We are fantastically well supported by our PTA, and parents play a key role in making St Martin’s the successful school it is. As a parents/carers of children at the school you are automatically members of the PTA.
Communication
We try to build a strong partnership with parents and we aim to make you feel welcome. We will contact you if there are any problems and let you know if your child has done something particularly praiseworthy.
We communicate through:
- Our Class Dojo
- Three parents’ evenings a year
- An end of year school report
- Informal meetings – eg chats before and after school
Supporting learning
Essential Support
It is essential that you:
- Keep us well informed of any difficulties your child may be experiencing
- Give clear instructions about arrangements for your child going home
- Explain absences either through a letter to the class teacher, e-mail or a telephone call to the School Secretary
- Inform us of any changes of address or of telephone numbers where you may be reached
Pre-School
Help your child be ready for school by encouraging them to:
- talk with and listen to other children and adults
- play and socialise with others
- understand and follow simple instructions
- dress and feed themselves and attend to their own toilet needs
- Cope with being separated from their parents/carers
A booklet entitled “Getting Ready” is available free from the School Secretary. A pre-school information pack is presented to parents in July.
At school
Help your child make the best possible progress by:
- Taking an interest in your child’s learning
- Supporting our homework policy and encouraging your child to use our ‘learning platform’ to extent and consolidate their thinking
- Sharing and enjoying books and talking about the texts
- Encouraging independence and self reliance in organising themselves
School Calendar
| Monday 21st February to Friday 25th February | Half Term |
| Monday 28th March to Thursday 31st March | Parent Evening Week |
| Thursday 7th April | Term Ends at 1.00pm |
| Summer Term | |
| Monday 25th April | Term Starts (Staff) |
| Tuesday 26th April | Term Starts (Pupils) |
| May TBC | New Reception Children Stay and Play Sessions Group 1 (3 dates) |
| Monday 2nd May | May Day Bank Holiday |
| Monday 9th May | Liberation Day |
| Monday 30th May to Friday 3rd June | Half Term |
| June TBC | New Reception Children Stay and Play Sessions Group 2 (3 dates) |
| Tuesday 5th July | Welcome Meeting for New Year R parents |
| Tuesday 14th June to Thursday 16th June | Yr 5 Summer Camp |
| Monday 11th July to Thursday 14th July | Yr 4 Lihou Island Residential |
| Tuesday 12th July to Friday 15th July | Yr 6 Summer Camp |
| July TBC | Written Reports |
| Monday 18th July | Yr 6 Leavers Evening |
| Tuesday 19th July | Term Ends at 1.00pm |
| Autumn Term | |
| Tuesday 6th September | Term Starts (Staff) |
| Thursday 8th September | Term Starts (Pupils) |
| October TBC | Parents Evening Week |
| Monday 24th October to Friday 28th October | Half Term |
| Wednesday 21st December | Term Ends |
| Breakfast Club Times: | 7.45am until 8.45am |
| After School Club Times: | 2.55pm – 5.00pm |
Benefits of the PTA:
Social: Get to know other parents as well as socialising with other parents, teachers and your child’s class mates outside of school.
Fundraising: Fundraising events help raise extra money to buy equipment not provided by the States. This enhances the school environment for your child and all the children at the school.
Community: Take part more fully in your child’s schooling and education as part of the extended community.
Communication: Provide a channel of communication with the school and its teachers on matters of concern both educational (e.g.11+) and practical (e.g. car parking).
Enjoyment: Have fun!
Voluntary Helpers in school
We welcome and encourage parents/volunteers help with learning activities – such as assisting swimmers, cooking, hearing readers, and accompanying school trips. We have nearly 100 regular helpers in school and they enable us to deliver a more creative and varied curriculum. We ask helpers who regularly help in school and who work with small groups outside of the classroom to have a CRB check. Please ask the school office for help and advice on how to get this done.
Digital Parenting:
With the help of the Digital Leaders we have devised a website for the children to give them age-appropriate guidance on e-safety.
We hope you will find a lot of useful information about the technology that is available to children at the moment. Within the site, we have included information on social media and online gaming. Whilst these are not accessible at school and generally do come with an age rating that exceeds the age of primary school children, we are aware that a number of children are using them so feel it is important to include key information to help parents keep their children safe online.
View the e-safety site
Tip: Please use the top-right corner navigation menu (Home) to see more content on the e-safety website.