutlery is provided for this. Drinks should not be brought. Water is provided for each child. At breaktimes children are allowed to bring a piece of fruit to eat, crisps and sweets are not allowed. Children of parents who are in receipt of Income Support Benefit or Family Support Benefit may be eligible for free school meals. An application form for this purpose is available from the Education Department.

TOYS, MONEY AND VALUABLES
No toys are allowed to be brought to school, e.g. cars, guns, cards, etc. Pupils are forbidden to keep money in desks or cloakrooms. All money should be handed in to the school office and not kept by the child all day. It is not advisable for the children to bring valuables to school without the Headteacher's permission, and the school cannot be responsible for loss or damage to private property, e.g. watches.

TRANSFER ARRANGEMENTS
The High Schools for Merton Catholic girls are The Ursuline High School in Wimbledon and Wimbledon College for the Boys. Applications for High Schools should be completed for Y6 pupils in the Autumn Term.