Dear prospective parent,

 

We are pleased that you are seriously considering enrolling your child at The Family School. This leaflet is designed to give you the necessary background information that you will need before submitting an application form and background questionnaire. If you have any questions that aren’t however covered here please do give us a ring or send us an email.

 

The Family School’s guiding principles

Underpinning all our activities are our following five principles. Support the Developing Child, Family Involvement is Fundamental, Learning is part of Living, Ethical Consciousness and Action and Self Governance. A detailed summary of each of these is on our website. It is important that you understand and subscribe to these guiding principles prior to signing up.

 

The Family School’s first years

Although a lot of work has been done already with regard to defining the principles of the school, its features and characteristics, the school will continue to evolve during its first years of operation. The exact nature of the activities as well as the curriculum, even what we will be having for lunch will have to be decided and like any new venture it will change according to circumstances and the people involved.

 

The school year

We have a 33 week school year with three terms with longer than normal holidays.

 

The school week

The biggest difference between The Family School and other schools is that we are part time i.e. less than twenty hours per week. School will operate Monday to Thursdays only.

 

The school day

Our school day starts at 9.30 with a "morning meeting". You are welcome to arrive from 8.45. The day finishes at 3.00 with parents collecting their children between 3.00 and 3.15

 

KINDERGARTEN GROUP for 4 - 7 year olds

We are currently establishing our first kindergarten group. We are working with them four days a week. Whilst parents are welcome to participate in this class, it is anticipated that the children will attend alone, once settled. Places are available for children aged four, five or six. Please get in touch for further details.

 

Younger children

Families with younger children (under four) interested in their children attending the Family School in the future are welcome to participate in our parent and child sessions currently held on Monday mornings 9.45 - 11.45am. Parents will need to accompany their children for these sessions. Please get in touch for further details.

 

 

Family Involvement

 

Family involvement is fundamental to our school.

 

1. All families will be welcome in the classroom, including siblings and grandparents!

 

2. Family Meetings per term.

Teachers regularly engage with parents in discussion about their children's needs and any difficulties at home and school as well as their progress. Three meetings are scheduled at the beginning of the term, just prior to or following the term break and again at the end of the term. The meetings should include the significant adults in the child’s life as well as older siblings if this seems appropriate.

 

Occasional Meetings as needed. The family also will need to agree to attend any meetings which the Family School feels are necessary in order to support the child. These meetings may be needed if specific issues arise which are found to be not resolvable within the school setting, where the parent needs to be involved or when the child appears to be distressed and the problem is not apparent.

 

The Family school also agrees to arrange meetings or telephone conferences with the parents to address concerns of the family.

 

3. Useful work. We ask all families to give forty-four hours per term of parent participation. This is equivalent to four hours per week. It suits some families to regularly give four hours each week during term time and it suits other families better to give their support on a more occasional basis. Where possible this work within the school will, in the main, be geared to the strengths, interests, skills and aptitudes of each adult. Jobs might include cooking the lunch/ordering foodstuffs, cleaning the classroom, helping with fundraising or maintaining the building, grounds and equipment, washing towels, stringing guitars, distributing pamphlets or any other jobs or activities that the family and school agree upon.

You may also be asked to attend occasional workdays (probably in the holidays to maintain the buildings or grounds).

 

4. School meetings

Throughout the year, there are school meetings which will be open to the entire community. General parent meetings are held on a regular basis each term. Parents and staff also get together socially on a regular basis. It is important that we all support and encourage each other.

 

5. Other support.

We support families whose children attend by facilitating parental support groups,hosting regular educational and parenting seminars as well as encouraging the use of school facilities and resources where possible.

 

Acceptance Fee/Membership Fee/Deposit

A deposit of £1,000 is required for each child on joining the school. It is a sum of money payable on acceptance of a place and is non-refundable in the event of a place being accepted and not taken up. It will be returned to the parent (without interest) when the child leaves the school, less any outstanding fees and charges.

 

Termly teaching fees

Kindergarten class £ 2,500 per tem, three terms per year.

Drop-in under 4's Group £6 per session

 

Payment for the Kindergarten class is invoiced termly in advance. All invoices are due for payment before or on the first day of terms except by prior arrangement with the school office. Fees may be paid by monthly standing order but a surcharge of 2% will be added. An administration charge of £100 is made for all fees remaining unpaid after 14 days after the beginning of term. Pupils may be excluded if fees remain unpaid at half term.

 

Discounts for two, three and four child families

First child - full fees

Subsequent children - 5% deducted

 

Other charges - Individual private tuition including music lessons and learning support as requested. Admission charges/travel expenses to awaydays/visits.

 

Extras will be charged at the beginning of term.

A full term's notice is required, or fees in lieu, for cancellation of music and learning support.

Bursaries

We do have some bursaries available. Please get in touch with us for more details.

 

Still interested?

If you feel you are able to make the journey, subscribe to the our guiding principles, have the necessary time to commit to the school and can afford the fees and are interested to find out more about the school, your family are welcome to meet with the teacher(s) and other families already involved, see the site and find out more about how we work with the children. We can then all make sure the school is ‘right’ for your family.

 

Signing up/Enrollment Procedure

 

After coming to the school with your child for an afternoon visit to meet the teachers, you might feel ready to begin the enrollment proceedures.

 

Step One. Filling in an application form and Criminal Record Bureau Clearance Form and submitting an Application Fee. A non refundable fee of £100 will be required for administrative purposes when submitting an application form. In line with our child protection policy, parents will need to commit to an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosure. We will arrange this paperwork on your behalf. Application Packs are available from Dani. Once you return the forms with your Application fee of £100 we will review your application, arrange for you to attend the series of introductory seminars and book a home visit.

 

Step two. We ask that you attend three parent group meetings prior to the start of the first term which will cover the topics of :

1. The Educational Approach of the Family School. This will include the social and ethical policies espoused by the school

2. Communication and Conflict Resolution

3. Boundary Setting

4. Family Involvement, Financial, Practical and Other Commitments.

 

Step Three. Home Visit

This is an opportunity for you to discuss specific concerns with the teacher, clarify your understanding about the school, policies and the educational approach. It is also an opportunity for the teacher to get to know your child and for your child to begin to be comfortable with the teacher.

 

If a place is available and your application is successful your child will be offered a place and your family a membership of the school. This a will be subject to our receipt of an acceptable CRB check and acceptable report from the child’s previous school(if applicable).

If you wish to accept this offer we will require a deposit cheque of £1,000 which will be deducted from the final terms fees unless there is money owing to the school.

 

Once you are members...

You will have the opportunity to discuss issues relating to your child's education during general parent meetings as well as one-to -one with the school staff, have access to our business plan and useful members-only pages of our website. You will also have use of all school facilities as well as priority for subsequent children to attend the school.

 

The Family School:

tel: 020 8671 0420

email: familyschoolster@googlemail.com

 

 

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